When This Byrd Talked, People Listened

I’ve been reading the obits and watching videos of speeches of the late Sen. Robert Byrd, and I think he has something to teach us about the art of speechmaking.

He was definitely of the old school. His style has been described as reminiscent of the 19th century Senate, when giving speeches was the only way to communicate with fellow senators and constituents.

To me, he sounded like an old fashioned evangelist, punctuating his words with long pauses and bursts of booming rhetoric. Instead of a Bible, he wielded a small, red-bound copy of the Constitution, which he often waved while lecturing his colleagues.

Byrd read his speeches, which meant he didn’t have good eye contact with his listeners. But he made up for that deficit with skillful use of body language and gestures.

He was fond of quoting the Constitution, the Bible, Shakespeare and classical poetry. He was not college educated, but he had a commanding knowledge of history and used that expertise to add richness and depth to his speeches.

“How that man loved to speak,” said The Associated Press in its obituary of the 92-year-old senator.

Byrd firmly believed that senators should be allowed to talk as much as they want in their deliberations. He affirmed that position many times, especially in 1964, when he filibustered against the Civil Rights Act for 14 hours and 13 minutes – one of the longest filibusters in Senate history.

Grammar: It's Not Just For Nerds Any More

Okay. I’ll admit it. I’m a nerd when it comes to grammar. If you want proof, here it is. One of the best books I ever read is called When Words Collide: A Media Writer’s Guide to Grammar and Style.

I highly recommend it to the grammar-challenged and to other grammar nerds. It’s very readable and has the answer to almost any question you might have on the subject.

I’ll admit something else. I’ve been guilty of complaining about the seeming death of grammar in public discourse and in the written word. People kvetch about how the broadcast pundits mangle the English language and the newspapers are full of subject-verb agreement errors. I’ve been among them.

I have taught copyediting at the college level and have encountered students who readily admit they have had no training in grammar or punctuation. I have been in the communications industry for 30 years and have worked with many professionals who do not have a grasp of these writing essentials.

Not that I’m an expert. As a writer and editor, I constantly refer to When Words Collide, the AP Stylebook, the dictionary and other resources.

So, what’s the point? The point is that knowledge of grammar, punctuation and spelling is acquired. It doesn’t come naturally to most people. You have to learn it the old-fashioned way. And you must learn it because it’s the foundation of good writing.

If you’re a writer of any stripe – author, business writer, web content creator or whatever – make it a point to learn grammar basics. It’s an essential part of true professionalism as a writer.