Prementioning

Prementioning is a communication technique where a speaker or writer introduces a topic, idea, or piece of information before it is directly discussed or revealed. This acts as a form of foreshadowing or priming, preparing the audience for what is to come. The purpose of prementioning can vary, including increasing anticipation, making the subsequent information more understandable, or establishing the relevance of the upcoming content.

In practice, prementioning might take the form of phrases like "Before we get to that, it's important to understand..." or "I'll be discussing a particularly interesting point later on." It can also be more subtle, such as hinting at a future development in a narrative. By signaling the presence of information, prementioning helps manage audience expectations and can improve comprehension by providing context or a framework for the information that follows. This technique is commonly observed in public speaking, educational settings, and storytelling. It can also be used to create suspense or to ensure that crucial details are not overlooked by signaling their eventual importance. The effectiveness of prementioning depends on how it is employed, as it can either enhance engagement or, if done poorly, feel manipulative or unnecessary.