Polysyndeton
When conjunctions (and, or, but, so, yet, for) are used in close succession even when they are not required, then it’s called polysyndeton. It is usually used for emphasis and rhythm. For example: He came and bowed and laughed and dropped into a chair.
The word polysyndeton comes from Greek polysyndetos meaning “bound together”.
Examples of polysyndeton
Example [...]
Pleonasm
Pleonasm is the use of extra words to explain the meaning or to get across an idea. This redundancy helps in emphasis, clarifying a complex idea and in explaining a concept. The word pleonasm comes from Greek pleonasmos meaning “excess”.
Examples of pleonasm
Win a free gift.
That is the real truth.
I was thinking in my mind…
I saw [...]
Parallelism
Parallelism is when certain word(s), clauses or phrases are structured similarly to give the sentence a distinct pattern. For example: I came; I saw; I conquered. Parallelism is mostly used for comparison. As the structure of the phrases or the words is almost identical, we are made aware of the distinctiveness of the content or [...]
Paraprosdokian
Paraprosdokian is a figure of speech where the latter part of a sentence twists in such an unexpected way that you are forced to read the former again to make sense of it. This rhetorical technique is used to surprise the reader, for introducing novelty and to emphasize an idea.
For example: “If you are going [...]
Hendiatris
When three words, parted by a comma, are used to express one idea, then it’s a hendiatris. It is unlike hendiadys where two words are used to express an idea. This figure of speech uses words that give off a certain common characteristic. For example: wine, women and song. These three point towards a certain [...]
Hendiadys
When two nouns are used with a conjunction (storm and rain) instead of combining them as an adjective and a substantive (stormy rain), it’s called hendiadys. This figure of speech is used for emphasis. Most of the time, you see an adjective turned into a noun, as in the case above.
The word hendiadys comes from [...]
Elliptical construction
An elliptical construction is a sentence in which certain word(s) are deliberately omitted because they seem too obvious and can easily be understood from the context. For example: I am taller than he (is).
Examples of elliptical construction
You are smarter than I (am).
She doesn’t like her as much as (she likes) me.
He plays much better than [...]
Epistrophe
Epistrophe, also called epiphora, is a rhetorical scheme in which emphasis is put on the last word(s) of a clause, phrase or a sentence by repeating it. For example: The government is of the people, by the people and for the people.
The word epistrophe comes from Greek epistrephein meaning “upon turning” – turning to the [...]
Asyndeton
When conjunctions (but, for, so, or, and) are done away with after every successive clause or phrase for effect, then it’s called asyndeton. For example: I came; I saw; I conquered. It is the opposite of polysyndeton.
The word asyndeton comes from Greek asyndetos meaning “not bound together”.
Examples of asyndeton
We met, we got engaged, we married.
She [...]
Paradiastole
Paradiastole is the use of a euphemism to turn a negative characteristic into a positive one. For example, saying “curvy” instead of “fat”. Paradiastole can be used for politeness, diplomacy, irony, and as a way to defend something or somebody.
The word paradiastole comes from Greek παραστολη meaning beyond sending.
Examples of paradiastole
Guts – Shamelessness
Frugal – Stingy
Unsociable [...]
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that don’t rhyme. For example: I blew the balloon with my tool. (repetition of the sound oo) The repetitions are placed close together to create a rhythm. This writing technique is usually used in verse.
Examples of assonance
Free – Eagle
High as a kite
Make – Braid
Sweep – Sleep
Fathom [...]
Hyperbaton
When words that belong to one another logically are separated for effect, then it’s called hyperbaton. The word hyperbaton comes from Greek ὑπέρβατον meaning “transposition”.
Examples of Hyperbaton -
“You I love.” (I love you)
“It’s cheese I like.” (I like cheese)
“To you I owe everything.” (I owe everything to you)
“…roared the sea.” (the sea roared)
Epanalepsis
Repetition of words in the beginning and the end of a clause or a sentence is called epanalepsis. This figure of speech is used for emphasis and rhythm. The word epanalepsis comes from Greek meaning “repetition” or “resumption”.
Examples of Epanalepsis
“Control, you must learn control.”
“A lie begets a lie.”
“Next time there won’t be a next time.”
Aposiopesis
When a speaker intentionally leaves a sentence incomplete, but says enough so that the hearer can guess what he would have said. For example: “Shut your trap or I’ll…” The tone and expressions also count here, but in writing you’ll have to do that through words.
Aposiopesis is used to show overcharged emotions such as anger, [...]
Hypallage
Hypallage is a rhetorical scheme in which the syntactic relation between two words is inverted for effect. For example: “The smell has brought the well-known breezes.” – Virgil Without all the shifting, the sentence would have been – Breezes have brought the well-known smell.
The word hypallage comes from Greek hypallagē meaning “interchange”.
Examples of hypallage
“A mind [...]
