expression

talking points

prepared phrases used to stay on message

In From the Front Page

In more detail

1. (noun) the main ideas or arguments that someone wants to communicate, especially in a speech or discussion

Examples

1. The candidate prepared talking points for the debate.

How to use talking points

Talking points are prepared ideas or arguments intended to guide communication, commonly used in politics, business presentations, and media briefings. The phrase emphasizes brevity and clarity, often implying a curated or strategic selection of information rather than an exhaustive treatment of a topic. It frequently has a neutral or slightly critical connotation suggesting predetermined messages.

Common phrases

prepare talking points
outline talking points
stick to talking points
provide talking points
talking points memo

Synonyms

key points · main arguments · discussion points · bullet points · highlights

A common mistake

Learners sometimes treat 'talking points' as singular (e.g., 'a talking point') when referring to multiple prepared arguments; while 'a talking point' is grammatically correct, it typically refers to a single topic that sparks discussion rather than a prepared list of arguments.

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