Public speaking is the process or act of performing a presentation focused around an individual directly speaking to a live audience in a structured, deliberate manner in order to inform, influence, or entertain them. Public speaking is commonly understood as the formal, face to face talking of a single person to a group of listeners. It is closely allied to presenting although the latter is more often associated with commercial activity. Most of the time, public speaking is to persuade the audience. Public speaking can be a powerful tool to use for purposes such as motivation, influence, persuasion, informing, translation, or simply ethos.