A figure of speech is a change from the ordinary

manner of expression, using words in other than

their literal sense to enhance the way a thought
is expressed.
The following are the more common figures of
Speech you can use to achieve some interesting
"effects" in your writing:

Alliteration: the same sound is repeated noticeably

at the beginning of words placed close together

Examples--

"World Wide Web"

"Find four furry foxes"

Recommendation: Use alliteration sparingly.

Too much can wear on the reader.
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Allusion: casual reference to a famous historical or

literary figure or event.

e.g., " . . . a turn of phrase even

Shakespeare would appreciate."
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Apostrophe: direct address of an absent or dead

person or personified thing.

• Invocation: an apostrophe to a god or muse.

Examples--

"God help me!"

"Ambition, you're a cruel master!"
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Irony: using words to mean the opposite of what is

said.

• Sarcasm: cutting, sneering or taunting irony.

Examples--

"He's handsome if you like rodents."

• Hyperbole: exaggeration not meant to be taken

literally.
 Examples--

"I waited forever for him."

"I destroyed that test!"
"The world ended the day my father
died."

• Understatement: the representation of

something as significantly less than it actually is.

e.g. "That was some sprinkle." (in

reference to the four inches of rain
which fell an hour before)
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Metaphor: an implied comparison between things,

events, or actions which are fundamentally unlike.

• Metonymy: substituting a word--which is

suggested by it or which is closely associated
with it--for another word

Examples--
 "He hit the bottle soon after his wife died."
"She counted heads."
"The White House denied the allegations."

• Synecdoche: using a part for the whole or the

whole for a part

e.g. "The pen is mightier than the sword"

• Personification: representing a thing, quality,

or idea as a person

 Examples--

 "The book just begged to be read."

 "The ocean screamed its fury"
 "Fear lived with us in Vietnam."
•
• Recommendations:

○ The comparison should be more evocative

and appealing than the literal, plain
statement of the thought.
 •
○ Use sparingly. Too much of this and you call
attention to yourself as the author instead of
leaving your reader immersed in your story
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Onomatopoeia: using words to imitate the sound

they represent

Examples--

"I heard the hiss of steam down in the

access tunnel."
"The clock in the living room cuckooed
the hour."
"The clang of the cymbals echoed
across the square."
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Parallelism (aka "Balance"): Expressing two ideas
of equal importance through similar phrasing.

• Antithesis: parallelism in grammatical pattern

but strong contrast in meaning.

Examples--
 "Give me liberty or give me death!"
"That isn't the truth, it's a lie."
"You seem so wise, yet how foolish you
are."
•
•
 Recommendation: Don't use too much
of this; it can easily wear on the reader.

• Paradox: a statement that seems self-

contradictory. The effect of this is to jolt the
reader into paying attention.

Examples--

"He who loses his life for My sake will

save it."
"One day is sometimes better than a
whole year."

• Oxymoron: a paradoxical statement in which

two contradictory terms or words are brought
together.
Examples--
 "The quiet was deafening."
"He was clearly misunderstood."
"They were alone together."

• Anaphora: repetition of the same word or words

at the beginning or successive clauses, verses,
or sentences,

e.g., "He came as conqueror. He came

as ally. He came as a stranger. He
came as brother."

• Climax: The arrangement of a series of ideas or

events in ascending order of importance,
interest, or effectiveness. Stresses the relative
importance of ideas or events.

• Anticlimax: the use of climax up to the end of a

series of thoughts and then the insertion of
some unimportant idea in the last, most
important position. Useful in humorous writing.
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Simile: an explicit comparison between things,

events, or actions which are fundamentally unlike. .
 • Typically involves the words "like" or "as"

Examples:

"His arguments withered like grapevines

in the fall."
"He was cold as an arctic wind."
"Crooked as a dog's hind leg."
"Casual dress, like casual speech, tends
to be loose, relaxed and colorful"
•
•
• Recommendations:
The comparison should be more evocative and
appealing than the literal, plain statement of the
though
Use sparingly. Too much of this and you call
attention to yourself as the author instead of
leaving your reader immersed in your story
If a simile seems too awkward, convert it into a
metaphor to see if it works better; but note that
not every simile can be turned into a metaphor.

Tropes Definition Example

Metaphor the substitution of a word Poor broken glass, I
 often did behold/ In thy
for a word whose meaning sweet semblance my
is close to the original old age new born...---
word The Rape of
Lucrece,1758-59
a noun is substituted for a
noun in such a way that
we substitute the cause of
the thing of which we are
speaking for the thing I must comfort the
itself; this might be done weaker vessel, as
in several ways: doublet and hose
Metonymy substituting the inventor ought to show itself
for his invention, the courageous to
container for the thing petticoat.---As You
contained or vice versa, an Like It, 2.4.6
author for his work, the
sign for the thing
signified, the cause for the
effect or vice versa
Was this the face that
launched a thousand
substitution of part for
ships,/ And burnt the
Synecdoche whole, genus for species,
topless towers of
or vice versa
Ilium?---Dr. Faustus,
12.80-81
Irony expressing a meaning He was no notorious
directly contrary to that malefactor, but he had
 been twice on the
pillory, and once burnt
in the hand for trifling
suggested by the words
oversights.---
Direccions for Speech
and Style
Woe worth the
mountain that the mast
a double metonymy in
bear/ Which was the
which an effect is
metalepsis first causer of all my
represented by a remote
care (Medea cursing
cause
Jason).---The Arte of
English Poesie, 183
For what the waves
a seemingly self could never wash
contradictory statement, away/ This proper
Paradox
which yet is shown to be youth has wasted in a
true day.---The Arte of
English Poesie, 226
O modest wantons!
a condensed paradox at
Oxymoron wanton modesty!---The
the level of a phrase
Rape of Lucrece, 401
the substitution of one
part of speech for another; Lord Angelo dukes it
Anthimeria for instance, an adverb for well.---Measure for
a noun or a noun for an Measure, 3.2.100
adverb
 He is no fool.---The
deliberate understatement
Litotes Arte of English Poesie,
or denial of the contrary
184
His legs bestrid the
exaggerated or
ocean, his rear'd arm/
extravagant statement
Crested the world, his
used to make a strong
Hyperbole voice was propertied/
impression, but not
As all the tuned
intended to be taken
spheres...---Antony and
literally
Cleopatra, 5.2.82

Metaplasmic
Definition Example
Figures
addition of letters to I all alone beweep my
Prosthesis the beginning of a outcast state.---
word Shakespeare Sonnets, 29
Use every man after his
omission of letters
desert, and who should
Aphaeresis from the beginning
'scape whipping?---
of a word
Hamlet, 2.2.561
Lie blist'ring fore the
addition of letters to
Epenthesis visitating sun.---Two
the middle of a word
Noble Kinsmen, 1.1.146
syncope omission of letters Thou thy worldly task
from the middle of a hast done,/ Home art
 gone, and ta'en thy
word wages. Cymberline,
4.2.258
I can call spirits from the
addition of letters to
Paragoge vasty deep.---Henry IV,
the end of a word
Part I, 3.1.52
I am Sir Oracle,/ And
omission of letters
when I ope my lips let no
Apocope from the end of a
dog bark!---The Merchant
word
of Venice, 1.1.93
substitution of a Or, ere they meet, in me,
letter or sound for O nature, cesse!---All's
Antisthecon
another within a Well That Ends Well,
word 5.3.75
transposition of a
With liver burning hot.
letter out of its
Metathesis Frevent.---The Merry
normal order in a
Wives of Windsor, 2.1.122
word

Figures of
Definition Example
Omission
And he to England
Ellipsis omission of a word shall along with
you.---Hamlet, 3.3.1
 an ellipsis of a verb, in How Tarquin wronged
Zeugma which one verb is used to me, I Collatine.---The
govern several clauses Rape of Lucrece, 819
A maid in conversation
chaste, in speech mild,
scesis omission of the verb of a in countenance
onamaton sentence cheerful, in behavior
modest ...[etc.]---The
Garden of Eloquence
Haply you shall not
see me more; or if,/ A
Anapodoton omission of a clause mangled Shadow.---
Antony and Cleopatra,
4.2.26.
He said you were, I
dare not tell you
stopping a sentence in
plaine:/ For words
aposiopesis midcourse so that the
once out, never returne
statement is unfinished
againe.---The Arte of
English Poesie, 139
occupatio When the orator feigneth I will make no mention
and maketh as though he of his drunken
would say nothing in banquets nightly, and
some matter, when, his watching with
notwithstanding he bawds, dicers, whore
speaketh most of all, or masters. I will not
when he saith something: name his losses, his
 luxurity, and staining
in saying he will not say
of his honesty.---The
it.---The Garden of
Garden of Eloquence,
Eloquence, 130
131

Figures of
Repetition Definition Example
(words)
emphatic repetition Reputation, reputation,
of a word with no reputation! O! I have lost
epizeuxis
other words my reputation.---Othello,
between 2.3.264
Disturb his hours of rest
with restless trances,/
repetition of the Afflict him in his bed with
same word or root bedrid groans;/ Let there
polyptoton in different bechance him pitiful
grammatical mischances,/ To make him
functions or forms moan but pity not his
moans.---The Rape of
Lucrece, 974-977
antanaclasis repetition of a word, Whoever hath her wish,
but in two different thou has thy Will,/ And
meanings Will to boot, and Will in
overplus---Shakespeare
 Sonnets, 135
repetition of a word
Mad world! Mad kings!
at the beginning of
anaphora Mad composition!---King
a clause, line, or
John, 2.1.561
sentence
I'll have my bond!/ Speak
repetition of a word
not against my bond!/ I
at the end of a
epistrophe have sworn an oath that I
clause, line, or
will have my bond.---The
sentence
Merchant of Venice, 3.3.4
Most true that I must fair
Fidessa love,/ Most true
that fair Fidessa cannot
repetition of both
love./ Most true that I do
symploce beginnings and
feel the pains of love,/
endings
Most true that I am
captive unto love.---
Fidessa, 62
Blood hath bought blood,
and blows have answer'd
repetition of the blows:/ Strength match'd
epanalepsis
beginning at the end with strength, and power
confronted power.---King
John, 2.1.329-30
anadiplosis repetition of the end For I have loved long, I
of a line or clause at crave reward/ Reward me
the next beginning not unkindly: think on
 kindness,/ Kindness
becommeth those of high
regard/ Regard with
clemency a poor man's
blindness---Fidessa, 16
My conscience hath a
thousand several tongues,/
And every tongue brings in
repeating
gradatio a several tale,/ And every
anadiplosis
talecondemns me for a
villain.---Richard III,
5.3.194
a heaping together
But now I am cabin'd,
and piling up of
cribb'd, confin'd, bound
congeries many words that
in/ To saucy doubts and
have a similar
fears.---Macbeth, 3.4.24
meaning
repetition of words,
in successive Thy sea within a puddle's
clauses, in reverse womb is hearsed,/ and not
antimetabole grammatical order; the puddle in thy sea
a chiasmus on the dispersed.---The Rape of
level of words (AB; Lucrece, 657-658
BA)
pleonasm the needless Sober he seemde, and very
repetition of words; sagely sad,/ And to the
a tautology on the ground his eyes were lowly
 bent,/ Simple in shew, and
voyde of malice bad...---
level of a phrase
The Faerie Queene, Book
1, 1.29

Figures of
Repetition
Definition Example
(clauses and
ideas)
I may, I must, I can, I
arrangement of clauses
will, I do/ Leave
or sentences in
auxesis following that which it
ascending order of
is gain to miss.---
importance
Astrophil and Stella, 47
I speak Spanish to God,
repetition of phrases or
Italian to women,
clauses of equal length
isocolon French to men, and
and corresponding
German to my horse.---
grammatical structure
Charles V
tautology needless repetition of If you have a friend,
the same idea in keep your friend, for an
different words; old friend is to be
pleonasm on the level preferred before a new
 friend, this I say to you
of a sentence or as your friend.---The
sentences Garden of Eloquence,
49
reversal of grammatical
But O, what damned
structures or ideas in
minutes tells he o'er/
sucessive phrases or
chiasmus Who dotes, yet doubts;
clauses, which do not
suspects, yet strongly
necessarily involve a
loves.---Othello, 3.3.169
repetition of words
A bliss in proof; and
prov'd, a very woe;/
repetition of clauses or Before, a joy propos'd;
antithesis
idea by negation behind a dream.---
Shakespeare Sonnets,
129
the replacement of a
single word by several
While memory holds a
which together have the
periphrasis seat/ In this distracted
same meaning; a
globe...---Hamlet, 1.4.96
substitution of more
words for less

Figures of Definition Example

Unusual
Word Order
arrangment by
reversal of ordinary
Figures pedantical---
word order, usually
anastrophe Love's Labour's Lost,
confined to the
5.2.407
transposition of two
words only
Yet I'll not shed her
departure from blood,/ Nor scar that
hyperbaton
ordinary word order whiter skin of hers than
snow...---Othello, 5.2.3
My dame that bred me up
hysteron reversal of temporal and bare me in her
proteron order wombe.---The Arte of
English Poesie, 142
a reversal of words Open the day, and see if it
hypallage which seems to be the window.---The
change the sense Garden of Eloquence
But now my Deere (for so
love makes me to call
a word, phrase, or
you still)/ That love I say,
sentence inserted as
parenthesis that lucklesse love, that
an aside in a sentence
works me all this ill.---
complete by itself
The Arte of English
Poesie, 141
 Figures of
Definition Example
Thought
Words cannot convey how
the impossibility of
much your letters have
expressing oneself
adynaton delighted me.---
adequately to the
Elementorum rhetorices
topic
libri, 44f
Whether he took them
from his fellows more
impudently, gave them to
an harlot more
true or feigned lasciviously, removed them
aporia doubt or deliberation from the Roman people
about an issue more wickedly or altered
them more
presumptuously, I cannot
well declare.---The Garden
of Eloquence, 109
a correction or Shameful it is--ay, if the
correctio revision of previous fact be known...---The
words Rape of Lucrece, 239
prosopopoeia representing an With how sad steps, O
imaginary or absent Moon, thou climb'st the
person as speaking skies,/ How silently, and
 or acting; attributing
life, speech or
with how wan a face!---
inanimate qualities
Astrophil and Stella, 31
to dumb or
inanimate objects

a diversion of
discourse from the Within a month.../ She
topic at hand to married--O most wicked
apostrophe addressing some speed: to post/ With such
person or thing, dexterity to incestuous
either present or sheets...---Hamlet, 1.2.153
absent