What Are Figures of Speech? | Examples & List
Figures of speech are words or phrases that deliberately deviate from common language use to create a stylistic effect. Their main purpose is to add creativity and depth to our communication and keep others engaged in what we have to say or write. We encounter figures of speech in various contexts, including prose, poetry, and everyday language.
Grandpa is as blind as a bat without his glasses. [simile]
To give a more appealing spin on their second-hand clothes, the store calls their items “pre-loved.” [euphemism]
Figures of speech definition
A figure of speech is a type of figurative language in which we use words beyond their literal interpretations to convey meaning in unexpected ways. Figures of speech are also a subset of literary devices as their use sets literary writing apart from ordinary writing.
Figures of speech are typically categorized into two main groups:
- Tropes, which play with the meaning of words, such as oxymoron and metonymy.
- Schemes, which play with word order, syntax, letters, and sounds, such as alliteration and chiasmus.
Although different figures of speech are used for different effects, broadly speaking, tropes tend to engage with readers intellectually, whereas schemes tend to produce a more visceral effect.
Figures of speech examples
Figures of speech can take many forms. They can involve a single word, a word combination, an omission of a word, a repetition of sounds or words, or specific sentence structures.
Figures of speech list
There are different types of figures of speech, each with its own unique purpose and effect.
Here are some of the most common ones:
- Antithesis
- Assonance
- Asyndeton
- Metaphor
- Personification
- Pleonasm
- Sibilance
- Synecdoche
- Understatement
- Zeugma
Antithesis
Antithesis is a figure of speech that places two contrasting or opposing ideas side by side, usually within parallel grammatical structures. This creates emphasis and makes a sentence more memorable.
Martin Luther King, Jr., speech at St. Louis, 1964
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words or syllables to create a sense of rhythm or musicality. The repeated sound usually occurs in the middle of the word.
There’s no place like home
You snooze, you lose
Asyndeton
Asyndeton is the deliberate omission of conjunctions such as “and,” “or,” and “but” from a series of related clauses or phrases. This speeds up the rhythm of a text and creates a sense of urgency.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Metaphor
A metaphor compares two unlike things to enhance imagery or deepen understanding, without using “like” or “as.”
He wears his heart on his sleeve. [He shows his feelings openly]
The city is a melting pot of different cultures. [The city is a place where diverse cultures blend and coexist]
Personification
Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena.
The wind whispered through the leaves.
The old door stubbornly refused to open.
Pleonasm
Pleonasm refers to phrases that express an idea using more words than necessary. This redundancy can be accidental or intentional to reinforce an idea.
We overlooked a minor detail in the contract.
The campers sat around the burning fire to dry themselves.
Sibilance
Sibilance is the repetition of hissing or hushing sounds, usually pronounced as “s,” “sh,” “zh,” and “c” sounds. This repetition can occur anywhere within a word and, depending on the context, can evoke a sense of smoothness or tension. Sibilance is a subtype of consonance.
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
“Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman
Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa.
Whole for a part: saying “let’s go to the movies” to refer to a specific movie playing at a local theater.
Understatement
An understatement deliberately downplays the importance or seriousness of a situation or event. Whereas it is typically used for emphasis, humor, or irony, sometimes understatement can be used to avoid sounding boastful.
Zeugma
Zeugma is when you use one word to link two thoughts, only one of which makes literal sense. It takes advantage of ambiguities in language for comedic effect or to make a sentence more memorable.
Frequently asked questions about figures of speech
- What is the difference between literary devices and figures of speech?
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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.
- What are different types of figures of speech?
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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.
- What is an example of a figure of speech?
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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.
