Anastrophe is the inversion of the usual word order in a sentence, placing the emphasis on one or more of the words that have been reversed. This technique is commonly used in prose and poetry where its surprising word order can create a memorable phrase or help to preserve the meter or rhyme scheme.
Anastrophe example“One swallow does not a summer make” ―Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
“Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.” ―J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
“The greatest teacher, failure is.” ―Yoda in The Last Jedi
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. Through repetition, anaphora can connect and reinforce a series of thoughts, making it easier to remember them. Because of this, we often encounter anaphora in political speeches, song lyrics, and poems.
Anaphora exampleThere is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal […]
Epistrophe is the repetition of a word or words at the end of successive lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences. Its primary purpose is to draw attention to important ideas, create emphasis, and make key points more memorable. Because of this, we often encounter epistrophe in public speaking, song lyrics, and literature.
Epistrophe example“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
—The Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:11 (New International Version)
Periphrasis is the use of several words to form a longer sentence or phrase where a few words or even a single word could convey the same meaning. It involves a roundabout way of referring to something rather than naming it directly in a more concise form.
Periphrasis can appear in various contexts that call for indirect or elaborate language, including literature, bureaucratic texts, or situations in which we want to maintain social etiquette.
Periphrasis examples
Periphrastic example
Simplified example
Her olfactory system was suffering from a temporary inconvenience
Her nose was blocked
Please forgive my tardiness, as unforeseen circumstances caused me to arrive later than anticipated
I am sorry I am late
The sum total of all the parts that go to make up the whole
Hypophora is a technique in which a speaker or writer poses a question and immediately provides an answer. Hypophora is used to keep an audience engaged, anticipate their questions, and steer their thoughts in the direction the writer or speaker wants. We often encounter hypophora in public speaking, prose, and advertising.
Hypophora example Why should we invest in renewable energy? Because it offers a sustainable solution to our growing energy needs while reducing harmful emissions and combating climate change.
Rhetorical devices are linguistic tools used by speakers and writers to make their arguments more compelling. These devices involve playing with sentence structure, sound, or meaning to evoke a particular reaction from the audience and ultimately persuade them. We often encounter rhetorical devices in public speaking and written communication.
Rhetorical devices exampleHer smile was like sunshine on a cold winter day. [simile]
All birds lay eggs; a penguin is a bird; therefore a penguin lays eggs. [syllogism]
The project fell apart faster than the wings of Icarus as he flew too close to the sun. [allusion]
Purple prose is an excessive and flowery writing style that draws attention to itself, pulling the reader out of the story. It is characterized by long-winded sentences, unnecessary adjectives, and flamboyant vocabulary. While some writers may use purple prose deliberately for effect, it is generally considered a sign of poor writing and is best avoided.
Purple prose example “It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.”
The melodramatic tone in the opening lines of Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s 1830 novel Paul Clifford is a hallmark of purple prose.
An enthymeme is an argument in which one of the premises is implied because it is assumed to be obvious or already accepted by the audience. Instead of explicitly stating every element of the argument, speakers and writers rely on enthymemes to make a point quickly and efficiently.
Enthymemes are common in everyday communication, literature, and persuasive speeches.
Enthymeme examples Stealing is wrong because it causes harm to others. [“Causing harm to others is wrong” is implied]
She must be trustworthy since she is a doctor. [“Doctors are trustworthy” is implied]
I failed the test because the teacher does not like me. [“Teachers fail students they do not like” is implied]
Zeugma is the use of a word to modify or “govern” two or more words even though its use may be grammatically or logically appropriate with only one. This unusual construction often creates a surprising or humorous effect. Zeugma appears in various contexts, including poetry, prose, puns, and jokes.
Zeugma examplesI quickly dressedmyself and the salad.
She looked at the object with suspicion and a magnifying glass.
Chiasmus is the reversed repetition of grammatical structures or ideas in a sentence. In chiasmus, the first part of a sentence is repeated in reverse order in the second part, creating a mirror-like effect. This often enhances the meaning or impact of the statement without necessarily repeating the same words.
Chiasmus example in Shakespeare’s Othello“Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves”
Here, “dotes” and “strongly loves” mean the same thing, as do “doubts” and “suspects.”
