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May 3, 2023 · An expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty especially for rhetorical effect. to be, or not to be: that is the question. cacophony | see definition ». Harshness in the sound of words or phrases. chiasmus | see definition ». An inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases.
Jul 8, 2019 · A rhetorical device is a linguistic tool that employs a particular type of sentence structure, sound, or pattern of meaning in order to evoke a particular reaction from an audience. Each rhetorical device is a distinct tool that can be used to construct an argument or make an existing argument more compelling.
- Jeffrey Somers
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What are the different types of rhetorical devices?
What are the most important rhetorical devices?
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Which rhetorical devices are used to convince the audience?
- Accismus
- Adnomination
- Adynaton
- Alliteration
- Anacoluthon
- Anadiplosis
- Anaphora
- Antanagoge
- Anthimeria
- Antiphrasis
Accismusis the rhetorical refusal of something one actually wants, to try and convince themselves or others of a different opinion. Example: I’m fine! I didn’t want to win that gold medal anyway!
Adnominationis the use of multiple words with the same root in the same sentence. Like many other rhetorical devices, this is a linguistic trick to make statements sound more persuasive. Example: Somewhere, somewhen, somehow, we’ll find an answer to that question.
Adynataare purposefully hyperbolic metaphors to suggest that something is impossible — such as the classic saying, “when pigs fly”. And hyperbole, of course, is a rhetorical device in and of itself: an excessively exaggerated statement for effect. Example: I wouldn’t date him if he was the last man on Earth!
Alliteration is the repetition of consonants across successive, stressed syllables… get it? This most often means repeating consonants at the beginning of multiple words, as opposed to consonance, which is the repetition of consonants anywhere in consecutive words. (Learn more about the difference between alliteration and consonance — and other typ...
An anacoluthonis a misdirection that challenges listeners and/or readers to think deeply and question their assumptions. Example: The opening sentence of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosisis a famous anacoluthon because it ends somewhere entirely different than where it started: “When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himse...
Anadiplosisis the repetition of the word from the end of one sentence to the beginning of the next. It has been used by everyone from Shakespeare to Yeats to Yoda. Example: As Yoda laments in Stars Wars: The Phantom Menace: “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
Another type of repetition, anaphora,is the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of subsequent sentences. Example: Though Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” is best known for its opening line, we'll skip to the next part of the poem, where he uses the word 'who' to keep a run-on sentence going. “Whopoverty and tatters and hollow-eyed and high sat u...
Antanagogeinvolves responding to an allegation with a counter-allegation that reframes the situation. Antanagoge doesn't necessarily solve the initial problem, but it does provide an appealing alternative. Example: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” 🍋 People unconsciously use antanagoge all the time to justify things to themselves: “Well...
Anthimeriais the intentional misuse of one word’s part of speech, such as using a noun for a verb. It’s been around for centuries, but is frequently used in the modern day, as “Instagramming” and “adulting” have seamlessly become part of the lexicon. Example: “Have you tried Googling that?”
Antiphrasis is a sentence or phrase that means the opposite of what it appears to say. Like how the idiom, “Tell me about it” generally means, “Don’t tell me about it — I already know.” It’s a subset of a much more common rhetorical device: irony. Example: “Take your time. We’ve got all day.”
- Alliteration. Another name for alliteration is tongue twisters. You might remember them from your youth. Any time you notice that a few words, one after the other share the first few, initial consonant sounds you have yourself an example of alliteration.
- Allusion. Every time you make a reference to some places, events, or a person you are making an allusion. For example, one could say, ”I’m not Sherlock Holmes to figure that out”.
- Amplification. Repeating the same word one after the other, combined with an adjective or two makes it seems stronger, more significant. That is the rhetorical device called amplification.
- Analogy. Sometimes the easiest way to explain things is to strike a parallel with some other thing that is quite similar to it. But one has to be careful with analogies, not every analogy is true One of the most basic logical fallacies is the Conclusion from Analogy.
- Amplification. Amplification is a little similar to parallelism: by using repetition, a writer expands on an original statement and increases its intensity.
- Anacoluthon. Anacoluthon is a fancy word for a disruption in the expected grammar or syntax of a sentence. That doesn’t mean that you misspoke—using anacoluthon means that you’ve deliberately subverted your reader’s expectations to make a point.
- Anadiplosis. Anadiplosis refers to purposeful repetition at the end of one sentence or clause and at the beginning of the next sentence or clause. In practice, that looks something like a familiar phrase from Yoda
- Antanagoge. Antanagoge is the balancing of a negative with a positive. For example, the common phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” is antanagoge—it suggests a negative (lots of lemons) and follows that up with a positive (make lemonade).
Apr 19, 2023 · Argumentative rhetorical devices —Devices whose structures are conducive to the advancement of a certain argument. Emphatic rhetorical devices —Devices that underscore or emphasize certain ideas. Stylistic rhetorical devices —Devices that use word play and diction to advance an argument. Let’s examine these 5 categories now, with a look ...
Jan 30, 2023 · Review this list of the essential rhetorical devices, including their meanings and examples, so you can add pizazz to your speaking and writing skills.
