Published on
May 30, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo.
Revised on
February 7, 2025.
A cliché is an expression or trope that has lost its impact due to excessive use in a given cultural context. “Time heals all wounds” is an example of a cliché.
Clichés are often perceived as a sign of a lack of effort, imagination, or sincerity in writing, speech, and creative works.
Examples of clichésActions speak louder than words.
Published on
May 26, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo.
Revised on
February 7, 2025.
Paradoxes are thought-provoking statements or situations that seem self-contradictory or ironic. Some paradoxes reveal truths through seemingly irrational statements, while others expose flaws in conventional reasoning.
Paradox example“Less is more” is an everyday example of a paradox. This saying is typically used to highlight the impact and appeal of a simple, minimalist aesthetic.
Examples of paradoxes can be found in everyday expressions, literature, and academic domains such as logic and philosophy.
Published on
May 26, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo.
Revised on
January 30, 2025.
A play on words, often referred to as wordplay, is an expression that manipulates the meanings, sounds, spellings, or arrangement of words to achieve humor, irony, or layers of meaning. The term is sometimes used as a synonym for “pun,” but it can encompass various other devices that use language in clever, innovative ways.
Play on words exampleMarriage is a fine institution, but I’m not ready for an institution.
Examples of plays on words can be found in media, literature, marketing, and everyday conversations. These wordplay examples include puns, double entendres, portmanteaus, palindromes, malapropisms, oxymorons, and paraprosdokians.
Published on
May 26, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo.
Revised on
February 7, 2025.
Verbal irony involves using language in an indirect, non-literal manner, with an intended meaning that is different from (and often opposite to) the literal meanings of the words. This rhetorical technique can serve various purposes, including humor, sarcasm, and persuasion.
Verbal irony example“By all means, move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me.”
In The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda Priestly, the exacting editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, uses verbal irony to express frustration with her assistant.
Examples of verbal irony can be found in artistic contexts like literature and film as well as everyday contexts like social media conversations.
Published on
May 26, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo.
Revised on
January 30, 2025.
A double entendre is a type of wordplay that involves one straightforward meaning and another implied, risqué meaning. While sometimes used to simply mean pun, a true double entendre traditionally implies taboo innuendo.
Double entendre exampleI like to have a Martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I’m under the table,
After four I’m under my host.
Double entendres are used for humor or subtle communication and can add humor and complexity to literature, comedy, and everyday conversation.
Published on
May 26, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo.
Revised on
January 31, 2025.
A pun is a form of wordplay that uses terms with similar or identical sounds or spellings for humorous effect. Puns can also underscore irony, contribute to character development, or highlight absurdity.
Pun examplesNever trust an atom; they make up everything.
I told a chemistry joke, but there was no reaction.
I became well red by reading in the sun.
Puns are a common form of wordplay in comedy, literature, film, and everyday life.
Published on
May 15, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo.
Revised on
February 7, 2025.
A portmanteau is a word created by blending sounds and meanings from multiple other words (e.g., friend + enemy = frenemy). Portmanteaus describe concepts or phenomena in a concise, easily understood, and sometimes amusing way.
Portmanteau examplesOur athleisure line combines the comfort of athletic wear with the style of streetwear. (athletic + leisure)
I recorded a vlog documenting my search for the perfect Christmas tree. (video + log)
Fans cosplay as their favorite characters at the convention. (costume + play)
We watched a sci-fi movie about a cyborg that has human emotions combined with the strength of a robot. (cybernetic + organism)
Portmanteaus are a common part of everyday language, with many originating in domains like marketing, social media, technology, entertainment, or literature.
Published on
April 15, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo.
Revised on
February 21, 2025.
A malapropism is a verbal error that involves replacing the intended word with one that sounds similar (e.g., using “mute point” instead of “moot point”). Malapropisms are a linguistic phenomenon that occurs in everyday speech, but they are also used deliberately as a literary device.
Malapropism examplesMalapropism: They always look for an escape goat to blame.
Intended meaning: They always look for a scapegoat to blame.
Malapropism: When problems arise, it’s best to nip them in the butt.
Intended meaning: When problems arise, it’s best to nip them in the bud.
Malapropism: Our work is done, for all intensive purposes.
Intended meaning: Our work is done, for all intents and purposes.
Writers and performers often use malapropisms to create humor or convey particular character traits or themes. They can serve both stylistic and thematic purposes in a text.
Published on
August 22, 2023
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
October 20, 2023.
Grawlix (also called “obscenicon” or “symbol swearing”) refers to the use of typographical symbols in place of an obscenity (e.g., “$%@!”).
Grawlix is frequently used in comic strips to indicate that a character is thinking or saying a swear word. It’s also used on social media platforms as a way to obscure inappropriate language. Grawlix can be used by itself or as part of a sentence.
Examples: Grawlix“#$@!”
“Where the %@#! is my car? I parked it right here.”
Published on
August 12, 2023
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
October 26, 2023.
A simile is a rhetorical device used to compare two things using the words “like,” “as,” or “than.”
Similes can be used to create vivid imagery or to draw surprising connections between two unrelated things. They’re commonly used in literature, advertising, and everyday speech and are closely related to metaphors and analogies.
Examples: SimilesAnthony used to be as strong as an ox.
