A common downfall of an impromptu speech is?

• A. Reading from a manuscript
• B. Wordiness and forgetfulness
• C. Slow pace
• D. Rigid eye contact

Answer: (B)

In impromptu speaking, you must convey your idea clearly without prep notes, so the biggest pitfall is trying to fill the moment with too many words and losing track of your main points. Without a script to guide you, it’s easy to ramble and forget key points, which makes the message hard to follow and reduces your credibility with the audience. That tendency—wordiness alongside forgetfulness—is what often trips speakers up most in spontaneous talks.

Reading from a manuscript isn’t typical of impromptu delivery, since there’s no time to prepare or rely on a text. Slow pace can happen, but it’s usually not as defining a flaw as getting tangled in too many words and losing your place. Similarly, rigid eye contact is more about delivery style than the core difficulty of speaking off the cuff.