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Sometime in your career you will be asked to give a talk. It may be in a small meeting of peers and coworkers or it may be in front of a large audience of strangers.

Here are six things to be aware of when making a presentation or giving a speech.

1. Grammar – Use correct grammar. Duh! Of course we need to use correct grammar but you would be surprised at how many times I’ve heard people use verb tenses that don’t agree with the subject of the sentence. Write out your speech beforehand and read it aloud a few times. This will help you catch most of the mistakes privately. Ask a roommate or friend to listen to the speech and give you feedback or note any grammatical errors.

2. Filler Words - Unnecessary words that do not help convey your point can be distracting. Avoid the use of “uh, ah, you know, like, and I mean.” In order to avoid run-on sentences, insert a one-second pause between sentences instead of using “and” or “so” to connect two or more sentences. Take a short breath between longer sentences, and allow your audience to take in what you have said. Articulate clearly and pronounce words correctly. Before you take the stage practice saying any difficult words you plan to use.

3. Body Language - By this, I am referring to unintentional cues you give such as looking at your notes, not making eye contact, slumped shoulders, hands in pockets jingling money, or slouching on the lectern. Practicing in front of a mirror will help you discover your own quirky movements.

4. Gestures – These are intentional movements you use to make a point or illustrate the importance of a word. Make your gestures large enough to be seen by the person sitting in the back of the room. Step away from the lectern when using the lower part of your body; otherwise your movement will not be seen.

5. Vocal Variety - Avoid monotone and jazz up your presentation by varying your tone (emphasis or emotion), pitch (high or low voice), and rate (fast or slow). All these help keep an audience interested in what you are saying.

6. Your Topic- Your focus should be on your audience. An interesting topic is important, but should be relevant to your listener’s needs. Prepare ahead of time. Write key points on small 3×5 note cards to remind you of what is next. Only use them if necessary.

7. Props - Not every presentation will have or need props. However, visual aids and paper handouts make a talk more interesting, help the audience follow along and give them notes, email addresses or website URLs to refer to later.

I know this is a lot to remember-especially for a beginner. You may want to start by giving your presentation at home by focusing on only one aspect at a time. Go through your presentation the first time listening for grammar usage and filler words, then go through it again noticing body language and gestures; on the third time through pay attention to your voice. By the time you have gone through your speech the fourth time, you will feel at ease, know your material well and be able to manage props effectively.

Spring and summer bring about a flurry of weddings. That means that anyone who has friends or acquaintances of marrying age has to prepare for the possibility of buying a lot of gifts. When the couple has a wedding registry available, it can make the task a bit easier, but when the registry starts to get picked over, it can be hard to find something you actually want to purchase.

When you think about it, there are some basic groupings of gifts that commonly get purchased for newlyweds. Because the new couple will be starting out in a new home in many cases, it is common to buy items related to house and home. Depending on how well you know the couple, you might opt for going with something that is more fun than practical. In any case, you will want the gift you give to be appreciated and used by your friends.

Sometimes people like to buy something special for a newlywed couple’s bedroom. This might not be wise unless you are certain of how they will be decorating. Something like a comforter or drapes might seem like a thoughtful present, but if the item does not match the rest of the bedroom, it will probably not get put to use.

A relatively safe bet when buying wedding presents, is something for the kitchen. If the registry has been picked clean of these items, consider going for something fun that the couple might not have thought of on their own. A machine for making milkshakes can be a fun surprise, and the couple will probably put it to use if they enjoy the frozen dessert.

Although there are many very entertaining electronic devices available for purchase, buying one for newlyweds can be risky. Many married people bring their own electronic items with them to the relationship, so they do not really need all that much more.

Very young newlyweds may be starting out with very little in the way of home supplies. Even things like folding chairs might be appreciated by these folks. Take into consideration what basics the couple already owns, and then try to think of something practical that you know they will be excited to receive. You may be surprised how much they will appreciate not having to go out and buy even simple home basics.

Keep your perspective when buying for a new couple. What you like or want is not always appropriate for someone else. You need to consider what the couple actually will want and need as they start their new life. Older couples may not need as many practical gifts, as they may have each collected quite a few of the basics on their own over time.

Sometimes something quirky or uncommon can be a fun wedding present idea. Consider pitching in with someone else and buying the couple a special weekend package at come romantic venue. If that does not strike your fancy, think about paying to get them a membership to a gym or some other place they would both enjoy.

You will want whatever you buy for a newlywed couple to be appreciated and put to use. No one wants to find the gift they purchased for someone sitting on a yard sale table. Be thoughtful and consider what you know about the bride and groom. Then, build a present idea around it.