30 Figures of Speech You Never Knew Had Names

1. Antanagoge

Putting a good point next to a negative one.

"It's expensive, but it lasts forever."

2. Epizeuxis

Repeating a word immediately for

emphasis. "Alone, alone, all alone..."

3. Anacoluthon

A sentence that suddenly breaks in structure.

"If you think 1-well, never mind."

4. Antimetabole

Repeating words in reverse order.

"Eat to live, not live to eat.

5. Parataxis

Short, side-by-side statements without connectors.

"I came. I saw. I conquered."

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6. Polysyndeton

Using too many conjunctions on purpose. "He ran and laughed and danced and cheered.'

7. Asyndeton

Removing conjunctions for speed.

"Veni, vidi, viel."

8. Litotes

Understating something using the

negative. "Not bad at all."

9. Epanalepsis

Ending a sentence with the word it began with. "The king is dead, long live the king."

10. Diacope

Repetition with a word or phrase in between.

"To be, or not to be."

11. Euphemism

Softer words for harsh realities. "Passed away" instead of "died."

12. Dysphemism

The opposite-saying it harshly on purpose. "Junk food" instead of "snacks.

13. Tautology

Saying the same idea twice.

"Free gift." 14. Paraprosdokian

A sentence that ends in a surprise twist. "I've had a perfectly wonderful evening... but this wasn't it.

15. Pleonasm

Adding more words than necessary for effect.

"Burning fire."

16. Synesthesia.

Mixing senses together.

"A loud color.

17. Aporia

Expressing doubt to engage the audience.

"I'm not sure if this is possible..."

18. Aposiopesis

Suddenly stopping mid-thought.

19. Procatalepsis

"Touch that and I'll-"

Anticipating an objection and answering it.

20. Tricolon

"You may say this is hard, but..."

A set of three rhythmical parts.

"Faith, hope, love.

21. Chiasmus

Words or ideas mirrored for contrast. "She has all my love; my heart belongs to her,

22. Anthropomorphism

Giving animals human behavior. "The dog sighed in disappointment."

23. Antiphrasis

Using a word ironically. Calling a tiny dog "Goliath."

24. Anadiplosis

Ending one clause with a word that starts

the next. "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate.

25. Bdelygmia

C A list of insults.

"You rotten, sneaky, good-for-nothing..

26. Epanorthosis

Correcting yourself dramatically. "He's the best-no-the greatest!"

27. Hypophora

Asking a question then immediately answering it.

"Why learn this? Because it makes your English powerful.

28. Isocolon

Parallel phrases with equal length. "More saving. More doing."