APLAC Syntax

Aporia

An expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty .

Example: I am at a loss for words, how shall I begin? There are no words to express my sympathy.

Anastrophe

Take what you think the normal syntax and throw it on its head. Makes thing stand out. Because you changed the order it doesn't really blend in. Don't overuse this technique (can sound archaic/old fashioned). Still has to grammatically make sense

Example: "To thy known self be true" = be true to yourself, "donuts I live for" = I live for donuts, "A puppy do you want for your birthday" = do you want a puppy for your birthday.

Anthithesis

It's balanced in the structure of a sentence, opposition of two words to highlight their difference. Usually a comma or semicolon involved.

Example: We shall support any friend, oppose any foe. This is true; this is false. This is right; this is wrong

Chiasmus

He swam often, and ran rarely. Swam = verb, rarely = adverb. The inverted phrases should not be the exact same words. A-B-B-A instead of A-B-A-B. (Ky-as-mus)

Example: I frequently eat tacos but consume pasta rarely

Antimetabole

Repetition of exact words in reverse order. Changes the meaning of the phrase.

Example: Eat to live; do not live to eat. Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Anadiplosis

A-B-B-C pattern, when you end one phrase or sentence with a word, you begin the next phrase or sentence with the same word.

Example: The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor." --Gladiator

Anaphora

One of a pair of terms that are opposite of each other, it's a type of repetition. Specifically repetition at the beginning of phrases, sentences, clauses, etc.

Example: Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition! -William Shakespeare

Epistrophe

Repetition at the end of phrases.

Example: "..and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." -Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

"Where affections bear rule, there reason is subdued, honesty is subdued, good will is subdued, and all things else that withstand evil, for ever are subdued." -Thomas Wilson

Zeugma

Using one word two ways at the same time. Usually works with a verb, you're using a verb that takes up multiple connotations at once. Can add drama, emotion, humor (pun).

Example: He fished for trout and for compliments, on our first date, I held my breath and the car door for her, all over Ireland the farmers grew potatoes, barley, and bored.

Atanaclasis

Punny, repetition of a single word or sound twice but with different meanings.

Example: "Your argument is sound, nothing but sound" -Ben Franklin, "You'll be fired if you don't get fired up about selling these shoes."

Polyptoton

Technique in which words derived from the same root have different meanings. Unlike Atanaclasis, Polyptoton you're using the same root twice but in two different words.

Example: Who shall watch the watchman, not as a call to battle, but embattled we are.

Asyndeton

The absence of conjunctions where they normally would be -- conjunctions: For, and, nor, but, for, yes. You're removing these where you normally expect them.

Example: Red, white, blue. I ordered tacos loaded with carne asada, queso, cabbage, salsa, guacamole.

Polysyndeton

The opposite, not really a run on sentence & is used to build space and build a mood. Use of several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted

Example: "I said, 'Who killed him?' and he said 'I don't know who killed him, but he's dead all right,' and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights or windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Key and she was right only she was full of water." -Ernest Hemingway, After the Storm

Epitome

The repetition of a phrase or question. If Anaphora is repetition at the beginning repeatedly, Epimone is a statement that's repeated throughout a piece.

Example: "Put money in thy purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favor with an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor--put money in thy purse--nor he his to her: it was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration; put but money in thy purse." --Shakepseare's Othello, Act 1, scene 3