The Grammarian helps a club speak with more care. You introduce a new word, listen closely to how everyone uses language, and report what you heard. It's a great early role, and Toastmanagers has a built-in Grammarian tool that keeps your notes in one place.
What the Grammarian does
- Introduces a Word of the Day at the start of the meeting
- Encourages members to use it
- Notes good language as well as slips
- Gives a short report near the end of the meeting
Choosing the Word of the Day
Pick a word that people could really use tonight. Avoid a word so obscure that nobody can fit it into a sentence.
- Good choices: tenacious, candid, resilient, meander, kindle
- Weaker choices: words that are hard to say or only work in one context
- Tip: match the theme of the meeting if there is one
A sample introduction
"Thank you, Toastmaster. Tonight's Word of the Day is candid, an adjective meaning open and honest. For example: thank you for your candid feedback. I'll be listening for candid all evening, and I'll also note any especially good use of language."
Keep it to about a minute. If your club uses visual aids, write the word on a card and put it where speakers can see it.
What to listen for
- Each use of the Word of the Day, and who said it
- Vivid descriptions, strong verbs, and memorable phrases
- Incorrect grammar, wrong words, and unclear sentences
- Clichés that have stopped meaning anything
Write down the exact words. "You said 'the silence had teeth', and I loved that" is more useful than "good imagery."
A sample report
"Thank you, General Evaluator. Our word tonight was candid, and we heard it four times, with extra credit to Priya, who used it twice. Best phrase of the night goes to James, who said the silence had teeth. One small note for all of us: fewer and less. Fewer applies to things we can count. Thank you."
Offer corrections as general points, without pointing out individuals. Aim for about two minutes.
Common mistakes
- Picking a word nobody can use
- Listing every slip, and making the report feel like a test
- Forgetting to celebrate good language
- Running long at the end of the meeting, when time is tightest
The easier way: the Grammarian tool in Toastmanagers
Paper notes get lost, and a Google Doc has to be set up again every week. In Toastmanagers, open Utilities and choose Grammarian.
- Word of the Day: enter the word, part of speech, and definition, and copy a ready-made introduction
- Word use: count each use as you hear it
- Observations: note a phrase and suggest a correction as the meeting runs
- Printable report: download the report when the meeting ends
It runs in any phone browser, so there's nothing to install and you don't need a laptop on the table.
Bring the Grammarian Into the App
Word of the Day, usage counts, observations, and a printable report in one place.
Get Started FreeNo credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Grammarian the same as the Ah-Counter?
They are separate roles, though smaller clubs often combine them. The Ah-Counter listens for filler words, while the Grammarian listens to word choice.
How do I find a good word?
Open a dictionary's word-of-the-day page, then ask yourself whether you'd say that word out loud this week.
Should I name people when I point out errors?
We wouldn't. Share the correction as a general note, and name people only when you're praising them.