Frequently asked questions

Deductive reasoning is considered stronger than inductive reasoning in a specific sense:

If a deductive argument’s premises are factually correct, and its structure is valid, then its conclusion is guaranteed to be true.

An inductive argument, in contrast, can only suggest the strong likelihood of its conclusion

Inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning are the two most prominent approaches to critical thinking and argumentation. Each plays a crucial role in reasoning and argumentation, but they serve different functions:

• Inductive reasoning relies on specific observations to form general conclusions. Example: “The sun has risen every day of my life; therefore, the sun will always rise every day.”
  • Cannot prove a conclusion with absolute certainty
  • Can result in informal logical fallacies (i.e., errors of content)
• Deductive reasoning (or formal reasoning) relies on general principles to form specific conclusions. Example: “All humans are mortal. Socrates was human. Therefore, Socrates was mortal.
  • Can prove a conclusion with absolute certainty if the premises are true and the argument has a valid form
  • Can result in formal logical fallacies (i.e., errors of form)

An example of analogical reasoning in everyday life is the expression “Love is a battlefield.” This analogy emphasizes the challenges, conflicts, and emotional turmoil that can occur in relationships. It suggests that navigating romantic relationships requires strategy, resilience, and sometimes sacrifice, much like a physical battle.

To determine the strength of analogical reasoning, the most important question to ask is whether the similarities between the two situations or entities being compared are relevant and meaningful to the conclusion being drawn.

Analogical reasoning and the representative heuristic both involve making judgments based on similarities between objects or situations, but there is a key difference:

• Analogical reasoning: A process of drawing conclusions or making inferences about a new or unfamiliar situation based on similarities with a known or familiar situation
• Representative heuristic: A mental shortcut or rule of thumb used to make judgments based on how closely an object or situation resembles a typical example or prototype

Analogical reasoning is sometimes considered a subcategory of inductive reasoning because it involves generalizing from specific instances to derive broader principles or patterns. However, some argue that analogical reasoning is distinct from induction because it involves drawing conclusions based on similarities between cases rather than generalizing from specific instances.

Along with abductive reasoning, they are forms of ampliative reasoning (in contrast to deductive reasoning).

The opposite of black-and-white thinking is often referred to as seeing “shades of gray” or recognizing nuance. This mindset involves appreciating subtleties and complexity and acknowledging a spectrum of possibilities.

Pushing back against the cognitive bias of black-and-white thinking enables us to form deeper and more balanced judgments about the world. Appreciating nuance and complexity helps us guard against logical fallacies such as false dichotomies.

Nuanced thinking involves recognizing that situations, ideas, and individuals are complex and typically have a combination of strengths and weaknesses, allowing for flexibility, understanding, and appreciation of diverse viewpoints and interpretations.

This is closely related to the idea of “seeing shades of gray,” an idiom often used in contrast to black-and-white thinking. This metaphor conveys the idea of considering and acknowledging multiple perspectives, recognizing complexities and nuances rather than interpreting everything in extreme terms.

In psychology, the term splitting describes a defense mechanism that involves thinking about people in extreme terms (e.g., seeing a person as completely good and later deciding that person is completely evil). Whereas black-and-white thinking is a cognitive bias that pertains to reasoning and affects humans in general, splitting involves human relationships and is associated with specific mental health conditions.

Thinking in extremes makes people susceptible to logical fallacies that involve exaggerated and simplistic representations of an issue, such as the false dilemma fallacy.

Binary thinking, or black-and-white thinking, involves categorizing ideas, people, and situations into two distinct, often opposite, groups. “Binary” in this context refers to a classification system that acknowledges only two possibilities, ignoring a spectrum that exists in between. This bias can lead to logical fallacies such as the either-or fallacy.

The plural form of premise is “premises.”

Here is an example of how “premises” can be used in a sentence:

“In a syllogism, it is crucial that both premises support the argument’s conclusion.”

A basic premise is a fundamental assumption or principle that serves as the foundation of an argument or theory. Basic premises are often implicit and taken for granted, serving as starting points from which logical deductions or inferences are made (e.g., “We assume, as a basic premise, that causing unnecessary suffering is morally wrong).

A premise is the basis for an argument. It is a foundational element upon which further conclusions or deductions are made. Premises play an especially important role in syllogisms, which express deductive reasoning.

Modus ponens arguments are always valid based on their logical structure, which ensures the conclusion logically follows from the premises.

However, for an argument to be both valid and sound, the premises must also be true. Validity refers to the argument’s structure ensuring the conclusion follows from the premises, while soundness refers to the argument’s validity plus the actual truth of the premises.

Modus ponens is not a logical fallacy; it is a valid form of deductive reasoning. Also known as “affirming the antecedent,” it employs a straightforward logical structure:

• If P, then Q.
• P.
• Therefore, Q.

However, flawed attempts at forming a syllogism often result in formal logical fallacies, such as denying the antecedent, which resembles modus ponens in form but fails to provide logical certainty:

• If P, then Q.
• Not P.
• Therefore, not Q.

Although the two arguments look similar, denying the antecedent is an invalid form of argument.

“Modus tollens” translates to “method of denying” in English.

In contrast, the Latin term “modus ponens” means “method of affirming.” Both refer to types of syllogisms.

A contrapositive negates and reverses a conditional (if–then) statement. For example, the contrapositive for the statement “If P, then Q” is “If not Q, then not P.”

Modus tollens validates the contrapositive, demonstrating that “not P” follows logically from “not Q” as follows:

• If P, then Q.
• Not Q.
• Therefore, not P.

Modus tollens is not a logical fallacy; it is a valid approach to deductive reasoning.

However, syllogisms such as modus tollens are often conflated with formal logical fallacies (or non sequitur fallacies).

The two fallacies that are most easily conflated with modus tollens are affirming the consequent and denying the antecedent.

• Affirming the consequent takes the form “If P, then Q. Q. Therefore, P.” This argument is invalid because P might not be the only potential cause of Q.
• Denying the antecedent takes the form “If P, then Q. Not P. Therefore, not Q.” This argument is fallacious because negating P doesn’t prove that Q is impossible.

“Syllogism” has several near-synonyms:

• formal argument
• deductive argument
• deductive reasoning
• logical deduction
• logical inference

Our AI Rewriter can help you find synonyms for words like “syllogism.”

The word “syllogism” is pronounced SIL-uh-jiz-uhm (IPA: /ˈsɪləˌdʒɪzəm/).

A literary syllogism mirrors formal logic by presenting two premises, often implicit, followed by a conclusion, enhancing a narrative’s depth and complexity.

For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch’s argument that all humans are created equal, coupled with evidence of Tom Robinson’s innocence, leads to the conclusion that Tom should be acquitted.

There are three main types of syllogisms in classical logic:

• Hypothetical syllogisms (also known as conditional syllogisms)
• Disjunctive syllogisms
• Categorical syllogisms

The main distinction between them is the relationships expressed by their premises.

An example of deductive reasoning in real life is a student forming conclusions about shapes and angles based on the laws of geometry.

• The sum of any triangle’s interior angles is 180°.
• Two angles in a given triangle are 50° and 60°.
• The third angle is 70°.

Deductive reasoning applies a general rule to a specific case to draw a conclusion.

Deductive reasoning is a crucial part of critical thinking, especially in domains such as philosophy, mathematics, and science. It allows us to make predictions and evaluate theories objectively.

Deductive arguments provide frameworks for testing hypotheses (typically developed through inductive reasoning) and allow us to establish conclusions with logical certainty.

Hypothetical syllogisms express deductive reasoning, beginning with relatively general premises and inferring specific conclusions. All three major categories of syllogisms (hypothetical syllogisms, disjunctive syllogisms, and categorical syllogisms) are deductive.

In contrast, inductive reasoning begins with specific observations and infers relatively broad conclusions.

In symbolic logic, the validity of a disjunctive syllogism can be proved using a truth table. This table expresses all truth values (i.e., true or false, expressed as T or F) of the premises and conclusion under all possible conditions.

This truth table demonstrates that disjunctive syllogisms are valid by showing that when both premises are true (which occurs in row three) the conclusion is also true.

An example of a disjunctive syllogism in media would be the narrator of a science documentary explaining, “Either the observed celestial object is a comet, or it is an asteroid. It has a tail, which comets have but asteroids do not; therefore, it is a comet.”

Note: Examples of “either–or” arguments seen in the media typically aren’t syllogisms. Arguments found in media discourse are typically examples of inductive reasoning. (When inductive arguments present exaggerated binary options and ignore nuance, they exemplify the either-or fallacy or the false dilemma fallacy.)

In media, reductio ad absurdum arguments can be used to demonstrate logical contradictions in policies or positions. For example, a news commentator might make the following argument against government surveillance:

“If total security requires total surveillance, then the government must monitor its own surveillance activities continuously to be consistent. This leads to the absurd conclusion that there must be an infinite number of layers of surveillance, each monitoring the previous layer.”

The Greek philosopher Zeno is renowned for his early examples of reductio ad absurdum, presented in the form of paradoxes. Zeno’s paradoxes challenged assumptions about time and space, laying the groundwork for later philosophers to formalize reductio ad absurdum.

Reductio ad absurdum is used in philosophy to uncover flaws and inconsistencies in various theories and beliefs.

For example, the following reductio ad absurdum argument is inspired by Emmanuel Kant:

“If moral relativism is true and all moral beliefs are equally valid, then the beliefs that ‘helping others is a moral duty’ and ‘helping others is never a moral duty’ must both be valid. This leads to a contradiction, as an action cannot be both a moral duty and not a moral duty simultaneously.”

This argument exposes how moral relativism defies the law of non-contradiction, encouraging further examination and refinement of moral theories.

In debates, loaded questions are used to discredit opponents and force them into a defensive position.

Examples of loaded questions used in debate:

• “Why don’t you care about x issue?”
• “Why do you dismiss the ethical implications of your argument?”
• “When will you admit that your argument lacks empirical evidence?”
• “Why would you back a policy that has always failed in practice?”

As an underhanded debate tactic, loaded questions are logical fallacies. They can be considered a form of circular reasoning.

You can use the QuillBot Paraphraser to improve the clarity of sentences and avoid ambiguity.

A classic example of a loaded question fallacy is “Have you stopped [bad behavior] yet?” For example, “Have you stopped cheating on your taxes yet?”

This logical fallacy is characterized by its assumptions. It is designed to get the respondent to either become defensive or agree with an assertion they either don’t believe or don’t want to admit.

Loaded questions are defined by their inherent assumptions or assertions that may not be agreed upon by the person being questioned. These assumptions are often unwarranted or unproven, leading the respondent into a rhetorical trap. The question is structured in such a way that any direct answer would implicitly confirm the assumption, thereby putting the respondent at a disadvantage.

This logical fallacy assumes the very thing it attempts to prove, making it a form of circular reasoning or begging the question.

Antonyms for ambiguity include clarity, precision, certainty, lucidity, and explicitness. These words describe a state of being clearly defined and easy to understand.

In contrast, ambiguity describes the condition of being unclear or having multiple meanings.

You can use QuillBot’s Paraphrasing Tool to help you vary your vocabulary to reflect your intended meaning.

Ambiguity is pronounced am-bih-GYOO-ih-tee (/ˌæm.bɪˈɡjuː.ɪ.ti/). Understanding ambiguity is an essential part of critical thinking and helps avoid logical fallacies such as the equivocation fallacy and the motte and bailey fallacy.

The Ethics of Ambiguity is a book by feminist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. It explores existentialist ethics, focusing on the ambiguity inherent in human existence and challenging the idea of absolute truths.

Having tolerance for ambiguity means being comfortable with uncertain and unclear situations. It involves the ability to accept, or even embrace, situations with multiple possible interpretations or outcomes.

The opposite is black-and-white thinking, the tendency to view people, situations, and ideas in absolute terms.

A major premise is one of the two premises in a syllogism. It is a broad statement expressing a generalization or a principle accepted as true. The major premise always comes first in a syllogism and contains the predicate of the conclusion.

For example, in the syllogism “All dogs have fur. Fido is a dog. Therefore, Fido has fur”, the major premise is “All dogs have fur”.

The word “amphiboly” is pronounced am-FIH-buh-lee (IPA: /æmˈfɪbəli/).

It is the name of a linguistic error as well as a logical fallacy (i.e., the amphiboly fallacy).

A fallacy of ambiguity occurs when an argument relies on ambiguous language or unclear definitions to mislead. These fallacies often exploit the vagueness or multiple meanings of terms to make an argument seem strong when it is not.

Fallacies in this category include the following:

• Equivocation fallacy: Shifting the meaning of a key term within an argument to mislead or confuse
• Amphiboly fallacy: Justifying a misinterpretation of a statement by exploiting its ambiguous sentence structure
• Motte and bailey fallacy: Defending a controversial position by retreating to a more widely accepted position when challenged, then returning to the original position

The amphiboly fallacy involves using the confusing syntax of a sentence to prove a point. Whereas many logical fallacies result from reasoning errors, the amphiboly fallacy stems directly from linguistic ambiguity—whether due to a mistake or an intentional misuse of language.

Its name is based on the term “amphiboly”: syntactic ambiguity that results in a sentence having multiple possible interpretations.

The term “motte and bailey” originates from the fortifications of medieval castles. A motte (a raised mound) provided a strong, defensible position, while a bailey (an enclosed courtyard) offered more accessible but less defensible space.

The motte and bailey fallacy is named after this castle design because, like the tactic of switching between an easily defensible position (the motte) and a more vulnerable but easier to access position (the bailey), it involves switching between extreme and moderate positions in an argument.

The motte and bailey fallacy and the straw man fallacy both involve misrepresenting an argument, but the main difference lies in their tactics:

• Motte and bailey fallacy: Modifying one’s own position to seem less extreme when challenged, then reverting to the original claim
• Straw man fallacy: Attacking a distorted version of an opponent’s argument

The motte and bailey fallacy can include coherent and logically sound points, but the strategy of shifting back and forth between two different claims is considered intellectually dishonest and makes an argument unsound overall. In other words, using this strategy is considered an informal logical fallacy.

The word “dichotomy” refers to a division or contrast between two things that are (or are represented as being) opposed or entirely different.

The false dichotomy fallacy occurs when someone presents a situation as having only two possible outcomes or options when there are more alternatives available.

Dichotomies are valid when, considering all scenarios, only two options are indeed possible.

Here are some examples of legitimate dichotomies:

• On or off (electricity)
• Present or absent
• Living or dead

Here is an example of how the word “dichotomy” can be used accurately in a sentence:

“The professor discussed the dichotomy between living and non-living entities, teaching students to distinguish between organisms that exhibit all characteristics of life and those that do not.”

The false dichotomy fallacy occurs when an issue is presented as if it had only two mutually exclusive possibilities, even though it is actually more complex. This fallacy is also called the false dilemma fallacy.

The false dichotomy fallacy is also known as the false dilemma fallacy or the either-or fallacy.

False equivalence fallacies and false analogy fallacies both involve arguing a point by making faulty comparisons. However, there is a key difference:

• False equivalence fallacy: Treating two significantly different situations or viewpoints as if they were equivalent (e.g., “It’s unfair to platform a NASA scientist without giving equal time to a flat earther; both are just expressing their opinions”)
• False analogy fallacy (or faulty analogy): Comparing two things that are similar in some way, but not similar enough to support the conclusion drawn (e.g., “Banning guns to reduce school shootings is as ridiculous as banning kitchen knives to reduce kitchen accidents; both problems are really caused by humans”)

Both the false equivalence fallacy and the false dilemma fallacy present flawed reasoning by oversimplifying complex situations or comparisons, but there is a difference:

• False equivalence fallacy: Incorrectly treating two different arguments or scenarios as equally significant or valid when they are not (e.g., comparing a minor traffic violation to a serious crime)
• False dilemma fallacy: Falsely presenting only two options or outcomes when there are actually more possibilities, thereby oversimplifying the situation (e.g., “You’re either with us or against us”)

Logical fallacies that involve false comparisons include the following:

• False equivalence fallacy: Incorrectly treating two different arguments or scenarios as equally significant or valid when they are not
• False analogy fallacy: Drawing comparisons (analogy) between two things that are not sufficiently similar, leading to an invalid inference
• False dichotomy fallacy: Presenting a situation as having only two options or outcomes, ignoring the possibility of other alternatives

The conjunction fallacy is typically considered a type of heuristic or cognitive bias. These are mental shortcuts that people use to make judgments and decisions. The conjunction fallacy specifically refers to the tendency to incorrectly believe that the conjunction of two events is more likely than one of the events occurring alone.

In psychology, the conjunction rule states that the likelihood of two events happening together cannot exceed the likelihood of either event happening independently.

This principle is fundamental to understanding logical reasoning and decision-making processes, particularly in contexts where individuals assess the likelihood of compound events.

The conjunction fallacy occurs when a person mistakenly believes the opposite: that two events are more likely to occur together than independently.

The conjunction fallacy occurs when someone believes two events are more likely to occur together than separately. This error in judgment often arises in situations where individuals assess the likelihood of combined events without correctly applying the principle that the probability of joint occurrences cannot exceed the probability of individual occurrences.

Examples of the burden of proof principle can be seen in many everyday contexts.

For example, if a person claims, “Astrology accurately predicts personality,” the person who makes this assertion must provide supporting evidence in order to make a compelling argument. This responsibility to provide evidence is the burden of proof.

If instead of offering evidence, the speaker challenges others to disprove the claim (e.g., “Astrology accurately predicts personality, and you can’t prove that it doesn’t”), this constitutes a logical fallacy known as the burden of proof fallacy.

In a debate, the person who makes a claim bears the burden of proof for that particular claim.

If one party makes a claim without supporting evidence and suggests that it must be assumed to be true unless someone else can disprove it, this person has committed the burden of proof fallacy.

There are two logical fallacies that involve essentially reversing the burden of proof:

• Burden of proof fallacy: Presenting a claim with no evidence and explicitly requiring others to disprove it
• Appeal to ignorance fallacy: Asserting that a claim is true simply because it hasn’t been disproven already

The fallacy of division incorrectly assumes that the properties of a whole apply to its parts.

Its counterpart is the fallacy of composition, which assumes that the properties of parts apply to the whole. These are not two forms of the same fallacy but distinct and essentially opposite errors.

The fallacy of division could also be compared to the ecological fallacy, which similarly involves making assumptions about the parts from the whole. However, the ecological fallacy applies strictly to the misuse of statistical data.

The fallacy of division bears similarities to other logical fallacies that involve overgeneralization:

• Hasty generalization fallacy: Making a broad generalization based on a small sample of information
• Ecological fallacy: Inferring qualities of individuals from group data without an adequate reason

The is-ought problem is related to the naturalistic fallacy, but there is a key difference:

• The is-ought problem is the unjustified leap from descriptive statements (describing what “is”) to prescriptive statements (describing what “ought to be”).
• The naturalistic fallacy is a specific instance of the is-ought problem, in which descriptions of natural phenomena are used to prescribe morality.

The term naturalistic fallacy was coined by British analytic philosopher G. E. Moore in his 1903 work Principia Ethica. Moore argued against defining moral qualities such as “goodness” on the basis of observations about nature.

David Hume did not use the term “naturalistic fallacy.” However, Hume’s thoughts on the problem of “is” vs. “ought” (first explored in A Treatise of Human Nature) influenced later discussions on the relationship between facts and values, including critiques of the naturalistic fallacy.

A non-fallacious argument can include the idea of what is “natural” or “unnatural” along with specific, evidence-based reasons.

However, an appeal to nature fallacy claims that something is good because it’s natural, or bad because it’s unnatural, without any justification.

Several fallacies could be considered similar to the appeal to nature fallacy:

• Naturalistic fallacy: Confuses what is natural with what is good, but in a strictly ethical sense
• Moralistic fallacy: Assumes that whatever is deemed moral must be natural or true
• False dilemma fallacy: Presents an oversimplified choice between two opposite extremes (e.g., “natural” and “unnatural”)

The appeal to novelty fallacy and the appeal to modernity fallacy are near opposites of the appeal to nature fallacy. Both contrast with the appeal to nature fallacy because they value newness for its own sake:

• Appeal to novelty fallacy: Assumes that new ideas and practices are inherently superior
• Appeal to modernity fallacy: Values modern approaches as opposed to traditional, historical, or natural approaches

The cherry picking fallacy is evident in the selective presentation of data. Examples can be found in areas such as scientific research and business:

In its annual report, a company emphasizes its achievements and obscures negative data: “This year, we expanded our customer base by 30%, making it our most successful year in terms of growth.” Although the report includes a comprehensive section on financial performance, it uses complex language and formatting that makes it less obvious that the company is also experiencing a downward trend in profit margins and an increase in operational costs.

As the example demonstrates, cherry picking is often applied to data to convey a specific narrative, aiming to validate a hypothesis or portray an organization more favorably than merited.

Both the cherry-picking fallacy and card stacking (sometimes called stacking the deck) mislead by presenting one-sided information, but while the two can overlap, there are key differences:

• Cherry picking fallacy: In reasoning and argumentation, choosing data that supports a certain conclusion while ignoring contradictory data
• Card stacking: In propaganda, shaping public perceptions through messaging that emphasizes favorable information and minimizes negative details

While card stacking is deliberate, committing the cherry picking fallacy doesn’t require intentionality.

The cherry picking fallacy is similar to the hasty generalization fallacy and the Texas sharpshooter fallacy, which also involve arguing from poorly chosen data. However, there are key differences:

• Cherry-picking: Selectively presenting data that supports an argument while ignoring contrary evidence
• Hasty generalization fallacy: Drawing broad conclusions from small or unrepresentative data samples without sufficient evidence
• Texas sharpshooter fallacy: Forming a theory after noticing specific data points, and then focusing only on information that fits this theory while ignoring the rest

The following example of an appeal to pity fallacy demonstrates how this fallacy replaces reasoned analysis with sympathy-inducing imagery:

Legislators debate a proposed bill that would require users to register online accounts with their legal names and government-issued IDs. A proponent of the bill tells the story of one teenager who was bullied online and argues, “Too many of our young people are bullied online by anonymous users, and too many of their lives have been ruined. We must protect our children from such dangers if we have any humanity.”

This example of an appeal to pity fallacy focuses exclusively on descriptions of online bullying and its effects on children without addressing the proposed bill’s logistics, potential efficacy, or implications for free speech and privacy.

The appeal to pity fallacy is a specific type of red herring fallacy. A red herring fallacy introduces irrelevant information that diverts attention from the main subject. The appeal to pity fallacy distracts specifically by evoking feelings of sympathy or guilt in an audience.

The appeal to pity fallacy is also known as argumentum ad misericordiam, which is Latin for “argument from compassion or pity.” It involves evoking sympathy to sidestep the core issues of an argument and avoid presenting solid evidence or reasoning.

Several fallacies are related to the appeal to pity fallacy, including the following:

• Red herring fallacy: Diverts from the main argument with irrelevant distractions; encompasses the appeal to pity among other many fallacies
• Appeal to emotion fallacy: Evokes emotions rather than presenting evidence and reasoning; the appeal to pity is a subtype
• Appeal to fear: Distracts from the core issues of an argument by focusing on fear; similar to the appeal to pity but focuses on a different emotion

To avoid the hasty generalization fallacy, apply critical thinking and scrutinize evidence carefully, using the following strategies:

• Select data samples that meet statistical criteria for representativeness.
• Question underlying assumptions and explore diverse viewpoints.
• Recognize and mitigate personal biases and prejudices.

A fallacy that contrasts with hasty generalization fallacy is the slothful induction fallacy.

• Hasty generalizations involve drawing premature conclusions with limited evidence.
• Slothful induction, in contrast, is the failure to draw warranted conclusions despite sufficient evidence, often because of preexisting biases and assumptions.

The hasty generalization fallacy and the appeal to anecdote differ in scope and in the type of evidence used to draw conclusions:

• The hasty generalization fallacy involves drawing a far-reaching conclusion from a small or unrepresentative sample of data, regardless of the type of evidence.
• An appeal to anecdote is a specific type of hasty generalization that relies on personal stories or isolated instances as the sole evidence to support a broad conclusion.

The appeal to ignorance fallacy can take two forms:

• Arguing that a claim is true because it has not been proven false (e.g., “Ghosts are real because science has never disproved their existence.”)
• Arguing that a claim is false because it has not been proven true (e.g., “We’ve found no clear evidence of life on other planets, so that proves we’re alone in the universe.”)

Both forms of the fallacy make the same essential error, misconstruing the absence of contrary evidence as definitive proof.

The lack of definitive proof that cryptids, such as Bigfoot, do not exist is sometimes presented as evidence that they do exist. This line of argumentation is an example of the appeal to ignorance fallacy that one might encounter in everyday life.

The appeal to ignorance fallacy is often countered with the maxim “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” A lack of evidence may merely reflect the current limitations of our knowledge; it does not necessarily mean that evidence will never be discovered.

An argument can include an appeal to relevant traditions without committing the appeal to tradition fallacy. There is a key difference between arguments that consider traditions and arguments that commit the fallacy:

• Appeal to tradition fallacy: Assumes that tradition alone is adequate proof; disregards contemporary contexts and evidence
• Sound argument: Mentions relevant traditions as a factor to consider; takes into account modern contexts and evidence-based reasoning

Both the appeal to tradition fallacy and the appeal to emotion fallacy can leverage social pressures and sentiments, but they do so in different ways:

• Appeal to tradition fallacy: Exploits the human tendency to conform to social norms, often leveraging emotional and social factors
• Appeal to emotion fallacy: Manipulates by directly targeting feelings such as fear, loyalty, or sympathy

The opposite of the appeal to tradition fallacy is the appeal to novelty fallacy, also known by its Latin name, argumentum ad novitatem.

The appeal to novelty fallacy occurs when an argument assumes that something is superior simply because it is new or modern.

Like the appeal to tradition fallacy, it relies on the timing of an idea or practice to prove its merits.

The ad populum fallacy asserts that a claim is true solely because it’s popular. This fallacy typically occurs in an argument that disregards the need for evidence or sound reasoning, relying instead on the human tendency to conform to prevailing opinions.

In politics, the ad populum fallacy can compel conformity through either desire (e.g., the desire to belong to the winning party) or fear (e.g., the fear of the stigma of supporting an unpopular candidate).

One historical example of ad populum reasoning is the Red Scare phenomenon in the United States. During periods of strong anti-communist sentiment in the twentieth century, many United States citizens were accused of being communists, often based on accusations without any other evidence. The fear of communism and the pressure to conform to anti-communist sentiments led to snowballing accusations and blacklisting

Ad populum fallacies and appeal to authority fallacies both rely on people’s opinions to persuade, but there is a key difference:

• Ad populum fallacies emphasize the number of people who support a belief or practice.
• Appeal to authority fallacies focus on the expertise of the individual or group who support a belief or practice.

The core problem with the equivocation fallacy is its deceptive nature. An argument that commits this fallacy is misleading because it uses a word in multiple ways without acknowledging the different meanings.

The equivocation fallacy can lead an audience to accept a conclusion that seems to be supported by the premises but is actually based on a semantic trick.

Examples of equivocation fallacies can be found in many advertisements. In particular, advertisements for products marketed as natural, environmentally friendly, or healthy often commit the equivocation fallacy.

“Feeling tired? Pick up a can of NutriBuzz, the healthy energy drink. It’s designed to energize you to pursue a healthy lifestyle, so you can hit the gym and stay active.”

This advertisement initially suggests that NutriBuzz is a “healthy” product, implying that its ingredients are beneficial. However, the primary benefit mentioned is an energy boost to support a “healthy” lifestyle (i.e., exercise), which doesn’t necessarily make the drink itself healthy in terms of ingredients.

Genetic fallacies are similar to ad hominem fallacies in that they are both fallacies of relevance that focus on the source of an argument rather than criticizing it in terms of facts and reasoning. However, there is a difference:

• Ad hominem fallacies focus on whoever is currently presenting an argument as the sole basis for rejecting it.
• Genetic fallacies focus on the original sources of an argument (e.g., people, cultures, movements) as the sole basis for rejecting it.

Fallacies of relevance, also known as red herring fallacies, divert attention from the core issues of an argument, dismissing an opposing view based on irrelevant information. Examples include the following:

• Genetic fallacies, which focus on the origins of the ideas expressed
• Tu quoque fallacies, which criticize the supposed hypocrisy of the person presenting the argument
• Straw man fallacies, which attack a distorted version of the opponent’s real argument

Arguments that commit logical fallacies can be misleading because they typically resemble valid or sound arguments on a superficial level, while they actually present conclusions that aren’t adequately supported by their premises.

Fallacious arguments are often effective at misleading an audience because they fall into convincing patterns of errors that people tend to make based on emotional instincts, cognitive biases, and heuristic decision-making patterns.

The no true Scotsman fallacy is inherently fallacious when used to arbitrarily dismiss counterexamples that disprove a general claim. However, arguments that look similar at a glance aren’t always fallacious. The soundness or fallaciousness of the argument depends on the nature of the claim and the definitions involved.

If a claim is made about a category based on well-defined, objective, and agreed-upon criteria, then refining a definition to exclude a counterexample that doesn’t meet those criteria typically isn’t considered fallacious.

No true Scotsman arguments are fallacious because they arbitrarily redefine criteria to exclude counterexamples rather than addressing the substance of counterarguments. This technique allows one to avoid engaging with evidence in an intellectually dishonest manner, rendering the debate useless.

The appeal to purity fallacy and the no true Scotsman fallacy are closely related, but the appeal to purity fallacy is broader:

• Appeal to purity fallacies dismiss deviations from an idealized form, rejecting any variation or nuance within a belief system or identity.
• No true Scotsman fallacies are a type of appeal to purity that involves dismissing counterexamples to defend a specific claim.

The false dilemma fallacy is also known as the false dichotomy, false binary, or either-or fallacy.

The false dilemma fallacy artificially limits choices, creating a situation where it seems there are only two mutually exclusive options. This fallacy rules out the possibility of any alternative, including combined or middle-ground solutions.

The following strategies can help you avoid committing the false dilemma fallacy:

• Explore alternatives: Make a habit of considering a range of possible options, including the less obvious and less popular possibilities.
• Avoid extremes: Refrain from framing arguments or choices in an overly polarized or binary manner.
• Use nuanced language: Use language that reflects the complexity of the issue and avoids oversimplification.
  
• Seek common ground: Look for areas of agreement and compromise to bridge differences.
  

Post hoc and non sequitur fallacies both involve the concept of “following.” However, post hoc fallacies are related to the chronological sequence of events, whereas non sequitur fallacies are related to the logical connection between statements.

• Post hoc fallacies are informal logical fallacies in which one event is assumed to have been caused by another solely because it follows temporally.
• Non sequitur fallacies are formal logical fallacies in which the conclusion doesn’t follow from the premises logically.

To accurately distinguish between the two fallacies, assess whether the argument’s focus is chronological (post hoc) or logical (non sequitur).

Examples of non sequitur fallacies, also known as formal fallacies, aren’t easy to find in daily life because they typically occur in formal disciplines such as logic, mathematics, and physics. The following example illustrates the nature of a non sequitur fallacy:

• Premise: All cats are mammals.
• Premise: A dog is a mammal.
• Conclusion: Therefore, a dog is a cat.

More specifically, this example falls into the subcategory of the fallacy of the undistributed middle, in which the middle term in the premises doesn’t cover all possible cases, leading to a faulty conclusion.

The direct opposite of the fallacy of composition is the fallacy of division.

• The fallacy of composition occurs when an argument incorrectly assumes that what is true for the parts is also true for the whole (e.g., if a company has some successful products, the company must be successful on the whole).
• The fallacy of division occurs when an argument incorrectly assumes that what is true for the whole is also true for its individual parts (e.g., if a car is well made overall, its individual components must be well made).

A related concept is the ecological fallacy, an error in statistical analysis where conclusions about individuals are wrongly inferred from group-level data. While not the exact opposite of the fallacy of composition, the ecological fallacy also involves the unwarranted transfer of qualities between parts and wholes

The fallacy of composition can be considered a type of hasty generalization fallacy.

• Hasty generalization fallacies involve drawing broad conclusions from an inadequate sample of information.
• Fallacies of composition specifically assume characteristics of a whole based on characteristics of an individual component.

Cognitive biases and logical fallacies are distinct but related concepts that both involve errors in reasoning.

• Cognitive biases refer to inherent human tendencies toward specific erroneous thought patterns.
• Logical fallacies are errors in persuasive communication that undermine the validity or soundness of an argument.

Logical fallacies sometimes result from, or appeal to, cognitive biases.

To identify a false cause fallacy, look for the following mistakes in an argument:

• Unsubstantiated causal claim: Assess whether the argument asserts a cause-and-effect relationship without providing adequate evidence to support the claim.
• Ignoring other possible causes: Observe whether the argument overlooks or dismisses other plausible explanations for the observed outcome.
• Correlation or timing assumed to prove causality: Beware of conclusions based solely on correlations or the order of events, which aren’t sufficient to prove causation.

In the correlation–causation fallacy, a perceived similarity or relationship between two variables is wrongly assumed to imply a cause-and-effect relationship. It’s important to understand the differences between correlation and causation:

• Correlation: variables change together or share common characteristics
• Causation: one variable, event, or phenomenon directly leads to another

The maxim “correlation does not imply causation” is often used to rebut the correlation–causation fallacy. Observing a similarity or relationship between two variables does not necessarily indicate a causal link.

False cause fallacies assume a causal relationship between events, as demonstrated in the following examples:

• A manager attributes a company’s profit increase to a new marketing campaign while ignoring market trends.
• The principal of a high school credits a new textbook for improved student grades while disregarding the impact of a new tutoring program.
• A city’s mayor takes credit for a reduction in crime, attributing it to increased policing, while overlooking the benefits of new community initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and improving education.

There are several types of false cause fallacies that have specific names, including the post hoc fallacy and the cum hoc fallacy.

The following fictional scenario is an example of the base rate fallacy:

A search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) program develops an algorithm with 99% accuracy for identifying alien signals among cosmic noise, where the actual occurrence of alien signals is estimated to be only 1 in a million. When the algorithm flags a signal as alien, the media reports that alien life has been contacted. This assumption is based on the algorithm’s high accuracy rate, but it ignores the extremely low probability that the signal is from alien life.

In this example, the media commits the base rate fallacy by ignoring statistical reality and focusing on a specific incident. Given the base rate of 1 alien signal in a million, the vast majority of flagged signals are false positives.

To avoid being influenced by the base rate fallacy, consider the following strategies:

• Prioritize statistical data: Always consider the general frequency of an event before focusing on specific instances or results.
• Avoid overreliance on specifics: Don’t let compelling details overshadow overall statistical probabilities.

Apply Bayesian reasoning: Start with initial probabilities and systematically update them with new evidence to balance general data with specific information.

The term “cost-benefit fallacy” is not a formally recognized logical fallacy, but it might be used to refer to errors in cost-benefit analysis.

Cost-benefit analysis is a framework for systematically evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of investments, policies, and other decisions in fields such as economics, public policy, and healthcare.

Mistakes in cost-benefit analyses can include the following:

• Confirmation bias: favoring information that supports preconceived notions
• Incomplete data: overlooking relevant costs or benefits
• Subjectivity: biases in valuing intangible benefits or costs
• Discounting: incorrect application of discount rates affecting future values

Time horizon: misjudging the appropriate timeframe for analysis

The appeal to emotion fallacy is problematic because it replaces logic and evidence with emotionally charged content.

Including evocative language and imagery in an argument is an acceptable rhetorical strategy. However, an argument is rendered unsound when an emotional appeal is used to distract from the main points of the argument.

All ecological fallacies have the following traits:

• They occur in arguments premised on statistics.
• They use group-level statistics to make inferences about individuals.

The ecological fallacy can occur in the field of epidemiology when individual risk factors or health outcomes are inferred from population-level data. Consider the following example:

• Population-level data: Research indicates that Japan has one of the lowest rates of heart disease globally. The low incidence of heart disease is commonly attributed to healthy lifestyle choices.
  
• Ecological fallacy inference: A graduate student conducts a study on a small group of test subjects from Japan and assumes that each test subject has a very low risk of heart disease.
  

Logical fallacies that are common in research include the following:

• Hasty generalization: Drawing broad and general conclusions from a small or unrepresentative sample of data
• Fallacy of composition: Assuming that what is true of the parts must be true of the whole
• Post hoc fallacy: Inferring that simply because one event followed another, the first event must have caused the second event
• Ecological fallacy: Forming conclusions about individuals based on group-level data
• False cause fallacy: Inferring a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables when none exists

The either-or fallacy is an informal logical fallacy because it is a content-level error that occurs in inductive arguments. Inductive arguments reason from specific observations to propose general principles. If an inductive argument commits an informal fallacy, it is called “unsound.”

By contrast, formal fallacies are structural errors that occur in formal (or deductive) arguments and make the argument “invalid.”

The either-or fallacy is also known as “false dilemma” or “false dichotomy.” These terms are used interchangeably to describe a common logical fallacy that limits options to just two, overlooking the potential for middle-ground solutions or a spectrum of possibilities.

To avoid the either-or fallacy, consider the following questions:

• Are there any other options than the two presented?
• Could a spectrum or middle ground exist between the two extremes?
• Is every possibility being portrayed accurately and with appropriate nuance?

Post hoc fallacies can be recognized by the following attributes:

• A causal relationship is asserted with certainty
• The fact that one event happened first is the only evidence that suggests it caused the next event
• No evidence is provided
• Other contributing factors are ignored or underestimated

Post hoc and hasty generalization fallacies both involve jumping to conclusions, but there is a difference between the two.

• Hasty generalization fallacies derive broad assumptions from an inadequate sample of evidence.
• Post hoc fallacies assume cause-and-effect based on the order of events.

The post hoc fallacy could be considered a subcategory of the hasty generalization fallacy that focuses specifically on causation and timing.

The post hoc fallacy and the non sequitur fallacy are sometimes conflated, but they are fundamentally different.

• Non sequitur is Latin for “does not follow.” A non sequitur is an invalid deductive argument whose conclusion doesn’t follow logically from its premises because of its faulty structure. Any formal fallacy that doesn’t fall into another, more specific category can be called a non sequitur fallacy.
• Post hoc ergo propter hoc is Latin for “after this, therefore because of this” and refers to an informal fallacy in which causation is assumed based on the chronological order of events. It is also called “post hoc fallacy.”

The following scenario is an example of the post hoc fallacy:

A country introduces new environmental regulations. Shortly afterward, there is a downturn in the economy. Some politicians argue that the new regulations caused the economic decline, neglecting other global economic factors at play.

The argument is fallacious because it assumes that the order of events is sufficient to prove causation. Although it’s possible that the regulations affected the economy, they can’t be assumed to be the main or sole cause of the economic downturn without further evidence.

The logical fallacy “tu quoque” is pronounced /ˈtuː ˈkwoʊkwiː/ (too-kwoh-kwee).

Other accepted pronunciations include the following:

• /ˈtyuː ˈkwoʊkwiː/ (tyoo-kwoh-kwee)
• /ˈtuː ˈkoʊkwiː/ (too-koh-kwee)

The tu quoque fallacy is a specific kind of ad hominem fallacy.

• Ad hominem fallacies criticize a person for something irrelevant to the topic at hand.
• Tu quoque fallacies specifically criticize the person posing a question, criticism, or argument with an accusation of hypocrisy.

Both belong to the category of fallacies of relevance, also known as red herring fallacies.

The tu quoque fallacy and whataboutism sometimes overlap, but they have distinct characteristics.

• Tu quoque is a form of ad hominem argument that counters criticism by pointing out hypocrisy in the critic’s behavior. It effectively says, “You do the same thing you’re criticizing me for.”
• Whataboutism is a broader tactic that involves responding to an accusation by deflecting to a different issue or making a counter-accusation. It shifts focus by essentially saying, “What about this other thing?”

Both are typically considered informal logical fallacies or specious approaches to argumentation.

Cognitive biases describe flawed thought processes, whereas logical fallacies describe errors in argumentation.

A cognitive bias describes a common error in judgment. Examples of cognitive biases include confirmation bias (i.e., the tendency to seek out information that confirms one’s beliefs) and the halo effect (i.e., the tendency to assume that someone who exhibits one positive attribute, such as beauty, also has another positive attribute, such as honesty).

A logical fallacy is a type of flawed argument. Many logical fallacies either result from or intentionally appeal to cognitive biases.

Yes, an appeal to ignorance is a type of logical fallacy. It involves asserting that because something hasn’t been proven true, it must be false, or because something hasn’t been proven false, it must be true (e.g., “Scientists can’t prove that the Egyptian pyramids don’t have extraterrestrial origins”).

There is an aphorism that is often used to counter arguments from ignorance: “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”

A similar mistake is the burden of proof fallacy, which occurs when someone makes a claim but doesn’t offer evidence, instead claiming that others must disprove it (e.g., “There’s a secret society manipulating world governments. Prove me wrong”).

Ad hominem is the informal logical fallacy of attacking a person instead of refuting an argument. Based on the Latin “to the person,” ad hominems focus on irrelevant criticisms of an individual rather than making a good-faith rebuttal.

Name-calling is one common form of ad hominem fallacy. It’s used to dismiss an argument by simply ridiculing the individual presenting it (e.g., “Now that we’ve heard the bleeding-heart proposals from my naive young colleague, let’s move on to discussing realistic solutions”).

The sunk cost fallacy can lead to an escalation of commitment (or commitment bias).

• The sunk cost fallacy is the mistake of remaining committed to a past decision based on the misconception that the costs already incurred can be recovered.
• An escalation of commitment is the act of increasing the resources or conviction invested in a failed course of action.

An escalation of commitment stems from fallacious sunk cost reasoning and entails committing even more time, money, effort, emotions, or conviction to a failed decision in a futile attempt to recover what has been lost.

Common types of fallacies, or errors in reasoning, that are found in research include the following:

• Correlation/causation fallacy: The mistaken assumption that a correlation (e.g., two events happening at the same time) implies a cause-and-effect relationship
• Ecological fallacy: Drawing conclusions about an individual’s characteristics by relying on collective data for a group
• The base-rate fallacy: Overlooking important statistical data, like the general frequency of an event, and focusing on less significant details, such as an isolated case
• Hasty generalization fallacy: Drawing broad conclusions based on insufficient or biased evidence
• Straw man fallacy: Misrepresenting or exaggerating an opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack
• False dilemma fallacy: Presenting only two options as if they were the only possibilities

Not all slippery slope arguments are fallacious.

• Fallacious slippery slope arguments overstate the certainty of the negative outcome and typically don’t provide adequate evidence.
• Non-fallacious slippery slope arguments acknowledge a series of logically connected steps leading from one event to another, with each step being reasonable and supported by evidence.

There are several ways to debunk slippery slope fallacies:

• Identify exaggerations or leaps of logic between the initial action and the undesirable outcome.
• Ask for substantiating evidence supporting the proposed relationships between the predicted events.
• Evaluate the validity of each link in the chain of events; if any of these links lack rationality or evidence, the entire argument may be compromised.

To effectively respond to a straw man fallacy, identify and explain the misrepresentation as precisely as possible. Restate your original argument accurately to dispel any misconceptions, and ask the other party to address your argument directly, rather than the distorted version. This approach not only highlights the fallacy but also refocuses the discussion on the substantive points of the debate.

The straw man fallacy disrupts productive discourse and makes it difficult to resolve problems by shifting focus away from the most relevant issues. Committing the straw man fallacy also causes a speaker to lose credibility, as it typically demonstrates a degree of intellectual dishonesty.

The straw man fallacy can be considered a subcategory of red herring fallacy.

• Red herring fallacies are also known as fallacies of relevance; they divert attention from the main topic of debate.
• Straw man fallacies focus on a specific type of irrelevant information: a simplistic or distorted version of the opposing argument.

Straw man arguments are the simplified, distorted, or fabricated versions of an opponent’s stance that are presented in debates where the straw man fallacy is committed.

Although many sources use circular reasoning fallacy and begging the question interchangeably, others point out that there is a subtle difference between the two:

• Begging the question fallacy occurs when you assume that an argument is true in order to justify a conclusion. If something begs the question, what you are actually asking is, “Is the premise of that argument actually true?” For example, the statement “Snakes make great pets. That’s why we should get a snake” begs the question “Are snakes really great pets?”
• Circular reasoning fallacy, on the other hand, occurs when the evidence used to support a claim is just a repetition of the claim itself.  For example, “People have free will because they can choose what to do.”

In other words, we could say begging the question is a form of circular reasoning.

The circular reasoning fallacy is a logical fallacy in which the evidence used to support a claim assumes that the claim is true, resulting in a self-reinforcing but ultimately unconvincing argument. For instance, someone might argue, “This brand is the best (conclusion) because it’s superior to all other brands on the market (premise).”

Argumentum ad hominem is a Latin phrase meaning “argument against the person.” Ad hominem arguments, often referred to in daily life as “personal attacks,” distract from the main point of an argument by unfairly criticizing the person making it.

Ad hominem is the name of a logical fallacy, but the term can also refer to a general insult that’s not part of a logical argument.

A fallacious ad hominem argument shifts the focus away from the main topic by making irrelevant personal attacks.

Not all personal criticisms are ad hominem fallacies. In some contexts, critiques of an individual’s character are relevant to an argument.

Ad hominem is a persuasive technique that attempts to sway an audience’s opinion by criticizing an individual’s personal characteristics.

When used to sidestep the main topic of an argument, an ad hominem is an informal logical fallacy. The use of an ad hominem attack is often intended to manipulate. It can be an obstacle to productive debate.

The complex question fallacy and begging the question fallacy are similar in that they are both based on assumptions. However, there is a difference between them:

• A complex question fallacy occurs when someone asks a question that presupposes the answer to another question that has not been established or accepted by the other person. For example, asking someone “Have you stopped cheating on tests?”, unless it has previously been established that the person is indeed cheating on tests, is a fallacy.
• Begging the question fallacy occurs when we assume the very thing as a premise that we’re trying to prove in our conclusion. In other words, the conclusion is used to support the premises, and the premises prove the validity of the conclusion. For example: “God exists because the Bible says so, and the Bible is true because it is the word of God.”

In other words, begging the question is about drawing a conclusion based on an assumption, while a complex question involves asking a question that presupposes the answer to a prior question.

Fallacious appeals to authority make the mistake of relying excessively on the endorsements of experts. These authorities are typically credentialed or famous people, but, in many cases, they aren’t qualified to make definitive judgments about the issue at hand.

Non-fallacious appeals to authority cite legitimate experts on the topic of debate and include other supporting evidence or reasoning.

Appeals to authority can be convincing because the people being cited aren’t present to explain the evidence. It can be difficult to critically evaluate whether the quoted experts have genuine expertise on the subject and whether their opinions are well-founded and unbiased.

Identifying an appeal to authority fallacy begins with paying attention to any quoted experts and asking the following questions:

• Does the individual or group cited have expertise on the specific subject at hand?
• Is there a consensus among the experts, or is there significant disagreement? If there is an alternative view held by some experts, can your opponent justify choosing one position over the other?
• Can any evidence of bias be found that might cast doubt on the expert’s credibility?

The red herring fallacy hinders constructive dialogue and prevents meaningful progress in addressing the central issues of a discussion.

The intentional use of red herrings and other fallacies can mislead and manipulate the audience by drawing attention to unrelated topics or emotions, potentially swaying opinions without addressing the substance of the original argument.

The halo effect is important in marketing because it means that an individual product characteristic can influence how consumers perceive the product’s other characteristics.

A product may be perceived as being high quality if the packaging looks expensive, for instance—even if this isn’t the case. Conversely, the halo effect can work in the other direction (the horn effect) and negatively impact sales if the packaging of a high-quality product looks too cheap.

The horn effect is the halo effect in reverse. While the halo effect makes us more likely to make positive judgments about someone or something based on a single positive characteristic, the horn effect makes us more likely to make negative judgments based on a negative characteristic.

For instance, the horn effect might lead you to unconsciously decide against asking a new colleague for help because you formed a negative first impression of them based on the way they were dressed when you were introduced.

Common forms of cognitive bias include:

• Halo effect
• Confirmation bias
• Anchoring bias
• Belief bias
• Actor–observer bias
• The Baader–Meinhof phenomenon
• Framing effect
• Availability heuristic

The observer-expectancy effect is a cognitive bias referring to the tendency of researchers inadvertently influencing their study participants. It can contain elements of the Pygmalion effect as well as the halo or horn effects. It is also related to the idea of self-fulfilling prophecies, which can have either a positive or negative impact.

This is one of the reasons that experimental design is so important in the crafting of a research proposal, to reduce the risk that this effect will color the eventual results.

The Rosenthal effect is another name for the Pygmalion effect. It describes how a teacher, leader, or coach can improve the performance of those they are leading by consistently having, and expressing, high expectations of them.

It is named after one of the researchers (Lenore Jacobson and Robert Rosenthal) who first described the effect. In short, it shows how low expectations of others can lead them to perform badly, while high expectations can lead to higher performance.

Affirming the consequent is invalid because it assumes a specific cause for an outcome that can have multiple causes. Consider the formula for affirming the consequent:

• If P, then Q.
• Q.
• Therefore, P.

The above syllogism is fallacious because Q can be true for reasons other than P. The mistake lies in assuming a single cause for an effect or trait.

For example:

• If a number is a perfect square, then it is positive.
• The number 14 is positive.
• Therefore, the number 14 is a perfect square.

You can avoid committing the affirming the consequent fallacy by remembering that in hypothetical syllogisms, the antecedent should be affirmed instead.

The correct way to form a valid affirmative hypothetical syllogism is:

• If P, then Q.
• P.
• Therefore, Q.

In this correct form of the syllogism, called modus ponens (or “affirming the antecedent”), the fact that the antecedent (P) is true logically requires that the consequent (Q) is also true.

Affirming the consequent and denying the antecedent are both logical fallacies that occur in hypothetical syllogisms, but the two fallacies have different forms.

Affirming the consequent takes the following form:

• If P, then Q.
• Q.
• Therefore, P.

Denying the antecedent takes the following form:

• If P, then Q.
• Not P.
• Therefore, not Q.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc is a Latin phrase meaning “after this, therefore because of this.” It refers to the logical fallacy of assuming that because Event B follows Event A, Event A caused Event B. This error is often referred to as the post hoc fallacy.

Denying the antecedent is a logical fallacy because the absence of one potential cause doesn’t mean that no other causes exist.

Consider the following example:

• If it’s raining (antecedent), then the ground is wet (consequent).
• It’s not raining.
• Therefore, the ground is not wet.

This argument is clearly faulty because the ground could be wet for many reasons other than rain (e.g., lawn sprinklers). In other words, the conclusion is not solely dependent on the premise.

Denying the antecedent is an invalid argument form. In other words, it is a formal logical fallacy.

In logic, the term “invalid” describes a type of argument in which the premises do not guarantee the truth of the conclusion, even if all the premises are true. In the fallacy of denying the antecedent, it is possible that the expected outcome could occur without one specific cause being true.

Consider the following example:

• If an animal is a bird, then it lays eggs.
• This animal is not a bird.
• Therefore, it does not lay eggs.

It is clear that this argument is invalid. The animal could be an insect or a reptile or many other animals. The conclusion is not guaranteed by the premises.

A real-life example of denying the antecedent is the following argument:

• If someone is a professor, then they have a PhD.
• Maria is not a professor.
• Therefore, Maria does not have a PhD.

This is an invalid argument because the fact that Maria is not a professor does not necessarily mean she does not have a PhD. Maria might be someone who has a PhD but chose a non-academic career path.

In commercials, weasel words like “up to,” “virtually,” and “helps” are often used. These words allow companies to make claims about their product without providing details that could later be challenged.

For instance, “This cream helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles” implies assistance without guaranteeing wrinkle elimination.

Use QuillBot’s Paraphrasing Tool to find ways to express your exact meaning and avoid ambiguous language.

Common weasel words include:

• May
• Tends to
• Some
• Often
• Possibly
• Virtually
• Helps
• Up to
• Like
• Reportedly

These words allow a speaker or writer to avoid making firm commitments or statements that might later be challenged.

Try QuillBot’s Paraphraser to vary your word choice to communicate clearly and directly.

Weasel words (i.e., words that are unhelpfully vague, such as “possibly” and “reportedly”) should be avoided because they can diminish the clarity and honesty of communication, leading to misunderstandings and a lack of trust. Avoiding these words can enhance the transparency and trustworthiness of your statements.

Try QuillBot’s Paraphraser to find the right words to communicate your message.

An example of personification is the sentence “The rusty hinge screamed every time the door opened.” Here, the hinge is described as “screaming,” which is a human action associated with expressing pain or distress. This personification creates a vivid and memorable image, emphasizing the condition of the hinge.

Personification is used for several reasons. By describing nonhuman entities in human terms, writers can do the following:

• Foster an emotional connection between the objects of personification and the reader
• Highlight a character’s relationship with a nonhuman entity, such as the protagonist’s car or house
• Create vivid and imaginative descriptions that help readers immerse themselves in the story

An example of satire is Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Throughout the story, the main character, Huck, is in moral conflict with the established values of his time regarding slavery and racism. As a result, he feels guilty for doing good deeds. The novel satirizes the hypocrisy of pre-Civil War society in the American South and shows how ideas of right and wrong were all mixed up.

Parody and satire are both literary techniques used to comment on and criticize various subjects, but they have some differences:

A parody is an imitation of a specific author, work, or genre for comedic effect. It exaggerates or highlights the characteristics of the original to make fun of it while maintaining a lighthearted tone. For example, the novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a parody of Jane Austen’s work.

Satire, on the other hand, targets behaviors, institutions, or beliefs. It humorously criticizes them to highlight flaws in society and inspire change. Satirists may use parody, irony, or exaggeration to get their point across. Although satire can be funny, its tone can sometimes be dark and somber.

In short, parody is a form of satire that imitates a specific work, while satire is a broader literary technique that uses humor and irony to criticize society, its institutions, and its flaws.

Literary devices and rhetorical devices are closely related, but they differ in their purpose and use:

• Literary devices encompass a broad category of artistic techniques that writers use to enhance their writing, adding interest and depth. For example, devices like irony or metaphor and narrative styles like first-person point of view fall under this category.
• Rhetorical devices, on the other hand, are techniques used to persuade and evoke emotion. Examples include metonymy, appeal to emotion, and understatement. Although these can be used as literary devices, we often encounter them in various forms of communication, such as speeches, advertisements, and debates where their primary role is to influence decision-making.

In short, literary devices are used to enrich a narrative, whereas rhetorical devices are more focused on persuasion and emotional appeal. However, literary and rhetorical devices sometimes overlap (e.g., irony).

Literary devices and figures of speech are both techniques used in writing and speaking; however, they serve different purposes and are used in different ways.

• Literary devices are techniques or tools that a writer uses to create a specific effect or convey a certain meaning. These devices include elements of language, structure, style, and narrative technique.
• Figures of speech, on the other hand, are a subset of literary devices. They primarily involve the use of language in non-literal ways. Examples of figures of speech include metaphors, synecdoche, and consonance.

In short, while all figures of speech are literary devices, not all literary devices are figures of speech because literary devices encompass a broader range of techniques.

“Onomonopia” is an incorrect spelling of the word “onomatopoeia.”

Onomatopoeia refers to the formation of words that resemble the sound they are referencing, but it also refers to the words created from this process. Examples of onomatopoeia include the “buzz” of a bee, the “zap” of an electrical discharge, or the “beep” of a machine.

The opposite of asyndeton is polysyndeton. It is the repeated use of conjunctions like “and,” “or,” “but,” etc., in close succession, particularly where they are not necessary. Unlike asyndeton, which omits conjunctions, polysyndeton adds conjunctions for effect (e.g., “We had sandwiches and chips and fruit and cookies and soda for our picnic”).

President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address (1961) includes an example of asyndeton: “[…] that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” Here, the use of asyndeton emphasizes his commitment to liberty.

The sentence “The dog jumped and barked and frolicked in the field” is an example of polysyndeton. The repeated use of the conjunction “and” conveys a sense of continuous movement, energy, and excitement.

The opposite of polysyndeton is asyndeton. It is the deliberate absence of conjunctions like “and,” “or,” “but,” etc. Unlike polysyndeton, which repeatedly adds conjunctions, asyndeton omits conjunctions for effect (e.g., to speed up the rhythm).

Litotes and verbal irony are two literary devices that are used to convey meaning indirectly, but they do so in different ways.

• Litotes is a form of understatement that downplays the significance of something by emphasizing its opposite. For example, the phrase “that’s not too shabby” indicates that something is actually good. Litotes can express verbal irony, but not all litotic statements are ironic.
• Verbal irony, on the other hand, is a broader term and involves statements that are contrary to their literal meaning. Its purpose is to add humor or make a point, and this can be achieved through sarcasm, overstatement, or understatement.

In short, verbal irony and litotes can sometimes overlap or be used in combination with each other. However, litotes relies on ironic understatement through negation, whereas verbal irony can involve various techniques that convey meaning beyond a literal interpretation.

The movie Zoolander can be seen as an example of Horatian satire.

Using exaggerated characters and situations, the movie satirizes the fashion industry and celebrity culture but does so in a light-hearted and entertaining way. Although it touches upon serious issues, like the exploitation of underpaid workers, the goal of this type of satire is to make the audience laugh while prompting them to contemplate the seriousness of the topic at hand.

Horatian satire and Juvenalian satire are two distinct types of satire that provide social commentary but have different characteristics and purposes.

• Horatian satire is more tolerant toward the absurdities in society and human behavior, and its primary goal is to amuse its audience.
• On the other hand, Juvenalian satire seeks to inspire social change by making the audience feel indignant toward social injustice, rather than simply entertaining them.

The movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb by Stanley Kubrick is an example of Juvenalian satire, which is one of the three main types of satire.

It employs dark humor and character exaggeration to satirize Cold War tensions and the absurdity of the nuclear arms race of the time. Behind the witty dialogue, however, the movie carries a serious message, highlighting how political and military forces drive humanity toward its destruction.

The words “wordiness,” “redundancy,” “indirectness,” “verbiage,” and the idiom “beating around the bush” are synonyms for circumlocution. They all point to an excessive and unnecessary use of words to describe something.

The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you find more alternatives for “circumlocution.”

An example of circumlocution is the phrase “twice five miles of fertile ground” in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “Kubla Khan.” Instead of “ten miles,” Coleridge uses more words to create imagery through a poetic expression.

“Circumlocution” functions as a noun in sentences. Here are some examples:

• “The politician’s circumlocution frustrated the audience, who wanted direct answers.”
• “Rather than providing a clear response, the witness employed careful circumlocution to avoid incriminating the defendant.”
• “Despite the CEO’s circumlocution, employees understood that plans for a ‘strategic reallignment’ meant layoffs would soon occur throughout the organization.”

Proverbs and idioms both convey meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words; however, there is a difference between them.

A proverb is a traditional saying that is used in daily life to give advice based on common sense or cultural experience. Proverbs can be metaphorical, but their meaning is easy to understand.

An idiom, on the other hand, is a phrase or expression whose literal meaning cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words. For example, “break the ice” means to initiate small talk to make others feel comfortable, but this is not evident.

In short, proverbs are well-known sayings that offer guidance, while idioms are figurative expressions used in a variety of contexts.

Proverbs and aphorisms both express general truths, and sometimes they may overlap; however, there is a difference between them.

A proverb is a short well-known saying that typically originates from folk culture and common human experience. Proverbs are used in everyday speech to give advice or guidance.

An aphorism, on the other hand, is a personal observation typically attributed to a writer or philosopher. It is a concise and witty statement expressing a truth about life.

In short, a proverb originates from folk wisdom and is used to give advice, whereas an aphorism is often attributed to a specific individual and is more thought-provoking.

An example of a proverb is the phrase “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” It means that when visiting a foreign land, it is best to follow the local customs. In a broader sense, it can also mean that when you are in an unfamiliar situation, it is best to take the lead from those who are familiar with it.

The words proverb and adage are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two.

A proverb is a short traditional saying that expresses a universal truth and is known by many people. Proverbs typically give practical advice about how to live and behave. For example, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

An adage, on the other hand, also expresses accepted wisdom about the people or the world, but it is not always in the form of advice. For example, “Love is blind.”

However, in common usage, the distinction between the two is not always clear.

A minor premise is one of the two premises in a syllogism. It presents a specific example of the belief that is stated in the major premise. The minor premise is the second statement in syllogism and contains the subject of the conclusion.

For example, in the syllogism “All books in that bookstore are second-hand. This book is from that store. Therefore, this book is second-hand”, the minor premise is “This book is from that store”.

“The Seafarer” is often categorized as an elegy due to its mournful tone and themes of sorrow and loss. The Old English poem, narrated in the first person, details the speaker’s hardships and solitude at sea while lamenting the loss of friends and the life left behind. It also follows the typical structure of an elegy—lament, reflection on the dead or lost, and consolation.

An example of elegy is the poem “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray.

Instead of focusing on the death of a particular person, the poem reflects on the lives and deaths of ordinary people in general. The poet contemplates death and remembrance while standing in a rural graveyard. He wonders how different the lives of those buried individuals might have been if they had been born into privilege. However, he ultimately concludes that all humans face the same fate, regardless of wealth and power, and also reflects on his own mortality.

The words elegy [eh-luh-jee] and eulogy [yoo-luh-jee] are both connected to loss and death; however, there is a difference between the two.

• An elegy is a serious meditative poem, typically written to pay tribute to a deceased individual or to reflect on human mortality in general.
• A eulogy, on the other hand, is a speech given at a funeral. It is always about a specific person, and its purpose is to honor them by remembering their achievements and character.

In short, an elegy is a poetic expression of mourning, while a eulogy is a speech typically delivered at a funeral to honor the deceased.

“Euphemistically” is an adverb that modifies something to mean “in a way that is less embarrassing or unpleasant” (e.g., “He tried to give the bad news as euphemistically as possible”).

“Euphemistically” is closely related to the noun “euphemism.”

There is no set time frame for how long it takes a euphemism to become widely used. Like many other language-related evolutions, it can take decades for a euphemism to develop a connotation.

Euphanism is a common misspelling of the word euphemism, which is a figure of speech. It consists of replacing harsh language with something more pleasant or appropriate.

A free QuillBot grammar check can help you avoid misspellings in your writing.

“Euphimism” is a common misspelling of the word “euphemism,” which is a figure of speech. It involves using inoffensive figurative language to replace more harsh language.

Euphenism is a misspelling of the word euphemism, which refers to figurative language that’s used to replace an unpleasant, inappropriate, or embarrassing word or phrase.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you spell words like euphemism correctly.

A denotation is a word’s literal definition. For example, “home” denotes the building or place where one lives. This primary definition is often contrasted with a word’s secondary associations, called connotations. Thus, “house” and “home” have the same denotation, but “home” connotes intimacy or coziness, whereas “house” does not.

A malaphor unintentionally combines two idioms or clichés into a nonsensical expression (e.g., “He’s not the brightest crayon in the shed”).

Mixed metaphors combine two metaphors to create an illogical comparison (e.g., “Our love is brighter than the sun. I want to curl up in it and fall asleep”). Mixed metaphors can be created on purpose or by accident.

Hyperbole is pronounced “hye-PER-buh-lee,” with the accent or emphasis on the second syllable. In contrast, other words that start with the prefix “hyper-” (e.g., “hyperlink” or the adjective “hyper”) place the accent or emphasis on the first syllable.

An example of hyperbole is the phrase “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse,” which emphasizes extreme hunger. By using such obvious exaggeration and vivid imagery, the speaker effectively communicates the extent of their hunger.

Some common synonyms for “analogy” are “similarity,” “likeness,” “resemblance,” “comparison,” and “correspondence.” These terms are often used interchangeably with “analogy” to describe the process of drawing parallels or comparisons between different things or concepts.

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Reasoning by analogy (also known as analogical reasoning or argument from analogy) is a type of argument that is based on the idea that if two or more things are similar in some respects, they are probably similar in some further respect. The conclusion drawn from this type of reasoning is less certain than, for instance, deductive reasoning because its truthfulness is entirely dependent on the strength and accuracy of the analogies drawn.

Synonyms for connotation include “undertone,” “implication,” and “suggestion.” Each of these words refers to an idea or quality that is suggested by a word or thing.

QuillBot’s sentence rewriter can help you find synonyms for words like “connotation.”

Connotation and denotation are two concepts related to the meaning of words, but they should not be confused:

• Connotation refers to the subjective associations or feelings a word brings to our minds, beyond its literal meaning. These associations can be positive, negative, or neutral. For example, the word “father” may evoke connotations of protection, guidance, or authority.

• Denotation, on the other hand, refers to a word’s literal or dictionary definition that is commonly understood by people who speak the same language. The denotation of “father” for instance is typically that of “male parent.”

In short, whereas connotation refers to a word’s secondary or implied meaning, denotation refers to a word’s primary or explicit meaning.

Connotations are a crucial aspect of effective communication because they add layers of meaning beyond the literal definitions of words.

Connotation refers to the emotional, personal, or cultural associations that words carry, which influence how they are interpreted. By being aware of these subtle nuances in meaning, we can choose words that evoke specific emotions or resonate with our audience, thus making our text or presentations more engaging and impactful.

An example of figurative language is the sentence “I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon.” More specifically, “once in a blue moon” is an idiom that indicates something extremely rare in occurrence.

There are several different types of figurative language, each category with its own specific purpose and impact. Some of the most commonly used types of figurative language include metaphor, simile, personification, and irony.

Verbal irony and Socratic irony are both types of irony used in speech. However, they have different goals.

• Verbal irony is a figure of speech in which we intentionally say something different to what we mean. This is usually done to create humor or make a point.
• Socratic irony is a rhetorical technique in which the speaker feigns ignorance on a topic to encourage the other side to explain their ideas. This form of irony is a teaching technique used to stimulate critical thinking and challenge or expose contradictions in someone’s arguments.

In short, verbal irony is used primarily for humor or oblique criticism, whereas Socratic irony is a didactic tool.

The opposite of irony is sincerity. In general, irony involves a discrepancy between the apparent and the underlying meaning of a situation or phrase. In other words, it involves saying one thing but meaning the opposite.

Sincerity, on the other hand, involves genuine and transparent communication. When we are being sincere, there is no hidden meaning and we say exactly what we mean.

For example, the phrase “What a beautiful day” is ironic if it’s cold and rainy, but it is sincere if it is sunny and warm.

In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Poe uses verbal irony throughout the text to build suspense and add a touch of dark humor, as seen in the examples below.

• The main character, Montresor, makes a toast to Fortunato’s good health, saying, “I drink to your long life.” However, the reader knows that he intends to kill him.
• When Fortunato has a coughing fit because of the dampness in the catacombs, Montresor pretends he is concerned, stating, “We will go back. Your health is precious.” In reality, Montresor brought Fortunato to the catacombs to murder him, so this phrase is highly ironic.
• When Fortunato asks Montresor if he is a mason, he means a Freemason. Montresor’s answer is “yes.” However, Montresor means that he is a craftsman, since he will be entombing Fortunato in stone.

Neologisms and slang are different in their origin, purpose, and acceptance. 

• Neologisms are newly created words that express new concepts. These words may become commonly used over time. Neologisms can come from various sources, such as cultural shifts or technological developments.

• Slang expressions are informal, nonstandard words or phrases used by a specific demographic or social group. These words can be used to express camaraderie or convey an attitude or emotion. For example, “lit” and “bae” are slang expressions. Some slang words, such as “jazz,” may become neologisms and enter mainstream language use.

In short, neologisms are a response to broader societal and cultural changes, while slang arises from informal language use within specific social groups or communities. Neologisms may become more widely accepted over time, whereas slang usually retains its informal and subcultural associations.

An example of neologism is “deepfake,” a blending of the words “deep learning” and “fake.” It describes a method of manipulating images, audio, or video media with the help of artificial intelligence in such a way that people can hardly perceive their fakeness.

An example of the word “verbosity” being used in a sentence is:

“Her verbosity was off-putting to her classmates, who just wanted to finish their work in silence.”

A few antonyms and near-antonyms of verbosity are:

• Brevity
• Conciseness
• Succinctness
• Terseness

An example of ethos is the “plain folk” technique used in advertising and political campaigns. Politicians, for instance, may try to present themselves as average, ordinary people who love to eat fast food or do household chores. This is to persuade their audience that they can empathize with their concerns.

Logos, pathos, and ethos are the three modes of persuasion, or ways to persuade people. More specifically:

• Logos appeals to the audience’s reason. It involves presenting logical arguments, statistics, and facts.
• Pathos appeals to the audience’s emotions. It involves influencing the audience’s emotions through storytelling or evocative language so that they are more likely to accept the speaker’s viewpoint.
• Ethos appeals to the speaker’s or writer’s credibility. It involves establishing the speaker’s or writer’s authority, trustworthiness, and moral character, making the audience trust them.

You can identify logos in an argument by asking yourself the following questions:

• Does the writer or speaker use facts, statistics, or reasoned analysis to support their claim?
• Is the argument well-organized, with one idea logically following the next one?
• Does the writer or speaker include opposing arguments and try to refute them with evidence?
• Is the reasoning transparent and free from ambiguity?

In poetry, enjambment is the continuation of a phrase or sentence from one line to the next without any punctuation (e.g., “I wandered lonely as a cloud / That floats on high o’er vales and hills”). With enjambment, a thought continues seamlessly across lines, creating a sense of flow and continuity.

On the other hand, an end-stopped line ends with a punctuation mark. This causes the reader to pause before continuing to the next line (e.g., “I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions. / Whatever I see I swallow immediately”). End-stopped lines cause the reader to pause and signal the completion of a thought.

Enjambment is important in poetry because it creates a sense of flow and continuity between lines. Because of this, enjambment also helps poets control the rhythm and pacing of their poems, creating different effects, like urgency or tension.

Also, by allowing thoughts and phrases to flow seamlessly from one line to the next without pause, enjambment can play with expectations and invite multiple interpretations.

In short, enjambment allows poets to add depth, rhythm, and complexity to the structure of a poem.

Pathos is important in persuasive communication because it helps speakers and writers:

• Establish a strong emotional connection between the audience and themselves. By appealing to emotions like compassion or sorrow, communicators can build rapport and a sense of shared understanding with the audience. This, in turn, makes the audience more receptive to what they have to say.
• Maintain the audience’s attention. When someone stirs up strong emotions in us, we are more likely to pay attention to what they have to say.
• Humanize abstract issues. Pathos makes abstract or distant issues more relatable through the use of storytelling and personal anecdotes.

An example of pathos can be found in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. King employs vivid images to portray segregation (e.g., “chains of discrimination”) and appeals to shared values throughout his speech (e.g., relating the struggle for civil rights to America’s founding principles).

An example of allusion is the phrase “good Samaritan” (a compassionate person), which we often come across in everyday speech. For instance, “After I fell off the bike, a good Samaritan passing by stopped and called for help.”

This is an allusion to the parable of the good Samaritan from the Bible, in which a Samaritan helps a beaten and robbed traveler while others pass by. We use the phrase to signify an act of kindness from an unexpected source.

Allusions and references are both literary tools for authors to connect to external material. However, they differ in their use and purpose:

• An allusion is an indirect and brief mention of a person, event, or another work. It is a subtle reference that requires prior knowledge, and often only discerning readers will understand it. Its main purpose is to add depth to a text without explaining the connection.
• A reference, on the other hand, is usually a direct and explicit mention of a source. Its purpose is typically to provide evidence, support, or further information in a detailed way.

In short, an allusion is an indirect reference to something usually for literary or rhetorical effect, whereas a reference is an explicit mention of a specific source for informational purposes.

An example of paronomasia is the phrase “he had a photographic memory, but it was never developed.” The wordplay here is around the word “developed” which means “to learn new things” but also “to process film.”

Juxtaposition and contrast are both literary techniques involving the presentation of differences, however they cannot be used interchangeably.

• Juxtaposition refers to the deliberate placement of two or more things side by side for comparison or contrast. This can include words, images, or characters, and the purpose is to draw attention to specific aspects of the work.
• Contrast, on the other hand, is a broader term that refers to the noticeable differences between two things. It can be intentional or accidental and can be achieved through various means including, but not limited to, juxtaposition-like descriptions.

In short, juxtaposition is the intentional placement of things next to each other to highlight their relationship (similarity or difference), whereas contrast is a broader term referring to the observable differences between things, whether they are juxtaposed or not.

Juxtaposition and oxymorons are both literary devices that involve contrasting elements; however, they differ in scope and function.

• In juxtaposition, a writer places two or more ideas, characters, or images side by side to highlight the differences and similarities between them. The interpretation of this relationship is up to the audience. A juxtaposition can span one line or an entire story, depending on the contrasted elements.
• An oxymoron, on the other hand, involves combining two words or ideas with opposing meanings. Unlike juxtaposition, an oxymoron always involves a degree of contradiction within the combination of terms.

In other words, juxtaposition is about placing elements so as to compare them, while an oxymoron involves the deliberate combination of contradictory terms.

The following words are near synonyms for juxtaposition in the sense of “placing two things close together for comparison, contrast, or other literary effects”:

• comparison
• contrast
• closeness
• proximity

The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you find more alternatives for “juxtaposition.”

An example of play on words is the phrase “I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.” It relies on the double meaning of the word “interest,” which could signify either profits or appeal.

A famous play on words example in literature is the phrase “ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man,” spoken by Mercutio in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (Act 3 Scene 1).

Here, “grave” has a double meaning, namely “serious” and “burial place.” The fatally wounded Mercutio suggests that they will find him to be a man in his grave.

Paraprosdokian is pronounced par-uh-prohz-doh-kee-uhn. It is derived from Greek “para” (against) + “prosdokia” (expectation), meaning “against expectation.”

An unexpected ending to a sentence or statement that leads the reader or listener to reinterpret the first part of the statement is called a paraprosdokian.

It is a figure of speech often used for comic or dramatic effect, as in “I haven’t slept for ten days, because that would be too long.”

Wordplay is using words in a witty, clever, and amusing way. Wordplay typically involves experimenting with the sounds, meanings, or construction of words. These are some common types of wordplay:

• Anagrams: rearranging the letters within a word so as to spell another word or words. An anagram of “angered” is “derange.”
• Puns: experimenting with the different meanings of a word or with words that sound similar, like “ate” and “eight.”
• Palindromes: words, phrases, or sentences that are spelled the same way backward and forward.
• Malapropisms: mixing up a word or phrase with a similar-sounding one that has a completely different meaning. For example, “a wealthy typhoon” instead of “tycoon.”
• Paraprosdokian: ending a sentence in a way that is unexpected and causes the reader or listener to reinterpret the beginning, resulting in humor or surprise. For example, “there are three kinds of people in the world—those who can count, and those who can’t.”

An example of paradox in literature is the phrase “I must be cruel only to be kind,” which can be found in Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Act 3, Scene 4).

In this scene, Hamlet is explaining to his mother, Gertrude, that he is being very harsh, but he intends to bring about a positive outcome rather than simply harm others. This line captures Hamlet’s inner struggle as he navigates the political and personal struggles in the story.

The word cliché is typically spelled with an accent over the “e.” However, some dictionaries list “cliche” as the less common variant. You should follow any relevant style guide and remain consistent throughout your writing.

A paradox can serve several purposes depending on the context in which it’s used. In general, a paradox:

• Grabs attention and prompts readers to contemplate a statement more deeply rather than take it at face value.
• Reveals the complexities of various concepts and phenomena.
• Highlights the limitations of human understanding and reasoning.
• Contributes to the depth and richness of writing by creating layers of meaning that go beyond surface interpretations.

A paradox and an oxymoron are similar in that they both involve a contradiction; however, there is a difference between them.

• A paradox refers to a statement or situation that seems logically inconsistent and yet makes sense, like “fight fire with fire.”
• An oxymoron, on the other hand, consists of two words that contradict each other in terms of meaning, ultimately producing a new meaning, such as “deafening silence.”

In short, a paradox is based on a seemingly absurd or illogical idea, whereas an oxymoron involves two opposing meanings.

Symbolism and metaphor are easy to confuse. However, they are distinct literary devices.

• Symbolism relies on symbols (objects, persons, or situations) to represent abstract ideas or concepts. A strong symbol is usually related to whatever it is meant to symbolize and often recurs throughout a literary work as a major part of the theme. For example, the raven in Edgar Allan Poe’s eponymous poem symbolizes the narrator’s grief.
• A metaphor, on the other hand, compares two seemingly unrelated things, stating that one thing is another. Metaphors are often brief, like the phrase “Time is a thief.” The purpose is to create vivid imagery, exaggerate a trait, or express a complex idea.

In short, while both symbolism and metaphor involve using one thing to represent another, symbolism relies on recurring symbols to convey deeper meanings, whereas metaphors make a direct comparison to highlight a specific idea.

Allegory and symbolism are related literary devices, but they should not be confused.

• An allegory is a narrative that can be understood both literally and figuratively. It is a complete story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning. An allegory employs symbols and metaphors to convey a deeper moral or philosophical concept.
• Symbolism, on the other hand, is the use of words, images, or objects in a text to represent a concept or idea. Symbols are often more open to interpretation and may have multiple meanings.

For example, Plato’s allegory “The Cave” illustrates the philosopher’s journey from ignorance to wisdom. To convey this abstract idea, Plato uses symbols like the cave (the world of illusion), the light (knowledge), and the chains (the senses).

In other words, an allegory encompasses an entire text, whereas symbolism uses symbols that contribute to the overall meaning of a text.

An example of symbolism in literature is the recurrence of the blood image in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, symbolizing guilt and violence.

For example, in Act 2 Scene 2, Macbeth, shocked by the murder he committed, believes his hand has been irreversibly bloodstained. Similarly, in Act 5, Scene 1, Lady Macbeth becomes delusional from guilt and sees a bloodstain on her hand.

The word cliché is generally used as a noun (e.g., “I recommended he remove the clichés from his speech”).

However, some dictionaries also list it as an adjective (e.g., “The movie had a cliché ending”). Another adjective form of the word is “clichéd.”

Some synonyms and near-synonyms for cliché include:

• Adage
• Banality
• Platitude
• Truism

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A double entendre example can be found in Bob Dylan’s song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.”

The song includes the line “everybody must get stoned,” which has a double meaning: it refers to stoning as punishment in the sense that everyone is punished at one time or another, but also to smoking marijuana.

A double entendre is a word or expression that carries two possible interpretations with one usually being risqué, humorous, or suggestive.

The term double entendre comes from French double (“double”) and entendre (“to understand”), which literally meant “double meaning” and was used in the senses of “double understanding” or “ambiguity.” The phrase is now obsolete and ungrammatical in modern French.

A triple entendre is a phrase or expression that can be understood in three different ways. It often combines the elements of a double entendre with an extra interpretation. Whereas double entendres are common in literature and everyday language, triple entendres are rarer due to the difficulty of weaving three layers of meaning together.

Double entendres and puns are both figures of speech that involve ambiguity and double meanings. However, they are not exactly the same.

A double entendre uses a word that seems innocuous at the surface level but also carries a second meaning that would be too inappropriate or sexually suggestive to state directly.

On the other hand, a pun also exploits two possible interpretations of a word, but it is usually in a clever or humorous way, without any suggestive meaning.

In short, a double entendre may use a pun. However, not all puns are considered double entendres.

While an oxymoron is typically deliberate, in some cases it can be unintentional. These unintentional oxymorons often arise in everyday language.

For example, when someone says “act natural” without realizing that “natural” implies an unforced state. Although not created for rhetorical effect, unintentional oxymorons can still convey meaning in a way that captures attention or adds humor.

Both assonance and sibilance are literary devices that involve the repetition of sounds. However, they differ in the type of sound that is repeated.

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in a series of words (e.g., “sweet dreams”), while sibilance is the repetition of sibilant sounds or letters producing an “s” sound (e.g., “she sells seashells”).

Sibilance is a subset of consonance. Whereas consonance is the repetition of any consonant sound in nearby words (e.g., “Big Ben”), sibilance is the repetition of specific consonant sounds called sibilants. These produce an “s” sound and are usually pronounced as “s,” “sh,” “zh,” and “c” sounds.

Assonance and rhyme are both literary devices that involve the repetition of similar sounds. However, there are a few differences between them.

With assonance, only vowel sounds are repeated, whereas rhyme involves the repetition of both consonant and vowel sounds. For example, “lake” and “fate” demonstrate assonance, while “late” and “fate” demonstrate rhyme.

Furthermore, assonance usually occurs in the middle of a pair of words, while rhyme usually occurs at the end.

Consonance and assonance are both literary devices relying on the repetition of certain sounds. However, there is a difference between the two.

Whereas consonance involves the repetition of consonant sounds (like “b,” “d,” or “g”), assonance occurs when vowel sounds (like “a,” “i,” or “o”) are repeated within a series of words.

Both alliteration and assonance are literary devices that involve repeating sounds. However, they differ in the type and placement of the sounds.

Alliteration involves the repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginning of words, as in “the sun sank below the serene sea.”

On the other hand, assonance involves the repetition of vowel sounds in neighboring words and can occur anywhere in the word. For example, the repetition of the “e” sound in the sentence “Hear the mellow wedding bells” showcases assonance.

Words that rhyme with “you” are accrue, blue, clue, construe, dew, grew, hue, queue, shoe, shrew, true, and zoo.

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Words that rhyme with “me” are bee, degree, debris, flea, ghee, glee, sea, spree, key, tea, plea, and pea.

Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find creative word choices for all of your writing.

Words that rhyme with “love” are dove, glove, shove, and above.

Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find creative word choices for all of your writing.

Although the word “orange” is generally regarded as having no perfect rhyme, there are words that nearly rhyme with orange, such as hinge, syringe, and four inch (two words).

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you find creative word options for all your writing!

Near rhyme describes words with similar (but not identical) sounds. This type of rhyme is also known as half rhyme or slant rhyme. Examples of near rhyme include “hand/lend” and “fate/save.”

An example of anachronism in literature is in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar.

In Act 2, Scene 1, Brutus says, “Peace! Count the clock.” Cassius responds, “The clock hath stricken three.” In 44 BC, when Julius Caesar was alive, mechanical clocks were not yet invented, so mentioning a clock in the play is an anachronism because it didn’t exist at that time.

A parachronism is when something is shown in a later time period than one would expect. It may be an unlikely or unusual inconsistency rather than an impossible one. For example, a character using a quill today is not entirely unlikely, but it would look peculiar.

Parachronism is a type of anachronism.

Juxtaposition and oxymorons are both literary devices that involve contrasting elements; however, they differ in scope and function.

• In juxtaposition, a writer places two or more ideas, characters, or images side by side to highlight the differences and similarities between them. The interpretation of this relationship is up to the audience. A juxtaposition can span one line or an entire story, depending on the contrasted elements.
• An oxymoron, on the other hand, involves combining two words or ideas with opposing meanings. Unlike juxtaposition, an oxymoron always involves a degree of contradiction within the combination of terms.

In other words, juxtaposition is about placing elements so as to compare them, while an oxymoron involves the deliberate combination of contradictory terms.

An example of an oxymoron is the phrase “serious joke.” It combines two contradictory words that usually have different meanings.

• “Serious” typically means having a solemn or serious attitude.
• A “joke” is meant to be funny or lighthearted and should not be taken seriously.

The oxymoron “serious joke” combines these contrasting terms to create a paradoxical expression. This invites the audience to think about how seriousness and humor can be blended together in one concept.

Consonance and assonance are both literary devices relying on the repetition of certain sounds. However, there is a difference between the two.

Whereas consonance involves the repetition of consonant sounds (like “b,” “d,” or “g”), assonance occurs when vowel sounds (like “a,” “i,” or “o”) are repeated within a series of words.

An example of consonance is the last line from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby in which the “t” sound is repeated: “And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Constrained writing is a literary technique in which writers adhere to certain limits, patterns, or rules in their writing. For example, palindromes are sometimes used in poetry to create verses that can be read from the beginning to the end and vice versa.

Contractions and portmanteaus are similar because they’re both formed by combining two words and omitting some letters. However, they’re not interchangeable.

• Contractions typically combine two words that are often used together (e.g., “have not” becomes “haven’t”). A contraction and its uncontracted form have the exact same meaning.
• A portmanteau is formed by blending two words together to create a new word with a new meaning. For example, “staycation” is a combination of the verb “stay” and the noun “vacation.” A portmanteau is a type of neologism.

Compound words and portmanteaus can be easily confused because they both combine multiple words into one. However there is a difference between them.

• In compound words, both words remain intact when joined together into a single unit (e.g., basket + ball = basketball).
• In portmanteau words, on the other hand, some of the letters are removed (e.g., flexible + vegetarian = flexitarian).

A portmanteau for air pollution is “smog,” from the words smoke and fog. An alternative portmanteau is “smaze,” from smoke and haze.

Onomatopoeia is often used in literature to create a more impactful and immersive reading experience.

For example, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J. K. Rowling uses onomatopoeia to vividly describe the moment Hagrid, the groundskeeper at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, comes to collect Harry and knocks down the door:

“SMASH! The door was hit with such force that it swung clean off its hinges and with a deafening crash landed flat on the floor.”

Both coincidence and situational irony can involve unexpected outcomes that evoke surprise. However, the terms differ in their emphasis:

• Irony: Emphasizes the contrast between expected outcomes and actual results, often revealing deeper meaning or creating a humorous effect; used deliberately in literature
• Coincidence: Highlights the randomness and lack of logical connection or deliberateness in events

The controversy surrounding Alanis Morissette’s song “Isn’t It Ironic?” centers on interpretations of whether the situations described in the song qualify as genuine irony or merely as instances of coincidence or bad luck.

Cosmic irony, also known as irony of fate, is a literary device where the universe or fate seems to play a cruel joke by thwarting expectations. It is a type of situational irony that involves characters receiving the opposite of what they expect or deserve, giving the impression of a profound injustice inflicted by fate or a higher power.

Example: In the ancient Greek myth of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus tries to avoid his prophesied fate of killing his father and marrying his mother, but his actions unwittingly lead him to fulfill the prophecy. This irony highlights the impression that cosmic forces shape human destiny in unexpected and often tragic ways.

An example of onomatopoeia in advertising is the Rice Krispies slogan “Snap! Crackle! Pop!”

The popular cereal brand was marketed on the basis of the sound it makes when milk is added to it. Onomatopoeia is often used in advertising to create memorable catchphrases and, by extension, products.

An example of a metaphor is the sentence “Time is a thief.”

This is a metaphor because it uses a form of the verb “be” to make a figurative statement that something (“time”) is something else (“a thief”). This is done in order to suggest that time steals things away from people, not to make any literal statement.

Metaphor is a rhetorical device that appears in many different contexts, from formal writing to everyday conversation. It should not be confused with simile.

When several words start with the same letter and produce the same sound, this is called alliteration (e.g., “My neighbors are not normally noisy”).

Conversely, “ten thunders” is not an example of alliteration because “t” and “th” produce different sounds.

Alliteration and rhyme both involve repeating parts of a word. However, they repeat different parts of a word.

Whereas alliteration involves repeating the initial sound of a word (e.g., “slithering snake”), rhyme involves the repetition of ending sounds (e.g., “blue” and “flu”). Because of this, alliteration is also known as initial rhyme or head rhyme (to distinguish it from end rhyme).

Alliteration and repetition are similar literary devices in that they are both used to create rhythm or emphasize an idea. However, they should not be confused.

Alliteration involves the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of a series of words, like in “grass grows greener.”

Repetition involves repeating the same word in different parts of a sentence or paragraph (e.g., “As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door”).

Malapropisms and puns are similar in that they both replace a word with a similar-sounding word. However, they differ in their nature and effect.

A malapropism is an unintentional language error that typically has a humorous result (e.g., mixing up “amphibious” and “ambidextrous”). Malapropisms are generally mistakes, but they can sometimes be used for comedic effect (e.g., when a writer intentionally creates a character who accidentally uses malapropisms).

On the other hand, a pun is a deliberate play on words. Puns usually exploit similar-sounding words and double meaning to generate laughs, show wit, or create irony.

In other words, a malapropism occurs by mistake and results in a nonsensical or funny statement that the speaker never intended, whereas a pun is intentional and is used for comedic or rhetorical purposes.

Malapropisms and spoonerisms are both forms of language errors, but they should not be confused.

A malapropism is a verbal mistake that involves similar-sounding words with different meanings, like “monogamous” and “monotonous.”

A spoonerism, on the other hand, accidentally mixes up the sounds of letters or syllables of different words (e.g., “chork pops” instead of “pork chops”).

In short, malapropisms involve the unintentional distortion of words with similar sounds, while spoonerisms involve the swapping of sounds or letters between words.

The main differences between an extended metaphor and a regular metaphor are their length and level of complexity.

• A regular metaphor is a simple and concise comparison between two unlike things, typically spanning a phrase or sentence.
• An extended metaphor is a more elaborate comparison sustained over several sentences or the entire text. It allows for a deeper exploration of the comparison.

Conceit is a type of extended metaphor in which the writer makes a lengthy and often far-fetched or unexpected comparison. Conceits were common in the work of the 17th-century English Metaphysical poets.

Allegory and extended metaphor are similar concepts, but they are not exactly the same.

An allegory is a literary device in which characters or events in a story represent abstract qualities or ideas and carry a symbolic meaning. In allegory, the author does not tell us that one thing is another but invites the readers to interpret the symbolic layers in the story.

With extended metaphor, the author makes a detailed comparison between two unrelated things, typically by stating that one thing is another. In other words, there is no hidden meaning behind the characters or events.

Synecdoche and metonymy are both types of tropes used in rhetoric. Although both involve replacing one word with another, they are not the same thing.

While synecdoche involves replacing a specific part of something with the whole, metonymy involves replacing a word or phrase with a related one. For example, “stars and stripes” is a synecdoche for the American flag because these are part of the flag. On the other hand, “the crown” is a metonymy for the monarchy.

Schemes and tropes are both rhetorical devices, but they have different functions.

While schemes are related to word order, syntax, letters, and sounds, tropes are related to the meaning of words.

• Onomatopoeia is an example of a scheme that deals with sounds. Words like “boom” and “howl” are schemes in which the sound of a word emulates the sound of the thing that the word describes.
• Oxymoron is a trope that consists of a self-contradictory combination of words, such as “friendly fight” or “falsely true.”

You can find some synonyms and near synonyms for the two meanings of “trope” in the table below.

These terms are not always interchangeable. You can use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to ensure you’re using these words correctly.

You can find more synonyms of “trope” using the QuillBot paraphrasing tool.

Semantic change is a language-related phenomenon in which the meaning of a word changes over time. For example, a word’s meaning might become more specialized. 

The word “hound,” for example, was initially used for any type of dog. However, over the course of time, it became associated only with dogs used for hunting. 

Other examples of semantic change include the words “awesome,” “demagogue,” and “trope.”

Some common romance tropes found in romantic movies and books are the following:

• Forbidden love: two people fall for each other. However, they cannot be together due to their families, societal norms, or other external factors.
• Love triangle: the main character has two love interests, and they must decide between them.
• Enemies-to-lovers: two characters start off disliking or hating each other, only to fall in love by the end of the story—usually because they are forced to spend time together.
• Fake relationship: two characters pretend to be together for various reasons (e.g., because they are afraid to tell their conservative parents they are single), and eventually they fall in love.

Dramatic irony and verbal irony are both forms of irony, but they have distinct goals and functions.

Dramatic irony is a literary device used in novels, plays, and films. It occurs when the audience possesses information that a character in a story is unaware of. It is a literary technique used to add suspense as the audience eagerly waits for the truth to be revealed.

Verbal irony, on the other hand, is used not only in literature but also in everyday conversation. It occurs when the literal meaning of a word or phrase is different from its real meaning. Verbal irony is used to make a point, to express sarcasm, or to create humor.

In other words, dramatic irony involves a contrast between what the audience knows and what the characters within the story know, whereas verbal irony involves a contrast between what is said and what is meant.

An example of metonymy is the phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword.”

Here, “the pen” is used to refer to writing, while “the sword” is used to refer to warfare and violence. In other words, it means that the written word is more effective than physical force.

Metonymy and metaphor are both types of figurative language that relate one thing to another. However, they are not the same and should not be confused.

• Metonymy involves replacing a word or phrase with another one with which it is closely related (e.g., “ride” instead of “car”).

• Metaphor involves making a comparison between two seemingly unrelated things (e.g., “my life is a train wreck”).

In other words, metonymy is based on the association between two things, while metaphor is based on a comparison between two unlike things.

Tragic irony is a variation of dramatic irony. With tragic irony, the audience possesses information that one of the characters does not, but also the character’s ignorance has fatal or tragic consequences. Sometimes, the audience will know about the tragic outcome from the beginning of the story. For example, in ancient Greek drama, the audience was already familiar with the plot because it was often based on well-known myths.

An example of dramatic irony in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is King Duncan’s praise of Macbeth for his loyalty and recent successes in battle. In Act 1, King Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle and expresses his gratitude toward Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The audience knows that Macbeth and his wife are plotting to kill the king, but Duncan himself is unaware of their treacherous plan. This discrepancy between Duncan’s praise and the audience’s knowledge of the murder plot creates dramatic irony.

Socratic irony is a form of irony inspired by the Greek philosopher Socrates. By pretending to be ignorant and asking probing questions, Socrates tried to tease information out of his students.

By doing so, he exposed the errors and inconsistencies in their logic and beliefs, proving that they were, in fact, ignorant—thus, the irony.

An example of irony in literature can be found in Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado.”

The reader knows that the main character, Montresor, wants to take revenge on and kill his friend, Fortunato, who is unaware of this. When Montresor is luring him into the catacombs, there is a discrepancy between how the reader and how Fortunato perceive the situation: the reader knows that Montresor intends to kill him there, while Fortunato believes that they are going to sample some wine. Therefore, the story relies on dramatic irony.

Irony and satire are similar in that they both often have a humorous effect. However, they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics.

Irony is a rhetorical and literary device that involves a contrast between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs. It is an indirect way to convey meaning (e.g., by saying one thing, but actually meaning the opposite). There are several types of irony and their purpose varies: irony can be used to create humor or tension or to introduce the element of surprise in a story.

In contrast, satire is a humoristic genre and literary device that often uses irony or exaggeration to make a point. The purpose is usually to poke fun at individuals or groups and to criticize social issues, often in order to bring about change. Satire is often used in political commentary.

Synecdoche and metaphor are both types of figures of speech, but they operate in different ways.

While synecdoche replaces a whole with one of its parts (e.g., “heads” to refer to people), a metaphor makes a comparison between two unrelated things (e.g., “he is an open book”).

With synecdoche, there is a literal relationship between the whole and its part that serves as a stand-in. With metaphor, the relationship between the two things being compared is less direct.

The term for the use of typographical symbols to replace curse words is grawlix. The term was coined by the cartoonist Mort Walker to describe a common trend in comic books.

Outside of comics, grawlix may be encountered on social media and used for humorous effect or to avoid excessive profanity in some book titles. It consists of a random string of punctuation such as at signs, exclamation points, question marks, and dollar signs (e.g., “#$%@!”).

Two common ways of censoring curse words in text are:

• Replacing some letters (usually the vowels) with asterisks (e.g., “sh*t”)
• Using grawlix, a random string of punctuation—usually ampersands, at signs, exclamation points, question marks, hash symbols, and dollar signs—to replace the entire word (e.g., “What the $#&!?”)

Grawlix is the use of punctuation marks to replace profanity in text. A grawlix generator is a tool that automatically generates a random series of punctuation marks to replace a word.

You can of course also write your own grawlix by just typing a random selection of punctuation such as “@$#&!” in place of the relevant word.

Some common synonyms for invective are:

• abuse
• insult
• vituperation
• denunciation
• tirade

These terms all convey the idea of harsh and abusive language directed at someone or something. The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you find more alternatives for “invective.”

An example of invective can be found in Shakespeare’s play The Comedy of Errors (Act 4, Scene 2):

“He is deformed, crooked, old and sere,
Ill-faced, worse bodied, shapeless everywhere;
Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind;
Stigmatical in making, worse in mind.”

This is a classic example of invective, where Shakespeare employs a series of insults in a rhyming, poetic structure to convey the speaker’s strong disapproval and contempt for the target.

The phrase “Less is more” is an example of an aphorism. It encapsulates the value of simplicity and minimalism in just three words, making it a concise and memorable statement.

The words aphorism and adage are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between them:

An aphorism is a thought-provoking statement that encapsulates complex truths in a brief, memorable form. It is often attributed to a specific individual (e.g., “To thine own self be true” from Hamlet).

An adage, on the other hand, is a traditional and well-known saying that expresses a general truth (e.g., “Better late than never”).

In short, an aphorism is intended to make us think, while an adage expresses common sense. However, in everyday usage, the distinction between the two is not always clear.

An eggcorn and a mondegreen are both types of linguistic errors, but there is a difference between them.

An eggcorn occurs when a word or phrase is changed to another similar- or identical-sounding word or phrase. Even though eggcorns are erroneous, they are logically possible (e.g., mixing up “acorn” with “eggcorn” or “death knell” with “death nail”).

A mondegreen occurs when we unintentionally mishear a word or phrase in a poem or song lyric (e.g., mishearing “I wear goggles when you are not near” instead of “My world crumbles when you are not near”).

In short, both eggcorns and mondegreens involve misunderstanding language, but mondegreens are sp

A mondegreen example is mishearing the title of the hymn “Gladly the Cross I’d Bear” for “Gladly, the cross-eyed bear.” This happens because the words “the cross I’d bear” and “the cross-eyed bear” sound very similar when spoken or sung, especially if the enunciation is unclear or if someone (e.g., a child) misses the spiritual context of the hymn.

The difference between a tautology and a truism lies in their definition and use context:

• A tautology is a statement that repeats the same idea using different words, which makes it logically redundant. For example, “free gift.”
• A truism is a self-evident and widely accepted statement that adds little or no value to a discussion because it does not provide any new or interesting information. For example, “What goes around comes around.”

In short, a tautology involves redundancy or logical repetition, while a truism states an obvious truth that lacks depth or new information.

Cliche and truism are closely related, but there is a difference between the two:

• A cliché is an expression that is truthful but has lost its originality or impact due to overuse (e.g. “as strong as an ox”).
• A truism is a statement that is so obviously true that it is often considered unhelpful or unnecessary (e.g., “You can’t have your cake and eat it too”).

While both clichés and truisms express ideas that may be widely accepted, clichés are overused expressions that have lost their impact, whereas truisms are obvious truths that do not provide new insights or information.

The phrase “You win some, you lose some” is an example of a truism. It encapsulates a generally accepted truth (the inevitability of both successes and failures) and is broad enough to apply to any situation without requiring proof or explanation.

An example of kenning in Beowulf is the compound “sea-wood” for “ship.” On their way to kill Grendel, Beowulf and his men travel on a boat, which in the poem is referred to as “sea-wood,” an explicit reference to the boat’s material.

A kenning example is “battle-sweat” for “blood.” By equating blood with sweat in the context of battle, the kenning paints a vivid image, emphasizing the effort and intensity of fighting.

The term “pleonastic” refers to expressions that contain a pleonasm or redundancy. For example, “vibrating with motion” is a pleonastic expression because “vibrating” already implies motion.

Pleonasm and tautology are often used interchangeably, but some sources draw a distinction between the two:

• Pleonasm involves using unnecessary words to describe something that is already implied instead of using a single word that would have been enough. For example, “frozen ice” is a pleonasm because ice is always frozen.
• Tautology is the repetition of the same idea or meaning using synonyms. For instance, “In my opinion, I think this was a bad idea.”

In short, both pleonasm and tautology involve redundancy, and the terms are often used as synonyms. However, some sources define tautology as explicitly repeating the same meaning, while pleonasm is the broader concept of using more words than needed to convey an idea.

An example of caesura can be found in the lines from the prologue of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet:

“Two households, // both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, // where we lay our scene.”

Here, the commas after “households” and “Verona” create natural pauses, marking the caesurae. These pauses emphasize the words that precede them—the two families and the setting—directing the audience’s attention to key elements of the plot.

Caesura and enjambment are both techniques that impact the rhythm and pacing of a poem, but they should not be confused.

A caesura is an intentional break when reading a poem, often created with the help of punctuation, such as a comma, full stop, or a colon. It creates a moment of reflection or emphasis within the line, often altering the rhythm and pace of the poem.

Enjambment occurs when a sentence or phrase continues from one line of poetry to the next without a pause or punctuation at the end of the first line. This encourages the reader to continue until the sentence is concluded, speeding up the pace of the poem.

In short, caesura introduces a pause in a line of verse, while enjambment eliminates pauses between lines to create a continuous flow.

In rhetoric, figures of speech are divided into two types:

• Schemes involve the arrangement or structure of words, phrases, or sentences in a way that departs from ordinary usage. Examples include polysyndeton, alliteration, and climax.
• Tropes transform the meaning of words, phrases, or concepts beyond their usual interpretation. These include irony, metonymy, and litotes.

However, nowadays, in many contexts, the term trope is synonymous with figure of speech.

An example of a figure of speech is litotes, as in “My dog is not the friendliest.” Instead of directly saying that the dog is aggressive or unfriendly, one may choose a milder expression and downplay the situation using litotes. This implies that the dog might be somewhat unfriendly, but it softens the expression, making it less harsh.

An example of anadiplosis is the line “When I give, I give myself” from “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. The word “give” is repeated at the end of one clause and the beginning of the next creating a rhythmic effect and underlying the concept of selflessness.

An example of chiasmus is the line “By day the frolic, and the dance by night” from The Vanity of Human Wishes, a Juvenalian satire by Samuel Johnson.

The first part of the sentence (“by day the frolic”) begins with a time of day and is followed by an event. In contrast, the second part of the sentence (“and the dance by night”) starts with an event and concludes with a time of day. Therefore, the second half serves as a conceptual mirror image of the first. While the exact words are not repeated, the underlying concepts are reflected.

The phrase “The storm sank my boat and my dreams” is an example of zeugma. Instead of using a more literal phrasing like “My boat sank in the storm, and I couldn’t realize my dreams,” the speaker employs zeugma by combining the literal and figurative senses of the verb “sank” to underscore the sadness over the loss of both a boat and a lifelong dream.

An enthymeme example is the sentence “Socrates is a human; therefore, Socrates is mortal.” In an enthymeme, there is a missing premise the audience must infer for the conclusion to make sense. This missing piece of information is usually a generally accepted truth or a commonly held belief. In this case, the premise “All humans are mortal” is implied, rather than explicitly stated, because it is common sense.

Flowery language is an elaborate, ornate, and overly descriptive way of writing or speaking. It is marked by the excessive use of complicated words and figurative language in an attempt to sound poetic.

Flowery language is a characteristic of purple prose and the opposite of plain language. While it aims to impress, it can come across as inauthentic and tiresome, potentially putting off the reader.

The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you vary the tone and style of your writing to avoid flowery language.

The term “florid” describes something that is excessively decorated or detailed, often in a way that can be seen as overly elaborate or flowery. This can apply to architecture, writing, or any other form of artistic expression featuring intricate detail. In literature, florid language is often associated with purple prose.

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using words like “florid” correctly in your writing.

Rhetorical devices and literary devices are both techniques used in writing and speech, but they serve different purposes and contexts.

Rhetorical devices aim to influence an audience’s perception or evoke an emotion and are often found in persuasive communication.

Literary devices, on the other hand, enhance storytelling and make a narrative more artistic and creative in works of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

While rhetorical devices are often discussed separately from literary devices, there is a significant overlap between the two terms. For example, metaphors, similes, and irony, can serve both rhetorical and literary purposes.

The following are some common rhetorical devices with examples:

Anthypophora, also known as hypophora, is a rhetorical device in which the speaker or writer raises a question and then answers it. For example, “How can we increase productivity? The answer lies in focus, organization, and prioritization.” Some sources distinguish between hypophora and anthypophora, with the first term denoting the question and the latter the answer.

Periphrasis and circumlocution are often considered synonymous and can be used interchangeably. However, some sources differentiate between the two, considering periphrasis as an indirect manner of speaking or writing used for stylistic or rhetorical purposes, while circumlocution has a more negative connotation, implying an evasive communication style.

An example of periphrasis is the phrase “The bright celestial body that gives light to the Earth” instead of “the sun.” This example of periphrasis provides a more detailed and poetic description than simply saying “the sun.”

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you rewrite sentences to reflect your meaning.

An example of periphrasis in grammar is forming the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives by using periphrastic forms with “more + adjective” or “most + adjective,” instead of adding suffixes (like “-er” or “-est”).

Periphrastic refers to an indirect style of speaking or writing that employs periphrasis and uses a large number of words. In grammar, it specifically refers to forming grammatical structures using helper words rather than changing the main word’s form. For example, “I did walk” instead of “I walked.”

A metaphor is a figure of speech (or rhetorical device) in which one thing or person is said to be something or someone else. It is a nonliteral (figurative) statement. You can write a metaphor by describing something as something else.

For example, in the sentence “My dog is a demon,” the dog is not literally a demon; rather, the metaphor is used to emphasize the dog’s mischievousness or bad behavior.

Metaphor differs from simile, in which the thing or person is not directly said to be something or someone else. Instead, a simile compares the two things/people using comparison words such as “as,” “than,” or “like” (e.g., “my dog behaves like a demon”).

In the following lines from the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare employs epistrophe through the repeated phrase “the ring” at the end of four successive clauses:

“If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honor to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.”

Epistrophe is the opposite of anaphora. While epistrophe is the repetition of words at the end of a series of phrases or sentences, anaphora is the repetition of words at the beginning. Both are figures of repetition but they differ primarily in their placement within sentences or phrases.

Figures of repetition are a subset of rhetorical figures that involve the repetition of words, phrases, sounds, or structures to create emphasis, rhythm, or emotional effect. They are part of the broader category of rhetorical devices used in writing and speech. Examples include assonance, anadiplosis, and epistrophe.

Ourselves is always one word, and it can play two roles in sentences.

As a reflexive pronoun, “ourselves” can be a direct object, an indirect object, or an object of a preposition when the subject is “we” or another noun with “I” (e.g., “We should buy ourselves a new sofa”).

As an intensive pronoun, “ourselves” emphasizes a plural, first-person pronoun or noun (e.g., “We will save money if we paint the bedroom ourselves”).

A QuillBot Grammar Check can help you use “ourselves” and other reflexive or intensive pronouns correctly in your writing.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s oft-quoted “I Have a Dream” speech employs anaphora extensively. The repetition of the phrase “go back” in the following lines are an example of that:

“Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.”

Some rhetorical devices related to anaphora are epistrophe, symploce, and anadiplosis. These devices all involve repetition in various forms, which can add emphasis, rhythm, and emotional impact in speech or writing.

Anaphora creates emphasis by repeating the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. This makes repeated ideas more memorable, adds rhythm, and draws the audience’s attention to the key message. It can stir strong emotions, build momentum, and unify different parts of a text under a central theme, making it more impactful.

Amplification in writing involves repeating a word or expression while adding detail to it, which helps emphasize a specific point. This technique allows writers to expand and enrich their text, drawing attention to words or ideas that might otherwise be overlooked. Amplification can be achieved through descriptive writing and rhetorical devices like hyperbole or metaphor. For example, instead of simply saying, “This is important,” amplification might look like, “This is important—so important that it could change the entire course of the discussion.”

An example of anastrophe can be found in the following lines of the folk ballad “The Mermaid”: “Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship/And a well-spoken man was he.” The normal word order would be “Then the captain of our gallant ship spoke up/And he was a well-spoken man,” but the order is shifted for poetic or lyrical effect.

Inversion and anastrophe are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between them.

Inversion is a general term referring to any deviation from the standard subject-verb-object structure in English. This often occurs for grammatical reasons, for example in questions.

Anastrophe, on the other hand, refers to a specific type of inversion used for stylistic or rhetorical effect.

In literature, inversion is anastrophe when it serves an artistic purpose such as emphasizing, creating mood, or altering rhythm. However, not all inversions are examples of anastrophe.

Hyperbaton and anastrophe both involve the rearrangement of word order for rhetorical effect, but they differ in scope.

Hyperbaton is a broader term referring to any deviation from the typical or expected word order in a sentence. Hyperbaton can affect multiple parts of the sentence, phrases, or clauses, not just individual words.

Anastrophe is a narrower term and usually involves swapping the usual order of two adjacent elements like an adjective and noun or a verb and subject.

In short, anastrophe is a subset of hyperbaton, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably.

Context provides the background information necessary to understand a story or conversation and includes factors like characters, historical setting, and preceding events. This information is usually clear and direct.

Subtext, on the other hand, is the underlying meaning in a story or piece of dialogue. It is indirect and needs interpretation. While context is about facts and circumstances, subtext is about hidden meanings.

Subtext adds complexity to a story, subtly conveying deeper themes and leaving more room for the audience to interpret what they see or hear. This, in turn, makes the experience more engaging and layered for the audience.

An everyday example of subtext is when someone asks “How are you?” and the response is “I’m fine,” but the person actually means the opposite. Although it sounds like a straightforward answer, “I’m fine” could mean anything from “I’m great” to “I’m not okay, but I don’t want to talk about it” depending on the tone of voice, body language, or context of the conversation.

An epic simile is a detailed comparison between two unlike things spanning several lines in a poem or text. It typically draws a parallel between an action or event and a familiar image from the natural word or everyday life. This technique helps the audience visualize what is happening in the story and engage with it on an emotional level.

In contrast, a regular simile is a brief, simple comparison indicated by the words “like” or “as,” such as “He eats like a bird.”

The following lines from the Iliad (6.146-150), where human generations are compared to  leaves growing and falling each season, contain an example of Homeric simile (also known as epic simile):

“Generations of men are like the leaves.
In winter, winds blow them down to earth,
but then, when spring season comes again,
the budding wood grows more. And so with men—
one generation grows, another dies away.”

Their primary difference lies in their length and level of detail. A Homeric simile (also known as an epic simile) is longer and more elaborate, often extending over several lines to explore the comparison in depth. In contrast, a regular simile is a concise, direct comparison, typically limited to a single line.

Examples of dysphemism include calling someone a “slob” for being messy, “chicken” for being a coward, or “snitch” for speaking up. These expressions go beyond simple descriptions and can significantly influence how others perceive the individual or behavior in question.

Dysphemism is the opposite of euphemism. While euphemisms use milder or less offensive words for topics that are sensitive or disagreeable, dysphemisms do the reverse: they refer to such topics in a harsh or offensive way, making them sound more negative or unpleasant.

The words “flow” and “how” are an example of eye rhyme: they seem like they should rhyme due to their common spelling, but when we read them out loud, they do not.

The word “laughter” forms an eye rhyme with “slaughter.” They look like they should rhyme because of their similar spelling, but they sound quite different when spoken aloud.

“Slacker,” “moron,” and “idiot” are examples of pejorative words. A pejorative is a word that expresses disapproval or contempt.

“Perjorative” is a common misspelling of pejorative. It means a word or expression with disparaging, derogatory, or belittling effect.

Some words that rhyme with time are:

• Lime
• Mime
• Rhyme
• Climb
• I’m
• Crime
• Dime
• Grime

“The Bard” is an epithet commonly used for William Shakespeare to emphasize his contribution to drama and poetry as “bard” is another term for a poet, particularly one of great skill or renown. Epithets highlight a notable quality or trait, and, by calling Shakespeare “the Bard,” we acknowledge his status as the quintessential poet and playwright of English literature.

Some words that rhyme with day are:

• May
• Away
• Bay
• Neigh/nay
• Slay/sleigh
• Pray
• Stay
• Gray
• Weigh
• Inveigh
• Pay
• Stray
• Fray
• Lay/lei
• Obey

QuillBot’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help you come up with creative wording for all your writing.

A story is an elaborate narrative, following a structured format that includes elements such as characters, plot, conflict, and resolution. Its purpose is to engage the audience more deeply, often with layered meanings, dilemmas, or subtext.

On the other hand, an anecdote is typically a short narrative that focuses on a specific event or experience, often from a personal viewpoint. It usually has a simple structure with a beginning, middle, and end but lacks the complexity of a full narrative. Its purpose is usually to illustrate a point or to entertain.

An anecdote is a brief, engaging story about an incident or experience, often shared to illustrate a point, entertain, or build a connection with an audience. While anecdotes can be humorous or lighthearted, they can also serve more serious purposes.

In contrast, a joke is a funny story specifically crafted to make people laugh. Jokes typically follow a setup-punchline structure, where the setup creates an expectation that is humorously subverted by the punchline.

There are different types of anecdotes, depending on their purpose. Examples include humorous, personal, inspirational, reminiscent, and historical anecdotes

Imagery uses descriptive language to create sensory experiences for readers. It engages the senses of sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch, helping readers visualize scenes or feel sensations.

Description, on the other hand, is a broader term that includes detailed accounts of people, places, objects, or events. While it can use imagery, it does not necessarily create sensory experiences. Descriptions may present facts and focus on specific details without trying to evoke emotions.

For example, the sentence “The kitchen was small and cluttered with dishes in the sink” is a description, while “Dirty dishes crowded the sink, their porcelain edges crusted with yesterday’s meals, filling the kitchen with a stale, sour smell” includes imagery.

The sentence “She yawned and struggled to keep her eyes open” is an example of imagery. Instead of simply stating “She was tired,” an author can use descriptive language to show us how a character is feeling. This enables the reader to visualize the scene and empathize more with the character.

QuillBot’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help you vary your word choice to write more creatively.

The Good Samaritan is a famous parable. In the story, a Jewish man was attacked by robbers and left half dead beside the road. Two passersby, a priest and a Levite, saw the wounded man but chose not to help. Only a third man, a Samaritan, stopped to offer help, despite the fact that Samaritans and Jews were considered enemies at the time. The message of the story is that people should love everyone, even those they might consider their enemies.

The difference between a parable and a fable primarily lies in their characters and the nature of the lessons they convey.

A parable is a short story designed to teach a moral or spiritual lesson and is often found in religious texts. Parables predominantly involve human characters facing relatable situations. This enables audiences to connect with the story on a personal level. Parables encourage reflection and an understanding of deeper truths.

In contrast, fables feature animals, plants, or inanimate objects that represent human traits. Fables are generally more straightforward than parables, as their moral lessons are often explicitly stated at the end. Their purpose is to teach moral lessons about human behavior in an accessible manner.

The difference between a parable and an allegory lies in their purpose and complexity.

A parable is a brief and simple narrative used to illustrate a specific moral lesson or spiritual truth. Parables typically feature human characters facing moral dilemmas, and their intended message is clear-cut, such as “love your neighbor.”

An allegory, on the other hand, is a longer and more elaborate narrative where characters, events, and settings symbolically represent broader abstract ideas or moral principles. Allegories often explore complex themes like human nature, social systems, or political ideologies, and they typically require interpretation. A well-known example of an allegory is George Orwell’s Animal Farm, which critiques the dangers of totalitarian governments.

Faulty parallelism refers to the lack of parallelism and the subsequent loss of clarity. It is a grammatical error that occurs when elements in a sentence that are meant to be similar are not expressed in the same grammatical form. For instance, if a sentence includes a list of actions, all items should be in the same grammatical form:

• My hobbies are painting, swimming, and taking photos.
• My hobbies are painting, swimming, and to take photos.

The main difference between parallelism and repetition is their focus and purpose.

• Parallelism uses similar grammatical structures in phrases or clauses to create balance and clarity, making sentences easier to read. For example, “He likes swimming, hiking, and camping” illustrates parallelism.
• Repetition is a broader term that includes figures of speech like anaphora and alliteration, emphasizing content and emotional impact. By repeating sounds, words, or phrases, it can highlight a point or create rhythm.

While all parallelism involves repetition, not all repetition follows a balanced structure. However, they can overlap, as seen in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, where the repeated phrase “I have a dream” provides both rhythmic emphasis and structural balance.

An example of parallelism is the phrase “Easy come, easy go.” Like many common sayings, its purpose is to be memorable, and this is achieved through parallel structure: both “easy come” and “easy go” follow the same structure of an adverb (“easy”) modifying a verb (“come” and “go”). This creates a symmetry which reinforces the idea of equivalence—that things gained easily are lost just as easily.

Writers use repetition to make their words more memorable and impactful. It helps them emphasize key ideas, create rhythm, and build emotional resonance. By repeating certain phrases or concepts, writers can simplify complex ideas, making them easier to understand and remember.

Additionally, repetition creates patterns that connect different parts of their work. Whether in speeches, poetry, or prose, repetition reinforces the message and ensures it sticks in the audience’s mind.

The opening lines from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens contain an example of antithesis: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” The use of contrasting opposites sets the tone of the novel which takes place during the turbulent period of the French Revolution. Additionally, the parallel structure adds rhythm to the text.

An example of antithesis in a sentence is “War is the very antithesis of peace,” meaning war is the opposite of peace.

Synonyms for “antithesis” include “contrast,” “opposite,” “contradiction,” and “antipode.” These terms all convey the idea of opposition or difference, though their usage may vary slightly depending on the context. For example, “contrast” emphasizes comparison, while “contradiction” suggests incompatibility between ideas.

Antonyms for “antithesis” include words that suggest sameness, including “similarity,” “agreement,” and “congruity.” In the context of philosophy, an antonym might be “synthesis” which implies a blending of ideas rather than their contrast.

The triad thesis antithesis synthesis is a philosophical framework often used to describe the thought of German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, although Hegel never used the term himself; he triad was actually developed earlier by Johann Fichte.

The thesis introduces a point or proposition.
The antithesis contradicts it; it is a reaction to the proposition.
The synthesis resolves the conflict between the two by integrating elements from both sides into a new proposition.

This progression of ideas leads to a higher level of understanding or insight.

Sarcasm and satire are similar in that both are used to criticize or mock, but they are distinct forms of expression.

Sarcasm occurs when someone says something very different (often the opposite) from what they really mean. The purpose is to ridicule another person or thing, to express frustration, or to be humorous. Sarcasm is typically verbal and relies heavily on tone, inflection, and context to convey its meaning.

In contrast, satire is a literary genre that employs humor, exaggeration, irony, or other similar techniques to criticize people, institutions, or society as a whole. The purpose of satire is to provoke thought or inspire change. Satirical works can be found in literature, film, and theater.

In short, sarcasm is a form of mockery used mainly in conversation, while satire serves as a more complex critique of society that seeks to inspire change through humor and irony. Although sarcasm can be a tool within satire, they are not interchangeable.

Examples of common sarcastic phrases include:

• Oh, because that makes total sense.
• Nice going!
• Oh, fantastic!
• Tell me something I don’t know.
• Don’t work too hard.

Sarcasm is hard to detect in writing because it lacks inflection, nonverbal cues like body language, and clear context—all of which are essential for understanding sarcasm in spoken language.

Without changes in tone or gestures, like eye-rolling, readers must rely solely on the words, which can lead to confusion. Context plays a crucial role, as phrases like “Great job!” can be interpreted as either sincere or sarcastic depending on the situation and the speaker.

Additionally, sarcasm may be easier to recognize if the reader is familiar with the writer’s personality, humor, or style. In anonymous or impersonal communication, such as emails or social media posts, this familiarity is often missing, making it more challenging to detect sarcasm.

There are two syllables in adage. The first syllable sounds like “ad,” rhyming with “mad.”

The second syllable is pronounced like “ij,” similar to the “idge” in “fridge.”

So, it sounds like “ad-ij” with the emphasis on the first syllable.

Idioms and adages are fixed expressions that are commonly recognized and used within a language, however the two should not be confused.

An idiom is an established phrase with a meaning different from that of its individual words. For instance, “give it a shot” means to try rather than literally to shoot something, and “slipped my mind” means to forget. Idioms are a form of figurative language often used to add color to communication.

Adages, on the other hand, are well-known sayings that have been used for a long time. They typically offer practical advice about ways to behave and live. Although they are usually literal, adages can also be metaphorical with a meaning that is easy to understand. For example, the phrase “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” metaphorically advises against relying on a single plan or option.

In short, idioms are nonliteral expressions used in a variety of contexts, while adages are traditional sayings that convey practical wisdom.

An empty platitude is a statement or remark that is overused and lacks meaning. These phrases are often intended to comfort or encourage but do not offer genuine substance or originality. They are a type of cliché that may seem profound on the surface but provide no real insight or practical value.

For example, saying “Such is life” to someone who just lost their job would be an empty platitude. While meant to be comforting, it fails to acknowledge the person’s specific situation or offer any meaningful support or advice.

By definition, all platitudes are empty, but the phrase “empty platitude” is frequently used in both writing and speech.

Examples of platitudes include:

• “Everything will work out in the end”
• “What’s done is done”
• “Happiness is a choice”
• “You just need to believe in yourself.”
• “Our thoughts and prayers go out to …”

Some synonyms and near-synonyms for platitude include:

• Cliché
• Truism
• Banality
• Bromide
• Vapid expression

For more synonyms for platitude, use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser.

Here are a few examples of how to use the word platitude in a sentence:

• “I was hoping for real advice, but all I got were empty platitudes about staying positive.”
• “The self-help book offered nothing but platitudes like “Follow your dreams” and “Be true to yourself.”
• “The politician’s speech was filled with platitudes about unity and hope, but it lacked any concrete plans for change.”

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you come up with the perfect wording for your sentences.

Connotative diction is the use of words in writing or speech that express emotions or ideas beyond their literal meaning. Writers choose these words for their associations and emotional resonance. For example, while “heart” denotes the vital organ that pumps blood, it connotes love, emotion, or courage. Connotative diction can influence how a text is perceived and interpreted by readers or listeners.

Based on formality, there are three levels of diction: high, middle, and low. Depending on the intended audience or context, you can choose the most suitable level.

• High diction is formal and elevated language. It is typically encountered in academic or professional contexts, like research papers and job applications.
• Middle diction is neutral and can be used in various settings. College essays and newspaper articles usually employ middle diction.
• Low diction is informal everyday language with slang, colloquialisms, and contractions. Casual social media posts and texts to friends are examples of low diction.

Here’s an example:

• High diction: commence
• Middle diction: begin
• Low diction: kick off

When analyzing diction in writing, it is important to go beyond simply stating, “The writer used diction.” Since diction refers to the words on the page, this observation is redundant. Instead, focus on how specific word choices contribute to a specific tone, mood, effect, or purpose.

For example:

• Avoid: “The writer used diction.”
• Instead, say: “The writer creates a melancholic tone through the use of somber and reflective word choices, such as ‘fading,’ ‘hollow,’ and ‘solitude.’”
• Or, “The language of the text is somber and reflective, contributing to a melancholic tone through word choices like ‘fading,’ ‘hollow,’ and ‘solitude.’

When discussing diction, use precise adjectives (e.g., plain, abstract, flowery, grandiose, etc.) to classify the writer’s word choice.

Sexual innuendo is when a phrase has two meanings, one of which alludes to something sexual in a subtle and playful manner. People use this kind of language humorously or flirtatiously because it allows them to hint at sexual ideas without making explicit statements.

Some synonyms for innuendo are:

• Insinuation
• Implication
• Hint
• Imputation
• Suggestion

Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find more synonyms for “innuendo.”

The plural form of ellipsis is ellipses. For example, “The text was filled with ellipses, suggesting omitted material.” The term comes from the Greek word “elleipsis”, meaning “omission.” An ellipsis consists of three dots (“…” ).

Three dots stand for a single punctuation mark called ellipsis (“…”). It serves various purposes, such as indicating the omission of words, signaling an incomplete thought, or expressing hesitation. When you are texting and the “…” symbol pops up, it means the other person is currently typing a response.

The ellipsis symbol is a series of three dots  (“…”). It is a special character that some word-processing apps automatically create when you type three periods in a row. An ellipsis shows that something has been omitted from quoted text, or that a speaker or writer has paused or trailed off in speech or thought. While the ellipsis is often formatted with spaces between the dots (“ . . . ”), some style guides (e.g., AP Style) prefer the three dots without spaces (“…”).

The phrase “Object there was none. Passion there was none” from Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” contains an example of hyperbaton. The natural word order in English would be “There was no object” and “There was no passion.” Poe has inverted the normal subject-verb structure for dramatic effect.

“All the world’s a stage” is the opening line of a monologue in Shakespeare’s As You Like It:

The line “Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; that is, one may reach deep enough, and find little” from Timon of Athens by Shakespeare is an example of catachresis. 

It describes Lord Timon’s purse as experiencing the “deepest winter, ” linking financial emptiness to a seasonal concept. This unconventional metaphor highlights the severity of Timon’s financial ruin, emphasizing how empty his purse truly is.

Some synonyms or near synonyms for “salt of the earth” include:

• Admirable
• Decent
• Honorable
• Straight arrow
• Upright person

You can use QuillBot to paraphrase online and easily express your intended meaning.

The idiom “play it by ear” comes from John Playford’s A Brief Introduction to the Skill of Musick (1658). He writes, “To learn to play by rote or ear without book.”

Use the idiom “play it by ear” when you are discussing an action or situation that is done or will be done without a plan in place.

The Merchant of Venice is the play in which Shylock demands a pound of flesh from a merchant. “Pound of flesh” has since become a well-known idiom meaning an unreasonable demand.

A “pound of flesh” comes from Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice. A debt collector named Shylock requests a pound of flesh from a merchant as payment for treating him poorly. While the demand was hefty, it was fair according to their contract.

Some synonyms and near synonyms for the idiom “rule of thumb” include:

• Guideline
• Golden rule
• Pointer
• Unwritten rule
• Recommendation

You can use QuillBot to paraphrase online and ensure your writing reflects your intended meaning.

In the seventeenth century, many trades used the width of a thumb as a rough measurement, as it equaled about an inch across on average. As this was a quick rule for measurement, any loose guideline like this became known as a “rule of thumb.”

Some synonyms and near synonyms for the idiom hook, line, and sinker include:

• Completely
• Utterly
• Through and through
• One hundred percent

QuillBot’s paragraph rewriter can help you find synonyms for phrases like “hook, line, and sinker.”

“Hook, line, and sinker” was first used in the mid-nineteenth century and initially referred to the way a fish might consume all of the fishing equipment besides the bait. As an idiom, it means “fall for something without question.”

If you fall for someone “hook, line, and sinker” it means you’ve fallen in love with them completely and without reservation. You are entirely enamored with the person.

Many people credit the playwright Terence with the origin of the idiom “fortune favors the strong.” However, Virgil is credited with the more popular version “fortune favors the bold.”

The idiom “fortune favors the bold” is a translation of the Lain proverb audentes fortuna iuvat.

If you are the salt of the earth, you are someone who is humble, gracious, and loyal. You have a great work ethic and sense of responsibility, and others look up to you.

The expression “salt of the earth” originates from the Bible, wherein Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Yes, calling someone “the salt of the earth” could be considered a compliment. When you say this about someone, you mean they are driven and trustworthy, which are both positive characteristics.

“Once in a blue moon” is an idiom that means something happens “infrequently” or “rarely.” For instance, because it’s usually hot and sunny in Las Vegas, one could say that it only rains there once in a blue moon.

Some synonyms or near synonyms for “better late than never” include:

• Never too late
• Better to arrive late than not at all
• The chance is still there

QuillBot’s rewriter can help you find synonyms for phrases like “better late than never.”

The phrase “better late than never” is a direct translation of the Latin phrase, potiusque sero quam nunquam. The first recorded use in the English language is from Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.

Use “better late than never” when you are discussing something that is being done behind schedule, or when responding to someone who is informing you of something they are doing in a tardy manner (e.g., “It’s great you’re learning how to cook; better late than never, I always say”).

It can be used in a sarcastic manner, particularly by the person receiving the action that is late (e.g., “Thanks for the birthday gift, even though it’s two months late. Better late than never, I guess”).

Some synonyms and near synonyms for “piece of cake” include:

• A breeze
• Child’s play
• Simple

Quickly and easily rewrite sentences with QuillBot.

Use the idiom “piece of cake” when describing something that is easy to do or understand (e.g., “Completing the project was a piece of cake”).

Some synonyms or near synonyms for “diamond in the rough” include:

• Hidden gem
• Undeveloped talent
• Underestimated

QuillBot can help you find synonyms for phrases like “diamond in the rough” and automatically rewrite texts.

“Diamond in the rough” can be considered a compliment. If someone calls you this, it means they think you have potential.

If you’re unsure when to use phrases like “diamond in the rough,” QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find alternative phrasings to reflect your intended meaning.

Use the phrase diamond in the rough when describing a person or thing that is more sturdy/polite/educated than they look.

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find the perfect wording to express your ideas.

If you are playing the devil’s advocate, you are intentionally taking the side of the opposition to foster debate and offer a dissenting point of view.

Some synonyms and near synonyms for devil’s advocate include:

• Contrarian
• Debater
• Disputant
• Arguer

QuillBot’s AI Rewriter can help you find synonyms for phrases like “devil’s advocate.”

You would use devil’s advocate when referring to someone who holds a contrarian viewpoint and actively shares a differing opinion.

If you’re unsure when to use phrases like “devil’s advocate,” QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find alternative phrasings to reflect your intended meaning.

If you tell someone they are “a class act,” you are telling them they are a good person who acts in a classy, respectful manner.

A person who is described as “a class act” is thoughtful, professional, and held in high regard.

Some synonyms and near synonyms for “class act” include:

• Exemplary
• Distinguished
• Respectful

You can use QuillBot to paraphrase online and easily express your intended meaning.

Idioms are used to emphasize an idea or point in a more colorful way than literal language (e.g., “After her nap, the child got a second wind”). In this case, “got a second wind” is synonymous with “gained more energy.”

“Weather the storm” is an idiom that means “to endure and overcome something difficult, often with minimal impact.” For example, a company that was able to withstand financial difficulties can be described as one that “weathered the storm.”

You can use QuillBot to paraphrase online to accurately express what you mean.

Synonyms for “under the weather” include:

• Feeling out of sorts
• Feeling poorly
• Feeling sick
• In poor health
• Not feeling well

You can use QuillBot to paraphrase online to accurately express what you mean.

No, “spill the beans” is an idiom, not a metaphor.

An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood based on the meaning of the individual words that comprise it (e.g., “once in a blue moon”).

A metaphor compares two unrelated things by stating that one is (or isn’t) like the other (e.g., “Laura is the light of my life.”)

“Spilt the beans” is a variant of “spilled the beans,” although the latter is more popular. “Spilt” is sometimes used as the past tense and past participle of “spilled” in British English. Both phrases mean “to reveal private information.”

You can use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to make sure you are consistent in your use of spilt or spilled.

“Spill the tea” and “spill the beans” are closely related idioms that mean “reveal secret information.” However, “spill the tea” is more closely related to “gossip,” whereas “spill the beans” is often used when someone unintentionally or prematurely discloses private information.

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you explore different ways to express your meaning.

“Break a leg” is an idiom that means “good luck.”

When wanting to express words of encouragement, other expressions you can use in place of “break a leg” include:

• Best of luck
• Godspeed
• Knock ‘em dead
• Give it your best shot
• Show them what you’re made of

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find even more alternatives for phrases like “break a leg.”

People say “break a leg” as a way to wish others success and good luck.

Some theories suggest that the idiom “break a leg” originated in theater, as performers believed it was unlucky to say “good luck.”

“In light of recent events” is a variant of the idiom “in light of” and introduces a change in something because of the events that preceded it (e.g., “In light of recent events, Lola will be transferring to another department”).

You can explore different ways to express your meaning with QuillBot’s Paraphraser tool.

In light of this is a less specific variant of the idiom “in light of.” While both phrases are used to explain a change or state of something due to new circumstances, “in light of this” uses the demonstrative pronoun “this” and functions on a presumption of the audience’s knowledge of what is being referred to (e.g., “In light of this, we’ll be going home early”).

Other ways to say “in light of this” include:

• Because of this
• Due to this
• Given this
• In view of this
• Taking this into account

The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you find even more ways to say “in light of this.”

The “full nine yards” is a less popular variant of the American English expression “the whole nine yards.” Both mean “everything” or “the full extent of something” and describe someone or something as having, desiring, or giving their all in a certain situation (e.g., “I wanted the whole nine yards for my going away party”).

It is not known for certain when and where the expression “the whole nine yards” originated. There are many theories, including some that link the idiom to the length of Scottish kilts, weaponry used in World War II, American football, sailing ships, and more.

A “rags-to-riches” story tells of someone or something that went from poor to rich, or from an unfavorable situation to a favorable one. For example, if someone invents something and makes a lot of money from it, that would be considered a “rags-to-riches” story.

“Riches to rags” is a less popular version of the idiom “rags to riches.” It typically describes a situation in which someone transitions from being financially wealthy to being poor or disadvantaged, but it can also refer to any situation where one goes from being fortunate to being unfortunate (e.g., “The poor lad went from riches to rags”).

You can use QuillBot to paraphrase online and easily express your intended meaning.

The correct expression is under the weather, which is a euphemism for “feeling sick.”

Remember, “weather” refers to the condition of the atmosphere in a certain location, whereas “whether” is a conjunction that expresses doubt or indicates a choice between two options.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use “weather” and “whether” correctly.

An idiom employs figurative language to make a point (e.g., “It’s a piece of cake”). Idioms can be used in a variety of contexts.

An aphorism is a short phrase used to impart wisdom. Some aphorisms may use figurative language also. But this is not always the case (e.g., “You can’t always get what you want”).

We use many idioms in our everyday language. Some examples of common idioms include “The early bird gets the worm,” “Curiosity killed the cat,” and “It’s raining cats and dogs.” They make language more playful and are used to emphasize the things we are saying.

An idiom is a popular fixed phrase that describes a thing or situation (e.g., “Slow and steady wins the race”).

A metaphor is a statement that directly compares two dissimilar things or situations (e.g., “All the world’s a stage”).

An idiom can be a metaphor, but not all idioms are metaphors.

There is no perfect synonym for the word “idiom,” but some close synonyms include:

• Expression
• Figure of speech
• Turn of phrase

Quickly and easily paraphrase online to vary the tone or style of your writing.

“Bricks and mortar” is a variant of the phrase “brick-and-mortar,” which refers to the physical location which a business operates out of to sell their goods and services (e.g., “We finally opened up a brick-and-mortar store”).

You can quickly and easily paraphrase online to express your intended meaning.

Brick and mortar stores (often written as brick-and-mortar) refer to stores that operate out of permanent, fixed locations instead of temporary or online shops (e.g., “I prefer going to brick-and-mortar stores over online shopping”).

A brick and mortar business (often spelled brick-and-mortar) refers to a business that sells goods or serves its customers in a physical, permanent location. For example, a hair salon is an example of a brick-and-mortar business because clients are served in person.

Some synonyms that can be used in place of take it with a grain of salt include:

• Approach that information with caution
• Be dubious about
• Be wary of
• Don’t take it at face value
• Maintain a healthy skepticism about

Our AI Rewriter can help you find synonyms for phrases like “take it with a grain of salt.”

Take it with a pinch of salt is a variant of the idiom take it with a grain of salt. Both convey the same meaning—to consider something skeptically because it may be untrue or misleading.

“Take it with a pinch of salt” is more popular in British English, whereas “take it with a grain of salt” is more commonly used in American English. Usage depends on the dialect being used and stylistic preferences.

QuillBot’s Paraphraser tool can help you find alternatives for “take it with a pinch of salt.”

The idiom “cut to the chase” originates from the silent film era of the 1920s. Directors and writers would literally cut to a chase scene after a slower sequence to keep the audience’s attention.

Some synonyms or near synonyms for the idiom “cut to the chase” include:

• Be frank
• Don’t beat around the bush
• Get down to brass tacks
• Get down to business
• Get on with it
• Get to the point
• Say what you have to say

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find other synonyms for idioms like “cut to the chase.”

In modern terms, a blue moon refers to the second full moon of the month, which typically has only one full moon. This happens once every few years.

However, historically, a blue moon referred to a rarer phenomenon: the fourth full moon in a season, which would typically have only three. That is why people use the idiom once in a blue moon to mean “very rarely.”

Synonyms you can use in place of “once in a blue moon” include:

• From time to time
• Hardly ever
• Not often
• Rarely
• Seldom

QuillBot’s sentence rewriter can help you find synonyms for phrases like “once in a blue moon.”

A compound subject refers to the group of nouns or pronouns that perform the action of the verb or are described by the verb (e.g., “Elle and Miriam are going to the store,” “She and Miriam are tall”).

A compound predicate occurs when two or more verbs share the same subject (e.g., “Beck walks and runs daily”).

Compound subjects and compound predicates can be used together (e.g., “The fans and the team cheered and shouted to celebrate the win”), or a compound subject can be used with a simple predicate and vice versa.

A compound predicate with only two verbs does not use a comma (e.g., “I made my bed and took a shower”).

For a compound predicate with more than two verbs, a comma is used to separate the verbs or verb phrases, and the coordinating conjunction (e.g., “and”) is placed before the last verb.

• If you use the Oxford comma (or serial comma), you place a comma before the conjunction (e.g., “I cooked, cleaned, and did laundry all day”).
• If you do not use the Oxford comma, you do not place a comma before the conjunction (e.g., “I cooked, cleaned and did laundry all day”).

In a compound predicate, two (or more) verbs share one subject (e.g., “Tan sings and dances very well”).

A compound sentence has two (or more) separate subjects that act on two (or more) separate verbs (e.g., “Tan sings, and Lina dances”).

Yes, since it functions as a noun, a gerund (e.g., “reading,” “thinking”) can be the object of a preposition in a sentence (e.g., “I’ve thought about leaving”).

Yes, an object of a preposition is considered compound if it consists of two or more nouns or pronouns (e.g., “I’m going hiking with Vera and Jonas”).

Yes, a sentence can end with “to” (e.g., “Whom are you talking to?”). In the past, writers were encouraged not to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “to,” “for,” “about”), but this guidance is outdated.

Sentences and clauses frequently end with a preposition when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun (e.g., “whom,” “what”).

Yes, a sentence can end with “with” (e.g., “What can I pair this wine with?”). In the past, writers were encouraged not to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “with,” “for,” “to”), but this guidance is outdated.

Sentences and clauses frequently end with a preposition when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun (e.g., “whom,” “what”).

Yes, a sentence can end with “for” (e.g., “I don’t know what this tool is for”). In the past, writers were encouraged not to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “for,” “to,” “about”), but this guidance is outdated.

Sentences and clauses frequently end with a preposition when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun (e.g., “whom,” “what”).

Interrogative adjectives (also called interrogative determiners) are words that modify a noun or pronoun to form a question (e.g., “Which shirt do you like?”). The three interrogative adjectives are “which,” “what,” and “whose.”

Interrogative adjectives belong to a larger class of words, sometimes referred to as “interrogatives.” When “which,” “what,” and “whose” are used to stand in for a noun, rather than modifying it (e.g., “Which do you like?”), they are known as interrogative pronouns.

Indirect questions are questions that are embedded in a statement (e.g., “I wonder who will win this year;” “She asked Max where he was”).

Indirect questions often begin with an interrogative word (e.g., “where,” “when”), but they can also begin with “if” or “whether” (e.g., “My mom asked whether you want to stay for dinner”).

An indirect question is a special type of noun clause, often referred to as an interrogative clause. It is typically embedded within a declarative sentence, so it is not followed by a question mark. Additionally, the word order is the same as a declarative sentence (i.e., subject followed by verb).

When used as an interrogative to form a question, “what” refers to an (essentially) unlimited set of options, while “which” refers to a narrower or limited set. For example:

• What are you wearing to the concert?
  
• Which shirt will you wear: the blue or the green?
  
• What is your favorite song?
  
• Which song should I play for the recital?

The choice of “what” or “which” often depends on the context of the sentence.

“Whose” is an interrogative word that is used to indicate possession. It can be used in questions as an interrogative pronoun (e.g., “Whose is this?”) or interrogative determiner (e.g., “Whose phone has a blue case?”).

It is also used as a relative pronoun in adjective clauses (e.g., “My neighbors, whose dog is always escaping, are building a fence”).

Sometimes, people get confused about the difference between “whose” and “who’s.” The words sound the same but have different meanings. “Who’s” is the contraction of “who is” or “who has” (e.g., “Who’s your favorite singer?”).

The interrogative adverbs are “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how.” They are used to ask questions about time, location, reason, or manner (e.g., “Where do you want to go for dinner?”).

These words are known as interrogative adverbs because the answers they prompt are adverbs, adverb phrases, or adverb clauses.

Interrogative adverbs are part of a larger group of words referred to as “interrogatives.” These words (typically starting with “wh-”) are used to form questions.

Coordinating conjunctions are single words that are used to link grammatically equal elements (e.g., “cheese and crackers”). There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English: “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” and “so.”

Subordinating conjunctions are words or phrases that are used at the beginning of a dependent clause (e.g., “until,” “if,” “even though”). They show the relationship between a dependent clause and an independent clause.

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that show the relationship between two grammatically equal elements (e.g., “either pizza or pasta”). The most common correlative conjunctions are “either … or,” “neither … nor,” “both … and,” and “not only … but also.”

A QuillBot grammar check can ensure you’re using the different types of conjunctions correctly.

Like all correlative conjunctions, “not only … but also” does not typically require a comma (e.g., “The weather forecast calls for not only rain but also hail”).

The one exception to this is when it is used to join two independent clauses, which each have a subject and a verb (e.g., “Ava not only speaks Spanish, but she also is learning French”). This sentence could also be rephrased to not require a comma (e.g., “Ava not only speaks Spanish but also is learning French”).

A QuillBot grammar check can help ensure you’re using correlative conjunctions correctly.

At its simplest, a sentence contains a subject and a verb (e.g., “Sarah woke up”). If there is no verb, or no subject, then it’s usually a sentence fragment.

Another way of testing whether you’re dealing with a sentence fragment is to ask yourself if it expresses a complete thought. If it doesn’t, then it is a sentence fragment (e.g., “No luck today”).

Look for clauses that leave you needing more information to fully understand them (e.g., “Yesterday at the hospital”).

Yes, a statement might have a subject and a verb but still be a sentence fragment. This is especially the case with dependent clauses. When a dependent clause is not connected to an independent clause, it is a sentence fragment:

• When Alex had a birthday party.
• When Alex had a birthday party, I was able to help with the arrangements.

To help you decide, you need to ask yourself if the clause expresses a complete thought (e.g., “When Alex had a birthday party, I was able to help with the arrangements”) or if there is information missing (e.g., “When Alex had a birthday party”).

Sometimes it might take some rewriting to make a sentence fragment better. Rearranging the clauses makes sure that there is no sentence fragment:

• I missed the game on Saturday. Because I had broken my foot.
• Because I had broken my foot, I missed the game on Saturday.

In some cases, you may need to add a missing subject:

• Went shopping.
• I went shopping.

In other cases, you might need to add a subject and a verb:

• Running through the park in the early morning.
• I love running through the park in the early morning.

In most cases, a sentence contains at least a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

A sentence fragment is usually missing a subject, a verb, or both (e.g., “Wondering what to cook for dinner”).

In some cases, a clause might have both a subject and a verb, but also a subordinating conjunction. This makes it a dependent clause on its own, which is a sentence fragment (e.g., “After the second Act”).

A simple question to ask yourself to test if you have a sentence fragment is whether the clause contains a complete thought. If it does, then there is probably no problem.

Yes, a compound subject can be used in a simple sentence – a sentence that has only one subject-verb pair (e.g., “Terrence and I like to hike).

Compound subjects can be used in all sentence types (i.e., simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex).

Subject-verb agreement for compound subjects can seem complex, but there are two basic rules to keep in mind.

For compound subjects connected with “and,” a plural verb is almost always used (e.g., “Carlos and Elise go to the same school”).

For compound subjects connected with “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with whichever noun is closest to it (e.g., “Either my parents or my sister picks me up from school” or “Either my sister or my parents pick me up from school”).

A dangling modifier is a modifier that does not have a subject within the sentence. In contrast, a misplaced modifier does have a subject, but the modifier and the subject being modified are separated.

The following sentence has a dangling modifier:
“Eager to leave the room, the presentation ended early.”
In this sentence, there is no subject indicating who was eager to leave the room.

In contrast, this sentence has a misplaced modifier:
“The frazzled woman’s hair was difficult to comb.”
The placement of the modifier “frazzled” makes it unclear if it is the woman who was frazzled or her hair.

A clearer structure would be the following:
“The woman’s frazzled hair was difficult to comb.”

A squinting modifier, also known as an ambiguous modifier, is a modifier that could possibly modify two different parts of the sentence.

The following sentence has a squinting modifier:
“Paolo works in a restaurant serving shrimp.”
In this sentence, it is unclear if Paolo’s specific job is serving shrimp in a restaurant or if the restaurant is dedicated specifically to shrimp.

This can be clarified as either of the following two sentences:

• “Paolo works serving shrimp in a restaurant.” [indicating that Paolo serves shrimp]
• “Paolo works in a restaurant that serves shrimp.” [indicating that the restaurant serves shrimp]

To identify a misplaced modifier, it is important to understand which word(s) in a sentence a modifier is describing. If the modifier is far away from those words, it likely needs to be moved closer.

Example:
“Running away with its tail between his legs, the child laughed after frightening the dog.”

In this sentence, the subject of the modifying clause “Running away with his tail between his legs” clearly refers to the dog, but another subject, “the child” is squeezed between the clause and what it describes.

Better phrasings would be as follows:

• “The child laughed after frightening the dog, which ran away with its tail between its legs.”
• “Running away with its tail between its legs, the dog had been frightened by the child, who laughed afterward.”

Nonrestrictive clauses, like all relative clauses (or adjective clauses), begin with a relative pronoun, typically “which,” “who,” “whom,” or “whose” (e.g., “I want to vacation in Majorca, which is part of Spain”).

The relative pronoun “that” is only used with restrictive clauses, never with nonrestrictive clauses.

Nonrestrictive clauses are set off from the rest of the sentence by commas.

Nonrestrictive clauses are used to give extra, nonessential information about a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase (e.g., “The summer Olympics, which take place every 4 years, will be in Paris”).

Unlike restrictive clauses, which are used to identify people or things, nonrestrictive clauses are typically used to give additional information about particular people or things. So, they are frequently used with specific nouns (e.g., “my mom,” “the new teacher,” “your house”) rather than general nouns (e.g., “kids,” “the man,” “books”).

When a relative clause is used to describe a proper noun (e.g., “David,” “Prospect Park”), a nonrestrictive clause is almost always used.

Both restrictive clauses and nonrestrictive clauses are types of relative clauses (or adjective clauses), which act as adjectives in sentences to describe nouns or pronouns.

• Restrictive clauses give essential identifying information about the nouns they modify. They often answer the question “which one?” If they are removed from a sentence, the meaning of the sentence is changed or becomes unclear (e.g., “Apples that are picked too early are sour”).
• Nonrestrictive clauses give extra, nonessential information about the nouns they modify. They can be removed from a sentence without changing its meaning or making it unclear (e.g., “Apples, which are my favorite fruit, are high in fiber”).

Nonrestrictive clauses are set off from the rest of the sentence by commas. Restrictive clauses do not require commas.

“Defining relative clause” is another name for a restrictive clause, which is a type of relative clause (or adjective clause) that gives essential identifying information about the noun or pronoun it modifies (e.g., “The girl who is holding a teddy bear is my daughter”).

Restrictive clauses cannot be removed from a sentence without changing its meaning or making it unclear.

“Non-defining relative clause” is another name for a nonrestrictive clause, which is a type of relative clause (or adjective clause) that gives extra, nonessential information about the noun or pronoun it modifies (e.g., “I am going to visit Lake Superior, which is the world’s largest freshwater lake”).

Nonrestrictive clauses can be removed from a sentence without changing its meaning.

To break down a word and identify the root, it is helpful to first identify any affixes attached to the word. Prefixes and suffixes often modify root words, so removing these can reveal the root word and help you unlock the word’s meaning.

For example, “predated” has the prefix “pre-” (“before”) and the suffix “-ed,” which is used here to indicate the past tense. Removing the prefix and the suffix gives us the root word “datus,” or the past participle of “dare,” “to give,” in Latin.

Root words form the basis of word families, or groups of all the words derived from a given root.

Word families include all the inflections and derivations of a given root word. However, because language evolves over time, some words in a word family might have very different meanings, even if they share the same etymological root.

Direct objects are nouns that receive the action of a verb and answer the question “what?” or “whom?” (e.g., “I bought some flowers”).

Indirect objects are nouns that receive the direct object and answer the question “to whom?” or “for whom?” (e.g., “I bought Morgan some flowers”).

Both direct objects and indirect objects are used with transitive verbs. Direct objects are required after transitive verbs, and indirect objects are optional

In sentences, indirect objects receive the direct object and answer the question “for whom?” or “to whom.” For example, in the sentence “I gave the teacher my homework,” “the teacher” is the indirect object. It answers the question “To whom did I give my homework?”

Indirect objects are always optional in English. When they do appear, they always appear alongside a direct object, so they are only used with transitive verbs. Transitive verbs that frequently use an indirect object are called ditransitive verbs (e.g., “sell,” “bring,” “take,” “send, “show”).

An independent clause has a subject and a verb and can stand on its own as a complete sentence (e.g., “Puppies are playful”).

A dependent clause must be joined with an independent clause because it does not express a complete thought (e.g., “Puppies are playful because they have a lot of energy”).

Dependent clauses are marked by the use of subordinating conjunctions (e.g., “because,” “although,” “while”) or relative pronouns (e.g., “that,” “which,” “who”).

Independent clauses can be joined together using a semicolon (e.g., “I love my puppy Coco; she is so much fun”) or a comma and coordinating conjunction, like “and,” “but,” or “so” (e.g., “I wish I could play with Coco all day, but I have to work”).

Less commonly, a colon or an em dash can be used to link two independent clauses (e.g., “Let’s admit what the real problem is here: We haven’t devoted enough time to training”).

Independent clauses can also be joined with dependent clauses to form complex and compound-complex sentences. In a complex sentence, the independent clause is known as the main clause.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you use different sentence structures correctly.

Semicolons are a useful way of joining together two independent clauses that are closely related (e.g., “Please take your shoes off; I’ve just mopped the floor”).

You can also use conjunctive adverbs to express the relationship between the clauses, which give insight into how your ideas are connected (e.g., “The experiment yielded unexpected results; moreover, it led to a reevaluation of our hypothesis”).

Semicolons add nuance and sophistication to your writing, but they should not be overused as this can make them less effective in helping information stand out.

Dependent clauses typically begin with a word called a dependent marker. This dependent marker can be either a subordinating conjunction (e.g., “because,” “before,” “unless”) or a relative pronoun (e.g., “that,” “which,” “who”).

There are three types of dependent clauses: adverbial clauses, adjective clauses, and noun clauses. Dependent clauses are categorized into these types based on the role they play in a sentence.

“Of” is a preposition that can be combined with nouns and modifiers to form prepositional phrases. It can express a range of meanings, including the following:

• Possession or relationship: “the wheel of my car.”
• Origin: “people of ancient Mesopotamia.”
• Material, contents, or construction: “a shard of glass.”
• About or relating to: “I told him of my travels.”

“With” is a preposition that can be combined with nouns and modifiers to form prepositional phrases. It has a few meanings, including the following:

• Who an action is performed with: “I went to the cinema with my brother.”
• A combination of items: “they served tea with milk.”
• What is used to carry out an action: “I wrote the letter with a fountain pen.”
• How something is done: “They danced with skill and grace.”

“On” is a preposition that can be combined with nouns and modifiers to form prepositional phrases. It has a range of meanings, including the following:

• Place: “Dinner is on the table.”
• Time: “My birthday is on Friday.”

An example of a prepositional phrase is “in the washing machine.” A prepositional phrase combines a preposition (e.g., “in,” “on,” “with”) with nouns and modifiers. They can act as adjectives, adverbs, and nouns in a sentence.

Here are some other examples of prepositional phrases:

• The party is on Tuesday.
• I can write with a quill.
• The cup of water fell to the ground.

Their shows possession. There shows where something is or that it exists. And they’re is a contraction of they are.

They may be spelled the same, but they don’t have to be. Words that have the same sound and same spelling are homonyms and may also be homophones or homographs.

Good transition words and phrases for conclusions include:

• To conclude (with)
• Finally
• At last
• As a final point
• In conclusion
• Lastly
• In sum
• Overall

The transition you choose will depend on the level of formality of your text and the argument you have made.

Using QuillBot’s Paraphrasing Tool can help you vary your word choice.

Good transition words and phrases to start a paragraph depend on the purpose of the paragraph and how it relates to the previous one.

QuillBot’s Paraphrasing Tool can help you integrate transition words into your writing.

Good transition words and phrases to show contrast include:

• However
• Although
• In contrast
• Conversely
• Whereas
• On the other hand
• While

The transition you choose will depend on the level of formality of your text and your sentence structure.

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you vary your word choice.

Some good transition words and phrases for essays include “first (of all),” “initially,” “to begin with,” “for example,” “in particular,” “conversely,” “in summary,” “overall,” and “finally.”

QuillBot’s free paraphrasing tool can help you add variety to the transition words you use in your writing.

Good transition words and phrases for the first body paragraph in an essay include:

• To begin with
• First
• Initially
• First of all
• Considering x
• On the subject of x

QuillBot’s free paraphrasing tool can help you find options for transition words.

Complex sentences are made up of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Compound sentences are made up of two or more independent clauses connected with a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you vary your sentence structure to improve your writing.

An example of a complex sentence is “Desmond likes to stretch before he runs.” It is made up of one independent clause (“Desmond likes to stretch”) and a dependent clause (“before he runs”).

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using complex sentences correctly.

The relative pronouns “which,” “who,” “whom,” and “whose” can all be used to signal a nonrestrictive clause in a complex sentence.

These pronouns often introduce an adjective clause (or relative clause), which is a type of dependent clause. When that dependent clause is connected to an independent clause, it forms a complex sentence.

Adjective clauses can be either restrictive or nonrestrictive. Nonrestrictive clauses are set off with commas.

Note that the relative pronoun “that” is only used in restrictive clauses.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you ensure your writing is free of errors.

An example of a compound sentence is “Rakesh likes baseball, but Simone prefers basketball.”

This sentence, like all compound sentences, has two independent clauses (“Rakesh likes baseball” and “Simone prefers basketball”). The two independent clauses are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (“but”).

Other coordinating conjunctions (e.g., “and,” “so”) can also be used to form a compound sentence. Alternatively, a semicolon can be used (e.g., “Rakesh likes baseball; Simone prefers basketball”).

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure your compound sentences are free of errors.

A compound sentence is made by combining two simple sentences (or independent clauses) with a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure your compound sentences are structured correctly.

Simple and compound sentences differ in their number of independent clauses (i.e., a group of words with a subject and verb that can stand on its own as a sentence).

• Simple sentences have one independent clause. For example: “Jack went shopping.”
• Compound sentences have at least two independent clauses joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. For example: “Jack went shopping, and Lucy cooked dinner.”

Note that simple sentences can have compound subjects (e.g., “Jack and Lucy went shopping”) or compound predicates (e.g., “Jack went shopping and cooked dinner”) or both (e.g., “‘Jack and Lucy went shopping and cooked dinner”).

A compound sentence, in contrast, is formed when two full simple sentences are connected.

Use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to make sure your sentences are structured correctly.

An example of a compound-complex sentence is “I want to go to London, but Carrie wants to go to New York because it is closer.”

This example has the necessary components of a compound-complex sentence:

• At least two independent clauses (“I want to go to London” and “Carrie wants to go to New York”) joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction (or a semicolon)
• At least one dependent clause (“because it is closer”)

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you vary your sentence structure in your writing.

You can write a compound-complex sentence in many different ways, but it must have the following components:

• At least two independent clauses joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction (or semicolon)
• At least one dependent clause

These components can be arranged in essentially any order.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you use compound-complex sentences correctly.

Since not only … but also is a correlative conjunction, there is no exact synonym. However, instead of using not only … but also, you could rewrite the sentence to use a conjunctive adverb such as “moreover” or “furthermore” instead.

The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you rewrite sentences and find alternative ways to express your meaning.

The choice between the correlative conjunctions either … or and neither … nor depends on your intended meaning.

• Use either … or when you want to present two options (e.g., “We can either go out to eat or order in”).
• Use neither … nor when you want to express that two things are not true or did not happen (e.g., “We neither ate nor slept on the flight”).

When there is already a negative (e.g., “not,” “never “) in your sentence, use “or” to avoid a double negative (e.g., “We did not eat or sleep on the flight”).

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using correlative conjunctions correctly.

Some examples of sentences using neither … nor (a correlative conjunction) are:

• The marketing campaign neither attracted new users nor increased sales.
• Neither the actors nor the studios were satisfied with the result of the negotiations.
• My date was neither charming nor intelligent.

Neither … nor is also used in some well-known expressions, such as:

• That’s neither here nor there. Let’s focus on the main issue.
• I’m going to follow my grandma’s advice: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”
• I can neither confirm nor deny that I saw Talia at the soccer game on her sick day.

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using “neither … nor” correctly.

The correct form of the correlative conjunction is neither … nor (e.g., “We have neither the capital nor the name recognition to expand into a new market”). “Or” is never used with “neither.”

A QuillBot Grammar Check can help ensure you’re using correlative conjunctions and negatives like “neither … nor” correctly.

Either … or is a correlative conjunction that can be used in a variety of ways in sentences. Some examples are:

• Either my mom or my dad will give me a ride.
• They said we could either sit in the balcony or stand near the stage.
• Either pay attention, or leave.
• I’ll take either a soda or a water.

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using either … or correctly.

Both object complements and subject complements rename or describe a noun or pronoun.

• Subject complements come after a linking verb and describe the subject of a sentence.
• Object complements come after and describe a direct object.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you use subject and object complements correctly.

An object complement can be a noun or noun phrase, but it can also be an adjective or adjective phrase.

Object complements follow a direct object and describe or rename it. For example:

• They appointed me president. [noun]
• I consider her the perfect teacher. [noun phrase]
• The chlorine turned my hair green. [adjective]
• The critic found the book trite and predictable. [adjective phrase]

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you ensure you’re using object complements correctly.

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence is the “doer” of the action (e.g., “He cooked the food”), but in the passive voice the subject is the “recipient” of this action (e.g., “The food was cooked by him”).

You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to identify uses of the passive voice in your writing.

To change a sentence from the passive voice into the active voice, identify the “doer” of the action and then make it the subject of the sentence.

For instance, in this passive sentence, “The play was written by Shakespeare,” the verb is “write,” and the “doer” is Shakespeare. So, the sentence with Shakespeare as the subject will begin with “Shakespeare wrote…” If we add the rest of the information, the full sentence in the active voice is “Shakespeare wrote the play.”

You can use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to rephrase sentences that are in the passive voice.

The subject is “what the sentence is about.”

If the sentence is in the active voice, then the subject of the sentence is the “doer” of the action described by the main verb.

For instance, in the sentence “Kate has to write her aunt a thank-you letter,” “Kate” is the subject (she is “doing” the writing).

If the sentence is in the passive voice, the subject is not the doer, it is the “recipient” of the action (or occasionally the thing being “transferred”).

For instance, if the information from the example above is expressed in the passive voice as “Kate’s aunt has to be written a thank-you letter,” the subject is “Kate’s aunt” (the recipient).

In the sentence “A thank-you letter has to be written to Kate’s aunt,” which is also in the passive voice, the subject is “a thank-you letter” (the thing being transferred).

Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? You can use it to check that the verbs in your sentences “agree with” the subjects.

A contronym is a word that can also act as it’s own own antonym. Examples of contronyms include:

• Cleave: to split in two or cling together
• Dust: to cover with or to remove dust
• Sanction: to approve or penalize
• Fast: firmly fixed in place or moving rapidly
• Overlook: to supervise or fail to see
• Left: remaining or departed
• Screen: to show or conceal
• Trim: to add or reduce

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using contonyms correctly.

We typically say and write family is (not family are) in American English, treating it as singular, like other collective nouns.

In British English, it is very common to use are with collective nouns (even in formal contexts) if the writer or speaker is thinking of the group as individuals rather than a single entity, (e.g., The family are all very health conscious). This use is not common in American English, but it is acceptable.

Knowing whether is or are is correct can be tricky. You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to check that the subject-verb agreement in your sentences is correct.

It is always everybody is (not everybody are)—e.g., “Everybody is meeting there at 5 p.m.”).

Knowing whether to use is or are with indefinite pronouns can be tricky because some are treated as plural, some as singular (like everybody), and some can be either.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to check the subject-verb agreement in your sentences.

It is always information is (not information are) because it is an uncountable noun (e.g., “The information is on the website”). But you can say “pieces of information are” (e.g., “A few pieces of information are missing”).

Deciding if is or are is the right choice can be tricky. Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help ensure that the subject-verb agreement in your sentences is correct?

Either is (not either are) is grammatically correct because “either” is a singular indefinite pronoun (e.g., “Either (option) is fine”).

However, in informal English, we sometimes say “either of X are” (e.g., “I don’t think either of those options are acceptable,” “I don’t think either of them are acceptable”) and “either X or Y are” (e.g., “Either Paula or Sasha are going to do it”).

Deciding if is or are is the correct choice with indefinite pronouns can be difficult. Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you check the subject-verb agreement in your sentences?

Neither is, not neither are, is grammatically correct because “neither” is a singular indefinite pronoun (e.g., “Neither (option) is okay”).

However, in informal English, we sometimes say “neither of X are” (e.g., “I think neither of those options are acceptable,” “I think neither of them are acceptable”) and “neither X nor Y are” (e.g., “Neither David nor Elise are here today”).

Deciding if is or are is grammatically correct with indefinite pronouns can be tricky. You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you check your sentences for correct subject-verb agreement.

The word “a” is an article. More specifically, “a” is one of the two indefinite articles (“a” and “an”).

Indefinite articles modify general versions of singular and countable nouns (e.g., “a bicycle” means “any bicycle” whereas “the bicycle Mia got for her birthday” refers to one specific bicycle”).

Use “a” before the noun it modifies, the first adjective that modifies the noun, or the adverb that modifies the noun’s first adjective.

Use “a” instead of “an” when the next word begins with a consonant sound (e.g., “She wore a gold necklace”).

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use the indefinite article “a” correctly in your writing.

The word “that” is not an article but rather, a demonstrative pronoun.

The articles in English are the definite article “the” and the indefinite articles “a” and “an.”

Use “that” before a singular, countable noun that is clear from the context or that has already been mentioned (e.g., “I’m binge watching Ted Lasso again because I love that show”).

When you’re writing with indefinite articles, definite articles, or demonstrative pronouns, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker is here to help.

The word “an” is an indefinite article that modifies a noun. It can go right before the noun, before the first adjective that modifies the noun, or before an adverb that modifies the noun’s first adjective.

Use this indefinite article in these situations:

• When you’re referring to a general version of a singular, countable noun (e.g., “an English muffin”)
• When the next word starts with a vowel sound (e.g., “an hour” or “an apple”)

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors when you’re writing with “an.”

The word and is not an article. It’s sometimes confused with the indefinite article “an,” but it’s a different part of speech.

And is a coordinating conjunction, so you can use it between two grammatically equal words, phrases, or clauses. For example, “and” can go between two independent clauses (e.g., “George had a sandwich for lunch, and Martha had soup”).

When you’re using indefinite articles or coordinating conjunctions in your writing, the QuillBot Grammar Checker is here to help.

The word “of” is not an article but rather, a preposition. As a preposition, “of” begins a prepositional phrase, which also includes a noun. The following examples include prepositional phrases (in bold) that begin with “of.”

• The pyramids are made of limestone blocks.
• Michael published a book of poems.

In contrast to a preposition, an article is a determiner that modifies a noun. The definite article in English is “the,” and the indefinite articles are “a” and “an.”

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you use “of” correctly in your writing.

The word “the” is an article. “The” is the definite article in English (as opposed to the indefinite articles “a” and “an”).

“The” is one of the determiners that can modify specific rather than general versions of nouns. When readers know exactly which noun you mean, use “the” or any other determiner (e.g., “my” or “this”) besides indefinite articles.

You can use “the” before all of these types of nouns:

• Singular (e.g., “The purse over there belongs to me”)
• Plural (e.g., “Except for the coins in my wallet, I don’t have any cash”)
• Countable (e.g., “I put all the pens in the desk drawer”)
• Uncountable (e.g., “I gave all of the gum to my niece”)

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use “the” and other articles or determiners correctly in your writing.

Use “the” in a sentence to modify a specific version of a noun. Anytime your reader knows the exact noun you mean, use the definite article “the” or any other determiner besides the indefinite articles “a” or “an” (which are for general versions of nouns).

“The” can modify nouns that are singular, plural, countable, or uncountable. Some examples of “the” in a sentence include the following:

• Nick baked the cake for Sarah’s birthday. [Singular, countable noun]
• Please fold all of the shirts in this basket. [Plural, countable noun]
• The soap in your bathroom smells like lavender. [Uncountable noun]

When you’re writing sentences with “the,” QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.

Very is an adverb that means “to a great extent.” It’s an adverb of degree, which is a type of qualifier.

In a sentence, “very” usually goes before the adjective that it modifies (e.g., “The very loud thunder shook the whole house”).

When you’re writing with “very” and other qualifiers, QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you choose the right words.

The meaning of possibly is “somewhat likely.” “Possibly” is a qualifier and an adverb of probability.

Use “possibly” to modify a verb when you want to show that something might happen (e.g., “Depending on financial aid, Martin can possibly start law school this fall”).

You can also use “possibly” to modify an adjective (e.g., “Dave is possibly the nicest person I’ve ever met”).

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you use “possibly” and other qualifiers correctly in your writing.

In most cases, spell out numbers under 10, which include cardinal numbers (e.g., “four books” and “nine teachers”) and ordinal numbers (e.g., fifth grade). However, there are exceptions and variations, depending on the style guidelines you’re using.

For example, APA, MLA, and Chicago guidelines require numerals for numbers under 10 when they’re part of dates, times, and measurements (e.g., “The veterinarian fed the kittens a high calorie diet until they weighed 2 pounds”).

You can also use numerals for one through nine when they go after nouns and are part of a series (e.g., “Chapter 7 takes place in a cave”).

Always check with your style book, instructor, or workplace guidelines when you’re unsure about how to spell out cardinal numbers or ordinal numbers.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can also help you use numbers correctly in your writing.

Most (but not all) style books say to hyphenate numbers that have two words (e.g., “forty-six days”).

Unless your style requirements say otherwise, use a hyphen (-) when you need to write the words for a double-digit cardinal number (e.g., “thirty-one flavors”) or ordinal number (e.g., “twenty-first birthday”).

Some of the most common guidelines for hyphens and numbers are as follows:

• APA uses hyphens for two-word numbers but only uses words for 10 and greater at the beginning of a sentence (e.g., “Last year, 25 teachers retired” or “Twenty-five teachers retired last year”).
• Chicago uses words for numbers up to 100 and hyphens in numbers with two words (e.g., “The conference included workshops by twenty-seven professional musicians”).
• MLA requires words for all numbers that have one or two words and doesn’t use hyphens for numbers (e.g., “The researchers interviewed thirty two students”).

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you with hyphens, cardinal numbers, and more.

An ordinal number is defined as a number that identifies a position in a sequence or system of levels or rankings.

You can write ordinal numbers as words (e.g., “third”) or cardinal numbers combined with “-st,” “-nd,” “-rd,” or “-th” (e.g., “20th”).