you fit into me like a hook into an eye a fish hook an open eye
Types of Figures of Speech
The term figure of speech covers a wide range of literary devices, techniques, and other forms of figurative language, a few of which include:
Common Examples of Figures of Speech Used in Conversation
Understatement.
Understatement is a figure of speech that invokes less emotion than would be expected in reaction to something. This downplaying of reaction is a surprise for the reader and generally has the effect of showing irony .
A pun is a figure of speech that contains a “ play ” on words, such as using words that mean one thing to mean something else or words that sound alike in as a means of changing meaning.
Common Examples of Figure of Speech in Writing
Euphemism is a figure of speech that refers to figurative language designed to replace words or phrases that would otherwise be considered harsh, impolite, or unpleasant.
Personification
Writing figure of speech.
Here are some ways that writers benefit from incorporating figures of speech into their work:
Figure of Speech as Artistic Use of Language
Figure of speech as entertainment for reader, figure of speech as memorable experience for reader, examples of figure of speech in literature, example 1: the great gatsby (f. scott fitzgerald).
In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.
Example 2: One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
Both described at the same time how it was always March there and always Monday, and then they understood that José Arcadio Buendía was not as crazy as the family said, but that he was the only one who had enough lucidity to sense the truth of the fact that time also stumbled and had accidents and could therefore splinter and leave an eternalized fragment in a room.
In this passage, Garcia Marquez utilizes personification as a figure of speech. Time is personified as an entity that “stumbled” and “had accidents.” This is an effective use of figurative language in that this personification of time indicates a level of human frailty that is rarely associated with something so measured. In addition, this is effective in the novel as a figure of speech because time has a great deal of influence on the plot and characters of the story. Personified in this way, the meaning of time in the novel is enhanced to the point that it is a character in and of itself.
Example 3: Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)
A book is a loaded gun in the house next door…Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?
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Figurative Language: Why and How You Should Use It
By Zara Altair
Color Your Writing with Figurative Language
22 examples of figurative language, use figurative language wisely by avoiding clichés, figurative language is the spice of writing.
Figurative language means using literary devices, techniques, and figures of speech to heighten sensory response and add meaning, clarity, or impact to your writing.
Figures of speech color your prose, giving a sense of immediacy to readers. They evoke a strong emotional reaction.
Just like a figure in a drawing, figurative language creates an image in your reader’s mind. Figurative language calls on the reader’s senses through sounds, scents, tastes, images, and touch to make an idea accessible.
You probably use figurative language in your everyday speech without thinking twice about it. Here are some examples:
It’s a million degrees outside today.
Alice is busy as a bee .
His smile was a mile wide .
The chair groaned with his weight.
I can help you with your HTML—it’s a piece of cake .
It’s not really a million degrees outside. Alice isn’t a bee. Configuring code is not cake. But that’s how figurative language works. The images (figures) create an immediate impression.
Figurative language has been around as long as people have been telling stories. Over time, writers have come up with many ways to use figurative language. The world is your oyster (see what I did there?) when it comes to choosing figurative ways to express yourself.
When you want your writing to connect with readers and give them an emotional punch, figurative language can create an immediate response. Perk up your writing using figurative elements.
Here’s an introduction to 22 different ways of how to use figurative language.
A simile compares two things that are unlike each other by using “as” or “like” to establish equivalency. You are saying that the two things are similar.
The imagery is what connects the comparison to the thing you describe. The two things are not related in the world, but the image in the simile describes the state of the item.
Simile examples:
She was like a fish out of water at the prom.
He slept like a dog .
Her eyes sparkled like diamonds .
Figuratively, the man is like a sleeping dog, or the eyes are like diamonds. The figurative language connects the two.
2. Metaphor
A metaphor takes figurative language a step further. There is no comparison; the item described is the image of the metaphor even though it is not literally the object. The figure represents the thing described.
Metaphor examples from everyday speech:
The valley is covered in a blanket of snow.
She has a heart of stone .
He’s the black sheep of the family.
Use metaphors in both prose and poetry to create an emotional connection with your reader.
3. Metonymy
Metonymy means “change of name.” As a literary device, one word is used to replace another closely associated word. Use metonymy to avoid repeating the same word. The representative word allows you to vary expressions or to use a word to express a concept.
Examples of metonymy:
Hollywood : the film industry
Press : journalism and news organizations
Academics : school, college, university, studies
Management : administration, leadership
Metonymy helps keep your writing concise.
4. Synecdoche
A synecdoche uses a part of something to represent the whole. Just like metonymy, it keeps you from overusing a particular word. You’ll expand your reader’s understanding of your topic.
Examples of synecdoche:
Green thumb : a talent for raising plants
Stars and stripes : the American flag
Suit : signifying someone who is in business
5. Personification
Personification attributes human qualities to inanimate objects or the representation of an abstract quality in human form. The best way to understand is to look at some examples.
Examples of personification:
Jim heard the last piece of pie calling his name .
The door protested on its rusty hinges.
The headlights winked as the truck drove through the forest.
Personification makes inanimate objects relatable. It is used in advertising to make a product more approachable. Think of Goldfish crackers: the snack that smiles back .
6. Onomatopoeia
With onomatopoeia, the word itself sounds like the sound you’re describing. Just like a visual figure of speech, the sound of the word makes a vivid connection with the reader.
Examples of onomatopoeia:
The steak sizzled on the fire.
The avalanche boomed across the valley.
The bee and the doorbell buzzed at the same time.
Onomatopoeia is fun figurative language, giving your reader a sensory sizzle and making the scene come alive.
7. Oxymoron
You’ve heard it said that opposites attract. Oxymoron is figurative language that connects two opposite feelings. The words are self-contradicting but build sensory response in your reader by enhancing the concept.
Examples of oxymoron :
Managing the conference was controlled chaos .
One job qualification for our team is serious fun .
After the party, Kendra found the kitchen in a fine mess .
If you want your oxymoron to hit home, choose your own original opposites. Here’s one from Andy Warhol: "I am a deeply superficial person."
8. Hyperbole
Hyperbolic figurative language goes over the top as an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis, humor, or effect. People use hyperbole often in casual speech.
Examples of hyperbole:
If I hear that one more time, I’m going to die .
After that hike, I am so hungry I could eat a horse .
9. Allusion
An allusion is a brief reference to a person, place, thing, event, or literary/poetic work that the writer assumes the reader knows. Poet T. S. Elliot and novelist James Joyce both wrote using allusions.
Examples of allusion:
Aila’s Achilles’ heel is her squeaky voice when presenting.
Following up with the conference attendees was a Herculean effort .
The cottage by the creek was a perfect Eden .
Be careful using allusions. Match them to your audience. Just because you know something doesn’t mean it is general knowledge, or even knowledge specific to your audience.
An idiom is an expression using two or more words to refer to something, but the words mean something other than the literal meaning of the words used in the idiom.
Idiomatic phrases can be national or regional. Sometimes even groups or families create their own internal idiomatic expressions.
Example of idiom:
Kirk: “If we play our cards right , we may be able to find out when those whales are being released.” Spock: “How will playing cards help?”
(Dialogue between characters Captain James T. Kirk and Spock in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , 1986)
They are not playing cards. Spock, who takes everything literally, doesn’t understand the idiomatic expression.
Be careful when using idioms—they often don’t translate well to non-native speakers (like Spock).
ProWritingAid’s Clichés Report highlights idioms in your writing so you can make sure you’re saying what you really mean.
Some similes and metaphors have become so commonplace that they are now cliché. Use the Clichés Report to find and replace stale words and phrases with fresher ideas.
Ready to freshen up your writing?
11. Imagery
Imagery creates pictures (images) with words. But the imagery is not limited to the visual. Imagery can refer to all five senses and internal emotions.
Examples of touch, taste, and smell imagery:
The rabbit’s fur felt like velvet .
Her lips tasted as sweet as sugar .
The kids rushed inside because the house smelled like chocolate .
Imagery elicits an immediate sensory response in your reader by providing familiar references to help them connect to what you’re saying. Varying the senses you appeal to in your writing makes for a more engaging reader experience.
Use ProWritingAid’s Sensory Report to highlight all of the sensory words in your writing. It will also tell you how many of each type of word you have used so you can make sure you’ve got a good balance.
12. Symbolism
A symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else to evoke additional emotional meaning. A symbol can be a word, object, action, character, or concept. Literary novels often use symbolism to express a theme, like a river representing life.
Examples of symbolism:
Green traffic light: symbolizes “go”
Dollar sign: symbolizes money, wealth, earnings
Shopping cart icon: symbolizes online purchase
You can use anything to symbolize a concept in writing. Just make sure the symbol is one your audience understands.
13. Consonance
Consonance uses consonants in quick repetition. They can appear anywhere in the word—beginning, middle, or end. Consonance not only brings attention to the phrase but makes it easy to remember.
Examples of consonance:
Fuddy duddy
Jay-Z uses consonance in “Brooklyn’s Finest,” combining the similar sounds of S and Z.
Peep the style and the way the cops sweat us The number one question is, can the Feds get us?
Consonance intensifies the language, building an emotional connection with the reader.
14. Alliteration
Alliteration is the use of consonant sounds at the beginning of words close together in a sentence to evoke sensory feelings related to the sound. For example, P and hard C represent excitement, while S represents softness. It isn’t based on the letter but on the sound of the consonant.
Examples of alliteration:
Tonka Trucks
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers…
As a subset of consonance, use alliteration to call attention to an important point and/or make your point memorable.
15. Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words close to each other. Unlike alliteration, where the word starts with a consonant at the beginning, the vowel sound can be inside the word.
Examples of assonance:
Stranger danger
Cock of the walk
Eyes on the prize
Once again, it’s the sound that’s important—not the letter used. And assonance works in the same way as alliteration to make your statement memorable or call attention to it.
Irony is a contradictory statement that expresses a reality different from what appears as truth. It points at a different perspective. In literature, it can be an unforeseen event that changes a character’s expectation or some unanticipated behavior different from what was expected.
Verbal irony is an unanticipated response; situational irony is an unexpected outcome.
Irony examples:
Telling a silent group, “don’t everyone speak at once.” (Verbal irony.)
Marriage counsellor divorcing her third husband. (Situational irony.)
Burglarized police station. (Situational irony.)
Irony also works as a plot device.
Hansel and Gretel (oral tradition): the witch burns in her own oven
Oedipus Rex, Sophocles: Oedipus searches for the murderer, who is himself
17. Sarcasm
Sarcasm is an ironic statement intended to mock. You say something different from what you literally mean. Sarcasm can portray the speaker’s true feelings even though it is veiled in humor. In order for sarcasm to work in writing, you must make sure the context is clear, otherwise the reader will misunderstand.
Examples of sarcasm:
I’d agree with you, but then I’d be wrong.
Ask me if I care.
Aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.
18. Litotes
Litotes is a literary device that states an affirmative without using an affirmative word, usually with negative terms. Often used as understatement or negation to express a contrary meaning.
Examples of litotes:
You’re not wrong.
His decision was not the worst.
Your effort has not gone unnoticed.
A pun is a literary device that plays on the sound of words. The words have identical sounds but the meaning is different. Puns are generally intended to be humorous.
Examples of common puns:
The librarian is a bookkeeper.
I need to spend more thyme in the garden.
“The road to success is always under construction.” (Lily Tomlin)
20. Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of a word at the beginning of successive clauses, phrases, or sentences. It is figurative language that's especially effective in speeches. It functions to emphasize words and ideas. Use it to evoke emotion, highlight an idea, and create urgency.
Examples of anaphora:
“ 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.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)
“There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done / Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung / Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game” ( All You Need is Love , Paul McCartney and John Lennon)
You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t.
21. Tautology
In figurative language, tautology is the use of two words or phrases that say the same thing. Used well, it emphasizes a point.
But, be careful because tautology can also feel wordy. For example, ProWritingAid will signal tautologies as unnecessary words to keep your writing succinct.
Examples of tautology:
The morning sunrise is beautiful.
“With malice toward none , with charity for all , with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right.” (Abraham Lincoln)
She was a dark-haired brunette .
22. Understatement
Understatement intentionally makes a statement less important than it seems or is. It functions as the opposite of hyperbole.
Examples of understatement:
“I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.” ( Catcher in the Rye , J. D. Salinger)
It’s not too bad. (When your borrowed jacket is returned with an indelible stain.)
It’s O.K. I guess. (Describing an incredible result.)
Figurative language colors your writing to call attention to a passage. Images, word use, sounds, and wordplay are all ways to spice up your writing whether it’s an article, speech, fiction, or poetry.
Here you have 22 examples as ideas to use when your writing is feeling flat. Match the figurative language to the mood, tone, audience, and intended outcome. You’ll transform the seemingly ordinary into significant writing.
Take your writing to the next level:
20 Editing Tips From Professional Writers
Whether you are writing a novel, essay, article, or email, good writing is an essential part of communicating your ideas., this guide contains the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers..
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Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.
Zara Altair
Zara Altair writes traditional mysteries set in ancient Italy under Ostrogoths rule in The Argolicus Mysteries. She teaches mystery screenwriters and novelists at Write A Killer Mystery. She creates semantic web content for a select clientele.
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Figures of Speech: 40 Ways to Improve your Writing
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Figurative speech plays an important role in our ability to communicate with one another. It helps create compelling narratives, and evoke emotion in readers.
With this in mind, this periodic table graphic by Visual Communication Guy groups the 40 different figures of speech into two distinct categories—schemes and tropes.
What’s the difference between the two, and how can they help improve your writing?
Types of Schemes
In linguistics, a scheme is language that plays with sentence structure to make a sentence smoother, or even more persuasive, using syntax, word order, or sounds.
Here are four different ways that schemes fiddle with sentence structure.
This is especially important when trying to make a sentence smoother. A good example of balance is parallelism , which is when you use the same grammatical form in at least two parts of a sentence.
Not parallelism: “She likes reading, writing, and to paint on the weekends.”
Parallelism: “She likes reading, writing, and painting on the weekends.”
Changing the position of words can have an impact on the way a sentence is understood. For instance, anastrophe is the deliberate reordering of words in a sentence to either emphasize a certain point, or distinguish a character as different.
An example of anastrophe: “The greatest teacher, failure is.” -Yoda
Omission and/or Inclusion
Omissions and inclusions are useful in order to build suspense or add emotional expression to text. For example, an ellipsis is a form of punctuation that uses three dots (…) to either replace a word in a sentence or indicate a break in speech or an incomplete thought.
Example of an ellipsis: “I was thinking of calling her Susie. Well, at least I was until…never mind. Forget I said anything.”
Similar to the other types of schemes, repetition allows you to emphasize a certain point you want the reader to pay attention to, but it’s also used to create rhymes and poetry.
A well-known literary device, alliteration uses the same consonant sound at the start of each word in a sentence. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the same letter, so long as the sound is the same.
A popular example is this nursery rhyme: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Another example: Phillip’s feet. (different letter, but same sound)
Types of Tropes
While schemes play around with the mechanics of a sentence, tropes stray from the literal or typical meanings to evoke emotion, and keep a reader engaged and interested.
Tropes help create an alternative sense of reality, using these five strategies.
These are literary devices that help paint a deeper picture of a concept, using a reference to something related, but different.
Metaphors and similes are common examples of references, but a lesser-known type of reference is a synecdoche , which is when a small part of something is used in reference to the thing as a whole.
An example of a synecdoche: “Check out my new wheels.” (where wheels refer to a car)
Wordplay & Puns
This type of literary device plays with sounds or meaning to add depth to a sentence. For instance, a syllepsis uses one word to create parallels between two separate thoughts, while an onomatopoeia is a figure of speech that uses words (either real or made-up) or even letters to describe a sound.
An example of a syllepsis: “When I address Fred I never have to raise either my voice or my hopes.” – E.B. White
An example of an onomatopoeia: “Ding-dong” (the sound of a doorbell)
Substitutions
This is when someone replaces a word or thought with something else. For instance, anthimeria is the use of a word in a grammatical form it’s not generally used in, while periphrasis is when someone intentionally elaborates on a point, instead of expressing it succinctly.
An anthimeria: “I could use a good sleep .” (Sleep is normally a verb, but here it’s used as a noun)
Example of a periphrasis: Instead of saying, “It’s cold outside.” you say, “The temperature of the atmosphere when I exited my home this morning was quite chilly and exceptionally uncomfortable.”
Overstatement and/or Understatement
These are intentionally exaggerated, or downplayed situations that aren’t meant to be taken literally. A hyperbole is an example of an overstatement, while litotes are the opposite—deliberate understatements.
An example of a hyperbole: I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.
While a litotes looks like this: It’s not rocket science.
This type of literary technique uses contradictory ideas and indirect questions for dramatic effect, or to emphasize a point. For instance, an oxymoron is when two contradictory words are used back-to-back.
An example of an oxymoron: Act natural
Using Figures of Speech to Craft Content
First, let’s just address it…Yes, I did use alliteration in the above header, and yes, now I’m using an ellipsis in this sentence.
Because let’s face it—in the age of information overload, writing articles that are interesting and compelling to readers is a top priority for online content creators. And using figurative language is a good way to keep readers attention.
So, if you’re a content creator yourself (or simply looking to beef up your knowledge on linguistics), hopefully this graphic has helped you on that journey.
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25 Important Figures of Speech with Easy Examples
You may well have heard of the term a figure of speech but what exactly does this refer to? We are going to look into what a figure of speech is and how it can be used. We will also look in-depth at some examples of figures of speech and explain what they mean.
Figures of speech are an essential aspect of language and communication, serving as creative tools that generate specific effects and enhance the impact of a message. They can be found in everyday language as well as in literature, ranging from oral storytelling to polished poetry and prose. Intentional deviations from literal statements or common usage, these expressions emphasize, clarify, and embellish language to make it more engaging and expressive.
What Is A F igure of Speech?
Figure of speech definition.
A figure of speech is something that is used to convey a more deep or intense meaning. It is a phrase made up of two or more words that can add effect to the meaning of something and is used in a non-literal sense. When using literal speech, the words and sentences explain what is happening literally, or in other words, what is happening in reality. When we use a figure of speech to explain a situation, the words and sentences become nonliteral and do not convey what is actually happening but rather give a feeling as to what is happening.
An example to show the comparison between literal speech and a figure of speech would be:
Literal – it is raining heavily.
Figure of speech – it is raining cats and dogs .
Whilst we know that it is not literally raining cats and dogs, the figure of speech adds intensity to the meaning of the sentence and puts an emphasis on how much it is raining.
A figure of speech is a word or phrase which is used to describe something in a non-literal sense. These can be used as a literary device within a written text in order to explain something in a more artistic sense or they can be used in English speaking. In the latter, they are usually used to compare something, give advice or create a less literal description of something.
When used as a rhetorical device a figure of speech will give an opposite or different meaning to what is intended. It can also be used to convey a meaning or trigger emotion to the reader or listener.
Figures of Speech Examples
There are various different types of figures of speech, whilst there are a large amount of types, there are ten more common ones which we see in both written and spoken English. They are:
Simile : this makes a comparison between two things using the words like or as, for example ‘she shone as bright as the sun.’
Metaphor : makes a comparison between two things which have something in common, for example ‘the eyes are the window to the soul.’
Hyperbole : uses an exaggeration to convey a more profound meaning, for example ‘I have a thousand things to do this morning.’
Oxymoron : uses a two-word phrase where the words contradict one another to give a positive meaning, for example ‘she is pretty ugly.’
Pun : a play on words, for example, ‘a boiled egg for breakfast is hard to beat.’
Alliteration : uses repeated letter sounds throughout a sentence, for example ‘the high horse hopped along the highway.’
Onomatopoeia : these are words that resemble the sound they are describing, for example ‘the car alarm went beep.’
Irony : the use of language which is the opposite of what is meant, for example, ‘I love it when I drop my phone, how wonderful.’
Anaphora : the repetition of a word or phrase for rhythmic effect, for example ‘you must not stop, you must not wane, you must not fail.’
Antithesis : this makes a comparison or connection between two ideas in a sentence, for example ‘that is one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.’
Types of Figures of Speech
There are different types of figures of speech and we are now going to look at those types, what they are and how to use them by looking at some examples of them being used in sentences.
Metaphor is when there is a comparison made between two different things which share something in common. Here are some examples of metaphor in use.
The world is your oyster.
She was the shining star of the talent show.
His eyes were ice.
Simile is a phrase that compares something to something else using the words like or as. Here are some examples of simile in use.
Her hair was as golden as the sun
The dog is as fit as a fiddle.
I felt as high as a kite.
Hyperbole is a term that uses exaggeration to add a more dramatic meaning to the sentence. Here are some examples of hyperbole in use.
My bag weighs a tonne.
His nose is the length of the river Nile.
I have a million things to do today.
Irony is a statement that conveys the exact opposite meaning of what is literally being said. It is also a statement that contradicts the situation. Here are some examples of irony in use.
The fire station burnt to the ground.
The pilot had a fear of flying.
‘What lovely weather.’ she said when it was raining
Alliteration
Alliteration is when there is a repetition of sound within a phrase or sentence. Here are some examples of alliteration in use.
She sells seashells on the seashore
Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pepper
The dog dug deeper into the depths.
Nicky’s necklace nipped at her neck.
Anaphora is when a word is repeated multiple times within a phrase. Here are some examples of anaphora in use.
Every morning, every afternoon and every evening I walk by the lake.
He had one apple, one banana and one pear.
My life is happy, my life is simple, my life is complete.
Antithesis is applying a juxtaposition of ideas which are contrasting in a statement that is balanced. Here are some examples of antithesis in use.
Man proposes and God deposes.
Love is an ideal thing and marriage is a real thing.
That is one small step for man and one huge leap for mankind.
Apostrophe is speaking to an object or item that is not alive as if it were in fact, alive. Here are some examples of apostrophe is use.
Oh come on you stupid door, just unlock.
Thank you oven, for helping me make this meal.
Come on trousers, you have to fit me.
Assonance is the similarity in sound between vowels in the middle of neighboring words. Here are some examples of assonance in use.
How now, brown cow.
On the side of the hide.
Top of the pop
Chiasmus is when two sentences are balanced against one another but with the words reversed. Here are some examples of chiasmus in use.
Work to live and do not live to work.
She went to town, off to town went she.
You forget what you want to remember yet you remember what you want to forget
Euphemism is the replacement of a phrase that might be deemed offensive by one which implies the same meaning but does not carry offense with it. Here are some examples of euphemisms in use.
Instead of ‘he died’ you would say ‘he passed away.’
Instead of ‘she had an abortion’ you would say ‘she terminated the pregnancy.’
Instead of ‘going for a poo’ you would say ‘going to use the bathroom.’
Litotes is an understatement that applies a negative to express the meaning of the affirmative. Here are some examples of litotes in use.
She isn’t the friendliest woman in the world.
I wasn’t unhappy with the gift
That dress is not too bad
Metonymy is when a phrase is replaced with another which has a similar meaning, used to describe something in an indirect manner. Here are some examples of metonymy in use.
The pen is more mighty than the sword.
I remain loyal to the crown.
My husband is considered a silver fox.
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that resembles the sound it is describing. Here are some examples of onomatopoeia in use.
The bacon sizzled in the pan.
My watch ticks loudly.
The crow cawed overhead.
Oxymoron is when two words in a phrase contradict one another. Here are some examples of oxymoron in use.
The girl next door is pretty ugly.
That cat is mighty small.
Our farewell was bittersweet.
Paradox is a statement that contradicts itself. Here are some examples of paradoxes in use.
He is a wise fool.
Deep down Anna is really shallow.
It is the beginning of the end.
Personification
Personification is when an object which is not alive is given human qualities. Here are some examples of personification in use.
My car is a real beauty.
That rod will take out someone’s eye.
My alarm clock screams at me every morning.
A pun is a play on words, it uses a word to give a different sense to the sentence and add a double meaning. Here are some examples of puns in use.
The two guitarists got on well as they were always in a chord.
I spend a lot of time doing DIY so I know the drill.
An egg for breakfast is not easy to beat.
Synecdoche is a statement in which only part of something is expressed to relate to the whole. Here are some examples of synecdoche in use.
At school, the children learn ABCs and 123s
He has just got some new wheels.
There were many hired hands in the factory.
Understatement
An understatement is a statement that is made to be less important than what is actually being conveyed. Here are some examples of understatement in use.
The grand canyon is a hole in the ground.
I only have two million dollars.
There was a flood in the town, it must have rained a bit in the night.
An epigram is a concise and witty statement that conveys a thought or observation. Typically, it is used to challenge or entertain the reader. Epigrams may be poetic or prose statements, but they usually exhibit a rhythmic, memorable quality.
Example : “I can resist everything except temptation.” – Oscar Wilde
Ellipsis refers to the deliberate omission of words or phrases, typically for the sake of conciseness or to create an effect. It allows the reader to fill in the gaps, which can create suspense or build emphasis.
Example : “The thief was bold, cunning, ruthless…”; in this case, the reader can imagine other adjectives describing the thief.
Antanaclasis
Antanaclasis is a figure of speech in which a word is repeated within the same sentence or clause, but with a different or opposing meaning each time. It serves to create emphasis on a particular point and often adds a playful or humorous tone to the writing.
Example : “Your argument is sound…all sound!” – Benjamin Franklin
Anthimeria is the use of a word outside of its traditional grammatical role, often for stylistic or creative purposes. It typically involves using a noun as a verb or vice versa.
Example : “I could use a good sleep.”; in this case, the word “sleep” (a noun) is used as a verb.
Rhetorical Question
A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point, provoke thought, or create emphasis, rather than to elicit a direct response. The answer is usually self-evident, and the question serves to emphasize the intended message.
Example : “Is the Pope Catholic?”; the answer is obvious, but the question drives home a point.
Figures of Speech Infographic
Figures of Speech | Infographic 1
Figures of Speech | Infographic 2
Figures of Speech | Video
FAQs on Figures of Speech
What is a figure of speech?
A figure of speech is a creative use of language that intentionally deviates from the literal meaning or common usage of words to generate an effect. These are found in everyday spoken language as well as in polished poetry, prose, and other types of written work.
What are some common figures of speech?
Some common figures of speech include:
Metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as”
Simile: a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”
Personification: attributing human characteristics to non-human entities
Hyperbole: exaggeration for effect
Irony: a statement implying its opposite for effect
What is the difference between figures of speech and figurative language?
Figurative language is a broader term that encompasses various types of non-literal language use, including figures of speech. Figures of speech are specific instances of figurative language that rely on creative and intentional deviations from the literal meanings of words or phrases.
How do I use figures of speech effectively in my writing?
To effectively use figures of speech in your writing, consider the following tips:
Know your audience: tailor your use of figures of speech to the expected readership
Practice: develop a feel for when and how to use figures of speech through reading, writing, and analyzing various forms of literature
Be intentional: use figures of speech purposefully and with clear intent to generate the desired effect
Don’t overuse: too many figures of speech may distract from your message or make your writing appear forced or contrived
Are figures of speech only used in creative writing or can they be used in other types of writing?
While figures of speech are often associated with creative writing, they can also be used effectively in other types of writing, such as persuasive essays, blog articles, and even business communications. The key is to use them judiciously, ensuring that the figure of speech serves a clear purpose and strengthens the overall message of the text.
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Literary Terms
Figures of Speech
Definition & Examples
When & How to Use Figures of Speech
I. What are Figures of Speech?
A figure of speech is a word or phrase using figurative language—language that has other meaning than its normal definition. In other words, figures of speeches rely on implied or suggested meaning, rather than a dictionary definition. We express and develop them through hundreds of different rhetorical techniques, from specific types like metaphors and similes , to more general forms like sarcasm and slang.
Figures of speech make up a huge portion of the English language, making it more creative, more expressive, and just more interesting! Many have been around for hundreds of years—some even thousands—and more are added to our language essentially every day. This article will focus on a few key forms of figures of speech, but remember, the types are nearly endless!
III. Types of Figure of Speech
There are countless figures of speech in every language, and they fall into hundreds of categories. Here, though, is a short list of some of the most common types of figure of speech:
A. Metaphor
Many common figures of speech are metaphors. That is, they use words in a manner other than their literal meaning. However, metaphors use figurative language to make comparisons between unrelated things or ideas. The “peak of her career,” for example, is a metaphor, since a career is not a literal mountain with a peak , but the metaphor represents the idea of arriving at the highest point of one’s career.
An idiom is a common phrase with a figurative meaning. Idioms are different from other figures of speech in that their figurative meanings are mostly known within a particular language, culture, or group of people. In fact, the English language alone has about 25,000 idioms. Some examples include “it’s raining cats and dogs” when it is raining hard, or “break a leg” when wishing someone good luck.
This sentence uses an idiom to make it more interesting:
There’s a supermarket and a pharmacy in the mall, so if we go there, we can kill two birds with one stone.
The idiom is a common way of saying that two tasks can be completed in the same amount of time or same place.
A proverb is a short, commonplace saying that is universally understood in today’s language and used to express general truths. “Don’t cry over spilt milk” is a popular example. Most proverbs employ metaphors (e.g. the proverb about milk isn’t literally about milk).
This example uses a proverb to emphasize the situation:
I know you think you’re going to sell all of those cookies, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch!
Here, “don’t count your chickens before they hatch” means that you shouldn’t act like something has happened before it actually does.
A simile is a very common figure of speech that uses the words “like” and “as” to compare two things that are not related by definition. For example, “he is as tall as a mountain,” doesn’t mean he was actually 1,000 feet tall, it just means he was really tall.
This example uses a simile for comparison:
The internet is like a window to the world —you can learn about everything online!
The common phrase “window to the world” refers to a hypothetical window that lets you see the whole world from it. So, saying the internet is like a window to the world implies that it lets you see anything and everything.
E. Oxymoron
An oxymoron is when you use two words together that have contradictory meanings. Some common examples include s mall crowd, definitely possible, old news, little giant , and so on.
A metonym is a word or phrase that is used to represent something related to bigger meaning. For example, fleets are sometimes described as being “thirty sails strong,” meaning thirty (curiously, this metonym survives in some places, even when the ships in question are not sail-powered!) Similarly, the crew on board those ships may be described as “hands” rather than people.
Irony is when a word or phrase’s literal meaning is the opposite of its figurative meaning. Many times (but not always), irony is expressed with sarcasm (see Related Terms). For example, maybe you eat a really bad cookie, and then say “Wow, that was the best cookie I ever had”—of course, what you really mean is that it’s the worst cookie you ever had, but being ironic actually emphasizes just how bad it was!
IV. The Importance of Figures of Speech
In general, the purpose of a figure of speech is to lend texture and color to your writing. (This is itself a figure of speech, since figures of speech don’t actually change the colors or textures on the page!) For instance, metaphors allow you to add key details that make the writing more lively and relatable. Slang and verbal irony, on the other hand, make the writing seem much more informal and youthful (although they can have the opposite effect when misused!) Finally, other figures of speech, like idioms and proverbs, allows a writer to draw on a rich cultural tradition and express complex ideas in a short space.
V. Examples of Figures of Speech in Literature
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” (William Shakespeare, As You Like It)
This is one of the most famous metaphors ever crafted in the English language. Shakespeare uses his extended metaphor to persuade the audience of the similarities between the stage and real life. But rather than making his play seem more like life, he suggests that life is more like a play. His metaphor calls attention to the performative, creative, and fictional aspects of human life.
“Our words are b ut crumbs that fall down from the feast o f the mind.” (Khalil Gibran, Sand & Foam )
Gibran’s timeless metaphor succeeds for a number of reasons. For one thing, it is not a cliché – had Gibran said “words are just the tip of the iceberg ,” he would have been making roughly the same point, but in a much more clichéd way. But the feast of the mind is a highly original metaphor. In addition, it’s a successful double metaphor. The crumbs and the feast are two parts of the same image, but they work together rather than being “mixed” (see How to Use Figures of Speech ).
“If you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both.” (Russian Proverb)
Like many proverbs, this one draws on a simple metaphor of chasing rabbits. The rabbits can stand in for all sorts of objectives, from jobs to relationships, but the coded message is quite clear – focus your energy on a single objective, or you will likely fail. This literal statement, though, is quite dry and not terribly memorable, which shows the power of figures of speech.
VI. Examples of Figures of Speech in Pop Culture
The chorus to Sean Kingston’s Fire Burning contains a couple of figures of speech. First of all, there’s the word “shorty” used as a slang term (see Related Terms ) for a young woman. She may or may not be literally short, but the figure of speech applies either way (though it could easily be taken as belittling and derogatory). Second, Kingston sings the metaphor: “she’s fire, burning on the dance floor.” Hopefully this is a figure of speech and not a literal statement; otherwise, Kingston and everyone else in the club are in mortal danger!
“Oh, thanks! This is much better!” (Townspeople, South Park )
This is an example of irony. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, South Park satirized the government’s response to the disaster by writing about a similar disaster in South Park. In a bumbling effort to rescue people from the floods, the authorities accidentally spill oil on the flood waters and set it on fire, making the situation far more dangerous. In response, they ironically “thank” the people responsible—their meaning is obviously the opposite of their words!
Years of talks between Washington and Havana resulted in Obama’s historic visit to Cuba on March 21st. (Patreon 2016)
This is a common form of metonym in foreign policy and news media. The capital city of a country is used as a metonym for the national government. The talks, of course, are not literally between these two cities, but between the leaders and government officials of the two countries (US and Cuba).
VII. Related Terms
Literal and figurative language.
Language is generally divided into two categories: literal, and figurative. Literal language relies on the real definition of words and phrases, or their literal meanings. Figurative language, on the other hand, relies on implied meanings, which can be understood differently depending on the location or who is using it. For example, “the sky is blue” relies on the literal definition of the word “blue,” while “I am feeling blue” relies on the figurative definition. All figures of speech rely on the use of figurative language for their meaning.
Sarcasm is mocking or bitter language that we use to express different meaning than what we say; often the exact opposite. When your intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning, that’s irony (another type of figure of speech), which includes common phrases like “Oh, great…” when you really mean something is bad.
Slang is language that uses atypical words and phrases to express specific meanings. It varies greatly by region, demographic, and language—for example, you would find different slang in the U.S. and in the U.K. even though they are both English speaking countries. Likewise, teenagers and the elderly will use different slang terms, as would Spanish and English. Many slang terms are figures of speech. For example, “bro” could be used to describe a friend rather than an actual brother; this would be using the word as a figure of speech.
List of Terms
Alliteration
Amplification
Anachronism
Anthropomorphism
Antonomasia
APA Citation
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Characterization
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Cliffhanger
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Connotation
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Deuteragonist
Doppelganger
Double Entendre
Dramatic irony
Equivocation
Extended Metaphor
Flash-forward
Foreshadowing
Intertextuality
Juxtaposition
Literary Device
Malapropism
Onomatopoeia
Parallelism
Pathetic Fallacy
Personification
Point of View
Polysyndeton
Protagonist
Red Herring
Rhetorical Device
Rhetorical Question
Science Fiction
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Synesthesia
Turning Point
Understatement
Urban Legend
Verisimilitude
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Figurative Language
Figurative Language Definition
What is figurative language? Here’s a quick and simple definition:
Figurative language is language that contains or uses figures of speech . When people use the term "figurative language," however, they often do so in a slightly narrower way. In this narrower definition, figurative language refers to language that uses words in ways that deviate from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex or powerful effect. This view of figurative language focuses on the use of figures of speech that play with the meaning of words, such as metaphor , simile , personification , and hyperbole .
Some additional key details about figurative language:
Figurative language is common in all sorts of writing, as well as in spoken language.
Figurative language refers to language that contains figures of speech, while figures of speech are the particular techniques. If figurative speech is like a dance routine, figures of speech are like the various moves that make up the routine.
It's a common misconception that imagery, or vivid descriptive language, is a kind of figurative language. In fact, writers can use figurative language as one tool to help create imagery, but imagery does not have to use figurative language.
Figurative Language Pronunciation
Here's how to pronounce figurative language: fig -yer-uh-tiv lang -gwij
Figures of Speech and Figurative Language
To fully understand figurative language, it's helpful to have a basic understanding of figures of speech. More specifically, it's helpful to understand the two main types of figures of speech: tropes and schemes .
Tropes are figures of speech that play with and shift the expected and literal meaning of words.
Schemes are figures of speech that involve a change from the typical mechanics of a sentence, such as the order, pattern, or arrangement of words.
Put even more simply: tropes play with the meaning of words, while schemes play with the structure of words, phrases, and sentences.
The Different Things People Mean When They Say Figurative Language
When people say figurative language, they don't always mean the precise same thing. Here are the three different ways people usually talk about figurative language:
Dictionary definition of figurative language: According to the dictionary, figurative language is simply any language that contains or uses figures of speech. This definition would mean that figurative language includes the use of both tropes and schemes.
Much more common real world use of figurative language: However, when people (including teachers) refer to figurative language, they usually mean language that plays with the literal meaning of words. This definition sees figurative language as language that primarily involves the use of tropes.
Another common real world use of figurative language: Some people define figurative language as including figures of speech that play with meaning as well as a few other common schemes that affect the rhythm and sound of text, such as alliteration and assonance .
What does all that boil down to for you? If you hear someone talking about figurative language, you can usually safely assume they are referring to language that uses figures of speech to play with the meaning of words and, perhaps, with the way that language sounds or feels.
Common Types of Figurative Language
There are many, many types of figures of speech that can be involved in figurative language. Some of the most common are:
Metaphor : A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another thing, even though this isn't literally true. For example, the phrase "her lips are a blooming rose" obviously doesn't literally mean what it says—it's a metaphor that makes a comparison between the red beauty and promise of a blooming rose with that of the lips of the woman being described.
Simile : A simile, like a metaphor, makes a comparison between two unrelated things. However, instead of stating that one thing is another thing (as in metaphor), a simile states that one thing is like another thing. An example of a simile would be to say "they fought like cats and dogs."
Oxymoron : An oxymoron pairs contradictory words in order to express new or complex meanings. In the phrase "parting is such sweet sorrow" from Romeo and Juliet , "sweet sorrow" is an oxymoron that captures the complex and simultaneous feelings of pain and pleasure associated with passionate love.
Hyperbole : Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration of the truth, used to emphasize the importance of something or to create a comic effect. An example of a hyperbole is to say that a backpack "weighs a ton." No backpack literally weighs a ton, but to say "my backpack weighs ten pounds" doesn't effectively communicate how burdensome a heavy backpack feels.
Personification : In personification, non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent to their plans." Describing the rain as "indifferent" is an example of personification, because rain can't be "indifferent," nor can it feel any other human emotion.
Idiom : An idiom is a phrase that, through general usage within a particular group or society, has gained a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. The phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" is known to most Americans to mean that it's raining hard, but an English-speaking foreigner in the United States might find the phrase totally confusing.
Onomatopoeia : Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which words evoke the actual sound of the thing they refer to or describe. The “boom” of a firework exploding, the “tick tock” of a clock, and the “ding dong” of a doorbell are all examples of onomatopoeia.
Synecdoche : In synecdoche, a part of something is used to refer to its whole . For example, "The captain commands one hundred sails" is a synecdoche that uses "sails" to refer to ships—ships being the thing of which a sail is a part.
Metonymy : Metonymy is a figure of speech in which an object or concept is referred to not by its own name, but instead by the name of something closely associated with it. For example, in "Wall Street prefers lower taxes," the New York City street that was the original home of the New York Stock Exchange stands in for (or is a "metonym" for) the entire American financial industry.
Alliteration : In alliteration, the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “ b ” sound in: “ B ob b rought the b ox of b ricks to the b asement.” Alliteration uses repetition to create a musical effect that helps phrases to stand out from the language around them.
Assonance : The repetition of vowel sounds repeat in nearby words, such as the " ee " sound: "the squ ea ky wh ee l gets the gr ea se." Like alliteration, assonance uses repeated sounds to create a musical effect in which words echo one another.
Figurative Language vs. Imagery
Many people (and websites) argue that imagery is a type of figurative language. That is actually incorrect. Imagery refers to a writers use of vivid and descriptive language to appeal to the reader's senses and more deeply evoke places, things, emotions, and more. The following sentence uses imagery to give the reader a sense of how what is being described looks, feels, smells, and sounds:
The night was dark and humid, the scent of rotting vegetation hung in the air, and only the sound of mosquitoes broke the quiet of the swamp.
This sentence uses no figurative language. Every word means exactly what it says, and the sentence is still an example of the use of imagery. That said, imagery can use figurative language, often to powerful effect:
The night was dark and humid, heavy with a scent of rotting vegetation like a great-aunt's heavy and inescapable perfume, and only the whining buzz of mosquitoes broke the silence of the swamp.
In this sentence, the description has been made more powerful through the use of a simile ("like a great-aunt's..."), onomatopoeia ("whining buzz," which not only describes but actually sounds like the noise made by mosquitoes), and even a bit of alliteration in the " s ilence of the s wamp."
To sum up: imagery is not a form of figurative language. But a writer can enhance his or her effort to write imagery through the use of figurative language.
Figurative Language Examples
Figurative language is more interesting, lively, beautiful, and memorable than language that's purely literal. Figurative language is found in all sorts of writing, from poetry to prose to speeches to song lyrics, and is also a common part of spoken speech. The examples below show a variety of different types of figures of speech. You can see many more examples of each type at their own specific LitChart entries.
Figurative Language Example: Metaphor
Metaphor in shakespeare's romeo and juliet.
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Romeo uses the following metaphor in Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet , after sneaking into Juliet's garden and catching a glimpse of her on her balcony:
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Romeo compares Juliet to the sun not only to describe how radiantly beautiful she is, but also to convey the full extent of her power over him. He's so taken with Juliet that her appearances and disappearances affect him like those of the sun. His life "revolves" around Juliet like the earth orbits the sun.
Figurative Language Example: Simile
In this example of a simile from Slaughterhouse-Five , Billy Pilgrim emerges from an underground slaughterhouse where he has been held prisoner by the Germans during the deadly World War II firebombing of Dresden:
It wasn't safe to come out of the shelter until noon the next day. When the Americans and their guards did come out, the sky was black with smoke. The sun was an angry little pinhead. Dresden was like the moon now , nothing but minerals. The stones were hot. Everybody else in the neighborhood was dead.
Vonnegut uses simile to compare the bombed city of Dresden to the moon in order to capture the totality of the devastation—the city is so lifeless that it is like the barren moon.
Figurative Language Example: Oxymoron
These lines from Chapter 7 of Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls describe an encounter between Robert Jordan, a young American soldier fighting in the Spanish Civil War, and his lover María.
She held herself tight to him and her lips looked for his and then found them and were against them and he felt her, fresh, new and smooth and young and lovely with the warm, scalding coolness and unbelievable to be there in the robe that was as familiar as his clothes, or his shoes, or his duty and then she said, frightenedly, “And now let us do quickly what it is we do so that the other is all gone.”
The couple's relationship becomes a bright spot for both of them in the midst of war, but ultimately also a source of pain and confusion for Jordan, as he struggles to balance his obligation to fight with his desire to live happily by Maria's side. The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation.
Figurative Language Example: Hyperbole
Elizabeth Bennet, the most free-spirited character in Pride and Prejudice , refuses Mr. Darcy's first marriage proposal with a string of hyperbole :
From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that ground-work of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.
Elizabeth's closing statement, that Darcy is the "last man in the world" whom she would ever marry, is an obvious hyperbole. It's hard to believe that Elizabeth would rather marry, say, an axe murderer or a diseased pirate than Mr. Darcy. Even beyond the obvious exaggeration, Austen's use of hyperbole in this exchange hints at the fact that Elizabeth's feelings for Darcy are more complicated than she admits, even to herself. Austen drops various hints throughout the beginning of the novel that Elizabeth feels something beyond mere dislike for Darcy. Taken together with these hints, Elizabeth's hyperbolic statements seem designed to convince not only Darcy, but also herself, that their relationship has no future.
Figurative Language Example: Personification
In Chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter , Nathaniel Hawthorne describes a wild rose bush that grows in front of Salem's gloomy wooden jail:
But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him.
In the context of the novel's setting in 17th century Boston, this rose bush, which grows wild in front of an establishment dedicated to enforcing harsh puritan values, symbolizes those elements of human nature that cannot be repressed, no matter how strict a community's moral code may be: desire, fertility, and a love of beauty. By personifying the rosebush as "offering" its blossoms to reflect Nature's pity (Nature is also personified here as having a "heart"), Hawthorne turns the passive coincidence of the rosebush's location into an image of human nature actively resisting its constraints.
Figurative Language Example: Idiom
Figurative language example: onomatopoeia.
In Act 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's The Tempest , Caliban uses onomatopoeia to convey the noises of the island.
Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices...
The use of onomatopoeia makes the audience feel the sounds on the island, rather than just have to take Caliban's word about there being noises.
Figurative Language Example: Synecdoche
In Act 4, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Macbeth , an angry Macbeth kicks out a servant by saying:
Take thy face hence.
Here, "thy face" stands in for "you." Macbeth is simply telling the servant to leave, but his use of synecdoche makes the tone of his command more harsh and insulting because he uses synecdoche to treat the servant not as a person but as an object, a body part.
Figurative Language Example: Metonymy
In his song "Juicy," Notorious B.I.G. raps:
Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight
Here he's using "limelight" as a metonymy for fame (a "limelight" was a kind of spotlight used in old theaters, and so it came to be associated with the fame of being in the spotlight). Biggie's use of metonymy here also sets him up for a sweet rhyme.
Figurative Language Example: Alliteration
In his song "Rap God," Eminem shows his incredible lyrical dexterity by loading up the alliteration :
S o I wanna make sure, s omewhere in this chicken s cratch I S cribble and doodle enough rhymes T o maybe t ry t o help get s ome people through t ough t imes But I gotta k eep a few punchlines Just in c ase, ‘ c ause even you un s igned Rappers are hungry l ooking at me l ike it's l unchtime…
Why Do Writers Use Figurative Language?
The term figurative language refers to a whole host of different figures of speech, so it's difficult to provide a single definitive answer to why writers use figurative language. That said, writers use figurative language for a wide variety of reasons:
Interest and beauty: Figurative language allows writes to express descriptions, ideas, and more in ways that are unique and beautiful.
Complexity and power: Because figurative language can create meanings that go beyond the literal, it can capture complex ideas, feelings, descriptions, or truths that cause readers to see things in a new way, or more closely mirror the complex reality of the world.
Visceral affect: Because figurative language can both impact the rhythm and sound of language, and also connect the abstract (say, love) with the concrete (say, a rose), it can help language make an almost physical impact on a reader.
Humor: By allowing a writer to layer additional meanings over literal meanings, or even to imply intended meanings that are the opposite of the literal meaning, figurative language gives writers all sorts of options for creating humor in their writing.
Realism: People speak and even think in terms of the sorts of comparisons that underlie so much figurative language. Rather than being flowery, figurative language allows writers to describe things in ways that match how people really think about them, and to create characters who themselves feel real.
In general, figurative language often makes writing feel at once more accessible and powerful, more colorful, surprising, and deep.
Other Helpful Figurative Language Resources
The dictionary definition of figurative : Touches on figurative language, as well as some other meanings of the word.
Figurative and Frost : Examples of figurative language in the context of the poetry of Robert Frost.
Figurative YouTube : A video identifying various forms of figurative language from movies and television shows.
Wikipedia on literal and figurative language : A bit technical, but with a good list of examples.
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Figure of Speech
Onomatopoeia
Personification
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Verbal Irony
Connotation
External Conflict
Anthropomorphism
Slant Rhyme
Deus Ex Machina
Dynamic Character
Tragic Hero
Anadiplosis
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Clear definition and great examples of Figures of Speech. This article will show you the importance of Figures of Speech and how to use them. In the broadest sense, a "figure of speech" is a use of language that contributes to a writer's goals.
4.17: Lesson 12: Figures of Speech in Poetry
Literal language states exactly what something is. On the other hand, figurative language creates meaning by comparing one thing to another thing. Poets use figures of speech in their poems. Several types of figures of speech exist for them to choose from. Five common ones are simile, metaphor, personification, hypberbole, and understatement.
Figurative Language
Figurative language is language that contains or uses figures of speech. When people use the term "figurative language," however, they often do so in a slightly narrower way. In this narrower definition, figurative language refers to language that uses words in ways that deviate from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex or powerful effect. This view of figurative language ...
Introduction to Creative Writing
Lesson 12: Figures of Speech in Poetry Definition The meaning of language can be literal or figurative. Literal language states exactly what something is. On the other hand, figurative language creates meaning by comparing one thing to another thing. Poets use figures of speech in their poems.
Creative Writing Module 3 Figures of Speech
This document provides an overview of figures of speech for a creative writing module. It discusses key points about figures of speech, including that they use implied or suggestive meanings rather than literal definitions through techniques like metaphor and simile. Examples of common figures of speech used in daily conversation are provided. The document also differentiates between literal ...
Guide to Figure of Speech: 16 Figures of Speech to Know
Figures of speech are powerful tools that writers use to express new ideas and craft persuasive arguments. Learn how to identify sixteen of the most common figures of speech, so that you can incorporate them into your own writing.
Figures of Speech
Guide questions:1. What is figurative language?2. What are the commonly used figures of speech?3. Why do we need to use figures of speech in writing?#Creativ...
Creative Writing: Figures of Speech
Creative Writing: Figures of Speech Rubyrose Baldovino 13.1K subscribers Subscribed 79 4.7K views 3 years ago ...more
CreativeWriting12 Q1 Module-1
This module introduces Grade 12 learners to creative writing techniques. It will help develop their creative and practical reading and writing skills through exploring imagery, diction, figures of speech, and drawing from personal experiences.
Figures of Speech-Creative Writing Instructional Video (Week 2)
This video is for instructional purposes only.Creative Writing: Quarter 1, Week 2MELC: Use imagery, diction, figures of speech, and specific experiences to e...
Creative Writing Handout 1
Creative writing is any composing that goes beyond ordinary expert, editorial, scholarly, or specialized types of writing, normally distinguished by an accentuation on account make, character advancement, and the utilization of abstract tropes or with different
Creative Writing: Quarter 1
CreativeWriting-mod1_Donna - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free.
(PDF) Teaching figures of speech as a productive skill and its
Teaching figures of speech as a product ive skill and its influence on EFL learners' creative writing Hasan Mohammed Saleh Jaashan a a King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia a Sanaa University, Yemen
Module for Creative Nonfiction
A figure of speech is a word or phrase that possesses a separate meaning from its literal definition. It is an expression that is designed to evoke emotion or createdeeper meaning. Figures of speech lend themselves particularly well to literature and poetry. They also pack a punch in speeches and movie lines.
Creative Writing
This document defines and provides examples of various figures of speech including similes, metaphors, personification, idioms, apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, oxymoron, and understatement. Figures of speech use creative and implied language rather than literal definitions to add texture, color, and convey complex ideas concisely. Examples are given for each type of figure of speech to ...
CW MELC1 LRv2 Creative Writing
Improve your Creative writing skills through this course material 11 creative writing quarter module imagery, diction and figures of speech grade writing
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Learn the definition of figure of speech and twenty different types to use in your writing, with examples from literature.
It's tempting to think that direct language is the easiest for us to understand, but sometimes we respond better to more creative wording. Writers and poets use figurative language to build imagery and give words more power. Simile, metaphor and a host of other non-literal methods of expression help make foreign concepts familiar and graspable.
Figure of speech is a powerful tool to enhance the meaning and expression of language. It can create vivid images, emphasize emotions, and convey messages in different ways. In this webpage, you will find the definition and a list of various types of figure of speech, such as metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and more. You will also see how they are used in literature by famous ...
Figurative language is the use of figures of speech like metaphors, similes, and allusions to make your writing more effective and impactful. Discover how to use figurative language.
Figures of speech are important literary tools that can help improve your writing. Here are 40 different types, and how to use them.
While figures of speech are often associated with creative writing, they can also be used effectively in other types of writing, such as persuasive essays, blog articles, and even business communications.
Clear definition and great examples of Figures of Speech. This article will show you the importance of Figures of Speech and how to use them. In the broadest sense, a "figure of speech" is a use of language that contributes to a writer's goals.
Literal language states exactly what something is. On the other hand, figurative language creates meaning by comparing one thing to another thing. Poets use figures of speech in their poems. Several types of figures of speech exist for them to choose from. Five common ones are simile, metaphor, personification, hypberbole, and understatement.
Figurative language is language that contains or uses figures of speech. When people use the term "figurative language," however, they often do so in a slightly narrower way. In this narrower definition, figurative language refers to language that uses words in ways that deviate from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex or powerful effect. This view of figurative language ...
Lesson 12: Figures of Speech in Poetry Definition The meaning of language can be literal or figurative. Literal language states exactly what something is. On the other hand, figurative language creates meaning by comparing one thing to another thing. Poets use figures of speech in their poems.
This document provides an overview of figures of speech for a creative writing module. It discusses key points about figures of speech, including that they use implied or suggestive meanings rather than literal definitions through techniques like metaphor and simile. Examples of common figures of speech used in daily conversation are provided. The document also differentiates between literal ...
Figures of speech are powerful tools that writers use to express new ideas and craft persuasive arguments. Learn how to identify sixteen of the most common figures of speech, so that you can incorporate them into your own writing.
Guide questions:1. What is figurative language?2. What are the commonly used figures of speech?3. Why do we need to use figures of speech in writing?#Creativ...
Creative Writing: Figures of Speech Rubyrose Baldovino 13.1K subscribers Subscribed 79 4.7K views 3 years ago ...more
This module introduces Grade 12 learners to creative writing techniques. It will help develop their creative and practical reading and writing skills through exploring imagery, diction, figures of speech, and drawing from personal experiences.
This video is for instructional purposes only.Creative Writing: Quarter 1, Week 2MELC: Use imagery, diction, figures of speech, and specific experiences to e...
Creative writing is any composing that goes beyond ordinary expert, editorial, scholarly, or specialized types of writing, normally distinguished by an accentuation on account make, character advancement, and the utilization of abstract tropes or with different
CreativeWriting-mod1_Donna - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free.
Teaching figures of speech as a product ive skill and its influence on EFL learners' creative writing Hasan Mohammed Saleh Jaashan a a King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia a Sanaa University, Yemen
A figure of speech is a word or phrase that possesses a separate meaning from its literal definition. It is an expression that is designed to evoke emotion or createdeeper meaning. Figures of speech lend themselves particularly well to literature and poetry. They also pack a punch in speeches and movie lines.
This document defines and provides examples of various figures of speech including similes, metaphors, personification, idioms, apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, oxymoron, and understatement. Figures of speech use creative and implied language rather than literal definitions to add texture, color, and convey complex ideas concisely. Examples are given for each type of figure of speech to ...
Improve your Creative writing skills through this course material 11 creative writing quarter module imagery, diction and figures of speech grade writing