oral, verbal

“Verbal” (from Latin verbum, meaning “word”) refers to all words, whether spoken or written.

• Verbal communication includes both speech and writing.
• Non-verbal forms of communication use no words; they include sign language and body language.

Therefore, careful writers use “oral” to refer specifically to spoken words.

• Inez hoped there would be an oral exam: she disliked writing under pressure.

More and more, however, we see “verbal” used instead of “oral,” especially in the case of verbal contracts and verbal evidence.

• These are the police officer’s notes, based on the witness’s verbal (or oral) statement.
• Now that we have verbal agreement, would you please draw up a contract.
• Do you rely on verbal or visual cues to assess a person’s truthfulness?