In the last post, you learned that clowder is a term (a “collective noun,” to give it the proper linguistic name) for a group of cats. While saying “a group of cats” is certainly accurate, it’s a generic phrase, and not very interesting to your audience, though it does convey the information you’re trying to communicate. Because you can refer to “a group of” many different things, it’s useful to have specific, descriptive words for such groups, to add color and interest to your conversations and presentations. Here are a few others you might find useful and fun:

• cavalcade: a group of people riding on horseback (and their horses)
• gaggle: a group of geese (not flying)
• skein: a group of geese (flying)
• pantheon: a group of gods and/or goddesses

Other nouns that describe groups of things include agglomeration (a group of unrelated objects piled together), phalanx (a group of people standing close together), and smorgasbord (a varied group of things from which you can pick and choose).

Collective nouns are only one class of descriptive words and phrases that you can use to enliven your communications. The English language is filled with adjectives that you can use to give colorful details.

• Are you describing someone who is very sad? That person can be anguished, wretched, or sorrowful.
• Do you have a difficult task? Then it’s probably burdensome or worrisome, and you might even find it traumatic.
• Is your assistant a hard worker? They’re zealous, thorough, competent, and productive.

We’ve discussed similes before, but it’s worth repeating: a presentation that doesn’t take advantage of these descriptive phrases can be as uninteresting as a bowl of cold oatmeal. Using comparisons and similes will catch your audience’s attention, and give them another perspective on your topic. In addition, you’ll often be adding a visual element (if only an imagined one) that will engage their senses and increase their focus on what you’re saying, or what you’ve written.

In the next post, we’ll talk about some other poetic devices that you can use to create engaging and entertaining presentations, add interest to your conversations, and improve and develop your writing style.