Which of the following best describes fluency?

Fluency is best described as the smooth, forward flow of communication. This definition emphasizes the fluidity and continuity of speech, highlighting how well a speaker conveys thoughts without interruptions, hesitations, or other disruptions that can detract from effective communication. In fluency, the ease and rhythm of speech are crucial, focusing on how effortlessly words are produced to maintain a natural conversational tone.

The other choices, while related to aspects of communication, do not adequately capture the essence of fluency. Stretch and tempo of sounds focus more on the phonetic features of speech, clarity relates to how understandable speech is, and coherence of thoughts pertains to how logically connected and structured ideas are. Though these factors play a role in effective communication, fluency specifically refers to the overall flow and fluidity of speaking.