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Alliteration

Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words. Example: "She sells seashells by the seashore."

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses. Example: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds…"

Antithesis

Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases. Example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions between words or phrases for effect. Example: "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Chiasmus

A rhetorical figure where words or phrases are repeated in reverse order. Example: "Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You."

Colloquial

Informal language used in everyday conversation. Example: "Gonna" instead of "Going to."

Diction

The author's word choice. It influences tone and meaning.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Example: "The sunset painted the sky with fiery red and orange hues."

Inference

A conclusion reached based on evidence and reasoning, not directly stated.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality. Examples include verbal, situational, and dramatic irony.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things, saying one is the other. Example: "Time is a thief."

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds. Example: "Buzz," "clang."

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth. Example: "Less is more."

Parallelism

Using similar grammatical structures in successive clauses for rhythm and clarity. Example: "What you see is what you get."

Polysyndeton

The use of many conjunctions in close succession. Example: "We have ships and men and money and supplies."

Rhetorical shift

A change in tone, subject, or argument within a text to create emphasis or persuade.

Telegraphic sentence

A short, concise sentence that omits non-essential words, often used for emphasis. Example: "Help me!"