The following are some common rhetorical devices with examples:
| Rhetorical device | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Metaphor | An implicit comparison between two unlike things | He is a night owl. He prefers working at night. |
| Hyperbole | An exaggerated statement, not to be taken literally | I was bored to tears during the lecture. |
| Synecdoche | A part is used to represent a whole or vice versa | I got a new set of wheels. |
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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, whereas mixed metaphors combine two metaphors to create an illogical comparison. Mixed metaphors can be created on purpose or by accident.
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.
Quickly and easily rewrite sentences using QuillBot’s sentence rewriter.
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:
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.
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.
Neologisms and slang are different in their origin, purpose, and acceptance.
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.
Mixed metaphors are often created by accident. However, when they are created intentionally, it is often for comedic effect.
For example, an unintelligent character might mix up their metaphors and say something like, “I’ll wait ‘til the cows turn blue.” This combines “until the cows come home” and “until I’m blue in the face.”
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.
A mixed metaphor is the combination of two metaphors and their related imagery. A metaphor is more straightforward, making a comparison with one type of imagery.
Example: Let’s get our ducks on the same page.
This is a combination of “let’s get our ducks in a row” and “let’s get on the same page.”
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:
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:
You can identify logos in an argument by asking yourself the following questions:
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:
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:
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.
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 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”:
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:
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:
A paradox and an oxymoron are similar in that they both involve a contradiction; however, there is a difference between them.
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.
Allegory and symbolism are related literary devices, but they should not be confused.
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.
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.
Words that rhyme with “me” are bee, degree, debris, flea, ghee, glee, sea, spree, key, tea, plea, and pea.
Words that rhyme with “love” are dove, glove, shove, and above.
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).
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.
Juxtaposition and oxymorons are both literary devices that involve contrasting elements; however, they differ in scope and function.
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.
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.
Compound words and portmanteaus can be easily confused because they both combine multiple words into one. However there is a difference between them.
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:
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.
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.
For example, in the sentence “My daughter is a little angel,” the daughter is not literally an angel; rather, the metaphor is used to emphasize her innocence and good 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., “she behaves like an angel”).
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 difference between an extended metaphor and a regular metaphor is their length and level of complexity.
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.
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.
| Figurative language | Literary theme or device |
| Rhetorical device | Motif |
| Figure of speech | Cliché |
| Metaphor | Symbol |
| Metonymy | Image |
| Synecdoche | Theme |
| Irony | Archetype |
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:
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.
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., “#$%@!”).
Two common ways of censoring curse words in text are:
Grawlix is the use of punctuation marks to replace profanity in text. A grawlix generator is a tool that automatically generates a random series of punctuation marks to replace a word.
You can of course also write your own grawlix by just typing a random selection of punctuation such as “@$#&!” in place of the relevant word.
Some common synonyms for “invective” are:
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:
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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”).
| Inflected form | Periphrastic equivalent | Inflected form | Periphrastic equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| quicker | more quick | quickest | most quick |
| stronger | more strong | strongest | most strong |
| simple | more simple | simplest | most simple |
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.”