Allusion
A reference to another work of literature, person, or event
Anadiplosis
Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause
Analogy
A comparison of two different things
Anaphora
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
Anapodoton
Deliberately creating a sentence fragment by the omission of a clause
Anastrophe
Inversion of the natural or usual word order. Yoda speech.
Antanaclasis
Repetition of a word in two different senses
Anthimeria
The substitution of one part of speech for another, often turning a noun into a verb. (for example, "truthin'")
Antimetabole
Repetition of words in reverse order
Antithesis
Direct opposite
Aphorism
A concise statement of a truth or principle. good advice.
Aposiopesis
Stopping abruptly and leaving a statement unfinished.
Apostrophe
Address to an absent or imaginary person
Asyndeton
omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words
Autonomasia
Use of a descriptive term, phrase, or epithet as if it were a person's name. (Voldemort = He Who Must Not Be Named)
Auxesis
Arranging words or clauses in a sequence of increasing force
Chiasmus
A reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases
Ellipsis
Three periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation
Enallage
Intentionally misusing grammar to characterize a speaker or to create a memorable phrase. (for example, "They is sad")
Epanalepsis
Repeats the beginning word of a clause or sentence at the end. (e.g. "Mankind must put an end to war- or war will put an end to mankind")
Epistrophe
The repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences
Euphemism
An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant
Hyperbole
exaggeration
Isocolon
Use of parallel structures of the same length in successive clauses ("iso" means same)
Kairos
A message fit for that moment. Considers the timing of the place.
Litotes
A form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite. (e.g. "not bad." meaning that something is good or at least okay by negating the word "bad")
Meiosis
Humorous understatement by using terms tha make something seem less significant than it really is. (e.g. "grease monkey" for mechanic)
Metaphor
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Metonymy
A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it. (e.g. "suit" for business exec or "black butterfly" for burnt paper)
Onomatopoeia
BOOM!
Oxymoron
conjoining contradictory terms (as in 'deafening silence')
Paradox
A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.
Paralepsis
emphasizing a point by omitting the significant parts.
Parallelism
similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses
Parenthetical Idea
Parentheses are used to set off an idea from the rest of the sentence.
Parody
a work which imitates another in a ridiculous manner
Paronomasia
pun (yes there is no difference)
Polyptoton
repetition of words derived from the same root. (e.g. "But in this desert country they may see the land being rendered USELESS by OVERUSE.")
Prosopopoeia
personification
Pun
A play on words
What's the difference between a poorly dressed man on a unicycle and a well-dressed man on a bicycle? Attire. 😂😀🙂😐😑
Sarcasm
the use of irony to mock or convey contempt
Satire
the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices. more comedic than sarcasm.
Simile
A comparison using "like" or "as"
Symbolism
A device in literature where an object represents an idea. Symbols
Synecdoche
A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole. (e.g. sail instead of ship.)
Syntax
Sentence structure
Tone
Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character
Understatement
A statement that says less than what is meant
Zeugma
A figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses (e.g. "I walked on the moon and the plank")