Rhetorical Devices

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")