Stylistic devices refer to any of a variety of techniques to give an additional meaning, idea, or feeling to a text.
Here are the most common stylistic devices:
| ALLITERATION – repetition of similar sounds, usually consonants, at the beginning of words. For example: “Sally sells seashells by the seashore.” |
| ASSONANCE – repetition of similar vowel sounds in words that are close to one another. For example: “No pain, no gain.” |
| CHIASMUS – two phrases with the same syntax, but the placement of words is reversed For example: “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” |
| EUPHEMISM – expression used instead of something that is too harsh or unpleasant. For example: “passed away” instead of “died” |
| HYPERBOLE – a conscious exaggeration of a fact. For example: “I’ve told you a million times.” |
| LITOTES – a statement is affirmed by negating its opposite. For example: “he is not stupid” instead of “he is smart” |
| METAPHOR – comparison of one thing to another that does not use the terms “like” or “as.” For example: “He is a walking encyclopedia.” |
| METONYMY – substitution of one term for another that generally is associated with it. For example: “the White House has decided to…” instead of the “the President…” |
| OXYMORON – association of two contrary terms. For example: “silent scream” ; “cruel kindness” |
| PARADOX – statement that seems absurd or even contradictory For example: “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” |
| PERIPHRASIS – an elaborate way to say something using more words than necessary. For example: “I felt like some watcher of the sky.” instead of “astronomer” |
| PERSONIFICATION – using human characteristics to describe animals, things, or ideas. For example: “The sun smiled down on us.” |
| PUN – using the similarity in sound between two words with different meanings. For example: “The tallest building is the library; it has hundreds of stories” |
| RHETORICAL QUESTION – question that is asked but which does not need an answer. For example: “Are you kidding me?!” |
| SIMILE – comparison of two things using “like” or “as.” For example: “It was as hot as in an oven” |
| ALLUSION – implicit reference of a book, movie, event, person, place, event, etc. For example: “His smile is like kryptonite to me” (reference to Superman) |
| IRONY – contrasts between expectations and reality For example: “The police station has been robbed” |