Rhetoric Terms

Allusion

A direct or indirect reference to previous literature or history.

Anadiplosis

Word ends one sentence or phrase and begins the next.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence.

Asyndeton

Short direct sentences using no conjunctions.

Chiasmus

Two clauses or sentences where the phrasing is exactly or almost exactly the opposite of the clause before.

Diacope

The repetition of a word or phrase after a brief pause.

Double Epithet

Using two words with almost identical definitions joined by a conjunction.

Epistrophe

Repetition of a word at the end of multiple sentences.

Epizeuxis

The immediate repetition of a word or phrase.

Isocolon

Two clauses or sentences in identical form, stating opposites or two different ideas.

Litotes

Double negative or negating the opposite to express a positive statement.

Merism

A figure of speech where you list all the parts of something.

Paradox

Stating two inherently opposing ideas, e.g., 'all cops are criminals, all sinners are saints'.

Periphrasis

Using fancier language to make something sound more complex than it actually is.

Polyptoton

Using a word in multiple parts of speech.

Polysyndeton

Long, complex sentences using lots of conjunctions.

Preterition

Acting like you’re not drawing attention to something when you actually are.

Rhetorical Question

A question where you are not supposed to answer.

Syllogism

Transient property - if a=b and b=c, then a=c.

Transferred Epithet

Where the adjective is applied to the wrong noun.

Tricolon

A list of three distinct parts.

Tricolon Crescens

A list of three distinct parts in increasing order of size or importance.