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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Chiasmus is where the ideas or grammatical structures in the first part of a sentence are repeated in reverse order in the second part of the sentence using different words. The meaning of the first part is almost a mirror image of the meaning of the second part and creates an ABBA structure.
“She” (A) and “her” (A) have the same meaning, as does “my love” (B) and “my heart” (B).
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Metonymy (pronounced meh-tah-nuh-mee) is a figure of speech in which a word or term is used to replace or represent another closely related word or term. For example, “the crown” is often used to describe the British monarchy, and “Hollywood” is often used to describe the American film industry.
Metonymy is used in all sorts of writing, from everyday speech to headlines and song lyrics. Writers use it to add layers of meaning to their words and be concise.
The heart knows what it wants. [emotions or love]
She was the brains of the operation. [intelligence]
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Consonance is a literary device that repeats consonant sounds within nearby words (e.g., “He struck the clock with a quick flick”). Using consonance can add rhythm, a specific mood, or a catchy feel to your writing.
The old man hummed a calm, solemn hymn.
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Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words in close proximity to each other (e.g., “whispering winds,” “busy bee”). Alliteration gives a rhythmic and almost musical quality to words that makes them more engaging, memorable, and impactful.
Frothy foam formed over the fierce waves.
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An extended metaphor is a literary device that serves the same purpose as a metaphor—to create a comparison—but uses several sentences, paragraphs, or even longer to do so.
A regular metaphor creates a simple, concise comparison in one line or sentence, while an extended metaphor does the same thing but uses more language to elaborate on the comparison with more complex ideas.
In this example, the extended metaphor compares hope to a lighthouse, where hope is strongest during our darkest times, and “rough seas” to the uncertainty of life.
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Rhyme is the repetition of identical or similar sounds at the end of words (e.g., “the cat in the hat”). Rhymes are often found at the end of a line in song lyrics or poems but can occur anywhere in a line or sentence.
Using rhyme adds a musical element to your writing and tends to make it more memorable and “catchy.”
The rain came down on a steady beat.
And puddles formed around my feet.
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Assonance is a literary device that uses the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words (e.g., “the need for speed”). Assonance enhances the emotional and aesthetic quality of writing, often making it more rhythmic or “catchier.”
The “ay” sound repeated so closely together throughout the sentence makes it an example of assonance.
Continue reading: What Is Assonance? | Definition & Examples