No matter what you do and what you want to achieve in your life, there will come a time when you need to persuade someone to see things the way that you do. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they will agree with you, but you will want to understand the basics of persuasive language in order to increase your success in these kinds of situations.

A metaphorical method

Just as in good writing, using other words can help you to persuade someone to your viewpoint. Some of this isn’t meant to be deceptive, but rather it will help to allow the other person to see what you mean if they can not understand it in the way that you are describing it. For example, if you’re trying to explain the benefits of a new water heater, you might want to describe it as the money maker because of its efficiency and better energy consumption.

Change what you mean

Another way to use language to persuade people is to change what you mean what you are talking. This isn’t necessarily about changing what you think, but rather changing what it sounds like by changing the meaning. Better put, when you want to change the way that a romantic or business partner acts, you will try to change your persuasion into seeming to benefit the relationship itself, rather than to change the behavior. You don’t talk about what they’re doing wrong; you talk about what you want them to do so that the relationship can be better.

The words you choose

People can become persuaded by the details rather than the bigger ideas. When you see a commercial for the newest technological advance, don’t you find that you get swept up in the new features rather than the overall use? When you’re trying to persuade someone into seeing something the same way you do, you can try to use more descriptive words in order to make them see the situation the way that you do.

Sales techniques

When sales people want to persuade someone to do something or buy something, they use various forms of persuasive phrases and words. For example, you can say something like, ‘Well, that’s good, but this is better’ or something like, ‘That’s not all.’ Think about your favorite commercials and advertisements and slogans that they might have used. Try to see how you might be able to incorporate their slick moves into your next argument.

Punctuate for them

When you’re writing something down for your partner or in a business situation, using important punctuation can help to signify the parts that are most important to you. However, you can go overboard with this as well. Too many exclamation points can show that you might be a little over-anxious or excited. They can also look like you don’t know what words to emphasize so you just emphasize them all with these pieces of punctuation.

Words that convey emotion

When talking with someone that you know well, you will want to use words and phrases that they already associate with something good. For example, in a romantic or personal relationship, you can allude to inside or private jokes as a way to make your current points. Or you can use words that have special meanings to you in order to make the rest of your argument seem relevant to their needs.

This will take planning on your part to consider what the other person wants to hear from you and where they are coming from in your conversation.

How you put your words together

If you’re trying to make someone feel comfortable, you will want to use more casual language, while if you’re trying to impress someone, a formal kind of syntax will yield the better results for you. Realize who you are addressing and what they will be looking for when you are speaking. This method can also backfire when you aren’t comfortable with the words that you are using. You will need to become comfortable with what you are saying in order to show that you are confident in what you are trying to tell them.

Persuasion is really about what you say and how you say it. If you take the time to fully understand your audience as well as what you want to achieve, you will be successful.