Litotes is a rhetorical device in which a positive point is expressed by using double negatives (e.g., “that’s not bad” to describe something amazing). It’s used in everyday language and literature to subtly emphasize a point, create irony, or use a subtle or modest tone.
“You’re not wrong” to say that someone is correct.
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Paronomasia, commonly known as a pun, is a type of wordplay that uses multiple meanings of a word or phrase or homophones for humorous effect (e.g., “I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. I can’t put it down”).
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Pleonasm is when you use more words than necessary to express your point. Pleonasms are sometimes considered a stylistic error because they add superfluous and often redundant words. However, pleonasms can be used as a literary device to bring attention to specific ideas or create rhythm.
“I’ll love you forever and always.” (“Forever” and “always” mean the same thing)
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Understatement is a rhetorical device in which someone deliberately downplays the significance or severity of a situation. Depending on the context, it can be used to bring attention to something indirectly or create a humorous or ironic effect.
“That didn’t go as planned” to describe something that was a disaster.
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Overstatement is a rhetorical device that uses deliberate over-exaggeration to emphasize a point or evoke an emotional reaction (e.g., “I’ve told you a million times!”). Overstatement is used in literature and everyday language not to lie but to make something seem more important or serious than it actually is.
I laughed so hard I almost died.
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Synecdoche is a figure of speech that uses a word for a single part of something in place of a word th”at describes the whole (e.g., “threads” to refer to clothing). Synecdoche can also be used in the opposite way, using a word that describes the whole in place of the single part (e.g., “the classroom” to refer to the students and teacher).
All hands on deck. [workers]
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Enjambment is when one line of a poem continues onto the next line without any end punctuation. Because ideas flow from one line to the next, it creates a sense of momentum and changes the flow of a stanza.
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A malaphor is a blend of two or more idioms or phrases into a single expression that ends up being nonsensical, confusing, amusing, or surprising.
Don’t count your chickens in one basket. (“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” + “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”)
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A trope is a word or phrase that implies something other than its original meaning. Tropes use nonliteral language to convey a figurative meaning. They’re often used in literature, everyday language, and even things like advertising and political speeches.
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Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses to create rhythm, emphasize a point, or evoke emotion. Repetition of the same phrase, especially at the beginning of each new line, can reinforce key ideas and captivate audiences.
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