Useful speech vs Engaging speech

Both phrases are correct, but the adjectives convey different meanings. 'Useful speech' refers to a speech that provides valuable information or serves a practical purpose. On the other hand, 'engaging speech' refers to a speech that captivates the audience and keeps them interested. The choice between the two depends on whether the focus is on the content and purpose of the speech (useful) or on its ability to captivate and interest the listeners (engaging).

Explained by Vince
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: June 10, 2024

Useful speech

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to describe a speech that provides valuable information or serves a practical purpose.

Examples:

The seminar delivered a useful speech on financial planning.
Her useful speech on time management was well-received by the audience.

Show examples from the web [+]

Mr President, I welcome this timely and useful debate, which was introduced characteristically and forcefully by my honourable friend, Mr Brok, in a thoughtful and useful speech.
The new developments in speech technology will possibly allow keyboards to be replaced by voice commands: this would be useful for people with visual or motor impairments.
Thank you, Prime Minister, for your speech which I personally found very useful and pragmatic.
I must agree with that analysis and, whilst enjoying Mr Straw's speech today, I cannot see that it takes us anywhere useful at all.
Mr President, I consider the speech of the previous speaker quite useful and definitely well timed and I would like to endorse everything he said.
For these reasons, I feel that the Fraga Estévez report is much more useful and my group therefore totally supports not only its efforts but, despite the reticence indicated in my speech, the compromise as a whole.
I am sorry that my speech was a little long. I felt that it was useful, on the occasion of this first examination of the situation of the EBRD in the European Parliament, to make these few introductory comments.
With regard to the second part of Ms Trautmann's speech, regional IGFs have emerged in a number of places, and this appears to be a useful way to focus on questions of internet governance that are of particular importance for a specific region.
Useful information about the Istanbul Conference on Somalia can be found on the webpage (including the Final Istanbul Declaration, and the speech given by Commissioner Piebalgs during the plenary session).

Alternatives:

informative speech
practical speech
beneficial speech
helpful speech
valuable speech

Engaging speech

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to describe a speech that captivates the audience's attention and keeps them interested.