rhetorical device in a speech

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

What is a rhetorical device and why are they used.

As with all fields of serious and complicated human endeavor (that can be considered variously as an art, a science, a profession, or a hobby), there is a technical vocabulary associated with writing. Rhetoric is the name for the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion, and though a writer doesn’t need to know the specific labels for certain writing techniques in order to use them effectively, it is sometimes helpful to have a handy taxonomy for the ways in which words and ideas are arranged. This can help to discuss and isolate ideas that might otherwise become abstract and confusing. As with the word rhetoric itself, many of these rhetorical devices come from Greek.

Ready, set, rhetoric.

The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables

wild and woolly, threatening throngs

Syntactical inconsistency or incoherence within a sentence especially : a shift in an unfinished sentence from one syntactic construction to another

you really should have—well, what do you expect?

Repetition of a prominent and usually the last word in one phrase or clause at the beginning of the next

rely on his honor—honor such as his?

A literary technique that involves interruption of the chronological sequence of events by interjection of events or scenes of earlier occurrence : flashback

Repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground

The repetition of a word within a phrase or sentence in which the second occurrence utilizes a different and sometimes contrary meaning from the first

we must all hang together or most assuredly we shall all hang separately

The usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings

this giant of 3 feet 4 inches

The use of a proper name to designate a member of a class (such as a Solomon for a wise ruler) OR the use of an epithet or title in place of a proper name (such as the Bard for Shakespeare)

The raising of an issue by claiming not to mention it

we won't discuss his past crimes

An expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty especially for rhetorical effect

to be, or not to be: that is the question

Harshness in the sound of words or phrases

An inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases

working hard, or hardly working?

A disjunctive conclusion inferred from a single premise

gravitation may act without contact; therefore, either some force may act without contact or gravitation is not a force

The substitution of a disagreeable, offensive, or disparaging expression for an agreeable or inoffensive one

greasy spoon is a dysphemism for the word diner

Repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

of the people, by the people, for the people

Emphatic repetition [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

An interchange of two elements in a phrase or sentence from a more logical to a less logical relationship

you are lost to joy for joy is lost to you

A transposition or inversion of idiomatic word order

judge me by my size, do you?

Extravagant exaggeration

mile-high ice-cream cones

The putting or answering of an objection or argument against the speaker's contention [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

Understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary

not a bad singer

The presentation of a thing with underemphasis especially in order to achieve a greater effect : UNDERSTATEMENT

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them ( Metaphor vs. Simile )

drowning in money

A figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated

crown as used in lands belonging to the crown

The naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it

A combination of contradictory or incongruous words

cruel kindness

The use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense : REDUNDANCY

I saw it with my own eyes

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by "like" or "as"

cheeks like roses

The use of a word in the same grammatical relation to two adjacent words in the context with one literal and the other metaphorical in sense

she blew my nose and then she blew my mind

A figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole (such as fifty sail for fifty ships ), the whole for a part (such as society for high society ), the species for the genus (such as cutthroat for assassin ), the genus for the species (such as a creature for a man ), or the name of the material for the thing made (such as boards for stage )

The use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one

opened the door and her heart to the homeless boy

MORE TO EXPLORE: Rhetorical Devices Used in Pop Songs

Word of the Day

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Games & Quizzes

Usage Notes

Prepositions, ending a sentence with, 33 transition words and phrases, is 'irregardless' a real word, 8 more grammar terms you used to know: special verb edition, point of view: it's personal, grammar & usage, more words you always have to look up, the difference between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.', more commonly misspelled words, plural and possessive names: a guide, your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, pilfer: how to play and win, 8 words with fascinating histories, great big list of beautiful and useless words, vol. 3, it's a scorcher words for the summer heat, flower etymologies for your spring garden.

My Favorite Speeches for Rhetorical Analysis: 10 Speeches for Middle School ELA and High School English

Teaching rhetorical analysis is one of my absolute favorite units to complete with my students. I love teaching my students about rhetorical strategies and devices, analyzing what makes an effective and persuasive argument, and reading critical speeches with my students. Here is a quick list of some of my favorite speeches for rhetorical analysis.

I absolutely LOVE teaching rhetorical analysis. I think it might be one of my favorite units to teach to my high school students. There are just so many different text options to choose from. Here is a list of some of my favorite speeches to include in my rhetorical analysis teaching unit.

10 Speeches for Teaching Rhetorical Analysis

1. the gettysburg address (abraham lincoln).

Some notable things to mention in this speech include allusion and parallel structure. To make your analysis more meaningful, point out these devices to students and explain how these devices enhance the meaning of the text.

Teaching Resource : The Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis Activity Packet

2. Lou Gehrig’s Farewell Speech (Lou Gehrig)

This speech is one that many of my athletes love to analyze, and it is an excellent exemplar text to teach pathos. And like The Gettysburg Address, it is short. This is another speech that you can read, analyze, and even write about in one class period.

When I use this speech in my class, I have students look for examples of pathos. Mainly, I have them look at word choice, tone, and mood. How does Lou Gehrig’s choice of words affect his tone and the overall mood of the speech?

3. I Have a Dream (Martin Luther King,  Jr.)

In the classroom, it is important to point out the sermonic feel to the speech and also to have your students look for calls to action and pathos. Have your students look for tone, allusions, and word choice to help them notice these rhetoric expressions throughout it.

Teaching Resource : I Have a Dream Close Read and Rhetorical Analysis

4. Speech at the March on Washington (Josephine Baker)

This is another important speech that held a lot of importance for the changes that needed to be made in America. The speech is a shorter one, so in the classroom, it will not take as long to analyze it, and students can understand the significance of the use of rhetoric in a shorter amount of time than some other speeches.

When teaching this speech, I like to remind my students to search for devices that portray an excellent example of the pathos that is so present in this speech. Some of these devices could be mood, repetition, and diction.

5. Steve Jobs’ Commencement Speech (Steve Jobs)

In class, it is good to have your students annotate and analyze the speech just as they have done for the others. The organization of the speech will help them to notice the similarities and differences between each point Jobs makes.

6. Space Shuttle Challenger (Ronald Reagan)

This speech represents a strong sense of pathos as a movement to help the American people cope with loss after the deaths of the astronauts aboard the Challenger. It is another speech that is not too long, so it should not take a long time to both analyze and annotate the entire speech.

When teaching this speech in class, be sure to mention how pathos is the driving force behind the speech, through the tone and the diction. How does Reagan use emotion to focus on the astronauts as humans, rather than solely focusing on the tragedy?

7. The Perils of Indifference (Elie Wiesel)

This speech is a good one to teach because it both makes students question their own lives, but also how the world works. The speech relies on pathos, and a little ethos too, to get the audience to feel the full effect of the tragedy of the Holocaust and what the speaker went through. It is a long speech so it may take longer for the students to fully grasp all the details that make it such a persuasive speech.

When I teach this speech, I like to have students annotate every place they notice an example of pathos, and then have them explain why in their annotations this makes them feel an emotion. The same with the ethos, and then we can further analyze the rest together.

8. 9/11 Address to the Nation (George W. Bush)

This speech shows another example of the use of pathos in the midst of a tragedy. The President wanted to show the American people how much he was feeling for those lost in the tragedy of 9/11. It is not a long speech, but the amount of emotion within the words is significant for students to notice.

When teaching this speech, it is essential that students look very closely at each part of it, noticing each piece that reveals tone, mood, and other literary devices. How do the different devices add to the pathos of the speech?

FREE TEACHING ACTIVITY : September 11 Address to the Nation Sampler

Teaching Resource : September 11 Address to the Nation Rhetorical Analysis Unit

9. We are Virginia Tech (Nikki Giovanni)

This speech is probably the shortest speech on this list but provides one of the most emotional and pathos-filled rhetoric. This describes another tragedy that is spoken about with pathos to give the audience a safe feeling after such an emotional thing. Students can spend time analyzing the different devices that make the piece so strong in its emotion.

In the classroom, make sure your students make a note of the repetition, and what that does for the speech. Does it make the emotion more impactful? How does it make the audience feel like they are a part of something bigger?

10. Woman’s Right to the Suffrage (Susan B. Anthony)

This is another short speech that holds a lot of power within it. A lot of students will enjoy reading this to see how much the country has changed, and how this speech may have some part in influencing this change. It is a great speech to help teach logos in the classroom, and it will not take a long time to analyze.

Make sure your students notice, and they also understand, the use of allusions within the speech. These allusions help to establish the use of logos, as Anthony wants the use of American historical documents to show how logical her argument is.

Ready-For-You Rhetorical Analysis Teaching Unit

You might also be interested in my blog post about 15 rhetorical analysis questions to ask your students.

Teaching rhetorical analysis and speeches in the classroom is a great way to teach informational text reading standards.

Rhetorical Analysis Teaching Resources:

These resources follow reading standards for informational text and are ideal for secondary ELA teachers.

• Rhetorical Analysis Unit with Sticky Notes
• Ethos, Pathos, Logos: Understanding Rhetorical Appeals\
• Rhetorical Analysis Mini Flip Book

Join the Daring English Teacher community!

Subscribe to receive freebies, teaching ideas, and my latest content by email.

I won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Built with ConvertKit

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

60+ Rhetorical Devices with Examples for Effective Persuasion

Rhetorical devices are essential tools in the world of communication, aiding speakers and writers in persuading or engaging their audience effectively. These powerful techniques help convey meaning and evoke emotions, allowing individuals to present their ideas from a specific perspective. As components of the broader concept of rhetoric – the art of effective communication – rhetorical devices can be found in various forms, including language structure, sound, and imagery.

There may be many times that you will hear the use of rhetorical devices in an English conversation or see it in written text, but it can be confusing to understand if you are not sure how they are used. In this article, we are going to look at what rhetorical devices are and what different types of rhetorical devices there are with useful examples.

Rhetorical Devices

What are rhetorical devices.

A rhetorical device is a way of phrasing some words or sentences so that it evokes a specific kind of emotion. It is a great way to get your opinion across and make people believe what you say is a clear absolute truth.

Though history, the best and most prolific writers and speakers have used and developed a plethora of rhetorical devices. People such as Cicero and Demosthenes come to mind or Abraham Lincoln . The last great orator who excelled at using rhetorical devices was the late, great Martin Luther King.

Utilizing rhetorical devices, authors and speakers can appeal to logic or reason (logos), emotions (pathos), or credibility (ethos). Often, these strategies can make a point more convincing, thereby enhancing comprehension and impact on the audience. From metaphors and hyperbole to alliteration and anaphora, numerous rhetorical devices exist, catering to a diverse range of communication styles and purposes.

By mastering the use of rhetorical devices, individuals can significantly improve their writing and speaking abilities, adapting their approach according to the context and target audience. Familiarity with rhetorical devices enables an understanding of when and how to apply specific strategies for maximum effect, ultimately strengthening one’s overall communication prowess.

Types of Rhetorical Devices

Repetition and sound devices.

Various rhetorical devices use the power of repetition and sound to create emphasis, emotion, and catch the reader’s attention. Here are some common examples:

• Anaphora : The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Example: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets.”
• Alliteration : The repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together. Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
• Assonance : The repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together. Example: “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.”
• Consonance : The repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close together. Example: “Pitter patter of little feet.”
• Onomatopoeia : Words that imitate the sounds they represent. Example: “The bees buzzed, and the brook babbled.”

Figurative Language

Figurative language uses words or expressions in a non-literal way to create a vivid picture, emphasize a point, or evoke emotions. Some common examples include:

• Metaphor : A comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as”. Example: “Time is a thief.”
• Simile : A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”. Example: “Her smile was as warm as the sun.”
• Personification : Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”
• Hyperbole : Deliberate exaggeration for effect. Example: “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.”
• Irony : A contrast between expectation and reality. Example: “The fire station burned down.”
• Oxymoron : A combination of contradictory words. Example: “Deafening silence.”
• Synecdoche : Using a part of something to represent the whole. Example: “All hands on deck.”

Persuasive Techniques

Rhetorical devices can be used to persuade an audience by appealing to different aspects of human reasoning. Some well-known persuasive techniques include:

• Logos : Using logic, reason, statistics, and facts to persuade.
• Pathos : Appealing to emotions to persuade.
• Ethos : Establishing credibility and trust by referring to authorities or ethical values.
• Antithesis : Contrasting ideas for emphasis. Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
• Allusion : Making a reference to another work, event, or person to create a connection or make a point. Example: “He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”
• Analogy : A comparison between two similar things to explain a complex concept. Example: “A heart is like a pump.”
• Euphemism : Using a mild or indirect expression to replace a harsh or blunt one. Example: “Passed away” instead of “died.”
• Parallelism : Repeating a grammatical structure for emphasis or balance. Example: “Like father, like son.”

These are just a few examples of the many rhetorical devices that writers and speakers use to convey their messages effectively and memorably. By using repetition, sound patterns, figurative language, and persuasive techniques, communicators can engage their audience, emphasize key points, and achieve the desired effect.

Rhetorical Devices: History and Theory

Greek origins.

Rhetoric has its origins in ancient Greece and has long been linked with public speaking and persuasion. In the Classical period of ancient Greece, around the 5th century BC, rhetors or rhetoricians taught the art of public speaking to fellow citizens in Greek republics. This practice later extended to teaching the children of the wealthy in the Roman Empire. The study of rhetoric developed as a means of communication and persuasion, central to the Greek educational system.

Aristotle’s Modes of Persuasion

A key figure in the history of rhetoric is the Greek philosopher Aristotle , who contributed immensely to the development of rhetorical theory. Aristotle outlined three modes of persuasion in his work, “Rhetoric.” These three modes are:

• Logos : This mode focuses on the logical appeal of an argument, using reasoning and evidence to persuade the audience. Aristotle believed that a well-constructed argument based on reason and facts would lead to more effective persuasion.
• Pathos : In this mode, rhetoricians employ emotional appeals to provoke audiences’ feelings and engage their emotions. By targeting the audience’s values, desires, and fears, pathos helps create a connection between the speaker and the audience.
• Ethos : This mode emphasizes the credibility and character of the speaker. Aristotle argued that persuading an audience requires establishing the speaker’s trustworthiness, expertise, and moral character.

In addition to these modes of persuasion, Aristotle also introduced the concept of a thesis, which is the central argument or main point of a speech or text. This element serves as the foundation upon which the speaker’s persuasive efforts are constructed.

By understanding and applying Aristotle’s modes of persuasion, today’s writers and speakers can increase the effectiveness of their communications, making them more compelling and persuasive. This foundation remains essential for those interested in the history and theory of rhetoric.

Rhetorical Devices List

Common rhetorical devices.

Here is a list of rhetorical devices most commonly used:

1. Alliteration

Another name for alliteration is tongue twisters . You might remember them from your youth. Any time you notice that a few words, one after the other share the first few, initial consonant sounds you have yourself an example of alliteration. But alliteration isn’t only used in children’s tongue twisters, such as “ she sells seashells “, they are also used by brands to make their names much more memorable, for example, “ Krispy Kreme “.

2. Allusion

Every time you make a reference to some places, events, or a person you are making an allusion . For example, one could say, ” I’m not Sherlock Holmes to figure that out ”. It is helpful when one tries to get a point across because you can reference something well known and not explain something at great length.

3. Amplification

Repeating the same word one after the other, combined with an adjective or two makes it seems stronger, more significant. That is the rhetorical device called amplification. For example, “ his face is red, so so red “. It could indicate that the colour in somebody’s face is of an extraordinary shade of red, to a worrying degree.

Sometimes the easiest way to explain things is to strike a parallel with some other thing that is quite similar to it. But one has to be careful with analogies, not every analogy is true One of the most basic logical fallacies is the Conclusion from Analogy. An analogy would be, “ She is as pale as a ghost “.

5. Anaphora

This is one of the rhetorical devices that Shakespeare loved. Anaphora is defined as repeating a single word or a phrase in successive phrases. For example, “ some glory in their birth, some in their skill, some in their wealth “. The repetition of the word some in our examples gives the quote its rhythm, playfulness, and power. It does not come as a surprise that anaphora is a staple device for many famous poets. But poets aren’t the only ones who can benefit from this device, any learned orator can.

6. Antanagoge

Sometimes referred to as a backhand compliment, an antanagoge is when you combined a positive and a negative statement together. For example, “ this summer season was dry, but not as dry as the one back in 2012 .”

7. Antimetabole

Repeating words in verse order is what antimetabole is all about. One of the most famous examples comes from the father of philosophy, Socrates. he said, “ eat to live, not live to eat “.

8. Antiphrasis

This device is used for ironic, sarcastic and humoristic effect. One of the biggest proponents of this rhetorical device was the French nobleman, and maxim writer, Baron De Rouchefoult. It usually makes fun of opposites. So you can call a really ugly painting, such a Mona Lisa, or a very slow person, Usain Bolt.

9. Antithesis

Any time you make a connection between two events, people or things you are using this rhetorical device. The most celebrated and repeated example of antithesis was Neil Armstrong’s speech after he set foot on the moon. Another example would be a quote from the famous German writer Goethe, who said, “ love, is ideal, marriage real “. It means that it is one thing to love someone, but spending your entire life with a person is something completely different, real without illusions.

10. Appositive

If you want to describe a noun better, with another noun, you are using appositive. For example, Alexander of Macedonia, master general. In this example, the master general is the appositive and describes something noteworthy about this historical figure.

11. Enumeratio

Enumeratio is when you try to make some sort of point my numbering things one after the other. Salespeople often use this when they want to sell you something. They will list every feature the item has in an attempt to make you agree with them. They hope to spark your interest in purchasing this item that way.

12. Epithet

An epithet is a word that summarises the most important thing in a person or event. Throughout history, this has been used for propaganda purposes. There are a lot of racially and sexually charged epithets that have brought a lot of pain and suffering to a lot of minorities.

13. Epizeuxis

You can hear this rhetorical device out of the mouths of children, more often than adults. When you repeat the same word, again and again, to add emphasis to an emotion or state of mind you got an epizeuxis. For example, a child might say this when it sees a plate full of vegetables, “ this plate is yucky, yucky, yucky .”

14. Hyperbole

Another term of phrase for hyperbole is an exaggeration. For examples, when you are bored and don’t want to do a specific task you might say, “ This will take forever. ”

15. Litotes

This rhetorical device litotes is used to same something positive with the use of a word or phrase usually reserved for a negative context. For example, one could say “ I’m not unfamiliar with it “. Or to translate, I know a lot about the thing that you are talking about. “ You are not average player, aren’t you? ” which means you are nothing but average. Or one could say “ This is not my first rodeo ” which means, trust me I have a lot more experience than you give me credit for.

16. Metanoia

To make the statement more powerful, you correct the phrase you just used with another one to add emphasis. For example, one could say “ This is the best burger in town, even in the whole state. ”

17. Metaphor

Metaphor is used to compare to things that don’t immediately spring to mind to give one of those things an added quality. For example “ Brevity is the soul of wit “. By this, we mean that saying as much as we can with as little words as we can is a mark of true intelligence.

18. Anacoluthon

Every time there is a sudden break, usually mid-sentence, an anacoluthon is formed. The first part of anacoluthon is never finished because the second part exceeds it in importance. For example “ I was cleaning my garden with -She screamed ”

19. Anadiplosis

This rhetorical device is when you repeat a word or multiple words that have ended one sentence or grammatical structure at the beginning of your next sentence. For example “ I was driving the car. The car that I bought with my own money ”

20. Anastrophe

Anastrophe is the willing inverse of the natural word order in a sentence. This is because you want to put what is most important at the end of your thought. One popular user of this rhetorical device is the fictional, but widely beloved Jedi Master Yoda. He uses multiple rhetorical devices, but anastrophe is certainly his favorite. Some of the most known Yoda quotes are indeed anastrophes. For example, “ Persuade you, I shall ” or “ The path to the dark side, fear is ”

21. Antanaclasis

When you repeat the same word again and again in a few sentences that follow each other, but the repeated word changes meaning in each new sentence or part of a grammatical structure. Probably the most known example of this rhetorical device comes from one of the greatest citizens the USA has ever had, Benjamin Franklin. While debating an opponent once Franklin reportedly said: “ Your argument is sound… all sound “. A wonderful piece of wit combined with the right kind of rhetorical device. He is playing with the meanings of the word sound, which could be something stable and correct and also just noise.

22. Apophasis

Apophasis comes from the Greek phrase and it means “ To say no “. It is the closest rhetorical device to irony and it is accomplished when a speaker brings something up by denying it. For example “ I’m not saying that this article is not a great work of art “.

Every clear, rhetorical expression of doubt is an aporia . Aporia comes in many forms but the most celebrated example is a quote from Shakespeare that almost everyone who went to school as quoted at least once. This example is from Hamlet and it says “ To be or not to be, that is the question. ”

24. Apostrophe

Every time a speaker goes from addressing one individual and abruptly switches his attention to another person or an item is called apostrophe. This other person or item doesn’t even need to be present. Apostrophes can be quite common in an internal monologue a character has in a movie or a novel. For example “ My dear Sun you torture me, What power this heavenly body possesses over us, oh Lord “.

25. Asyndeton

One of the more common and simple rhetorical devices. Many famous sayings and quotes belong to the asyndeton family of rhetorical devices. Asyndeton is the removal of conjunctions between grammatical structures or sentences. Probably the most notable example is the quote by Julius Caezar after he usurped his own city. The quote reads “ I came, I saw, I conquered “. Quite poetic for such a mass-murdering, genocidal maniac.

26. Auxesis

Many writers, of both serious and imaginative books, are though to use Auxesis. The word is greek and it means growth. It is the gradual increase in power and emphasis from one word to the next, erupting at the end of the sentence with its most powerful phrase or word. An example of auxesis would be “ The metal felt warm, then hot, then burning” or “I looked, I smiled, I laughed, I died from laughter “.

27. Bdelygmia

One of the rare examples of rude or abusive language in the whole field of rhetorical devices. A bdelygmia is a rant full of abuses. Nowadays, you are most likely to encounter them at sporting events, especially if the reporter interview a player that has just lost an important game or derby. For example “ If I was raised any differently I might call our coach a complete imbecile incapable of calling the simplest of plays at the right time. Yeah, a total no show, waste of time of a human being “.

28. Cacophony

This rhetorical device cacophony is when you use harsh words to add some effect to your statement or to grab the attention of the person you are addressing. For example, a frustrated lover might say “ Every breath that I take without you close to me feels like a thousand daggers taring my insides apart “. It might sound cruel, manipulative or harsh, but that is the point. Others might see it as a guilt trip, but one lover has the intention to show the other just how painful every moment that they spend apart really is for him or her.

29. Chiasmus

In this rhetorical device Chiasmus , you reverse the order of words, whole grammatical structures or concepts and repeat them in reverse order. One of the most notable examples comes from the Christian savior, half man half God, Jesus Christ. He said to his twelve apostles one time “ Don’t judge unless you want others to judge you “.

30. Commoratio

Every time you are repeating yourself with different words you are using commoratio. Or in other words, whenever you want to say the same thing, but with different words over and over again you are using commoratio. For some reason, British comedy troupes are fond of this rhetorical device. Most notably Monty Python. One such example would be “ He is crazy, nuts, off his rocker, goofy, silly, gone, gonzo, totally gone, whipped like a bat ”

31. Diacope

Borrowing its name from the Greek phrase which means to cut in two, this rhetorical device is the repeating of one word or a whole grammatical construction separated by another word. For example “ In times like these, it is always good to remember that, there were always times like these ” In this example times like these are the grammatical structure that keeps repeating, and the middle part is the divider.

32. Hendiadys

This rhetorical device entails the use of a conjunction between two words that grammatical isn’t really all that necessary. One such example would be “ I’m starting to feel sick and tired of all your rambling ”

33. Dehortatio

This rhetorical device comes from the Latin word and means dissuasion. It is used when you want to give someone a piece of strong advice on what not to do. It has an opposite brother or sister, whatever you want to call it in the family of rhetorical devices called adhortatio. One of the most known examples came from the famous Nazi fighter and British prime minister, Winston Churchill, when he in a speech to the nation, during Nazi air raids said “ Never, never, never give in. No matter how small and insignificant the thing might seem. Never, never give in ”

34. Diatyposis

This rhetorical device comes from Greek. It was probably developed by some of Socrate’s famed sophist opponents. If you want to use an elegant rhetorical device that will help you dictate rules to your audience, this device might be ideal. As in this example from the great eastern philosophical work, Tao Te Ching “ When you rule, don’t try to control. When you think, keep it simple ”

35. Distinctio

Coming from the Latin word that means differentiation. When a speaker wants to leave all ambiguity about a certain word a said and precisely and clearly let his audience know what he is saying by a particular word. This rhetorical device comes up often in political speeches, for example, “ By enemies I mean all of those who didn’t join our cause during the Second World War “.

36. Epanorthosis

Coming from the Greek phrase meaning self-correction. One uses it when one tries to take something back that was earlier said. Or, when one wants to clarify something one has said earlier. This is most often done because the speaker realizes that the thing that he ha said previously didn’t have the desired effect. By applying epanorthosis, the speaker adds more emphasis and power to the things he has previously said to his audience. For example, a speaker might say “ All of, thousands no tens of thousands here today. ”

37. Hyperbaton

This rhetorical device has many cousins. It is of the family of rhetorical devices that inverse the order of words in a sentence or any other grammatical structure, to add strength and emphasis to the most important part of said structure. Yoda, one of the most popular fictional characters of all time, likes to use this device, as well as many romantic poets. An example of this device would be “ One swallow does not a summer make. ”

38. Meiosis

It comes from Greek and it means to make smaller. The use is similar to its Greek origins. It denotes any form of description that is designed to lessen the value or importance of a thing. It can seem similar to litotes but while litotes is more sarcastic, meiosis is far more direct. An example of meiosis might be “ It is only a scratch “. In the case mentioned, the wound the speaker suffered is probably a serious or grave one, but he isn’t discouraged by it or doesn’t want to let his opponents know just how much damage he took. That is why he or she used meiosis to both encourage himself and discourage his or her opponents.

39. Paronomasia

The closes thing to an explanation for this rhetorical device is to claim that it is indeed a sort of ancient word for a pun. Paronomasia that emphasizes the phonic similarities between two words. It can be very prevalent among wordplay, for both adults and children. Some examples are “meet” and “meat”, or “old lord”. It is a great device to use when one wants his words to be ambiguous. One can find this device in many epic poets as well as Shakespeare. They usually use it in the mouth of one of the villains, to mask his true intents.

40. Pleonasm

As we have seen in earlier examples, word repetition and especially its rhythm capture out attention ever so easily. Pleonasm is another rhetorical device that capitulates on this mysterious habit of the human mind and ears. While others repeated words themselves, pleonasm is focused on repeating the same ideal, through multiple grammatical structures, but always trying to express it through different words or phrases. Naturally, and logically, Pleonasm comes from the greek and it means to be excessive. An example of a pleonasm would be “ Our Czar, our ruler, our leader, would like to be brief on the western campaign “.

41. Polyptoton

Coming from, you guessed it, Greek it means many fallings. It is a device where you repeat words that share an origin, like judge and judging or beat and beaten. Repeating those words of equal origin gives the sentence of phrase its signature strength. Some of the most known examples of polyptoton come from religious texts and are really easy to memorize because of their rhythmical setup. The most known example to most people on the western Hemisphere would probably come out of the New Testament, from Matthew’s gospel “ Don’t judge, or you will be judged yourselves .”

42. Polysyndeton

This rhetorical device comes from Greek and roughly translating it, it would mean bound many together. It is accomplished with one conjunction, that is repeated a number of times to combine many phrases or grammatical structures together. The most used conjunction used is probably – and. We find numerous examples of polysyndeton in children when they start to enumerate things. For example “ My mom has beauty, and courage and strength and brains and knows how to cook and is fast ”

43. Scesis Onomaton

Any sentence that is made out of exclusively nouns and adjectives is a scesis onomaton. Sometimes prepositions are added, but verbs are always excluded in the scesis onomaton. An example would be “ That is an opportunity, a chance, a shot ”

44. Sententia

The majority of moral sayings, be it a proverb maxim or aphorism is a form of this rhetorical device. Or in other words, any expression of conventional wisdom. But it has to be expressed in a brief, short sentence, with the most important point expressed at the end. It comes from the Latin word that means sentence. An example of this rhetorical device would be “ War is superior to a bad peace ” or “ Only a man who thinks himself miserable is indeed miserable ”

45. Sentential Adverbs

This rhetorical device is used when we want to give, power or emphasis to an adverb. It is either a single word or a quick and easy phrase that breaks the syntax of the sentence or grammatical construction. So with the help of this word or phrase, we add emphasis on both the word before the break and after the break. An example of sentential adverb would be “ She did not, in fact, divorce her husband ” or “ He won’t, surely, give away his inheritance ”

46. Syllepsis

This rhetorical device comes to use from Greek and it means – a taking. You use this device when you want to give a one-word different meaning than it usually has in relation to other words in the sentence or grammatical structure. A lot of people and even the most astute rhetoricians confuse it with Zeugma. But we won’t get into details here. They can be and usually are used interchangeably. An example of this rhetorical device might be “ His voice reaches so high, and goes way over his smug head ”

47. Symploce

There are many examples of rhetorical devices that use repetition as a means of getting a point across. We all, for some evolutionary reason, like melody and rhythm and rhetoricians know that. One of the most rhythmical and repetitive devices is symploce. To use this device you have to repeat the same word or phrase at the beginning of a couple of continues sentences. But that isn’t all. You also have to repeat a word at the end of each fo those continuous sentences. But it can’t be any word: The word has to have a similar sound to the one you are using at the beginning of those sentences. In other words, you can call symploce a fusion of two devices we have previously mentioned, anaphora and epistrophe. One of the most notable examples come from the famous wit of CK Chesterton. He said “ The lunatic is not the person who lost his mind. The lunatic is the person who lost everything, but his mind ”

48. Synathroesmus

Coming from the Greek word for collection this entry in our list of rhetorical devices is similar to the device accumulatio. But while some devices use the accumulation of words to praise a person or event, this rhetorical device is used to put someone down or to put it harshly, verbally mutilate them. A lot of people who are prone to rants (and let’s face it, Youtube is full of fanboys, and fangirls, who love to rant about every single detail that they like about a certain intellectual property that they allegedly adore) use this device unknowingly. An example of this device would be “ The movie is a soulless, schlocky, amalgamation of everything that is wrong with pop culture ” or “ He is a no-good, clumsy awkward, disease-stricken ape of a man ”

49. Synecdoche

This rhetorical device might have a complicated-sounding name, but it is anything but. Every time you use a part of a sentence or grammatical structure to refer or represent the whole, you are using synecdoche . The same goes for things, people or events. So when people refer to America as a country, they could mean both the US and the two continents. But experience teaches us that they are probably referring to the nation. It is just easier to say one word than the whole structure, The United States of America. It is easy to confuse this device with a metonymy . But remember, metonymy addresses something with a term that is similar, while synecdoche uses a part of something to refer to the whole thing. Like boots to soldiers or wheels for cars.

50. Tapinosis

Another on our growing list of rhetorical devices that are often used, but most often by those that don’t know what they are in fact doing. Another phrase for this rhetorical device would be calling somebody names. It denotes vulgar, or derogatory language. You can hear examples of Tapinosis in children when they fight or call each other all kinds of silly names. Another name for it is humiliatio. But that doesn’t mean it is just a device you use one on one. It can be delivered in speeches as well. There is plenty of tapinosis in every fiery or mad general who addresses his novice recruits. Like in the movie Full Metal Jacket.

An example of such a device would be “ Listen up you maggots. You are nothing but momma’s boys, good or nothing, disgraces of manhood, pieces of dog crap “.

51. Tricolon

Even if the name implies it, this device is not just three colons stacked next to each other. It is indeed, three similar words or phrases, expressed one after the other. This is done to give the description of a thing or person its sort of sense of completeness. A lot of writers use this to give the things they re describing more layers or dimensions, like a word for sight, smell, and hearing. It comes from Greek and it means three units. An example of this rhetorical device would be “ I need three things in a woman. Beauty, jealousy, and no brain ”

52. Topographia

In rhetorics, topographia refers to a lavish or even poetic description of a place. So every time you encounter a detailed description of something in a book you know you are reading an example of topographia.

Coming from the Greek word for question, this device is used by a speaker when we want to discredit someone with a series of aggressive questions that the opponent can’t answer all at once. It is like a torrent of question marks that devours him or her wholly. An example would be “ Who did your party support in 45? On which side of the war were you back then? Were you intending to defend our freedom? The freedom of the world ?”

Logos is a rhetorical device that refers to the use of logic, reasoning, and evidence to persuade an audience. It is often used in argumentative writing or speeches to appeal to the audience’s rationality and intellect. Logos can take many forms, including statistics, facts, expert opinions, and logical arguments. The goal of using logos is to convince the audience that the argument being presented is based on sound reasoning and evidence, and is therefore more likely to be true.

Pathos is a rhetorical device that refers to the use of emotional appeal to persuade an audience. It is often used in writing or speeches to evoke a particular emotional response from the audience, such as sympathy, anger, or fear. Pathos can be achieved through the use of vivid language, imagery, personal anecdotes, and other techniques that appeal to the audience’s emotions. The goal of using pathos is to create a strong emotional connection between the audience and the argument being presented, which can make the audience more receptive to the message and more likely to take action.

Ethos is a rhetorical device that refers to the credibility or trustworthiness of the speaker or writer. It is often used in writing or speeches to establish the author’s authority or expertise on a particular subject. Ethos can be established through various means, such as a speaker’s reputation, professional credentials, or personal experience. The goal of using ethos is to persuade the audience that the argument being presented is credible and trustworthy, and that the author or speaker is knowledgeable and reliable. By establishing ethos, the author or speaker can gain the audience’s confidence and increase the likelihood that the audience will be persuaded by the argument.

Unusual Rhetorical Devices

Kairos  refers to the opportune moment for making a persuasive argument or taking action. It’s about understanding the context and seizing the right moment to maximize the impact of your message. For example, a political candidate might use kairos to address a controversial topic when public opinion is shifting in their favor.

58. Anacoluthon

Anacoluthon  is a deliberate disruption of the syntax within a sentence, often used to emphasize a point or create a sense of confusion. It could be a sudden change in the grammatical structure or an interruption mid-sentence. For instance: “You really need to – can’t you see what’s happening here?”

59. Hypophora

Hypophora  is when a speaker or writer raises a question and then immediately answers it. This rhetorical device can be used to guide readers through a series of thoughts or to make a point more emphatically. Example: “Why do we continue to pollute our environment? The answer lies in our dependence on fossil fuels.”

60. Antiphrasis

Antiphrasis  is the use of a word or phrase with a meaning that is opposite to or contradicts its usual meaning, often for ironic or humorous effect. For example, describing a chaotic situation as “organized chaos” or calling a large person “Tiny.”

61. Dysphemism

Dysphemism  is the use of harsh or derogatory language to describe something or someone, often for the purpose of criticism or humor. For example, calling taxes “government theft” or referring to a leader as a “tyrant.”

62. Asterismos

Asterismos  is a rhetorical device where a word or phrase is placed at the beginning of a sentence or paragraph to draw attention to the following information. For instance: “Listen, everyone here needs to understand the rules.”

63. Paregmenon

Paregmenon  is the repetition of words derived from the same root, used to create emphasis or wordplay. Example: “The team is working diligently to create a diligent workforce.” Here, “diligently” and “diligent” both share the same root.

Rhetorical Devices Examples

Examples of rhetorical devices in speeches and events.

Rhetorical devices are essential tools for speakers to effectively communicate their message and engage their audience. By employing various linguistic techniques, speakers can elevate their speech, making it more impactful and memorable.

One of the most famous speeches in history is John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address. Throughout his speech, JFK employed numerous rhetorical devices to inspire and persuade the audience. For instance, he used parallelism in the well-known phrase, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” This structure highlights the contrast and emphasizes the speaker’s message.

In addition to parallelism , speakers often use other rhetorical devices such as:

• Metaphor: Comparing two things by stating one is the other, e.g., “The world is a stage.”
• Hyperbole: Intentional exaggeration for effect, e.g., “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.”
• Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds, e.g., “She sells seashells by the seashore.”
• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words, e.g., “How now, brown cow?”
• Anaphora: Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, e.g., “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields.”

These techniques can not only emphasize important points but also make the language more memorable and engaging for the audience.

Moreover, the use of rhetorical devices can significantly impact the tone and mood of the speech. For example, a speaker may employ irony to point out a discrepancy or create humor in the listener by using an unexpected twist in their language.

Working with rhetorical devices and mastering their usage is crucial for a speaker to enhance their speech’s overall impact. By understanding the linguistic tools at their disposal, speakers can effectively connect with their audience, leave a lasting impression, and ultimately achieve their communication goals.

Rhetoric in Literature and Poetry

In literature and poetry, the use of rhetorical devices plays a crucial role in offering powerful and persuasive language. These literary elements are employed by writers to convince or persuade their audience through logos, pathos, and ethos.

Literary Devices in Poetry

Poetry often relies on linguistic tools like figurative language and well-known figures of speech , which are considered rhetorical devices. Some common examples include metaphors, similes, and personification. The use of these devices enables poets to create vivid images and evoke emotions, enhancing the reader’s experience.

Examples of Rhetorical Devices in Literature

Various rhetorical devices are used in different types of writing, including narrative and descriptive writing. Some of these include:

• Anaphora : The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive clauses or sentences.
• Hyperbole : Deliberate exaggeration for dramatic or humorous effect.
• Irony : A contrast between the intended meaning and the actual meaning of a word or expression, often for sarcastic, humorous, or dramatic purposes.

When effectively employed, rhetorical devices can help authors produce memorable and influential literary works, reinforcing their messages.

Rhetoric in Music and Place

Rhetorical techniques can also be found in other forms of art, such as music and the description of places. In music, lyrics and composition can be crafted to create an emotional response or convey a specific message. For instance, a songwriter might utilize metaphors and similes in their lyrics, while the melody and rhythm of the music might provoke an emotional response.

Similarly, the description of a place can be enhanced by the use of rhetorical devices. Writers can use figurative language, such as metaphors or personification, to convey the atmosphere and unique qualities of a location more effectively.

In conclusion, rhetorical devices serve as powerful linguistic tools for conveying emotion, imagery, and persuasion across various forms of art and writing, such as literature, poetry, music, and descriptions of places.

Rhetorical Devices Examples in Pop Culture

Rhetorical devices are often used in pop culture to create memorable moments and engage audiences. These techniques can be found in various forms of media, including television shows, movies, commercials, and music.

One example of rhetorical devices in pop culture can be found in the Star Wars franchise, where the character Yoda uses distinctive speech patterns as a form of anastrophe. This is a device where words are deliberately arranged in an unusual order to create emphasis or an attention-grabbing effect. Yoda’s unique way of speaking has become synonymous with wisdom and has made the character a cultural icon.

In music, artists employ various rhetorical devices to enhance their lyrics and evoke emotional responses from their audience. For instance, Beyoncé’s album “Lemonade” incorporates a wide range of rhetorical devices such as alliteration, metaphor, and imagery. These techniques contribute to the album’s powerful narrative, which explores themes of love, betrayal, and empowerment.

Consider the following examples of rhetorical devices in popular songs:

Alliteration : The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words or syllables.

• Example: “Mary, Mary, quite contrary” (traditional nursery rhyme)

Anaphora : The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

• Example: “We will not flag or fail. We will go on to the end. We will fight in France…” (Winston Churchill)

Metaphor : A figure of speech comparing two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”

• Example: “You’re a sky full of stars” (Coldplay)

Rhetorical devices in pop culture are also prevalent in social media. Memes and viral content often use humor and clever wordplay to deliver messages that resonate with a wide audience. By employing satire, irony, or even puns, creators can make a lasting impression and spread their ideas across various platforms.

In conclusion, rhetorical devices are a crucial element in pop culture, as they help create impactful messages that resonate with audiences. These techniques can be found across different forms of media, from the unique speech patterns of iconic characters like Yoda to the emotional lyrics of popular music, like Beyoncé’s “Lemonade.” By understanding and appreciating the use of rhetorical devices in pop culture, one can gain a deeper appreciation for the creativity and thought behind these memorable moments.

Rhetorical Devices: the Role of Emotion and Humor

The use of emotion and humor in rhetorical devices plays a significant role in creating a connection with the audience and enhancing persuasion. Emotions such as happiness, sadness, fear, and anger appeal to the human soul and tap into the shared feelings of humanity. This connection is crucial in building rapport, trust, and understanding between the speaker and the audience.

Humor, in particular, is a powerful rhetorical tool to establish a connection and identification with audience members. By employing humor, a speaker can make their argument more engaging, approachable, and relatable. This connection increases the likelihood that the audience will be receptive to the speaker’s point of view. Additionally, humor often serves to deflate counterarguments and make opposing points of view appear less credible or even absurd.

Emotions, as part of rhetorical appeals, can be traced back to Aristotle’s concepts of ethos, logos, and pathos. Ethos refers to the credibility of the speaker, logos pertains to the logical arguments presented, and pathos focuses on the emotional appeal to the audience. A balanced combination of these appeals is crucial for effective persuasion.

Incorporating emotions and feelings in rhetorical devices can be achieved through various methods, such as:

• Storytelling: Narrating personal experiences, anecdotes, or case studies that evoke emotions.
• Metaphors and analogies: Utilizing figurative language to simplify complex ideas and spark emotional reactions.
• Evocative words or phrases: Intentionally using language that elicits strong emotions.

It is essential to maintain a level of authenticity and moderation when using emotion and humor in rhetorical devices. Over-reliance on emotions or attempting to manipulate the audience’s feelings can lead to reduced credibility and trust. Furthermore, inappropriate use of humor may alienate or offend the audience, ultimately detracting from the speaker’s intended message.

Rhetorical Devices: Audience and Context

Understanding the audience and context is essential when using rhetorical devices in communication. The audience refers to the readers or listeners to whom the message is being conveyed. They may include primary, secondary, and tertiary audiences, depending on the intended reach of the communication. Each audience group has different needs, expectations, backgrounds, and interests, which must be taken into account when crafting a message.

The context, on the other hand, refers to the circumstances surrounding an act of reading or composition. It plays a significant role in shaping the communication, as it dictates the appropriate tone, style, and rhetoric for a particular situation.

Considering the audience and context is crucial for several reasons:

• Effectiveness of communication : Adapting the message to the needs and interests of the audience increases the likelihood that it will resonate with them and achieve the desired effect.
• Appropriate tone and style : Selecting the right rhetorical devices depends on the context and the audience’s preferences. For example, using a more formal tone in a business setting or casual language for a younger audience.
• Persuasion : Understanding the audience’s background and beliefs can guide the use of ethos, logos, and pathos, Aristotle’s established rhetorical techniques. These techniques can elicit emotional responses, credibility, and logical reasoning, influencing the audience’s opinions and decisions.

Writers and speakers can adopt various strategies to tailor their message to the audience and context, some of which include:

• Demographic analysis : Collecting data about the audience’s age, gender, profession, education, culture, and socio-economic status helps in selecting content and rhetorical devices that are relatable and relevant.
• Psychographic analysis : Assessing the audience’s values, attitudes, interests, and opinions enables a more targeted approach to persuasion and influence.
• Situational analysis : Examining factors such as location, time, and the occasion of the communication helps determine the suitable tone and style.

In conclusion, considering the audience and context is paramount when employing rhetorical devices in communication. This approach ensures that the message effectively conveys the intended information, prompts desired reactions, and resonates with the target audience. Successful communication requires a thorough understanding of the audience and the context, shaping both content and delivery accordingly.

Rhetorical Devices Infographics

Rhetorical Devices Infographic 1

Rhetorical Devices Infographic 2

Rhetorical Devices Infographic 3

Rhetorical Devices Infographic 4

Rhetorical Devices Infographic 5

FAQs on Rhetorical Devices

What are rhetorical devices?

Rhetorical devices are techniques used by writers and speakers to effectively communicate, persuade, or express ideas. They help in making language more interesting, engaging, and memorable.

What are some common rhetorical devices?

Some common rhetorical devices include:

• Metaphors and similes: Comparing two different things to highlight their similarities
• Alliteration: Repeating consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close succession
• Hyperbole: Exaggerating for emphasis or emotional effect
• Irony: Using words that convey the opposite meaning of their literal interpretation
• Personification: Attributing human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas

Why are rhetorical devices important?

Rhetorical devices are essential for effective communication because they:

• Capture the audience’s attention
• Facilitate understanding
• Enhance the power of persuasion
• Add to the aesthetic appeal of a piece of writing or speech

How can I incorporate rhetorical devices into my writing or speech?

Incorporating rhetorical devices involves:

• Identifying the purpose of your writing or speech (inform, persuade, entertain)
• Choosing the appropriate rhetorical devices to serve that purpose
• Skillfully weaving the devices into your content, ensuring they do not detract from the main message or theme
• Logical Fallacies
• Literary Devices
• Latest Posts

• Insatiable Meaning: What Does It Mean? - January 27, 2024
• Bliss Meaning: What Does “Bliss” Mean? - January 12, 2024
• Judgement vs. Judgment: A Look at Spelling Variations - January 9, 2024

What Is a Rhetorical Device? Definition, List, Examples

• An Introduction to Punctuation

• B.A., English, Rutgers University

A rhetorical device is a linguistic tool that employs a particular type of sentence structure, sound, or pattern of meaning in order to evoke a particular reaction from an audience. Each rhetorical device is a distinct tool that can be used to construct an argument or make an existing argument more compelling.  

Any time you try to inform, persuade , or argue with someone, you’re engaging in rhetoric. If you’ve ever had an emotional reaction to a speech or changed your mind about an issue after hearing a skilled debater's rebuttal, you've experienced the power of rhetoric. By developing a basic knowledge of rhetorical devices, you can improve your ability to process and convey information while also strengthening your persuasive skills. 

Types of Rhetorical Devices

There are four types of rhetorical devices:

• Logos. Devices in this category seek to convince and persuade via logic and reason. They will usually make use of statistics, cited facts, and statements by authorities to make their point and persuade the listener.
• Pathos. These rhetorical devices base their appeal in emotion. This could mean invoking sympathy or pity in the listener, or making the audience angry in the service of inspiring action or changing their mind about something.
• Ethos. Ethical appeals try to convince the audience that the speaker is a credible source, that their words have weight and must be taken seriously because they are serious and have the experience and judgment necessary to decide what’s right.
• Kairos. This is one of the most difficult concepts in rhetoric; devices in this category are dependent on the idea that the time has come for a particular idea or action. The very timeliness of the idea is part of the argument.

Strongest Rhetorical Devices

Since rhetoric dates back to ancient times, much of the terminology used to discuss it comes from the original Greek. Despite its ancient origins, however, rhetoric is as vital as ever. The following list contains some of the most important rhetorical devices to understand:

• Alliteration , a sonic device, is the repetition of the initial sound of each word (e.g. Alan the antelope ate asparagus).
• Cacophony , a sonic device, is the combination of consonant sounds to create a displeasing effect. 
• Onomatopoeia , a sonic device, refers to a word that emulates the real-life sound it signifies (e.g. using the word "bang" to signify an explosion).
• Humor  creates connection and identification with audience members, thus increasing the likelihood that they will agree with the speaker. Humor can also be used to deflate counter-arguments and make opposing points of view appear ridiculous.
• Anaphora  is the repetition of certain words or phrases at the beginning of sentences to increase the power of a sentiment. Perhaps the best-known example of anaphora is Martin Luther King Jr.'s repetition of the phrase "I have a dream."
• Meiosis is a type of euphemism that intentionally understates the size or importance of its subject. It can be used to dismiss or diminish a debate opponent's argument. 
• Hyperbole  is an exaggerated statement that conveys emotion and raises the bar for other speakers. Once you make a hyperbolic statement like “My idea is going to change the world," other speakers will have to respond in kind or their more measured words may seem dull and uninspiring in comparison.
• Apophasis  is the verbal strategy of bringing up a subject by denying that that very subject should be brought up at all.
• Anacoluthon  is a sudden swerve into a seemingly unrelated idea in the middle of a sentence. It can seem like a grammatical mistake if handled poorly, but it can also put powerful stress onto the idea being expressed.
• Chiasmus  is a technique wherein the speaker inverts the order of a phrase in order to create a pretty and powerful sentence. The best example comes from President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address: "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country ."
• Anadiplosis  is the use of the same word at the end of one sentence and at the beginning of the subsequent sentence, forming a chain of thought that carries your audience to the point you’ve chosen.
• Dialogismus  refers to moments when the speaker imagines what someone else is thinking, or speaks in the voice of someone else, in order to explain and then subvert or undermine counterpoints to the original argument.
• Eutrepismus , one of the most common rhetorical devices, is simply the act of stating points in the form of a numbered list. Why is it useful? First off, this devices makes information seem official and authoritative. Second, it gives speech a sense of order and clarity. And third, it helps the listener keep track of the speaker's points.
• Hypophora   is the trick of posing a question and then immediately supplying the answer. Do you know why hypophora is useful? It's useful because it stimulates listener interest and creates a clear transition point in the speech.
• Expeditio  is the trick of listing a series of possibilities and then explaining why all but one of those possibilities are non-starters. This device makes it seem as though all choices have been considered, when in fact you've been steering your audience towards the one choice you desired all along.
• Antiphrasis  is another word for irony. Antiphrasis refers to a statement whose actual meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning of the words within it.
• Asterismos . Look, this is the technique of inserting a useless but attention-grabbing word in front of your sentence in order to grab the audience’s attention. It's useful if you think your listeners are getting a bit bored and restless.

Examples of Rhetorical Devices

How do you identify a rhetorical device? In fact, you hear them in daily life. Rhetoric isn’t just for debates and arguments; these devices are used in everyday speech, fiction and screenwriting, legal arguments, and more. Consider these famous examples and their impact on their audience.

• “ Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back . Rhetorical Device : Anadiplosis . The pairs of words at the beginning and ending of each sentence give the impression that the logic invoked is unassailable and perfectly assembled.
• “ Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” —President John F. Kennedy. Rhetorical Device : Chiasmus . The inversion of the phrase can do and the word country creates a sense of balance in the sentence that reinforces the sense of correctness.
• "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience." –President Ronald Reagan Rhetorical Device : Apophasis . In this quip from a presidential debate, Reagan expresses mock reluctance to comment on his opponent's age, which ultimately does the job of raising the point of his opponent's age.  
• “ But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.” —Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address . Rhetorical Device : Anaphora . Lincoln’s use of repetition gives his words a sense of rhythm that emphasizes his message. This is also an example of kairos : Lincoln senses that the public has a need to justify the slaughter of the Civil War, and thus decides to make this statement appealing to the higher purpose of abolishing slavery. 
• “ Ladies and gentlemen, I've been to Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and I can say without hyperbole that this is a million times worse than all of them put together.” – The Simpsons . Rhetorical Device : Hyperbole . Here, hyperbole is used to humorous effect in order to undermine the superficial point of the sentence.
• Rhetoric. The discipline of discourse and persuasion via verbal argument.
• Rhetorical Device. A tool used in the course of rhetoric, employing specific sentence structure, sounds, and imagery to attain a desired response.
• Logos. The category of rhetorical devices that appeal to logic and reason. 
• Pathos. The category of rhetorical devices that appeal to emotions.
• Ethos.  The category of rhetorical devices that appeal to a sense of credibility. 
• Kairos.  The concept of “right place, right time” in rhetoric, wherein a specific rhetorical device becomes effective because of circumstances surrounding its use.
• “16 Rhetorical Devices That Will Improve Your Public Speaking.” Duarte , 19 Mar. 2018, www.duarte.com/presentation-skills-resources/rhetoric-isnt-a-bad-thing-16-rhetorical-devices-regularly-used-by-steve-jobs/.
• Home - Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, the Modes of Persuasion ‒ Explanation and Examples , pathosethoslogos.com/ .
• McKean, Erin. “Rhetorical Devices.” Boston.com , The Boston Globe, 23 Jan. 2011, archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2011/01/23/rhetorical_devices/ .
• The Top 20 Figures of Speech
• Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples
• What Is Composition? Definition, Types, and Examples
• How to Find the Main Idea
• Complete List of Transition Words
• Isocolon: A Rhetorical Balancing Act
• Definition and Examples of Symploce in Rhetoric
• What is a Rhetorical Situation?
• Dubitatio as a Rhetorical Strategy
• Coherence in Composition
• Antimetabole: Figure of Speech
• What Is Epiphora?
• Exemplum in Rhetoric
• What is Judicial Rhetoric?
• Definition and Examples of Procatalepsis in Rhetoric
• AP English Exam: 101 Key Terms

15 Examples of Powerful Rhetorical Devices to Level Up Your Communication Skills

• The Speaker Lab
• July 9, 2024

Table of Contents

When it comes to mastering the art of public speaking, there are plenty of skills you might focus on improving. One such skill is the use of rhetorical devices in your speech. From Abraham Lincoln to modern-day authors, these tools have shaped unforgettable narratives and compelling arguments. In this article, we’ll explore some key examples of rhetorical devices that you can incorporate into your own writing to captivate and persuade. By the end, you’ll see how these techniques quietly work behind the scenes to make words come alive.

What Are Rhetorical Devices?

Before we study some examples of rhetorical devices, let’s first define what they actually are. Rhetorical devices are techniques or language used to convey a point or convince an audience. And they’re not just for English teachers or literature buffs—politicians, businesspeople, and even your favorite novelists all use rhetorical devices to persuade and impact their audiences.

While there’s some overlap with literary devices like metaphors, rhetorical devices are specifically designed to appeal to the reader’s sensibilities. In other words, they make an argument more compelling, memorable, and persuasive by tapping into emotions, logic, credibility, and style.

Common Types of Rhetorical Devices

So what exactly are these mysterious rhetorical devices? There are actually dozens of different techniques, each with its own unique effect. Some of the most common types include:

• Ethos: Appeal to the credibility and character of the speaker
• Pathos: Appeal to the emotions of the audience
• Logos: Appeal to logic and reason
• Repetition: Repeating words or phrases for emphasis
• Analogies: Comparing two things to show similarities
• Rhetorical questions: Asking a question for effect, not an answer

These are just a few examples, but they give you a sense of the variety and power of rhetorical devices. Each one serves a specific purpose in crafting a persuasive message.

Purpose of Using Rhetorical Devices in Writing

Of course, you may be wondering why you should bother with all these rhetorical devices in the first place. Can’t you just say what you mean and call it a day? You certainly could, but if you want your writing to have a real impact, rhetorical devices are key.

The purpose of using rhetorical devices in writing is to:

• Engage the reader’s emotions and imagination
• Make your arguments more memorable and persuasive
• Establish your credibility and authority on the topic
• Add style and flair to your prose

Essentially, rhetorical devices are like secret weapons that help your writing pack a punch. They take your arguments from bland to brilliant by tapping into the power of language.

Of course, like any tool, rhetorical devices must be used skillfully and strategically. You can’t just sprinkle them in willy-nilly and expect your writing to improve. It takes practice and finesse to wield them effectively.

But don’t worry—in the next section, we’ll cover some concrete rhetorical devices examples to help you get started. For now, just remember: rhetorical devices are help give your speech a polished feel. Learn to use them wisely, and your writing will reap the benefits.

Find Out Exactly How Much You Could Make As a Paid Speaker

Use The Official Speaker Fee Calculator to tell you what you should charge for your first (or next) speaking gig — virtual or in-person! 

15 Examples of Rhetorical Devices in Literature and Everyday Language

Now that we’ve covered the basics of what rhetorical devices are and why they matter, let’s dive into some specific examples. Once you start looking for them, you can find these devices everywhere, whether it’s in famous speeches, classic literature, pop songs, and even everyday conversations. Let’s dive in.

Rhetorical Questions

A rhetorical question is a question asked for effect, not expecting an answer. These questions are designed to make the reader or listener think, emphasizing a point or provoking an emotional response.

• “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” ( The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare)
• “Are you kidding me?” (Everyday speech)

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a series of words. It creates a rhythmic, musical quality that makes phrases more memorable.

• “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” (Tongue twister)
• “‘Cause, baby, now we got bad blood.” (“Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift)

Another example of a rhetorical device is an allusion. This technique makes an indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work. It relies on the reader’s existing knowledge to make a connection and thus enrich the meaning of the text.

• “I feel like I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.” (Reference to Greek myth of Atlas)
• “If you’re Juliet, then I’m your Romeo.” (Allusion to Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet )

Amplification

Amplification involves repeating a word or expression while adding more detail to clarify meaning. It’s used to emphasize certain points and expand on important ideas.

• “Love, true love, will follow you forever.” ( The Princess Bride )
• “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” (The Twits by Roald Dahl)

An analogy is a comparison between two things to show their similarities. It helps explain complex ideas by relating them to more familiar concepts.

• “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” ( Forrest Gump )
• “Finding a good man is like finding a needle in a haystack.” (Common expression)

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Not only does it create a powerful rhythmic effect, but it also emphasizes key themes or ideas.

• “I have a dream that one day…” (Repeated throughout MLK’s famous speech)
• “It rained on his lousy tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach. It rained all over the place.” (Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger)

Antanagoge involves placing a criticism and compliment together to lessen the impact. It’s a way of simultaneously acknowledging a fault and offering a positive perspective.

• “The car is not pretty, but it runs great.” (Everyday speech)
• “April showers bring May flowers.” (Common expression)

Antimetabole

As you’ve seen in some examples already, rhetorical devices often utilize repetition to create a certain effect. Antimetabole is no different. In order to use this technique, a writer must repeat words or phrases in reverse order for emphasis. The inverted parallelism creates a memorable, catchy effect.

• “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” (JFK’s inaugural address)
• “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” (Common expression)

Antiphrasis

Antiphrasis uses a word with an opposite meaning for ironic or humorous effect. It’s a form of sarcasm or understatement that draws attention to the contrast between what is said and reality.

• “Oh, I love being stuck in traffic.” (Sarcastic everyday speech)
• “I was awakened by the dulcet tones of Frank, the morning doorman, alternately yelling my name, ringing my doorbell, and pounding on my apartment door…” ( Filthy Rich by Dorothy Samuels)

Antithesis juxtaposes two contrasting ideas in parallel structure. The stark contrast not only emphasizes the conflict between the ideas but also adds vibrancy to the language.

• “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” (Neil Armstrong)
• “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” (Alexander Pope)

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. It adds both extra details and context about the original noun.

• “My brother, a talented musician, taught himself guitar.” (Everyday speech)
• “Mr. Knightley, a sensible man about seven or eight-and-thirty, was not only a very old and intimate friend of the family, but particularly connected with it, as the elder brother of Isabella’s husband.” ( Emma by Jane Austen)

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. Much like alliteration, it creates a musical or rhythmic effect that can make language more memorable.

• “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.” (Song lyric from My Fair Lady )
• “Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.” (Common expression)

Asyndeton refers to a practice in literature whereby the author purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase. It helps speed up the rhythm of the prose being constructed.

• “I came, I saw, I conquered.” (Julius Caesar)
• “Live, laugh, love.” (Everyday expression)

Cacophony is the use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing, and unmelodious sounds—primarily those of consonants—in order to achieve desired results. For instance, the author might be trying to create a spooky atmosphere or engage the reader’s auditory senses.

• “My stick fingers click with a snicker/And, chuckling, they knuckle the keys.” (“Player Piano” by John Updike)
• “Beware the Jabberwock, my son./The jaws that bite, the claws that catch.” (“Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll)

Chiasmus is a “two-part sentence or phrase, where the second part is a reversal of the first.” As you may notice from the examples below, this rhetorical device is strikingly similar to antimetabole. However, whereas antimetabole uses the same or similar wording in reverse, chiasmus merely “mirrors related concepts by repeating elements of a sentence.” As a result, chiasmus allows for a bit more freedom of expression while still creating a parallel sentence structure.

• “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.” (Billy Joel)
• “Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.” (Proverbs 11:19)

As you can see, rhetorical devices can be found anywhere, from political speeches to pop songs to everyday expressions. By understanding how these techniques work, you can harness their power in your own writing and speech.

How to Effectively Use Rhetorical Devices in Your Writing

Mastering the art of using rhetorical devices can take your writing to the next level. In order to truly harness the power of rhetorical devices, however, you need to approach them strategically and with purpose. Let’s break it down.

Identify Your Purpose

Before you start adding rhetorical devices to your writing, take a step back and consider your purpose. What do you want to achieve with your piece? Are you trying to persuade your audience, evoke emotion, or simply inform them? When you understand your goal, you can choose the most appropriate devices to support your message.

Choose Appropriate Devices

Once you’ve identified your purpose, it’s time to select the rhetorical devices that will best serve your writing. This is where really understanding the different types of devices comes in handy. For example, if you want to create a sense of urgency, you might opt for rhetorical devices such as repetition or hyperbole . If you’re aiming to establish credibility, then you might lean towards allusion or ethos .

Use Them Sparingly

While using rhetorical devices is a great way to make your speeches shine, it’s important not to go overboard. In fact, overusing these techniques can actually weaken your writing and make it feel gimmicky or insincere. Instead, use them sparingly and strategically, like a chef adding just the right amount of seasoning to enhance a dish.

Ensure Clarity

While rhetorical devices can add depth and impact to your writing, they should never come at the expense of clarity. Your audience should still be able to easily understand your message, even with the added flourishes. If a device is making your writing confusing or convoluted, then it’s time to rethink its use.

Practice and Revise

Like any skill, effectively using rhetorical devices takes practice. When you write, experiment with different techniques and see how they impact your work. Don’t be afraid to revise and refine your use of devices as you go. Over time, you’ll develop a keen sense of when and how to deploy these powerful tools for maximum impact.

By following these guidelines and continually honing your craft, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of using rhetorical devices in your writing. Remember, the goal is not to show off your literary prowess, but rather to enhance your message and engage your audience on a deeper level.

The Impact of Rhetorical Devices on Audience Engagement

If you’re looking for ways to engage your audience, then rhetorical devices are great examples of how to do so effectively. But that’s not all that they can do. Rhetorical devices can also create emphasis, evoke emotions, enhance memorability, and establish credibility. If you’re a writer, then understanding the impact these techniques can have on your audience is crucial.

Creating Emphasis

One of the most powerful ways rhetorical devices engage audiences is by creating emphasis. Rhetorical devices like repetition, amplification, and antithesis, for example, can highlight key ideas or arguments, making them stand out in the reader’s mind. By strategically emphasizing certain points, you can guide your audience’s attention and ensure your most important messages hit home.

Evoking Emotions

Rhetorical devices are also incredibly effective at evoking emotions in your audience. Whether you want to inspire, motivate, or persuade, techniques like metaphor , hyperbole, and rhetorical questions can tap into your reader’s feelings and create a powerful emotional connection. And when your audience feels something, they’re more likely to stay engaged and invested in your message.

Enhancing Memorability

If you want someone to remember your speech, then rhetorical devices are crucial. Techniques such as alliteration, assonance, and chiasmus create a sense of rhythm and balance in your writing. By crafting passages with these rhetorical devices, you can ensure that your ideas don’t just sound good, but also linger long after your audience has finished reading.

Establishing Credibility

Finally, rhetorical devices can play a crucial role in establishing your credibility as a writer. By skillfully employing techniques such as allusion, ethos, and logos, you demonstrate your expertise and authority on a subject. When your audience perceives you as knowledgeable and trustworthy, they’re more likely to engage with your ideas and take your message to heart.

By understanding the impact of rhetorical devices on audience engagement and using them effectively in your writing, you can take your work to new heights. Whether you’re crafting a persuasive essay, a compelling blog post, or a powerful speech, these techniques are your secret weapon for captivating your audience and leaving a lasting impression. So go forth and wield them wisely.

Free Download: 6 Proven Steps to Book More Paid Speaking Gigs in 2024​

Download our 18-page guide and start booking more paid speaking gigs today!

Examples of Rhetorical Devices in Famous Speeches

Throughout history, great orators and writers have used rhetorical devices in order to captivate their audiences and drive home their points. Below are several famous speeches and essays that showcase the power of these techniques. So if you are looking for examples of how to use rhetorical devices effectively, then you’ve come to the right place.

“The Gettysburg Address” by Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” is a short speech, but it packs a rhetorical punch. In just a few minutes, Lincoln manages to honor the fallen soldiers, reaffirm the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and call on his audience to dedicate themselves to the unfinished work of the war.

One of the key devices Lincoln uses is antithesis, the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas. “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here,” he says, contrasting the fleeting nature of words with the permanence of actions.

Lincoln also employs epistrophe  (the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses) when he says, “of the people, by the people, for the people.” This technique drives home the central theme of the speech: that the war was fought in order to preserve a government based on popular sovereignty.

“I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of the most iconic speeches in American history, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” is a masterclass in the use of rhetorical devices. Throughout the speech, King employs techniques like anaphora, allusion, and metaphor to paint a vivid picture of his vision for a more just and equal society.

The well-known line from King’s speech “I have a dream” illustrates the power of anaphora, as it is repeated throughout his speech in order to emphasize his wish for equality. King also makes use of allusion, referencing the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and the Bible to tie his message to the larger American and Christian traditions. In addition, his metaphors, like “the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity,” make abstract concepts concrete and emotionally resonant.

“We Shall Fight on the Beaches” by Winston Churchill

Delivered at a time when Britain stood alone against the might of Nazi Germany, Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech is a stirring call to arms. Churchill uses a variety of rhetorical devices to inspire his audience and project confidence in the face of overwhelming odds.

One of the most prominent devices in the speech is anaphora. Churchill repeats the phrase “we shall fight” multiple times, each time in a different context: “we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air.” This repetition hammers home the message of defiance and determination.

Churchill also makes use of metaphor, comparing the British Empire and its allies to “the old lion” and Nazi Germany to “the new and terrible enemy.” These vivid images help to paint the conflict in stark, almost mythic terms.

“Friends, Romans, Countrymen” by William Shakespeare

Though not a real-life speech, Mark Antony’s funeral oration in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is a fictional example of rhetorical mastery. Antony’s speech is a brilliant manipulation of the crowd’s emotions, turning them against Brutus and the other conspirators and inciting them to riot.

One of Antony’s key techniques is irony. Throughout the speech, he repeatedly refers to Brutus as an “honorable man,” while providing evidence that contradicts this characterization. This irony helps to undermine Brutus’s credibility and cast doubt on his motives.

Antony also makes effective use of pathos, the appeal to emotion . He shows the crowd Caesar’s wounded body and reads his will, which leaves money to the citizens of Rome. These actions stir up feelings of grief and gratitude in the crowd, making them more receptive to Antony’s message.

These famous speeches demonstrate the power of rhetorical devices to shape opinion, stir emotion, and even change the course of history. When we study how great orators and writers have used these techniques, we can learn to communicate our own ideas more effectively and persuasively.

FAQs on Rhetorical Devices

What is an example of a rhetorical device.

Anaphora, the repetition of words at the start of successive phrases, helps create emotional impact. Think MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

What are the three most common rhetorical devices?

Alliteration, metaphor, and hyperbole top the list.

What is an example of a rhetorical technique?

Antithesis pairs opposites to highlight contrast. For instance, the statement “to err is human; to forgive, divine” employs antithesis.

The magic of effective communication often lies in mastering various rhetorical devices. Whether you’re crafting an inspiring speech or penning a thought-provoking essay, understanding these tools is crucial.

You’ve now seen how simple yet impactful techniques such as metaphors, analogies, and antitheses enrich our language. These aren’t just academic exercises; they’re practical strategies you can apply today. So as you write your next piece, remember to create emphasis with repetition, evoke emotions with vivid imagery, and add rhythm with alliteration. Happy writing!

• Last Updated: July 3, 2024

Explore Related Resources

Learn How You Could Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig In 90 Days or Less

We receive thousands of applications every day, but we only work with the top 5% of speakers .

Book a call with our team to get started — you’ll learn why the vast majority of our students get a paid speaking gig within 90 days of finishing our program .

If you’re ready to control your schedule, grow your income, and make an impact in the world – it’s time to take the first step. Book a FREE consulting call and let’s get you Booked and Paid to Speak ® .

About The Speaker Lab

We teach speakers how to consistently get booked and paid to speak.  Since 2015, we’ve helped thousands of speakers find clarity, confidence, and a clear path to make an impact.

Get Started

Let's connect.

[email protected]

Copyright ©2023 The Speaker Lab. All rights reserved.

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

The 20 Most Useful Rhetorical Devices

General Education

Rhetoric is the art of effective communication; if you communicate with others at all, rhetorical devices are your friends!

Rhetorical devices help you make points more effectively, and help people understand you better. In this article, I'll be covering some important rhetorical devices so you can improve your own writing! 

What Are Rhetorical Devices?

A lot of things that you would think of as just regular everyday modes of communicating are actually rhetorical devices That’s because ‘rhetorical devices’ is more or less a fancy way of saying ‘communication tools.’

Most people don’t plan out their use of rhetorical devices in communication, both because nobody thinks, “now would be a good time to use synecdoche in this conversation with my grocery clerk,” and because we use them so frequently that they don’t really register as “rhetorical devices.”

How often have you said something like, “when pigs fly!” Of those times, how often have you thought, “I’m using a rhetorical device!” That’s how ubiquitous they are!

However, being aware of what they are and how to use them can strengthen your communication , whether you do a lot of big speeches, write persuasive papers, or just argue with your friends about a TV show you all like.

Rhetorical devices can function at all levels: words, sentences, paragraphs, and beyond. Some rhetorical devices are just a single word, such as onomatopoeia. Others are phrases, such as metaphor, while still others can be sentence-length (such as a thesis), paragraph-length (hypophora), or go throughout the entire piece, such as a standard five-paragraph essay.

Many of these (such as the thesis or five-paragraph essay) are so standard and familiar to us that we may not think of them as devices. But because they help us shape and deliver our arguments effectively, they're important to know and understand.

The Most Useful Rhetorical Devices List

It would be impossible to list every single rhetorical device in one blog post. Instead, I've collected a mixture of extremely common devices you may have heard before and some more obscure ones that might be valuable to learn.

Amplification

Amplification is a little similar to parallelism: by using repetition, a writer expands on an original statement and increases its intensity .

Take this example from Roald Dahl’s The Twits :

“If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it. A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

In theory, we could have gotten the point with the first sentence. We don’t need to know that the more you think ugly thoughts, the uglier you become, nor that if you think good thoughts you won’t be ugly—all that can be contained within the first sentence. But Dahl’s expansion makes the point clearer, driving home the idea that ugly thoughts have consequences.

Amplification takes a single idea and blows it up bigger, giving the reader additional context and information to better understand your point. You don’t just have to restate the point— use amplification to expand and dive deeper into your argument to show readers and listeners how important it is!

Anacoluthon

Anacoluthon is a fancy word for a disruption in the expected grammar or syntax of a sentence. That doesn’t mean that you misspoke—using anacoluthon means that you’ve deliberately subverted your reader’s expectations to make a point.

For example, take this passage from King Lear :

“I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall—I will do such things, What they are, yet I know not…”

In this passage, King Lear interrupts himself in his description of his revenge. This has multiple effects on the reader: they wonder what all the world shall do once he has his revenge (cry? scream? fear him?), and they understand that King Lear has interrupted himself to regain his composure. This tells us something about him—that he’s seized by passion in this moment, but also that he regains control. We might have gathered one of those things without anacoluthon, but the use of this rhetorical device shows us both very efficiently.

Anadiplosis

Anadiplosis refers to purposeful repetition at the end of one sentence or clause and at the beginning of the next sentence or clause. In practice, that looks something like a familiar phrase from Yoda:

“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

Note the way that the ending word of each sentence is repeated in the following sentence. That’s anadiplosis!

This rhetorical device draws a clear line of thinking for your reader or listener—repetition makes them pay closer attention and follow the way the idea evolves. In this case, we trace the way that fear leads to suffering through Yoda’s purposeful repetition.

Antanagoge is the balancing of a negative with a positive. For example, the common phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” is antanagoge—it suggests a negative (lots of lemons) and follows that up with a positive (make lemonade).

When writing persuasively, this can be a great way to respond to potential detractors of your argument. Suppose you want to convince your neighborhood to add a community garden, but you think that people might focus on the amount of work required. When framing your argument, you could say something like, “Yes, it will be a lot of work to maintain, but working together will encourage us all to get to know one another as well as providing us with fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers.”

This is a little like procatalepsis, in that you anticipate a problem and respond to it. However, antanagoge is specifically balancing a negative with a positive, just as I did in the example of a garden needing a lot of work, but that work is what ultimately makes the project worth it.

Apophasis is a form of irony relating to denying something while still saying it. You’ll often see this paired with phrases like, “I’m not saying…” or “It goes without saying…”, both of which are followed up with saying exactly what the speaker said they weren’t going to say.

Take this speech from Iron Man 2 :

"I'm not saying I'm responsible for this country's longest run of uninterrupted peace in 35 years! I'm not saying that from the ashes of captivity, never has a phoenix metaphor been more personified! I'm not saying Uncle Sam can kick back on a lawn chair, sipping on an iced tea, because I haven't come across anyone man enough to go toe to toe with me on my best day! It's not about me."

Tony Stark isn’t saying that he’s responsible for all those things… except that’s exactly what he is saying in all of his examples. Though he says it’s not about him, it clearly is—all of his examples relate to how great he is, even as he proclaims that they aren’t.

A scene like this can easily be played for humor, but apophasis can also be a useful (albeit deceptive) rhetorical tool. For example, this argument:

Our neighborhood needs a community garden to foster our relationships with one another. Not only is it great for getting to know each other, but a community garden will also provide us with all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetables. It would be wrong to say that people who disagree aren’t invested in others’ health and wellness, but those who have the neighborhood’s best interests in mind will support a community garden.

That last sentence is all apophasis. Not only did I imply that people who don’t support the community garden are anti-social and uncaring (by outright stating that I wouldn’t say that, but I also implied that they’re also not invested in the neighborhood at all. Stating things like this, by pretending you’re not saying them or saying the opposite, can be very effective.

Assonance and Alliteration

Assonance adds an abundance of attractive accents to all your assertions. That’s assonance—the practice repeating the same vowel sound in multiple words in a phrase or sentence, often at the beginning of a word, to add emphasis or musicality to your work. Alliteration is similar, but uses consonant sounds instead of vowel sounds.

Let’s use Romeo and Juliet as an example again:

“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes; A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.”

Here, we have repetition of the sounds ‘f’ and ‘l’ in ‘from forth...fatal...foes,’ and ‘loins...lovers...life.’

Even if you don’t notice the repetition as you’re reading, you can hear the effects in how musical the language sounds. Shakespeare could easily have just written something like, “Two kids from families who hate one another fell in love and died by suicide,” but that’s hardly as evocative as the phrasing he chose.

Both assonance and alliteration give your writing a lyrical sound, but they can do more than that, too. These tools can mimic associated sounds, like using many ‘p’ sounds to sound like rain or something sizzling, or ‘s’ sounds to mimic the sounds of a snake. When you’re writing, think about what alternative meanings you can add by emphasizing certain sounds.

Listen, asterismos is great. Don’t believe me? How did you feel after I began the first sentence with the word ‘listen?’ Even if you didn’t feel more inspired to actually listen, you probably paid a bit more attention because I broke the expected form. That’s what asterismos is—using a word or phrase to draw attention to the thought that comes afterward.

‘Listen’ isn’t the only example of asterismos, either. You can use words like, ‘hey,’ ‘look,’ ‘behold,’ ‘so,’ and so on. They all have the same effect: they tell the reader or listener, “Hey, pay attention—what I’m about to say is important.”

Dysphemism and Euphemism

Euphemism is the substitution of a more pleasant phrase in place of a familiar phrase, and dysphemism is the opposite —an un pleasant phrase substituted in place of something more familiar. These tools are two sides of the same coin. Euphemism takes an unpleasant thing and makes it sound nicer—such as using 'passed away' instead of 'died'—while dysphemism does the opposite, taking something that isn't necessarily bad and making it sound like it is.

We won’t get into the less savory uses of dysphemism, but there are plenty that can leave an impression without being outright offensive. Take ‘snail mail.’ A lot of us call postal mail that without any real malice behind it, but ‘snail’ implies slowness, drawing a comparison between postal mail and faster email. If you’re making a point about how going electronic is faster, better for the environment, and overall more efficient, comparing email to postal mail with the phrase ‘snail mail’ gets the point across quickly and efficiently.

Likewise, if you're writing an obituary, you probably don't want to isolate the audience by being too stark in your details. Using gentler language, like 'passed away' or 'dearly departed' allows you to talk about things that might be painful without being too direct. People will know what you mean, but you won't have to risk hurting anyone by being too direct and final with your language.

You’ve no doubt run into epilogues before, because they’re a common and particularly useful rhetorical device! Epilogues are a conclusion to a story or work that reveals what happens to the characters in the story. This is different from an afterword, which is more likely to describe the process of a book’s creation than to continue and provide closure to a story.

Many books use epilogues to wrap up loose ends, usually taking place in the future to show how characters have changed as a result of their adventures. Both Harry Potter and The Hunger Games series use their epilogues to show the characters as adults and provide some closure to their stories—in Harry Potter , the main characters have gotten married and had children, and are now sending those children to the school where they all met. This tells the reader that the story of the characters we know is over—they’re adults and are settled into their lives—but also demonstrates that the world goes on existing, though it’s been changed forever by the actions of the familiar characters.

Eutrepismus

Eutrepismus is another rhetorical device you’ve probably used before without realizing it. This device separates speech into numbered parts, giving your reader or listener a clear line of thinking to follow.

Eutrepismus is a great rhetorical device—let me tell you why. First, it’s efficient and clear. Second, it gives your writing a great sense of rhythm. Third, it’s easy to follow and each section can be expanded throughout your work.

See how simple it is? You got all my points in an easy, digestible format. Eutrepismus helps you structure your arguments and make them more effective, just as any good rhetorical device should do.

You’ve probably used hypophora before without ever thinking about it. Hypophora refers to a writer or speaker proposing a question and following it up with a clear answer. This is different from a rhetorical question—another rhetorical device—because there is an expected answer, one that the writer or speaker will immediately give to you.

Hypophora serves to ask a question the audience may have (even if they’re not entirely aware of it yet) and provide them with an answer. This answer can be obvious, but it can also be a means of leading the audience toward a particular point.

Take this sample from John F. Kennedy’s speech on going to the moon:

But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

In this speech, Kennedy outright states that he’s asking questions others have asked, and then goes on to answer them. This is Kennedy’s speech, so naturally it’s going to reflect his point of view, but he’s answering the questions and concerns others might have about going to the moon. In doing so, he’s reclaiming an ongoing conversation to make his own point. This is how hypophora can be incredibly effective: you control the answer, leaving less room for argument!

Litotes is a deliberate understatement, often using double negatives, that serves to actually draw attention to the thing being remarked upon. For example, saying something like, “It’s not pretty,” is a less harsh way to say “It’s ugly,” or “It’s bad,” that nonetheless draws attention to it being ugly or bad.

In Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave , he writes:

“Indeed, it is not uncommon for slaves even to fall out and quarrel among themselves about the relative goodness of their masters, each contending for the superior goodness of his own over that of the others.”

Notice the use of “not uncommon.” Douglass, by using a double negative to make readers pay closer attention, points out that some slaves still sought superiority over others by speaking out in favor of their owners.

Litotes draws attention to something by understating it. It’s sort of like telling somebody not to think about elephants—soon, elephants becomes all they can think about. The double negative draws our attention and makes us focus on the topic because it’s an unusual method of phrasing.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia refers to a sound represented within text as a mimicry of what that sound actually sounds like. Think “bang” or “whizz” or “oomph,” all of which can mean that something made that kind of a sound—”the door banged shut”—but also mimic the sound itself—”the door went bang .”

This rhetorical device can add emphasis or a little bit of spice to your writing. Compare, “The gunshot made a loud sound,” to “The gun went bang .” Which is more evocative?

Parallelism

Parallelism is the practice of using similar grammar structure, sounds, meter, and so on to emphasize a point and add rhythm or balance to a sentence or paragraph.

One of the most famous examples of parallelism in literature is the opening of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities :

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way— in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."

In the beginning, every phrase begins with “It was,” which is itself a parallelism. But there are also pairs of parallelism within the sentence, too; “It was the ___ of times, it was the ___ of times,” and “it was the age of ___, it was the age of ___.”

Parallelism draws your reader deeper into what you’re saying and provides a nice sense of flow, even if you’re talking about complicated ideas. The ‘epoch of incredulity’ is a pretty meaty phrase, but Dickens’ parallelism sets up a series of dichotomies for us; even if we don’t know quite what it means, we can figure it out by comparing it to ‘belief.’

Personification

Personification is a rhetorical device you probably run into a lot without realizing it. It’s a form of metaphor, which means two things are being compared without the words like or as—in this case, a thing that is not human is given human characteristics.

Personification is common in poetry and literature, as it’s a great way to generate fresh and exciting language, even when talking about familiar subjects. Take this passage from Romeo and Juliet , for example:

“When well-appareled April on the heel Of limping winter treads.”

April can’t wear clothes or step on winter, and winter can’t limp. However, the language Shakespeare uses here is quite evocative. He’s able to quickly state that April is beautiful (“well-appareled”) and that winter is coming to an end (“limping winter”). Through personification, we get a strong image for things that could otherwise be extremely boring, such as if Shakespeare had written, “When beautiful April comes right after winter.”

Procatalepsis

Procatalepsis is a rhetorical device that anticipates and notes a potential objection, heading it off with a follow-up argument to strengthen the point. I know what you’re thinking—that sounds really complicated! But bear with me, because it’s actually quite simple.

See how that works? I imagined that a reader might be confused by the terminology in the first sentence, so I noted that potential confusion, anticipating their argument. Then, I addressed that argument to strengthen my point—procatalepsis is easy, which you can see because I just demonstrated it!

Anticipating a rebuttal is a great way to strengthen your own argument. Not only does it show that you’ve really put thought into what you’re saying, but it also leaves less room for disagreement!

Synecdoche is a rhetorical device that uses a part of something to stand in for the whole. That can mean that we use a small piece of something to represent a whole thing (saying ‘let’s grab a slice’ when we in fact mean getting a whole pizza), or using something large to refer to something small. We often do this with sports teams–for example, saying that New England won the Super Bowl when we in fact mean the New England Patriots, not the entirety of New England.

This style of rhetorical device adds an additional dimension to your language, making it more memorable to your reader. Which sounds more interesting? “Let’s get pizza,” or “let’s grab a slice?”

Likewise, consider this quote from Percy Bysshe Shelly’s “Ozymandias”:

“Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them.”

Here, Shelly uses ‘the hand’ to refer to the sculptor. The hand did not sculpt the lifeless things on its own; it was a tool of the sculptor. But by using just the hand, Shelly avoids repeating ‘the sculptor,’ preserves the poem’s rhythm, and narrows our focus. If he had referred to the sculptor again, he’d still be a big important figure; by narrowing to the hand, Shelly is diminishing the idea of the creator, mirroring the poem’s assertion that the creation will outlast it.

Tautology refers to using words or similar phrases to effectively repeat the same idea with different wording. It’s a form of repetition that can make a point stronger, but it can also be the basis of a flawed argument—be careful that your uses of tautology is the former, not the latter!

For example, take this section of “The Bells” by Edgar Allen Poe:

“Keeping time, time, time, In a sort of Runic rhyme… From the bells, bells, bells, bells.”

Poe’s poetry has a great deal of rhythm already, but the use of ‘time, time, time’ sets us up for the way that ‘bells, bells, bells, bells’ also holds that same rhythm. Keeping time refers to maintaining rhythm, and this poem emphasizes that with repetition, much like the repetitive sound of ringing bells.

An example of an unsuccessful tautology would be something like, “Either we should buy a house, or we shouldn’t.” It’s not a successful argument because it doesn’t say anything at all—there’s no attempt to suggest anything, just an acknowledgment that two things, which cannot both happen, could happen.

If you want to use tautology in your writing, be sure that it’s strengthening your point. Why are you using it? What purpose does it serve? Don’t let a desire for rhythm end up robbing you of your point!

That thing your English teachers are always telling you to have in your essays is an important literary device. A thesis, from the Greek word for ‘a proposition,’ is a clear statement of the theory or argument you’re making in an essay. All your evidence should feed back into your thesis; think of your thesis as a signpost for your reader. With that signpost, they can’t miss your point!

Especially in longer academic writing, there can be so many pieces to an argument that it can be hard for readers to keep track of your overarching point. A thesis hammers the point home so that no matter how long or complicated your argument is, the reader will always know what you’re saying.

Tmesis is a rhetorical device that breaks up a word, phrase, or sentence with a second word, usually for emphasis and rhythm . We often do this with expletives, but tmesis doesn’t have to be vulgar to be effective!

Take this example from Romeo and Juliet :

“This is not Romeo, he’s some other where.”

The normal way we’d hear this phrase is “This is not Romeo, he’s somewhere else.” But by inserting the word ‘other’ between ‘some’ and ‘where,’ it not only forces us to pay attention, but also changes the sentence’s rhythm. It gets the meaning across perfectly, and does so in a way that’s far more memorable than if Shakespeare had just said that Romeo was somewhere else.

For a more common usage, we can turn to George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion , which often has Eliza Doolittle using phrases like “fan-bloody-tastic” and “abso-blooming-lutely.” The expletives—though mild by modern standards—emphasize Eliza’s social standing and make each word stand out more than if she had simply said them normally.

What’s Next?

Rhetorical devices and literary devices can both be used to enhance your writing and communication. Check out this list of literary devices to learn more !

Ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos are all modes of persuasion—types of rhetorical devices— that can help you be a more convincing writer !

No matter what type of writing you're doing, rhetorical devices can enhance it! To learn more about different writing styles, check out this list !

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

The Top 41 Rhetorical Devices That Will Make Your Words Memorable

• What Are Rhetorical Devices?
• Top Rhetorical Devices
• Take The Quiz

For many, public speaking is one of the most terrifying things imaginable. Thankfully, we can rely on the many, many rhetorical devices to give us a helping hand.

What are rhetorical devices ?

A rhetorical device is typically defined as a technique or word construction that a speaker or writer uses to win an audience to their side, either while trying to persuade them to do something or trying to win an argument.

As you are about to see, the majority of rhetorical devices have names that come from Greek or Latin. While the concept of public speaking developed early around the world, much of what we know about the art of public speaking comes to English speakers from the ancient Greeks. The Greeks cultivated the art of rhetoric and many great philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, thoroughly studied it. The ancient Romans greatly valued rhetoric as well and they continued to build on the Greek rhetorical traditions that came before them.

What worked for the ancient Greeks and Romans still works wonders today. Rhetorical devices are effective tools that any writer or speaker can use to make their words more impactful to an audience. Rhetorical devices make speeches more persuasive, writing more memorable, and are just what you need if you are trying to really take advantage of ethos, pathos, and logos .

Rhetorical devices vs. literary devices

Literary and rhetorical devices are sometimes discussed separately, but it’s important to note the relationship and occasional overlap between the two. A l iterary device is an element, like a metaphor, imagery, and others, that draws us into a story . Have you ever been so wrapped up in a story, book, song, or poem, that you just couldn’t walk away from it? If so, there’s a good chance the writer has mastered the art of using literary devices.

To compare, rhetorical devices are often described as those elements that are incorporated intentionally to invoke responses in the reader, as well as influence the tone of a work.

Our comprehensive guide to literary devices is chock full of examples from masterful writers.

Often, rhetorical devices emphasize a specific language pattern, word, sentence structure, or rhyming pattern. They include formative techniques, like repetition or hyperbole , that accentuate certain elements of a work for the purpose of getting the reader’s attention, persuading them, or drawing out an emotional response. It is often said rhetorical devices are used to elicit a certain emotion via persuasion, whereas literary devices may be primarily used to enhance storytelling.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular, effective, and interesting rhetorical devices that turn our words into award-winning speeches and writing.

✒️ Want to try a quiz first?

We have a quick quiz for you if you want to see how far your knowledge of rhetorical devices goes. Or review the terms below first so you can test what you’ve learned.

List of 41 top rhetorical devices

1. metaphor.

A metaphor is a comparison in which something is said to figuratively be something else.

Example: He was a wolf among sheep.

2. hyperbole

A hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration.

Example: The plate exploded into a million pieces.

3. alliteration

Alliteration is repeating the same or similar sounds at the beginning of words.

Example: She sells seashells by the sea shore.

An analogy is a comparison between two similar things, typically using figurative language. Metaphors and similes—more on them later—are usually considered to be types of analogies. Sometimes, analogies are considered to be a unique device that is a comparison that explains itself; basically, a complex metaphor or long simile.

Example: Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you are going to get.

5. onomatopoeia

An onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sound it refers to.

Example: The thunder boomed and the lightning crashed.

6. allusion

Allusion is the act of casually referencing something, usually a work of popular culture.

Example: Finishing his memoir was his white whale.

7. oxymoron

Oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposite words together.

Example: The treaty led to a violent peace.

Satire is using humor to criticize public figures.

Example: When Senator Jackson said “numbers don’t lie,” he forgot that his first name wasn’t “Numbers.”

In rhetoric, the word paradox refers to making a statement that seems self-contradictory or impossible but actually makes sense.

Example: Youth is wasted on the young.

A simile is a comparison in which something is said to figuratively be like something else.

Example: It was as hot as a desert this morning.

Learn about different types of poems (and see what rhetorical devices they may use).

In rhetoric, the notoriously confusing word irony means to use words to mean the opposite of their literal meaning.

Example: Ashley said it was a beautiful day while drying off from the drenching rain. (Ashley ironically referred to poor weather as “beautiful.”)

12. personification

Personification is the act of giving human elements to non-human things.

Example: The beautiful valley spread its arms out and embraced us.

13. anecdote

An anecdote is a brief story about something that happened to the speaker, usually something funny or interesting.

Example: Five years ago, I went to the store and met some clowns. Those clowns gave me the advice I am sharing with you now.

14. euphemism

Euphemism is using alternative language to refer to explicit or unpleasant things.

Example: The baseball struck him in a sensitive area.

15. connotation

Connotation is using words to suggest a social or emotional meaning rather than a literal one.

Example: This is a house, but I want a home.

16. meiosis

As a rhetorical device, meiosis means using euphemism to minimize the importance or significance of something.

Example: We must put an end to this peculiar institution. (“Peculiar institution” is a euphemism for slavery.)

17. apostrophe

In rhetoric, apostrophe occurs when a writer or speaker directly addresses an absent person, a concept, or an inanimate object.

Example: You have made a fool out of me for the last time, washing machine!

18. antithesis

Antithesis is using parallel sentences or clauses to make a contrast.

Example: No pain, no gain.

19. sarcasm

Sarcasm is using irony to mock something or to show contempt.

Example: Oh, yeah, John is a great guy. A great guy who took the last slice of pizza.

20. consonance

Consonance is a repetition of consonants or consonant sounds.

Example: Mike likes Ike’s bike.

21. rhetorical question

A rhetorical question is a question that isn’t intended to be answered. The point of asking the question is to make an audience think or to cause an emotional reaction.

Example: Can we really know what our place in the universe is? We have asked ourselves this question for millennia.

22. epithet

An epithet is a nickname or descriptive term used to refer to someone.

Example: You need to listen to me and not Clueless Kevin over there.

23. anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or words at the start of phrases, clauses, or sentences.

Example: I came, I saw, I conquered.

Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech is a classic example of anaphora. Read about it here.

In rhetoric, climax is ordering words so that they build up in intensity.

Example: Look at the sky! It’s a bird! A plane! Superman!

25. cacophony

Cacophony is the act of purposefully using harsh sounds.

Example: The gnashing of teeth and screeching of bats kept me awake.

26. assonance

Assonance is the repetition of the same vowel sound with different consonants.

Example: She and Lee see the bees in the tree.

A person is making a pun when they humorously use words with multiple meanings or words with similar sounds to create wordplay.

Example: The farmer tried to get his cows to get along, but they insisted on having a beef with each other.

28. parallelism

Parallelism is using grammatically similar phrases or sentences together.

Example: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Make Your Writing Shine!

• By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy policies.
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

29. aphorism

An aphorism is a short sentence that presents truth or opinion, usually in a witty or clever manner.

Example: A penny saved is a penny earned.

30. synecdoche

Synecdoche is when a part of something is used to refer to a whole.

Example: The commander had an army of 10,000 swords. (The people holding the swords were there, too.)

Parody is an imitation of something with the intent to poke fun at it.

Example: If Edgar Allen Poe had written this speech, it might have opened with “Here we are, weak and weary, gathered on a Monday dreary.”

32. colloquialism

A colloquialism is an instance of informal language or a local expression. The act of using such language is also called colloquialism .

Example: Here in Philly, we love to eat hoagies and all kinds of tasty jawns.

33. understatement

Understatement is using language to intentionally lessen a major thing or event.

Example: The erupting volcano was a little problem for the neighboring city.

34. syllogism

Syllogism is an argument based on deductive reasoning that uses generalizations to reach specific conclusions. Usually, a syllogism follows the format of “A is B. B is C. So, A is C.”

Example: Dogs are mammals. Biscuit is a dog. Therefore, Biscuit is a mammal.

Learn more about deductive and inductive reasoning.

An eponym can refer to “a word based on or derived from a person’s name,” such as the Gallup poll , named after statistician G.H. Gallup, or Reagonomics (a combination of the last name Reagan and economics ). As a rhetorical device, an eponym can be an allusion to a famous person.

Example: Nick is the LeBron James of birding.

36. metonymy

Metonymy is when the name of something is replaced with something related to it.

Example: He loved music from the cradle (birth) to the grave (death).

37. parenthesis

In rhetoric, parenthesis is an interruption used for clarity.

Example: The audience, or at least the paying members of the audience, enjoyed the show.

38. expletive

In rhetoric, an expletive is an interrupting word or phrase used for emphasis.

Example: The eggs were not, in any sense of the word, delicious.

39. metanoia

In rhetoric, metanoia refers to any instance of self-correction. Metanoia can involve things like retracting a previous statement to replace it with a new one or amplifying a previous statement by using stronger language.

Example: We’ll work on it on Sunday. No, let’s make that Monday—it’s the weekend after, all!

40. chiasmus

Chiasmus is reversing the grammatical order in two otherwise parallel phrases or sentences.

Example: Dog owners own dogs and cats own cat owners.

41. asyndeton

Asyndeton is the removal of conjunctions from a sentence.

Example: Get in, cause a distraction, get out.

Take the quiz

Are you ready to write with these rhetorical devices? You can review them using our Rhetorical Devices Word List , where you can practice with flashcards and practice quizzes. And when it’s time, fit in this quiz to quickly distinguish which terms you now know before you apply them to your next project.

Learn more about the modes of persuasion known as ethos, pathos, and logos.

Ways To Say

Synonym of the day

• Literary Terms
• Rhetorical Device
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Write a Rhetorical Device

I. What is a Rhetorical Device?

A rhetorical device is any language that helps an author or speaker achieve a particular purpose (usually  persuasion , since rhetoric is typically defined as the art of persuasion). But “rhetorical device” is an extremely broad term, and can include techniques for generating emotion, beauty, and spiritual significance as well as persuasion.

II. Examples of Rhetorical Devices

Hyperbole is a word- or sentence-level rhetorical device in which the author exaggerates a particular point for dramatic effect. For example:

Berlin was flattened during the bombing.

Because the city was not literally left flat, this is an exaggeration, and therefore hyperbole. But it still helps express the author’s main point, which is that the city of Berlin was very severely damaged.

Analogy is an important device in which the explains one thing by comparing it to another. At the sentence level, this might be as simple as saying “my cat’s fur is as white as a cloud .” But analogies can also function at much higher levels, including paragraphs and whole essays . For example, you might argue against war by drawing an extended analogy between the war on terrorism and World War 2. The success of the whole argument would depend entirely on how well you could persuade readers to accept the analogy!

The counterargument is the most important rhetorical device for college-level essays. A counterargument is a response to your own view – for example, if you’re arguing in favor of an idea, the counterargument is one that goes against that idea. In order to make your own argument perspective, you have to acknowledge, analyze, and answer these counterarguments.

III. Types of Rhetorical Devices

Because the term is so broad, there are countless ways to categorize rhetorical devices. For example, we might group them by function: e.g. persuasive devices, aesthetic devices (for creating beauty), or emotional devices. We could also group them according to the types of writing they belong to: e.g. poetry vs. essays.

The clearest way to categorize, though, is probably by scale: that is, what level of the writing does each device affect?

A. Word Level

Before we even get to full sentences, there are many rhetorical devices that operate at the level of individual words or groups of words. For example, the “metonym” is a rhetorical device in which a part stands in for the whole. For example, you might say that a ship is staffed with “twenty hands,” where each hand stands in for a full human being.

B. Sentence Level

Most rhetorical devices operate at the sentence level. They affect the meaning of a sentence, or a chunk of a sentence. For example, parallelism is an important rhetorical device in which different parts of a sentence have the same grammatical structure: “I am disgusted by your methods , but impressed with your results .” Notice how each underlined portion has the same pattern of adjective, preposition, pronoun, and plural noun.

C. Paragraph Level

Paragraph-level rhetorical techniques are especially important in essays, where they help to signal the structure of the argument. One example would be the topic sentence. Topic sentences open the paragraph and introduce its main idea, which is then supported and explained in the body of the paragraph. This is one of the most important techniques for structuring paragraphs effectively.

D. Structural Level

Some rhetorical devices cover the whole structure of a piece of writing. For example, the 5-paragraph essay is a rhetorical device that many people learn in high school for structuring their essays. The five paragraphs involve an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This structure is rejected by many college-level writing instructors (and thus may be thought of as a bad rhetorical device), but it’s a rhetorical device nonetheless.

IV. The Importance of Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical devices are just like artistic techniques – they become popular because they work. For as long as human beings have been using language, we’ve been trying to persuade one another and evoke emotions. Over time, we’ve developed a huge variety of different techniques for achieving these effects, and the sum total of all such techniques is encapsulated in our modern lists of rhetorical techniques. Each rhetorical device has a different purpose, a different history, and a different effect!

V. Examples of Rhetorical Devices in Literature

“If we shadows have offended , think but this and all is mended : that you have but slumbered here while these visions did appear .” (Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream )

This famous quote, like many of Shakespeare’s lines, employs rhyme and meter, the two most basic rhetorical devices in verse. Although not all poetry has rhyme or meter, most classical poems do, and these rhetorical devices were probably important in helping poets memorize their works and sing them in front of audiences.

The dialogue form is an important structural device used in philosophy and religious scriptures for thousands of years. By putting different arguments in the mouths of different characters , philosophers can present their readers with a broader range of possible views, thus bringing more nuance into the conversation. This device also allows philosophers to make their own arguments more persuasive by responding to the various counterarguments presented by characters in the dialogue.

VI. Examples of Rhetorical Devices in Popular Culture

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Ah, yes – Zorro! And where is he now, padre? Your masked friend? He hasn’t shown himself in 20 years!” (Don Rafael, The Mask of Zorro )

A rhetorical question is a question that the audience is not supposed to answer – either because the answer is obvious, or because the speaker is about to answer it for them. It’s one of the most common techniques in oratory (speeches) and essays. In this case, Don Rafael is using a rhetorical question to undermine the crowd’s confidence in Zorro, their legendary defender.

“The microphone explodes, || shattering the mold.” (Rage Against the Machine, Bulls on Parade )

The two vertical lines (||) represent a caesura , or pause. This is a common rhetorical device in poetry, but is also found in music. In the recording of the song, there’s a beat’s pause in between “explodes” and “shattering.”

VII. Related Terms

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion, either through speaking or writing. In ancient Greece, the concept of rhetoric was given huge cultural importance, and philosophers like Aristotle wrote whole books on rhetoric and the techniques of convincing others.

Today, people sometimes view rhetoric in a negative light (as when someone says of a politician’s speech that it was “all rhetoric and no substance”). But this is a shame, since we are very much in need of leaders who have mastered the art of persuasive reasoning and respectful argumentation. Rhetoric has fallen from its former place of honor, and perhaps this explains the lack of productive dialogue in our political arena, driven as it is by sound bites and personal attacks.

Figure of Speech

When a rhetorical device departs from literal truth, this is called a “figure of speech.” The most common figure of speech is a metaphor, in which one thing stands for another (e.g. “he unleashed a hurricane of criticism”). However, many rhetorical devices employ literal truth and therefore should not be thought of as figures of speech.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

21 Rhetorical Devices Explained

By paul anthony jones | nov 11, 2016.

Rhetoric is often defined as “the art of language.” That might sound like a bit of a cliché (which it is), but it’s actually quite a nice way of saying that rhetorical devices and figures of speech can transform an ordinary piece of writing or an everyday conversation into something much more memorable, evocative, and enjoyable. Hundreds of different rhetorical techniques and turns of phrase have been identified and described over the centuries—of which the 21 listed here are only a fraction—but they’re all just as effective and just as useful when employed successfully.

1. ADYNATON

You’ll no doubt have heard of hyperbole , in which an over-exaggeration is used for rhetorical effect, like, “he’s as old as the hills,” “we died laughing,” or “hyperbole is the best thing ever.” But adynaton is a particular form of hyperbole in which an exaggeration is taken to a ridiculous and literally impossible extreme, like “when pigs fly!” or “when Hell freezes over!”

2. ANACOLUTHON

Often used in literature to create a stream-of-consciousness style in which a character’s thoughts flit from one idea to the next, anacoluthon describes a sudden and unexpected break in a sentence that leads to it being concluded in a different way than might have been expected. Although it can sometimes be due to nothing more than a speaker losing their train of thought, in practice anacoluthon can also be OH MY GOD I’VE LEFT THE GAS ON.

3. ANADIPLOSIS

Anadiplosis is an ingenious and memorable rhetorical device in which a repeated word or phrase is used both at the end of one sentence or clause and at the beginning of the next. As with practically all rhetorical devices, William Shakespeare liked using it (“She being none of your flesh and blood , your flesh and blood has not offended the king”), but you can thank George Lucas for what is now probably the best-known example: “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

4. ANTHYPOPHORA

You know when you pose a question for dramatic effect and then immediately answer it yourself? That’s anthypophora .

5. ANTIMERIA

If you’ve ever friended or texted someone, emailed or DMed something, tabled a meeting or motorwayed your way across country, then you’ll be familiar with antimeria , a rhetorical device in which an existing word is used as if it were a different part of speech. More often than not this involves using a noun as if it were a verb, a semantic process better known as “verbing” (which is actually a perfect example of itself). Slang (and modern English in general, for that matter) loves antimeria, but it is Shakespeare who remains the undisputed master of it. Cake , drug , kitchen , squabble , ghost , blanket , graze , elbow, and crank were all only ever used as nouns before he got hold of them.

6. ANTIPROSOPOPOEIA

Prosopopoeia is just a more formal name for personification, in which inanimate objects are either described in human terms or given human characteristics. The opposite of that is antiprosopopoeia , a figure of speech in which a person is compared to an inanimate object. That might sound odd, but it’s actually a very effective form of metaphor able to confer a great deal of detail or information in a clever and often witty way—think about what it means to call someone a doormat , a tank , a firecracker , a mattress , or a garbage disposal and you’ll see precisely how effective it can be.

7. ANTONOMASIA

The Bard. The Iron Lady. The King. Ol’ Blue Eyes. When you substitute a proper name for an epithet or a nickname, that’s antonomasia .

8. APOSIOPESIS

In Act 2 of King Lear , the eponymous king rages against two of his daughters in a disjointed speech that ends with the famous lines, “I will have such revenges on you both that all the world shall—I will do such things—what they are yet, I know not, but they shall be the terrors of the earth!” The point at which Lear’s threat of revenge trails off, restarts, and trails off again is a perfect example of aposiopesis , a rhetorical ploy in which an idea is left unsaid or a sentence is left incomplete purely for emphatic effect. Why I oughta…

9. ASTERISMOS

Right. Okay. Here goes. Asterismos is the use of a seemingly unnecessary word or phrase to introduce what you’re about to say. Semantically it’s fairly pointless to say something like “listen!” before you start talking to someone, because they are (or at least should be) already listening. Rhetorically, however, asterismos is a seriously clever way of subconsciously drawing attention to what you’re about to say.

10. ASYNDETON

“We got there, the weather was bad, we didn’t stay long, we got back in the car, we came home, end of story.” When you deliberately miss out the conjunctions between successive clauses, you’re left with a choppy and abrupt series of phrases that energetically push things forward, an effect properly known as asyndeton . The opposite is called polysyndeton , when you add more conjunctions to a phrase or clause than are strictly necessary, often with the effect of intentionally dragging it out: “We ate and drank and talked and laughed and talked and laughed and ate some more.”

11. CHIASMUS

Apart from the fact that it’s part of a great speech, one of the reasons why John F. Kennedy’s famous “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” line is so striking is that is a fine example of chiasmus , a clever rhetorical formation in which the order of a pair of words or phrases in one clause ( your country , you ) is inverted in the next ( you , your country ). This gives a rhythmic and instantly memorable criss-cross pattern, AB-BA, which appropriately enough takes its name from the X-shaped Greek letter chi .

12. CONGERY

Congery is a form of tautology, the rhetorical use of repetition. It refers to a writer or speaker using a number of different and successive words or phrases that all effectively mean the same thing, purely to emphasise the point. That’s it. That’s all. Done. Finished. Finito.

13. DIALOGISMUS

In a dialogismus , a speaker either imagines what someone or something else might be thinking (“I bet that guy’s thinking, ‘what am I doing here?’”), or else paraphrases someone’s earlier words (“‘Don’t worry!’ she told me. ‘Everything will be fine!’”). In either case, the speaker ends up talking not as themselves just for rhetorical effect.

14. DYSPHEMISM

If a euphemism is a nicer turn of phrase used in place of a more offensive or embarrassing one (like “call of nature” or “bought the farm”), then a dysphemism is an offensive or detrimental phrase deliberately used in place of a nicer one. This applies to everything from using an insult instead of someone’s name, to phrases like frankenfood and junk food that try to influence what we should think of genetically modified crops and take-out restaurants with just a few choice words.

15. EUTREPISMUS

First, we need to explain what this is. Second, we need to show how it works. And third, we need to explain what it achieves. Eutrepismus is the numbering or ordering of a series of phrases that are all under consideration, and it’s used to structure arguments and speeches more clearly, making them easier for an audience to take in and follow your train of thought.

16. EXPEDITIO

An expeditio is that instantly recognisable figure of speech in which you list a number of alternatives, and then proceed to eliminate all but one of them. “We can go for Italian, Mexican, or Chinese. But I had Chinese last night and you hate garlic, so it’s going to have to be Mexican.”

17. HYPOCATASTASIS

When you say that something is like something else (“as busy as a bee”), that’s a simile. When you say that something actually is something else (“a heart of stone”) that’s a metaphor. But when you just go all out and label something as something that it actually isn’t (“You chicken!”), that’s a hypocatastasis .

18. PLEONASM

When you use more words than are in actual fact absolutely really strictly necessary in order to communicate and make your point effectively and efficiently, that’s a pleonasm . It needn’t be as clumsy and as long-winded as that, of course, and more often than not the term pleonasm is used to apply to what is otherwise called “semantic redundancy,” in which extra qualifying words are used to force a point home—like “empty space,” “boiling hot,” or “totally unique.”

19. SYNECDOCHE

A synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part or component of something is used to represent that whole—like calling a car your “wheels,” the staff of a company the “hands,” or the film industry as a whole “Hollywood.”

Tmesis is the proper name for that fan-bloody-tastic technique of splitting a word in half by inserting another word inside it. More often than not, the word being inserted in the other is a swearword (you can provide your own examples for that), but it needn’t always be—tmesis can be used any-old-how you like.

There are several different forms and definitions of precisely what a zeugma is, but in basic terms it describes a figure of speech in which one word (usually, but not always, a verb) governs or is directly related to two or more other words in the same sentence. So you can run out of time, and out of the room. You can have a go, and a laugh. And, to paraphrase Charles Dickens, you can go home in floods of tears and a sedan-chair.

Which Language Do You Want to Learn?

• Inside Babbel
• Babbel Bytes

ARTICLES ABOUT

The 20 most common rhetorical devices (with examples).

The phrase rhetorical devices might ring a bell to some. Maybe you vaguely remember hearing about them in an English class that you took years ago. But you probably haven’t thought about them since. That’s totally understandable, but whether we know it or not, rhetorical devices play a surprisingly large role in our daily speech. Sometimes we use them without even realizing it. Whether they’re used to illustrate sound, order or meaning (we’ll explain all these in a bit), rhetorical devices are widely used across the board, especially in advertising and marketing. Without further ado, we’d like to share our list of the 20 most common rhetorical devices that you can use to impress your friends and family or win a free round of drinks at the next trivia night at your local bar.

What Are Rhetorical Devices?

Before we dive into the different types of rhetorical devices, we should probably review what exactly they are. “Rhetorical devices” refer to figures of speech that are used to achieve a certain effect. Essentially, they’re a way to deviate from everyday language by taking advantage of the power of words.

Words have connotative value: on one hand, they have their denotation, which is their true and correct meaning. On the other hand, words have a set of meanings that are generally attributed to them. For example, the word “heart” literally refers to the organ at the center of your circulatory system. But it can also have a wide variety of connotations or alternative meanings: a person “with a good heart” is someone who’s kind and helpful to others. The “heart” of a system is its center, and someone who is “lionhearted” is extremely brave. Rhetorical devices don’t use just one meaning or connotation; they also take advantage of different word orders and structures.

Rhetorical devices are most commonly used in literature, but they can also appear in the most unexpected places. They’re an intrinsic part of language, and they’ve probably been around since the beginning of language itself. Even in Ancient Rome, rhetoric students studied the art of classifying words. Early examples of rhetorical devices can even be found in the Bible.

Rhetorical devices can be roughly classified into three different groups:

• Sound-related rhetorical devices: these figures of speech take advantage of a word or phrase’s rhythmic or phonetic sound. The most famous examples are alliteration, assonance and puns.
• Order-related rhetorical devices: these devices modify the normal order of words within a phrase or sentence. The most well-known examples are anaphoras, anastrophes, asyndeton, chiasmus, omissions, hyperbaton and polysyndeton.
• Meaning-related rhetorical devices: these types of devices use the word’s semantic aspect, or their meaning. Some examples are hyperbole, litotes, metaphors, metonymy, oxymorons, similes, synecdoche and synesthesia.

What Is Figurative Language?

To understand the many rhetorical devices that exist in the English language, it’s important that we first discuss figurative language. Figurative language is the form of communication that rhetorical devices fall under. More specifically, it is when words and phrases stray from their strict, dictionary definition to create new meanings. Most commonly, figurative language is used in poetry and other creative prose. However, it also is used in everyday language in the form of expressions or to refer to something without directly saying it.

Take the expression “the news hit me like a ton of bricks”. Figuratively speaking, it’s used to quantify the impact of a piece of news on someone. However, when taken literally, this expression doesn’t make much sense. To note the obvious, the news itself doesn’t carry physical weight and it’s also not actually hitting anyone, as it’s a concept. Additionally, there is of course no ton of bricks hitting the person in question,which is where the importance of the preposition “like” comes in. The use of “like” in this sentence ultimately changes the meaning and makes this sentence identifiable as a “simile”. A simile is one of the many forms that figurative language takes. These forms are better known as rhetorical devices, so let’s get into it.

Sound-Related Rhetorical Devices

Alliteration.

Alliteration refers to repeating a sound or a series of similar consonant sounds at the beginning of two or more words.

Examples of alliteration:

• How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
• Trick or treat!
• “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes . . .” — William Shakespeare

Assonance resembles rhyming. It positions two similar sounding words together that have the same vowels (but not the same consonants).

Examples of assonance:

• “And so all the night-tide, I lie down by the side of my darling-my darling-my life and my bride” — Edgar Allen Poe
• “The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain.” — My Fair Lady

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is one of the most famous rhetorical devices. It refers to reproducing the sound of an object (like a machine) or an animal.

Examples of onomatopoeia:

• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (a book written by Ian Fleming, the title of which refers to the sound a car makes)
• “Meow meow.” — a cat

Puns are a common play on words that use words with similar sounds but radically different meanings.

Examples of puns:

• “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.” — Mark Twain
• “We had breakfast in the town of Soda, pop. 1001.” — Vladimir Nabokov

Order-Related Rhetorical Devices

An anaphora is the repetition of one or more words within one or more consecutive verses or sentences.

Examples of anaphora:

• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” — Mark Twain
• “So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania…” — Martin Luther King
• “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy

Derived from Greek, the term anastrophe means “inversion” and is achieved by inverting the usual order of two words.

Examples of anastrophe:

• “The greatest teacher, failure is.” — Yoda
• “Certain seeds it will not nurture, certain fruit it will not bear…” — Toni Morrison
• “To thine own self be true.” — William Shakespeare

Many rhetorical devices have fancy names that can be difficult to remember. There’s a reason why technical jargon is usually used only by literature students and aficionados. Some terms are used so often that they’ve become commonplace in everyday speech, however. Antithesis is one of these words. Simply put, antithesis refers to juxtaposing two words with opposite meanings. In layman’s terms, it refers to some sort of contrast (like contrasting ideas.)

Examples of antithesis:

• “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants, as long as it is black.” — Henry Ford
• “To err is human; to forgive divine.” -Alexander Pope

Asyndeton is a list of words that are connected by using punctuation instead of conjunctions like “and” or “or.”

Examples of asyndeton:

• “That government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” — Abraham Lincoln
• “I came, I saw, I conquered.” — Julius Caesar

Chiasmus is the crossed arrangement of two words or groups of words according to the AB-BA format.

Examples of chiasmus:

• “The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.” — Alfred North Whitehead
• “And these tend inward to me, and I tend outward to them.” — Walt Whitman
• When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Omission is the elimination of one or more words that remain understood despite being removed.

Examples of omission:

• “Hope is a thing with feathers/That perches in the soul.” — Emily Dickinson
• “And he to England shall along with you.” — William Shakespeare

Not to be confused with anastrophe, hyperbaton consists of distancing a word from the word that it should be placed closer to.

Examples of hyperbaton:

• “Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man.” -Edgar Allen Poe
• “One swallow does not a summer make, nor one fine day.” — Aristotle

Polysyndenton

Polysyndeton is the exact opposite of asyndeton. It’s a series of words linked by conjunction words.

Examples of polysyndeton:

• “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” — The Wizard of Oz
•  “I said, ‘Who killed him?’ and he said, ‘I don’t know who killed him but he’s dead all right,’ and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Key and she was all right only she was full of water.” — Ernest Hemingway

Meaning-Related Rhetorical Devices

Hyperbole is achieved by exaggerating a reality through expressions that amplify it to an extreme.

Examples of hyperbole:

• “A day was twenty-four hours long but seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County.” — To Kill a Mockingbird
• “It’s a slow burg. I spent a couple of weeks there one day.” — Carl Sandburg
• “At that time Bogota was a remote, lugubrious city where an insomniac rain had been falling since the beginning of the 16th century.” — Gabriel García Márquez

Litotes is the affirmation of something by negating the opposite. It’s used, for example, to mitigate the harshness of an expression or a situation.

Examples of litotes:

• It’s not rocket science.
• He isn’t the brightest bulb in the bunch.

Metaphors are one of the most famous rhetorical devices. Metaphors use words or phrases to indicate something that isn’t often denoted by that word or phrase. Metaphors can sometimes be confused with similes, metonymy or synecdoche, but each of these devices have their own unique characteristics.

Examples of metaphors:

• Daniel is a sheep. (Meaning, Daniel follows other people easily.)
• “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” — William Shakespeare

Metonymy is the exchange of two words that have close reasoning or are closely related in terms of their subject.

Examples of metonymy:

• “I’m reading Sartre.” (I’m not reading the word Sartre; I’m reading a piece written by philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre)
• “England beat Italy 2-0.” (the soccer team representing England beat the team representing Italy)
• “Let’s go get a pint.” (a pint in this case refers to some sort of alcoholic drink)

An oxymoron juxtaposes two words with opposite meanings.

Examples of oxymorons:

• Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
• Big Little Lies (the title of a book by Liane Moriarty)
• “I am a deeply superficial person.” — Andy Warhol

Similes are very similar to metaphors. In this case, the comparison is made through adverbs or adverbial phrases, most notably “like” or “as.”

Examples of similes:

• You’re working like a dog.
• He’s dead as a doornail.
• The news hit me like a ton of bricks.

Synecdoche is always mentioned in conjunction with metonymy. These two rhetorical devices are very similar. However, while metonymy substitutes one word or phrase with another that has a close logical or material proximity, synecdoche substitutes a word or phrase with another term representing a part of it (or vice versa: it uses a broader term to refer to something that it’s a part of). Metonymy expresses a qualitative relationship between the two terms, while synecdoche represents a quantitative relationship.

Examples of synecdoche:

• The feline attacked the antelope. (in this case, the broader term feline, the family that the animal belongs to, is used to denote a tiger)
• “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” — William Shakespeare
• Brain drain (when people educated in their native country seek opportunities in other countries. In this case, it’s not the brains physically leaving the country but the academic talent)

Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a type of metaphor that’s created by connecting two unrelated senses.

Examples of synesthesia:

• “The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was.” — William Shakespeare
• “Thy voice was a censer that scattered strange perfumes, and when I looked on thee I heard a strange music.” — Oscar Wilde
• “Back to the region where the sun is silent.” — Dante

A version of this article originally appeared on the Italian edition of Babbel Magazine.

• All Editing
• Manuscript Assessment
• Developmental editing: use our editors to perfect your book
• Copy Editing
• Agent Submission Pack: perfect your query letter & synopsis
• Our Editors
• All Courses
• Ultimate Novel Writing Course
• Simply Self-Publish: The Ultimate Self-Pub Course for Indies
• How To Write A Novel In 6 Weeks
• Self-Edit Your Novel: Edit Your Own Manuscript
• Jumpstart Your Novel: How To Start Writing A Book
• Creativity For Writers: How To Find Inspiration
• Edit Your Novel the Professional Way
• All Mentoring
• Agent One-to-Ones
• London Festival of Writing
• Pitch Jericho Competition
• Online Events
• Getting Published Month
• Build Your Book Month
• Meet the Team
• Work with us
• Success Stories
• Novel writing
• Publishing industry
• Self-publishing
• Success stories
• Writing Tips
• Featured Posts
• Get started for free
• About Membership
• Upcoming Events
• Video Courses

Novel writing ,

What is a rhetorical device (and how to use them).

By Meera Shah

Rhetorical device. It’s not really a phrase that rolls off the tongue, is it?  

That said, it’s an important linguistic tool that’s used by pretty much everyone, from business people to politicians – and of course authors . You may not have heard of rhetorical devices by name but whether you’ve realised it or not, you’ve probably come across at least some of these devices before, and maybe even used them yourself!  

In this guide, I’m going to be delving into the ins and outs of a rhetorical device, including what a rhetorical device is (in common use and in literature), the different types of rhetorical devices, and the purpose of a rhetorical device in a novel.  

What Are Rhetorical Devices? 

A rhetorical device (otherwise known as a stylistic device, a persuasive device or more simply, rhetoric) is a technique or type of language that is used by a speaker or an author for the purpose of evoking a particular reaction from the listener or reader or persuading them to think in a certain way.  

As mentioned above, rhetoric can be used by pretty much anyone in day-to-day communication. For example, any time you try to inform, persuade or debate with someone, you’ll be engaging in rhetoric. Or if you’ve ever found yourself being moved emotionally by someone’s speech or changed your mind about a certain topic, you’ve experienced the power of rhetoric in practice. Rhetorical devices in speech can be used in many different ways: your tone of voice, emphasis on certain words, sentence structure and repetition, or even asking questions for emphasis rather than for the answer.  

In literature, you will have seen rhetoric devices used abundantly in the form of similes, alliteration and metaphors which are woven beautifully into prose. But rhetoric can be written into dialogue as well, although this is somewhat trickier as you will need to find a way of integrating it naturally so as not to disturb the authenticity of speech.  

Now, let’s move on to consider the different types of rhetorical devices.  

Types Of Rhetorical Devices 

Rhetorical devices are sometimes confused with literary devices . And no wonder because there is plenty of overlap between the two, and they both seek to serve the same ultimate purpose: to elevate one’s writing from good to magnificent. And what writer wouldn’t want that as their goal?  

There is, however, one significant difference between the two. While literary devices express ideas artistically, rhetoric devices are confined to the following four specific ways.  

• Logos. A rhetorical device that falls within this category will seek to convince and persuade via logic, and will usually make use of statistics, facts or statements in support of their position.  
• Ethos. Ethical rhetorical devices will try and convince the reader/listener that they are a credible source, and that their words should be trusted because they have the experience and judgment necessary to make that decision/statement.  
• Pathos. This type of rhetorical device is grounded in emotion. For example, this could involve the writer/speaker invoking sympathy or pity, angering their audience or inspiring them to change their perspective.  
• Kairos. The final type of rhetoric device is quite a difficult concept to grasp, but the English translation of ‘opportune moment’ might be able to shed some light. Essentially, Kairos asks you to consider the context and atmosphere of the argument you are making to ensure that you are delivering it at the right time. As Aristotle famously said, “Anybody can become angry—that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.” 

List Of Common Rhetorical Devices 

Now that we’ve considered the four types of rhetorical device, let’s look at some common rhetorical devices so we can understand how they can be used in practice.  

Be prepared for some complicated and hard-to-pronounce words!  

Alliteration. Let’s start with one that you will be familiar with . This is a sonic device, involving the repetition of the initial sound of each word (e.g. Maya melted marzipan in the microwave).  

Anacoluthon. A mouthful of a word, which involves the unexpected shift or change in the syntax or structure of a sentence. This can be used to grab the reader’s attention and shift it in another direction.  

Apophasis. This device creates irony. The narrator will attempt to deny something while still saying that exact thing. For example, a phrase that begins with “it goes without saying’’ and is followed by the exact thing that the narrator says they are not going to say is an apophasis.  

Litotes. This is an ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary. “He’s no fool” is a great example of a litotes in action.  

Meiosis. Now a word that is less commonplace. It is a type of euphemism that is used intentionally to undermine the size or importance of its subject and is the opposite of hyperbole or exaggeration. An example of this is if someone who was badly injured (with a broken leg or deep wound etc) proclaimed “it’s just a scratch”. 

Oxymoron. A word that might take you back to English class at school, this is a device that is used where two things are placed in direct comparison to one another, even though they are complete opposites. This is a powerful figure of speech that can emphasise a specific point in your writing. A classic example is “the silence was deafening”. Hands up if you’ve used that one!  

Syllepsis. The use of a word in the same grammatical relation to two adjacent words in the same context with one literal and the other metaphorical in sense. “He blew his nose and then he blew my mind.” 

Zeugma. This is the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words, usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one. For example, “she opened the door to him and to her soul”. 

Examples Of Rhetorical Devices 

Can you think of any examples where rhetorical devices have been used in literature?  

Here are a few that come to my mind.  

Logos – Othello By William Shakespeare

“ On, beware, my lord, of jealousy!   It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock   The meat it feeds on…   Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger,    But, oh, what damned minutes tell he o’er   Who dotes, yet doubts – suspects, yet soundly loves…   She did deceive her father, marrying you…   She loved them most…   I humbly beseech you of your pardon   For too much loving you… ’’ 

In this excerpt, Lago convinces Othello with logic and reasoning to make him doubtful of the secret relationship between Desdemona and Cassio. 

Pathos – I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou 

“If growing up is painful for the South Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat. It is an unnecessary insult.’’  

Angelou’s memoir focuses on the emotional events of her life from early childhood through to adolescence. She uses pathos throughout to appeal to the reader’s emotions and to evoke sympathy for her experiences, especially of trauma, abuse and racism.  

Ethos – East of Eden By John Steinbeck

“ And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.’’  

In this extract, the author is trying to create a sense of familiarity with the audience, who he hopes will agree with his opinions on freedom. By suggesting similarities of opinion, Steinbeck builds credibility as a narrator . 

Kairos – Animal Farm By George Orwell

“Comrades, you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night. But I will come to the dream later. I have something else to say first. I do not think, comrades, that I shall be with you for many months longer, and before I die, I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. I have had a long life, I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall, and I think I may say that I understand the nature of life on this earth as well as any animal now living. It is about this that I wish to speak to you.’’  

This is Old Major’s speech where he addresses the animals, calling them his comrades, saying that he has a dream and that the moment has arrived that he should relate this dream to them. The timing of his speech is important as he stresses that he may not live long, so now is the right time to pass on his wisdom. This is the best use of Kairos in a practical way. 

How To Use Rhetorical Devices In Your Writing 

So now that we’ve seen how famous authors have used rhetorical devices in their writing, how can we mere mortals do the same?  

I’m going to share my top three tips for doing so.  

1. Adding Emphasis

Rhetorical devices can be used to create emphasis in your story. There are a number of different ways you can do this, from analogies, such as similes and metaphors, to repeating words or phrases within a sentence while adding more detail (amplification) and repeating an idea using different words (commoratio). An example of the latter is, “She was done. Finished. Dead.’’ 

2. Creating Rhythm   

We can strengthen a character’s voice by paying attention to the rhythm of our writing. Rhythmic prose can be more lyrical, smooth, or driving depending on how we decide to use rhetorical devices. We can repeat a word or phrase at the beginning of two or more phrases (anaphora), or at the end of the phrase (epistrophe). For example, “She would die. He would die. They’d all die.” 

3. Adding Humour

We can use rhetorical devices to add touches of humour to our prose, even if we’re not writing a romantic comedy. Use pleonasm (using more words than necessary), tmesis (splitting a word and adding a word in the middle), antonomasia (using a description as a proper name) or zeugma (using an out-of-sync phrase for the last item of a list). For example, “before meeting up with her boss, she grabbed her diary, her laptop and her big-girl panties”. 

So, there we have it, your crash course in rhetorical devices! 

I hope that this article answers any questions you may have on rhetorical devices and has inspired you to play with them to strengthen your writing. If it’s good enough for the greats, then it’s good enough for the rest of us!  

About the author

Meera Shah is a North London based psychological suspense writer. Her debut novel is due to be published in Spring 2023 by Hodder Studio, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton, and her second novel is due to be published in Spring 2024. She is a former City lawyer and now works full time as a legal editor for an international training company. In her (very) spare time, she can be found being walked by her three dogs on Hampstead Heath, reading in the bath until the water turns cold or watching the latest TV drama. Meera is represented by Camilla Bolton of Darley Anderson Literary Agency. For more on Meera, see her author website , Twitter and Instagram profiles.

Most popular posts in...

Advice on getting an agent.

• How to get a literary agent
• Literary Agent Fees
• How To Meet Literary Agents
• Tips To Find A Literary Agent
• Literary agent etiquette
• UK Literary Agents
• US Literary Agents

Help with getting published

• How to get a book published
• How long does it take to sell a book?
• Tips to meet publishers
• What authors really think of publishers
• Getting the book deal you really want
• 7 Years to Publication

Get to know us for free

• Join our bustling online writing community
• Make writing friends and find beta readers
• Take part in exclusive community events
• Get our super useful newsletters with the latest writing and publishing insights

Or select from our premium membership deals:

Premium annual – most popular.

per month, minimum 12-month term

Or pay up front, total cost £150

Premium Flex

Cancel anytime

Paid monthly

Privacy Overview

What is Rhetoric?

Rhetoric definition, use of rhetoric in literature, difference between rhetorical device and figures of speech.

“ I am never ever going to rob anyone for you and never, never ever give in to your sinful wish.”

Common Rhetoric Examples

The importance of rhetoric, three modes of persuasion in rhetoric, difference between rhetoric and dialectic, examples of rhetoric in literature, example #1: paradise lost by john milton.

“…advise him of his happy state— Happiness in his power left free to will , Left to his own free will , his will though free Yet mutable .”

Example #2: Death, be not Proud by John Donne

“Thou ‘art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy ‘or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then ?”

Example #3: Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Walt Whitman

“Flood-tide below me! I watch you, face to face ; Clouds of the west! sun there half an hour high! I see you also face to face .”

Function of Rhetoric

Synonyms of rhetoric, post navigation.

• Speech Crafting →

10 Rhetorical Devices to Enhance Your Speeches

Why do you need rhetorical devices in speeches? Using rhetorical devices brings life to your speeches. It engages your audience and adds special effects to your talk. 

People are less likely to remember a bland, straightforward speech in years to come. Powerful speeches like Martin Luther King Jr’s famous “I have a dream” are timeless. Apart from having a remarkable delivery, this speech also contains many rhetorical devices. 

So here are a few rhetorical devices in speeches you should know about. Practicing and applying them will take your oratory skills to new heights.

10 Rhetorical Devices to Enhance Your Speech

An analogy is a rhetorical device that helps describe the relationship between one thing and another.

Speakers often use analogies to help their audience understand something better. For example, “The sky resembles a huge bowl of clear water” can help people visualize a clear sky. 

When you use an analogy to compare two things, your goal should not just be to show similarity. Rather, it should illustrate a point about reality. You can use analogies to explain your thoughts and express your ideas more clearly .

Examples of Analogy

• “It has been well said that an author who expects results from a first novel is in a position similar to that of a man who drops a rose petal down the Grand Canyon of Arizona and listens for the echo.” (P.G. Wodehouse)
• “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” (Elisabeth Kubler-Ross)

2. Anaphora

Anaphora is one of the rhetorical devices in speeches that have proven effective for excellent speakers. To use anaphora, you must repeat a particular word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive sentences or phrases. 

Anaphora lets a speaker emphasize a given word that drives the ideas they wish to communicate. Additionally, anaphora is not only a great device in speeches but also in poetry and prose.

Examples of Anaphora

• “Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)
• “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness….” (Charles Dickens)
• “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” (Mark Twain)

3. Epiphora

Epiphora, unlike anaphora, is a word or phrase repetition at the end of consecutive sentences, clauses, or phrases. Epiphora offers an equal amount of power to your words as anaphora does.

Additionally, you can use this device to emphasize a certain area in your speech and apply it in persuasive writing.

Examples of Epiphora

• “Take whatever idiot they have at the top of whatever agency and give me a better idiot. Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don’t give me the same idiot.” (Aaron Broussard)
• “She’s safe, just like I promised. She’s all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised.” (Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean)
• “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.” (Bill Clinton)

Puns let you play on word meanings, homographs, and homophones to achieve humorous effects . It involves using witty expressions that can lighten up your audience and bring some fun into your speech. 

Puns, also known as paronomasia, can help you bring your speech to life. However, you should also pick your puns carefully. A bad pun can elicit undesired effects.

Additionally, your audience should be able to decipher the hidden joke for the pun to be effective.

Examples of Pun

• “Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy I will bear the light.” (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet)
• “You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna fish. Unless, of course, you play bass.” (Douglas Adams)
• “Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.” (Fred Allen)

5. Aphorism

If you want to sound philosophical in your speech, an aphorism is a suitable rhetorical device. You use short, pithy statements that express a general truth or observation to present a moral or philosophical idea.

Aphorism uses metaphor to help the audience relate to the situation you are presenting. While these statements may be general knowledge, aphorisms inspire more profound thoughts in your audience and can take a few seconds to sink in for some of your audience. 

Aphorisms are easy to remember because they are short. They also apply to many situations, so you can use them for different speeches.

Examples of Aphorism

• “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, it will spend its whole life thinking it is stupid.” (Albert Einstein)
• “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” (Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings)
• “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes you get what you need.” (The Rolling Stones)

6. Metanoia

Metanoia is a method of self-correction when you deliberately return to an earlier part of your speech and correct something you said. This is particularly useful for softening parts of a sentence where one might otherwise appear arrogant or condescending. 

On the other hand, you can sound harsher than you were and still get away with the harshness.

Metanoia, also known as an afterthought figure, helps you clarify a point with additional definitions. You can also use it to emphasize an idea through paraphrasing.

Examples of Metanoia

• “To help or, at least, to not harm.” ( The Hippocratic Oath )
• “It was Gatsby’s mansion. Or rather, as I did not yet know Mr. Gatsby, it was a mansion inhabited by a gentleman of that name.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)
• “Shortly after I came to Washington, I was told in a way that showed me it was no loosely thought out—let me correct that statement. I was told in a serious way that Mr. Finletter—or rather, I was told by Mr. Finletter that he had a serious question as to the loyalty of Dr. Oppenheimer.” (David Tressel Griggs)

7. Asyndeton

To use asyndeton, all you need to do is remove the coordinating conjunctions from a sentence.

These include for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Asyndeton helps you maintain concision and keep the focus on essential words in a sentence or phrase.

For example, the famous quote by Julius Caesar is a quick way to understand asyndeton. The saying “I came, I saw, I conquered” could have been “I came, I saw, and I conquered.” The omission of the conjunction ‘ and ’ makes the saying more concise, straightforward, and powerful.

Examples of Asyndeton

• “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be...” (Winston Churchill)
• “An empty stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest. The air was thick, warm, heavy, sluggish.” (Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness)
• “We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” (President John F. Kennedy)

8. Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton is an opposite rhetorical device to asyndeton. Instead of omitting the conjunctions, this device lets you include as many of them as possible. 

With polysyndeton, you get to use conjunctions where they are unnecessary. However, your use of conjunctions must still be grammatical.

Polysyndeton generally lets your speech flow with a sense of excitement or urgency. It helps the listener focus on each item in your list. It further enriches your language use without over-flowery embellishment. Additionally, it is common in everyday speech.

Examples of Polysyndeton

• “In years gone by, there were in every community men and women who spoke the language of duty and morality and loyalty and obligation.” (William F. Buckley)
• “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers.” (The U.S. Postal Service Creed)
• “We will always remember them, these skilled professionals, scientists and adventurers, these artists and teachers and family men and women, and we will cherish each of their stories—stories of triumph and bravery, stories of true American heroes.” (President Ronald Reagan)

9. Symploce

Symploce is another rhetorical device that involves repetition. It combines anaphora with epistrophe to create an effect.

In symploce, you repeat certain words or phrases at the beginning and end of successive sentences.

You can use symploce to tell the difference between two or more ideas by changing only a few words in the middle of a given sentence. This small change gives a whole new meaning to your words.

Examples of Symploce

• “The madman is not the man who has lost his reason. The madman is the man who has lost everything except his reason.” (G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy)
• “Much of what I say might sound bitter, but it’s the truth. Much of what I say might sound like it’s stirring up trouble, but it’s the truth. Much of what I say might sound like it is hate, but it’s the truth.” (Malcolm X)
• “Let us let our own children know that we will stand against the forces of fear. When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. When there is talk of violence, let us stand up and talk against it.” (William Jefferson Clinton)

10. Anastrophe

Anastrophe, also known as hyperbaton, is an inversion of a sentence’s regular order of words.

Where a sentence traditionally follows the subject-verb-object order, an anastrophe makes it an object-subject-verb structure.

Anastrophe is useful when you intend to emphasize a particular word. Therefore, you bring the word to the beginning of the structure and let other words follow. This rhetorical device is used in George Lucas’s Star Wars series as a peculiar language style for Master Yoda.

Examples of Anastrophe

• “Named must your fear be before banish it you can.” (Yoda)
• “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” (J.R. Tolkien, Hobbit)
• Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. (Chief Joseph, 1877 Surrender)

Conclusion: Rhetorical Devices in Speeches

Speeches can be much better with deliberate efforts. You can make a lasting impression on your audience using proper rhetorical devices.

So, it would be best if you spent some more time and effort to fine-tune your speeches with these rhetorical devices. The results will be worthwhile, and the response from your audience will be rewarding.

You might also like: How to Prepare for a Speech

4 Ways to Use Rhetorical Devices to Make Powerful Speeches (with Examples)

Hrideep barot.

• Speech Writing

I am certain all of us have come across powerful speeches, novels, or presentations that left us speechless at some point. But have you wondered how the speaker or the author managed to do so?

How did they manage to make almost everyone in the audience riveted? You might have attributed this skill of captivating the audience to good public speaking, which is partially true but the other half of this lies in their use of magic tools which are referred to as rhetorical devices.

A rhetorical device is a technique that is used by a speaker or an author for conveying a particular message to the audience in such a way that it provokes an emotional response to a particular action. It is a linguistic tool, whose employment can be used to construct an argument or make an existing one more compelling .

To put it simply, rhetorical devices are devices used to spice up your conversations, work presentations, and speeches. They are often used to provoke an emotional response and make the matter of the speech more compelling, with the goal of persuading the audience.

Why are rhetorical techniques important?

Why should rhetorical devices be used? What impact do they have? Well, here’s why,

There is one common thing between the world’s famous speeches and presentations, which is their ability to create an emotional connection with the audience. The way in which a speaker makes the audience feel is very important as that feeling will stay with the audience long after the speech or the presentation is over. This emotional response is evoked with the help of rhetorical devices.

Apart from this, rhetorical devices help you become more persuasive. It also aids in composing successful presentations and writings. It helps you make your speech crisp and improves the understanding of the audience.

Moreover, with the correct rhetorical devices, it enables you to make stronger arguments and a way of handling controversial topics. It also has a powerful impact on the audience helping them remember the ideas better through repetition or grammatical manipulation.

Most used rhetorical devices

In order to know how to use these magic tools, it is crucial to know some of these most used rhetorical devices and also its application in a speech.

1. Alliteration

This is the repetition of sounds of two or more neighboring words. This is usually used to put emphasis and to draw attention. For instance, safety and security Ate apples all afternoon

2. Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word in a phrase at the beginning of the next phrase or sentence. For example, Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering –Yoda, Star Wars

3. Antistrophe

This is repetition of words at the end of consecutive phrases/clauses. It can be termed as a specific type of repetition. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny compared to what lies within us.”

The above sentence is quoted by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a prominent essayist. Here, the words ‘What lies’ is repeated leading to the creation of a poetic effect.

4. Antithesis

In this, two opposite and contrasting ideas are juxtaposed. For example, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Here, two contrasting ideas are proposed in the same sentence in such a way that it shows the strikingly different ideas showing a compare and contrast kind of situation.

A repeated word or phrase split up by another word, to display strong emotion. Understanding it with an example, Free at last! Free at last! Thank god we are free at last!

6. Ellipsis

In this, few words are depicting an event is omitted making the readers ponder about the narrative gaps. For instance, “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth…the proposition that all men are created equal.”

This is the start of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, where the three dots are ellipsis points suggesting a time lapse.

This is a simple method of double negatives that present a positive statement. It is often used to express irony. This is commonly used in conversations as well.

For example, ‘She is not thin’ OR ‘You are not unfamiliar with poetry’.

8. Hyperbole

This is an expression of mere exaggeration, often used to draw attention to the severity of the matter or to make a strong point. This is also frequently used in day to day language.

For instance,

‘I called her a thousand times’

‘It raining cats and dogs’.

9. Epistrophe

Repetition of words at the end of successive phrases for a poetic effect. An example of this could be the famous definition of democracy given by Abraham Lincoln, “… and that the government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

10. Personification

Attributing human qualities to inanimate objects. It aids in a better explanation of ideas and concepts.

For instance, ‘The thunder roared in the evening’

‘The brutal wind bullied the trees compelling them into giving up their leaves’

11. Epiphora

Repetition of a word/phrase at the end of every clause. An instance of this could be a speech given by Steve Jobs where this technique is effectively used,

“Well, these are their home screens . And again, as you recall, this is the iPhone’s homescreen. This is what their contacts look like . This is what iPhone’s contacts look like .”

12. Anaphora

This is slightly different from Epiphora in the sense that the repetition of the word/phrase is at the beginning of the two or more sentences or clauses.

For instance, “They’re the women whose names we’ll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories and they work in restaurants and in academia, and engineering, medicine and science. They are part of the world of tech and politics and in business. They are athletes in the Olympics and they are soldiers in the military.”

This is a small chunk of a speech made by Oprah Winfrey at the Golden Globes awards. Here, she tries to draw attention of the audience by emphasising on the word ‘They are’ highlighting the role of women in different parts of life.

13. Germinatio

This is repetition of a word in the same sentence for more than once. For instance, “And so I’ve got voice mail how I wanna listen to it, when I wanna listen to it, in any order I wanna listen to it with visual voicemail.”

The technique of germinatio was used by Steve Jobs in his speech in order to create a compelling effect on the listeners.

These are just a few commonly used rhetorical devices from an ocean of such magic tools. (Take a guess at what device is used here!)

How to use rhetorical devices in speeches?

Before we dive in to how to use rhetorical devices, we made a fun video on how these tools are the one simple thing that helps take your speech to the next level. There are a bunch of examples and tips here that will help you incorporate rhetorical devices for your next presentation. Highly recommend you check it out:

To know how to implement these rhetorical devices in your speech is also of utmost importance, apart from knowing them. Here’s a way of incorporating them in your speech.

1. Know the rhetorical appeals

It is important to know the types of rhetorical appeals as rhetorical devices fall into these categories. Make a rough draft and then insert rhetorical devices accordingly depending on the tone of the speech. Figure out the mode of persuasion, that is, whether it is Logos, Pathos, Ethos or Kairos.

This refers to giving logical and intellectual arguments and reasoning, supporting it with credible evidence. An example of logos can be a speech by Donald Trump, where he states a few figures regarding the illegal immigration,

“So here are just a few statistics on the human toll of illegal immigration. According to a 2011 government report, the arrests attached to the criminal alien population included an estimated 25,000 people for homicide, 42,000 for robbery, nearly 70,000 for sex offenses, and nearly 15,000 for kidnapping. In Texas alone, within the last seven years, more than a quarter-million criminal aliens have been arrested and charged with over 600,000 criminal offenses. … Sixty-three thousand Americans since 9/11 have been killed by illegal aliens. This isn’t a problem that’s going away; it’s getting bigger.”

This refers to making an appeal to the audience’s emotions. This includes using language in such a way that creates an empathetic feeling towards the speaker. Given below is an example of Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a dream” speech.

“Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.”

This refers to persuading the audience about the speaker’s credibility and the fact that his arguments carry weight.

An example of this could be the speech made by Mitt Romney, senator of the United States. In this speech, accepting the presidential nominee Mitt Romney points out to the fact that his business success would prove useful if he were to take the office.

“I learned the real lessons about how America works from experience. When I was 37, I helped start a small company. My partners and I had been working for a company that was in the business of helping other businesses. So some of us had this idea that if we really believed our advice was helping companies, we should invest in companies. We should bet on ourselves and on our advice. So we started a new business called Bain Capital…That business we started with 10 people has now grown into a great American success story. Some of the companies we helped start are names you know. An office supply company called Staples – where I’m pleased to see the Obama campaign has been shopping; The Sports Authority, which became a favorite of my sons. We started an early childhood learning center called Bright Horizons that First Lady Michelle Obama rightly praised.”

This involves an appeal to the timing of the argument, meaning that the argument has to be made in a suitable context making the audience receptive to it. An instance of Kairos can be Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,

“This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to make to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.”

One can use these rhetorical appeals in such a way that a combination of all 4 appeals is made simultaneously.

Making the speech highly logos specific, that is giving only facts, will make the audience bored, whereas making it too pathos oriented will make the speech very emotional and lacking in rational thinking.

If you would like some more information on ETHOS, PATHOS and LOGOS, you can check out the same in this short video we made:

2. A rhetorical question

Rhetorical questions can be used to control the thoughts of the audience. These questions may have obvious answers or may not have a clear cut answer.

One technique of using such questions is inserting them in the start of the speech and then carrying on with the speech in such a way that the rhetorical question is answered in the content of your presentation.

Another way is by inserting a rhetorical question, which as an obvious answer to it at the end of the speech- making sure that the question is related to what the speech entails.

The election speech of Ronald Reagan for the 1980 presidential debate between Governor Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter, where the governor ended with a bunch of rhetorical questions is a perfect example for this,

“Next Tuesday is Election Day. Next Tuesday all of you will go to the polls, will stand there in the polling place and make a decision. I think when you make that decision, it might be well if you would ask yourself, are you better off than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we’re as strong as we were four years ago? And if you answer all of those questions yes, why then, I think your choice is very obvious as to whom you will vote for. If you don’t agree, if you don’t think that this course that we’ve been on for the last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have.”

Check it out in action, here:

3. A powerful beginning

It is rightly said that the first impression is the last impression and hence a powerful beginning is very important. To capture the audience it is important to insert some rhetorical devices at the start of your speech which create some poetic effect that helps you engage the audience. It may also include the use of diacope or anadiplosis which focus on repetition of the words of phrases creating emphasis and a strong display of emotions.

An example of anadiplosis can be: “Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution.” This was used by the George W. Bush

4. A powerful end

Climax is the most important part, be it a speech or a movie! What you say in the end is what stays with the audience hence, ending the speech with impactful rhetorical devices is advisable.

These may include inserting a rhetorical question making the audience ponder a little as mentioned above. It may also include the use of Epistrophe.

For instance, while addressing the nation about terrorism George Bush ends his speech in a powerful way assuring people that he will take the necessary actions to prevent terrorism, with appropriate use of Epistrophe:

“I will not forget the wound to our country and those who inflicted it. I will not yield, I will not rest, I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people.”  

Watch the full speech here:

Use of rhetorical devices by Frederick Douglass

The credit for developing the basics of rhetoric goes to Aristotle and since then there has been extensive use of these literary tools. A prominent figure who is well known for his use of rhetorical devices is also Frederick Douglass, who was a slave who had escaped and went on to become an activist, author and public speaker.

He is known not only for his idea of abolition of slavery but also his superior skill of rhetoric and the art of persuading the audience. In his memoir called the ‘Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave’, a number of rhetorical devices are used to argue against the heinous act of slavery.

Here is a look at how he used some of them to make his communication all the more poewrful:

It involves persuading the audience about the author’s qualifications and credibility pointing to the fact that the speaker’s arguments carry weight.

In the memoir, Frederick Douglass talks about his first-hand experience with slavery by talking about being oblivious about his birthday unlike other people in the first chapter itself, building his ethos.

In order to make an appeal to the audience’s emotions, Douglass talks about his experience of watching his aunt being whipped by the slaveholder until she is covered in blood.

Frederick writes, ‘He would at times seem to take great pleasure in whipping a slave. I have often been awakened at the dawn of day by the most heart-rending shrieks of an own aunt of mine, whom he used to tie up to a joist, and whip upon her naked back till she was literally covered with blood. No words, no tears, no prayers, from his gory victim, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose. The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest. He would whip her to make her scream, and whip her to make her hush; and not until overcome by fatigue, would he cease to swing the blood-clotted cow skin.’

Frederick talks about how animals were treated better than humans by the slaveholder.  

He writes about the condition of the slaves by saying:

‘Everything depended upon the looks of the horses, and the state of Colonel Lloyd’s own mind when his horses were brought to him for use. If a horse did not move fast enough, or hold his head high enough, it was owing to some fault of his keepers. It was painful to stand near the stable-door, and hear the various complaints against the keepers when a horse was taken out for use. To all the complaints, no matter how unjust, the slave must answer never a word. Colonel Lloyd could not brook any contradiction from a slave. When he spoke, a slave must stand, listen, and tremble; and such was literally the case. I have seen Colonel Lloyd make old Barney, a man between fifty and sixty years of age, uncover his bald head, kneel down upon the cold, damp ground, and receive upon his naked and toil-worn shoulders more than thirty lashes at the time.’

In Fredrick Douglass’s speech- “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”, he also makes a similar appeal through the use of ethos, pathos and logos . To begin with, he makes an appeal to ethos, by initiating his speech with modesty and meekness. For example, “He who could address this audience without a quailing sensation, has stronger nerves than I have.”

To steer emotions among the audience, he also uses metaphors such as “A horrible reptile is coiled up in your nation’s bosom; the venomous creature is nursing at the tender breast of your youthful republic . “

“From the round top of your ship of state, dark and threatening clouds may be seen.” This is an example of an extended metaphor where he is comparing the United States to a ship at sea and the dark and threatening clouds are compared to the ongoing threats and troubles.

There has also been use of simile , where the speaker makes a direct comparison of the slaves to animals sold in the market. For example, “I hear the doleful wail of fettered humanity, on the way to the slave-markets, where the victims are to be sold like horses, sheep, and swine.”

Other Rhetorical Devices used by Douglas

Moreover, through the phrase ‘ doleful wail of fettered humanity ’ the speaker is trying to give the human quality of being fettered to an abstract noun of humanity, pointing out to the use of personification .

Apart from these rhetorical devices, Frederick Douglass also uses rhetorical questions to make the audience ponder about the situation of slavery by asking them, “Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? Or is it in the temple?”

“What would be thought of an instrument, drawn up, legally drawn up, for the purpose of entitling the city of Rochester to a tract of land, in which no mention of land was made?”

Another important rhetorical device used by him was that of allusion . Allusion is when the author or the speaker refers to an event, object, person or to a work of art either directly or indirectly. In his speech, Frederick alludes to biblical material, knowing that the audience mostly comprises of Christians.

For instance, “ The arm of the Lord is not shortened, and the doom of slavery is certain.” Through this, the speaker makes an analogy between the Lord sending the Israelites back to their homeland and the hope that slavery will perish. Frederick Douglass has made such allusions in order to support his arguments, knowing that words from the bible would carry weight and have a strong impact.

Use of rhetorical devices in famous speeches

1. michelle obama – anaphora.

“I trust Hillary to lead this country because I’ve seen her lifelong devotion to our nation’s children – not just her own daughter, who she has raised to perfection but every child who needs a champion: Kids who take the long way to school to avoid the gangs. Kids who wonder how they’ll ever afford college. Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English but dream of a better life. Kids who look to us to determine who and what they can be.”

This is a small part of a speech made by Michelle Obama. In this, it is seen the word “ Kids ” is used more than once to start sentences that follow each other, pointing out to the use of anaphora.

Here’s the video for the speech made by the former first lady:

2. Steve Jobs – Germination

“That’s 58 songs every second of every minute of every hour of every day.”

This is an instance from the speech of Steve Jobs, where he puts emphasis on the word “ every ” by repeating it frequently in the same sentence.

See the entire speech here:

3. Barack Obama – Antistrophe

“It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes, we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness: Yes, we can.”

Here, the phrase “Yes, we can” is used repeatedly at the end of every sentence in order to put emphasis on the subject.

Watch the video of the speech here:

4. Martin Luther King, Jr – Antithesis

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Here, the speaker uses antithesis by inverting the statements to show that America will have a day when people are judged by their character and not their skin colour.

Given below is the historic speech made at the Lincoln Memorial by Martin Luther King Jr :

5. John Kennedy – Ellipsis

“This much we pledge — and more.”

Here the former President uses “and more” instead of listing more ideas. He also compels the audience to keep thinking about the ideas they should pledge to, instead of listing them.   

In order to use a wide variety of rhetorical devices, it is important to know the different types of these literary techniques. A powerful speech is not just about a good orator or good public speaking skills but much more than that! And these rhetorical devices constitute an integral part of the components which make your speech extraordinary.

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

Less is More! Tips to Avoid Overwhelming Your Audience 

What does it mean to Resonate with the Audience- Agreement, Acceptance, Approval

High-Stakes Presentations: Strategies for Engaging and Influencing Senior Leaders

• [email protected]
• +91 98203 57888

Get our latest tips and tricks in your inbox always

Copyright © 2023 Frantically Speaking All rights reserved

AP ® Lang teachers: looking to help your students improve their rhetorical analysis essays?

Coach Hall Writes

clear, concise rhetorical analysis instruction.

Common Rhetorical Devices Used in Speeches

September 23, 2022 by Beth Hall

As students prepare for the AP Lang exam, there is so much to focus on. One critical element involves understanding common rhetorical devices used in speeches. Students need to have confidence in knowing these to avoid forgetting them due to pressure. Thankfully, this helpful list provides an excellent overview of common devices and tips to ask yourself when the exam begins. 

What are Rhetorical Devices?

Rhetorical analysis prompts now ask for rhetorical choices (verb), but analyzing a rhetorical device (noun) is okay. Before identifying common rhetorical devices used in speeches, it is essential to know what this means. Ultimately, it is a specific set of words to convey meaning, provoke a response, or provide persuasion based on the topic. You apply rhetorical devices whenever you try to inform, persuade, or argue. 

Honestly, it can be challenging to identify rhetoric. However, it is helpful to ask what the person is doing. Are they using humor? Flattery? Knowing this will help you with your response. 

Common Rhetorical Devices 

You will feel pressure when you begin the exam as the clock ticks. However, consider this list to recall common rhetorical devices used in speech. 

Diction: In simpler terms, diction means word choices. Every author uses this while writing. This means you need to specify which type of diction. For instance, is it scientific diction? Patriotic diction? Then, think about the word choices used to convey that tone. Ultimately, you are looking for words the author uses in a meaningful and intentional way. 

Tone: While examining word choices, you want to look at the tone they create. Additionally, it is crucial to identify if there is a shift in tone. If there is, you can identify what the tone shifted from and to.

Appeals: Essentially, other choices create appeals. So, you can embed the appeals into your analysis of other devices. 

• Logos: You will see facts, statistics, and examples to rationally prove an argument.
• Pathos: The writer is making an emotional appeal. However, you do not want to say this. Instead, you want to specify specific emotions, such as patriotism or fear. Often, writers do this to create unity, motivate others, or inspire fear and outrage.
• Ethos: Many times, this is an appeal to credibility or morals. Like logic and ethos, you want to avoid using the word pathos. Instead, you want to examine why the writer needs to bolster their credibility.

Questions: Often, students quickly identify this common device used in speeches due to punctuation. A helpful format involves discussing how the writer poses a question and answers it. Then, address how it affects the reader. Be sure to focus on why the author is asking the questions versus stating the question is rhetorical. It is so hard to know if the question is rhetorical or not. 

Repetition: While this device is often easy to recognize, it is hard to analyze effectively. While repetition emphasizes a specific message, it is crucial to look a bit deeper. Instead of using fancy terms, use a strong verb to explain what the writer repeats. Specifically, remember that while you are reading a speech, it was once said aloud. So, repetition may form cohesion in the speech. It may also reinforce the message. 

Contrast: If this device is in the speech, it is vital to determine why contrasting the items is meaningful. Are there positive and negative word choices? Comparisons of two people or groups? Ultimately, you want to answer why this connection is significant to the speech. 

Comparison: As the opposite of contrast, writers may also show meaningful similarities between two items or aspects. Writers may do this through figurative language or to show links to items that seem different. If you use this device, identify the comparison and explain how it helps the writer convey the message. 

Exemplification: Writers may also use examples to prove a claim. You want to be sure to examine the examples and explain why the writer uses them. Additionally, address why the example is relevant to the audience and occasion. 

Parallelism: Many times, this common device used in speech is actually in one of the other devices. However, it still deserves an honorable mention. If the writer uses the same or similar grammatical structure, explain why. Is the writer creating balance? Cadence in the speech? Emphasizing certain words? 

Allusion: There are many types of allusions, including reference to famous literature, art, and people. For example, biblical allusions are common in some speeches. While not every reference is an allusion, writers may allude to something to help the listener/reader make meaningful connections. 

Anecdotes: Often, these short personal stories have a narrative style. You want to explain how the story develops the writer’s message and why the writer selected it. 

Definition: When writers use this common device, they define the term. You want to explain why this definition is there. In other words, explain how the definition helps portray the message. 

What if I Don’t See Devices?

When it comes time to take the AP Lang Exam, panic sets in. Due to this, you may forget what you’ve learned in class. However, just pause and take a deep breath. Then, refocus on the question. Ask yourself, “What is the writer doing?” Specifically, do not worry about naming a specific device. Just look for what is happening. After, look at the language and type of diction. This will help get the ideas flowing for the overall tone and mood. 

The AP Lang exam is challenging. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it is understandable! However, believe in yourself! Set time aside to prepare. Use your practice prompts, notes, and tips to help. For instance, this list is a great place to explore common rhetorical devices used in speeches.

Check out this blog post for more info about rhetorical choices.

Ap® lang teachers.

Looking to help your students improve their rhetorical analysis essays?

Latest on Instagram

Shop My TPT Store

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical devices offer a way for speakers to arrange language in an artful way so as to make the conversation more engaging and subsequently, more memorable for audience members. Professional and amateur speech writers can employ any number of rhetorical devices to spice up the delivery of a presentation (see Table 7.1).

Greek and Roman scholars in the classical period developed and identified most rhetorical devices. Four of the most popular ones used in speeches include alliteration, antithesis, parallel structure, and repetition.

Alliteration

Alliteration occurs when the speaker uses the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Alliteration appears in everyday uses of language, such as television shows ( Mad Men ), sporting events (Final Four), company names (Dunkin Donuts), and in famous phrases (home sweet home; right as rain). When used sparingly, alliteration can spice up the language of delivery, such as “We owe it to our city to help the hungry, the homeless, and the helpless among us.” However, speakers can overuse alliteration, turning an otherwise innocuous statement into an exercise in pure silliness: “Nick’s nephew needed new notebooks now.”

The antithesis rhetorical technique juxtaposes two dissimilar or contrasting ideas. Consider President John F. Kennedy’s famous example: “ Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country .” Neil Armstrong used an antithesis as he took his first steps on the moon: “ That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind .” Consider this technique when trying to draw attention to an important point. Other examples include:

• Many are called, but few are chosen.
• We are taught to speak, but rarely how to listen.

Parallel Structure and Repetition

Parallel structure uses the technique of arranging phrases or clauses of a sentence in parallel form, such as in the following examples:

• Dogs make great pets; they show loyalty, they show obedience, and they show love.
• Our coach told us we should get a lot of sleep, we should eat well, and we should think positively about tonight’s game.

Martin Luther King, Jr. masterfully used parallel structure and combined it with repetition to add engagement to his oratory. Consider his famous I Have a Dream speech :

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!

Repetition occurs when the speaker repeats certain words or phrases to garner emotional effect. Those repeated phrases sound pleasant to the human ear, because they carry with them a certain rhythmic quality, adding emphasis and aiding in memory retention. Repetition as an element of public speaking works differently than it does in written communication. In public speaking, presenters should use repetition because it helps the audience remember key ideas. In written communication, repetition often gets avoided because a reader can review the original reference for memory and comprehension.

Messages that Matter: Public Speaking in the Information Age - Third Edition Copyright © 2023 by North Idaho College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

Rhetorical Devices Make Speeches Spring To Life

A rhetorical device is a verbal technique a speaker or writer uses to make their presentation more compelling to the audience so that listeners are persuaded to accept their position. They can evoke an emotional response, although this is not the main reason why the speaker chooses the device.

Rhetoric is the art of using language to persuade, inform, or entertain an audience. It has been studied and practiced for thousands of years and has produced a variety of techniques and devices that speakers and writers use to achieve their goals.

One such device is the rhetorical device, a technique that creates a memorable and effective message. Rhetorical devices include  figures of speech , such as  similes and metaphor s, as well as techniques like  repetition and parallelism .

This article explores the different types of rhetorical devices and how they can be used in written and spoken communication to enhance the impact of a message.

Table of Contents

What Is A Rhetorical Device?

A speaker or writer uses  a rhetorical device  to convey meaning and persuade their audience. These devices can include figures of speech, such as metaphors and similes, as well as techniques like repetition and parallelism.

The purpose of rhetorical devices is to make language more memorable, persuasive, or entertaining. Using these techniques effectively, a speaker or writer can create a more impactful message that resonates with their audience.

How Does This Compare With A Literary Device?

Rhetorical devices focus primarily on persuasion and communication, while literary devices create artistic effects in literature. They are straightforward and often used in non-fiction writing and speeches, while literary devices are more commonly used in fiction, poetry, and drama. 

Literary devices may be more subtle and complex. Some literary devices include allegory, symbolism, and imagery, while rhetorical devices center around the use of words.

What Are The Four Modes Of Persuasion Aided by Rhetorical Devices?

The four modes of persuasion, also known as the rhetorical appeals, are ethos, logos, pathos, and kairos. These modes are aided by various rhetorical devices to create a persuasive message.

• Ethos  appeals to the audience’s sense of  ethics and credibility . Rhetorical devices that aid ethos include using expert testimony, presenting a speaker’s or writer’s credentials, and establishing trustworthiness.
•   Logos  appeals to the audience’s  logic and reasoning . Examples of logos include statistics and facts, logical arguments, analogies, and illustrations.
•   Pathos  appeals to the audience’s  emotions . Pathos uses vivid imagery, personal stories, and figurative language to create an emotional impact.
•   Kairos  appeals to the  timing and context  of the message. It would use current events and news stories to make a persuasive case, as well as timing and urgency to make the audience feel compelled to act.

Aristotle’s Setup

Aristotle’s Setup , also known as  Aristotle’s dramatic or narrative arc , is a structure used in storytelling first described by the Greek philosopher Aristotle in his work “Poetics.” The system consists of three parts: the beginning or exposition, the middle or complication, and the end or resolution.

The beginning or exposition sets the stage for the story by introducing the characters, setting, and conflict. The middle or complication builds tension and develops the competition through rising action, leading to a climax or turning point. The end or resolution resolves the conflict and ties up loose ends.

Aristotle’s Setup is still used today as a framework for storytelling in various forms of media, including literature, film, and television. It provides a clear structure for creating a compelling narrative that engages the audience and keeps them invested in the story.

How Do A Rhetorical Device And A Rhetorical Technique Differ?

A rhetorical device is a specific technique a speaker or writer uses to create a particular effect, such as a metaphor or repetition. It is a specific tool in the writer or speaker’s toolbox that achieves a particular goal.

Rhetorical technique, on the other hand, refers to the strategies and methods a speaker or writer employs to persuade or communicate effectively. It encompasses a broader range of tools and techniques, including rhetorical devices.

In other words,  rhetorical technique is the larger umbrella under which rhetorical devices fall.  Rhetorical devices are specific examples of the techniques used in rhetoric, but they only encompass a partial range of strategies used to communicate effectively.

What is A Rhetorical Strategy

Here are 10 examples of  rhetorical strategies :

• Appeal to emotion: “Don’t you want to keep your family safe?”
• Appeal to authority: “As the leading expert in this field, I can tell you that this product is the best.”
• Call to action: “Join our cause and help make a difference in the world!”
• Comparison and contrast: “This product is not only more effective but also more affordable than our competitors.”
•  Testimonial: “I tried this product, and it completely changed my life.”
•  Cause and effect: “If we don’t take action now, the consequences will be catastrophic.”
•  Humor: “Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing!”
•  Narration: “Let me tell you a story about how this product changed my life.”
•  Logical appeal: “Based on the evidence presented, it’s clear that this is the best choice.”
•  Storytelling: “Once upon a time, a young girl dreamed of changing the world.”

What Are The Most Common Rhetorical Devices?

Rhetorical Devices are  powerful tools that add emphasis, clarity, and emotion to written and spoken language.  From the time of Shakespeare to the famous speeches of John F. Kennedy, rhetorical devices have played a crucial part in shaping the way we communicate.

Ten examples of rhetorical devices are as follows:

• Metaphor  – using a comparison to make a point or create an image in the audience’s mind
•   Simile  – the comparison of two things using “like” or “as” to create a vivid picture.
•   Alliteration  – the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of multiple words in a phrase or sentence to create rhythm and emphasis.
•   Hyperbole  – using exaggeration to create a dramatic effect or to emphasize a point.
•   Personification  – attributing human qualities or actions to non-human objects or ideas to make a point or create a vivid image.
•   Irony  – using language to convey the opposite of its literal meaning for humorous or dramatic effect.
•   Repetition  – the most commonly used device involves repeating a word or phrase to create emphasis or to reinforce a point.
•   Onomatopoeia  – using words that imitate the sound they represent to create a vivid image.
•   Oxymoron  – using two contradictory words together to create a paradoxical effect.
•   Rhetorical question  – asking a question to make a point or to emphasize a message without expecting a direct answer.

Consonant sounds can also be emphasized through devices like  consonance and alliteration. Metonymy and synecdoche  are two devices that involve substituting one word or phrase for another, with the former using a related term and the latter using a part to represent the whole.

Which Rhetorical Device Is Most Often Used In Speeches?

The most commonly used rhetorical device in a speech is  repetition .

Anaphora i nvolves  repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.  This can create a rhythmic effect and draw attention to the repeated phrase. John F. Kennedy’s famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” is a great example of anaphora.

Another device is  chiasmus,  which involves repeating words or ideas in reverse order. For example, “Do not let your schooling interfere with your education” is a famous quote by Mark Twain that uses chiasmus.

Repetition of a word or phrase can be used to reinforce a point or idea and can be seen in famous speeches like Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. As seen in Yoda’s unique speech pattern, sentence structure and syntax can also be manipulated for emphasis.

Recent Posts

Active Listening Absorbs The Whole Message, Not Just The Words

Active listening goes beyond hearing the words someone is saying to you and understanding the message they are conveying. Many only hear a small percentage of what is being said as they are...

Counteracting Fear Of Public Speaking With Coaching And Therapy

Nearly 75% of people experience the social phobia of fear of public speaking. The result may be nervousness before speaking or a full-blown panic attack. Practicing public speaking may lessen the...

Stylistic Devices (Rhetorical Devices, Figures of Speech)

On the following pages, we will explain some of the most important stylistic devices (also called rhetorical devices or figures of speech) – they are not only useful for analysing texts, but also for creating your own texts.

Stylistic devices make your speeches, essays etc. more interesting and lively and help you to get and keep your reader ’ s / listener ’ s attention.

The Throughline Blog

Practical Media Training and Public Speaking Tips

Nine Rhetorical Devices For Your Next Speech

Many speakers are good at conveying information to their audiences. But how many of them are actually interesting ?

Rhetorical devices are too often cast aside as the province of the great Roman orators. They shouldn’t be. When executed well, they can spice up your speeches, presentations, even your one-on-one conversations.

Here are nine of my favorite rhetorical devices. Instead of just reading this article, try inserting a few of these devices in your next speech!

1. Alliteration: The repetition of a sound in the first syllable of each phrase. In the example below, you will see one string of three words beginning with “f,” and another with three words beginning with “d.”

“They are part of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different, and difficult places.” – President Barack Obama

  2. Anadiplosis: The last word or phrase is repeated to begin the next.

“Suffering breeds character; character breeds faith.” – Rev. Jesse Jackson “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda

    3. Antimetabole: The repetition of words or phrases in successive clauses, but in reverse order.

“Not all schooling is education nor all education, schooling.” – Economist Milton Friedman “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” – Scientist Carl Sagan

    4. Antithesis:  A word, phrase, or sentence opposes the original proposition.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” – Neil Armstrong

5. Asyndeton: Omits conjunctions, which helps to increase the tempo and highlight a specific idea.

“…and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” – Abraham Lincoln “He was a bag of bones, a floppy doll, a broken stick, a maniac.” – Jack Kerouac

6. Diacope: A repeated word or phrase split up by other words; typically used to express a strong emotion.

“Put out the light, and then put out the light.” – William Shakespeare, Othello “For the love of God, man, for the love of God.” – Me, all the time “You’re not fully clean unless you’re Zest fully clean .” – Zest Soap commercial  

  7. Litotes: You’ve probably heard this if a friend ever told you her first date was “not bad.” Litotes is essentially a double negative, expressed by denying an opposite idea; often used ironically.

“She’s no dummy” (she’s smart) “This is no small problem” (this is a big problem)

  8. Metaphor: An analogy that compares one thing or idea to another, using a term or phrase it literally isn’t to suggest similarity.

“Homeowners are the innocent bystanders in a drive-by shooting by Wall Street and Washington.” – Sen. John McCain “It’s raining men.” – The Weather Girls

  9. Simile: A comparison between two unalike things, usually using the words “as” or “like.”

“We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. “You’re as cold as ice.” – Foreigner

Do you want to learn even more ways to spice up your speeches and presentations? Become the speaker you always wanted to be with our free public speaking tips guide . 

• presentation training
• rhetorical devices

Share this article

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Email

STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE THROUGHLINE NEWSLETTER

Join the thousands of professionals who receive our email newsletter. Improve your public speaking and media interviewing skills—and enhance your career— by signing up.

Public Speaking Skills Training

Since 2004, we have helped speakers prepare for the world’s biggest stages, including TED, the World Economic Forum, and a presidential announcement speech. We’re committed to your long-term growth, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.

Comments (9)

Useful list, but I’m rather surprised by your use of all these obscure Greek words to describe the techniques. I’ve been teaching people how to use rhetorical devices for more than 25 years and have found it perfectly possible to describe them in instantly accessible modern English that anyone can easily understand. For the same reason – instant accessibility so that people can benefit from using them – also did this in my book ‘Lend Me Your Ears: All You Need to Know About Making Speeches and Presentations’ http://amzn.to/g7NgAL

Hi Max, Thank you for your comment, and you raise a fair point. I certainly agree that jargon is lousy for all forms of communication. Would you mind sharing a few of the terms you use to replace the ancient Greek words? Thank you, Brad

I think it’s important to note that it’s not necessary to use ALL of these devices in a speech or presentation. Two similes, a bunch of alliteration and some antimetabole can be too much. It’s a presentation, not Shakespeare. Don’t let the message get muddied in order to show how clever you are. Simplicity, in many cases, is the best rhetorical device.

Hi Betsy, Thank you for making that point – you’re exactly right. Rhetorical devices should be used to help achieve a specific purpose, such as making a key point more memorable. Speakers should feel free to experiment with a device or two in every speech, but should be careful not to go over-the-top. If you’re unsure how many devices to use, I’d err on the side of too few (at least at first). As you suggested, a little goes a long way. Thanks for stopping by the blog! Brad

AWESOME AND EDUCATIONAL

I would like to point out, that I am fairly certain that your second example for alliteration, given by Martin Luther King Jr., is not alliteration at all. I believe it is actually an example of anaphora.

First commenter (Max) is clearly self promoting and not adding value here. Why say that and then not offer examples? Thank you author Brad for providing these examples and the names that are used for them.

Jack is correct! H.S. was 10 years ago for me (I took a public speaking class), but I DO recall falling in love with anaphora, particularly when I was crafting a rousing speech. It gets me FIRED UP! BTW, is there any way in which an apposition can be qualified as a rhetorical device? I feel in love with them from about age 9– I read a lot. I do love them in informative pieces, but it would be fun to see them used convincingly in a persuasive piece. I faintly recall trying to squeeze A FEW into just one sentence for a particularly militant English professor, just to piss her off. . . IT WORKED. She loved me by the end of the semester, however.

For those who did not appreciate the technical terms for the devices. I loved It, as it helped focus my attention. I got a real kick out of it, the specific terms, the love of language for the sake of language. Mmm. A rhetorical device?

More from the throughline blog

In Presentation Training How to Hide a Lavalier Mic Wire

In Presentation Training Are Your Stories Making You Appear Inauthentic?

In Presentation Training Why You Should Have Three Speech Opens

This website or its third party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy . If you want to know more or withdraw your consent to all or some of the cookies, please refer to the privacy policy. By closing this banner or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to the use of cookies.

Which rhetorical appeal or device does Susan B. Anthony use in the opening of her speech? Ethos, because she creates trust by calling her audience her friends and fellow citizens to show she's just like them Irony, because she is saying something that is the opposite of what she means about women's right to vote Logos, because she presents facts and statistics about women's right to vote Rhetorical question, because she wants the reader to think about an issue through a question

The rhetorical appeal or device that Susan B. Anthony used in the opening of her speech is A. Ethos , because she creates trust by calling her audience her friends and fellow citizens to show she's just like them

Ethos , pathos, and logos are all terms used in rhetorical appeals. The formal term for describing various persuasive techniques is a rhetorical appeal . We refer to it as ethos when a writer appeals to the audience's values in order to defend or justify their position.

Anthony appealed to the audience through trust and credibility by using the rhetorical device ethos. Anthony begins by addressing her audience as "friends and fellow citizens." Anthony does this to foster a sense of friendship and trust.

Learn more about rhetorical appeal on

https://brainly.com/question/1333495

Related Questions

Please helpppppp me Determine if the two triangles shown are similar. If so, write the similarity statement. A) Impossible to determine. B) ATUS ABSC OC) ATUS - ABCS D) The triangles are not similar.

C) ATUS-ABCS

Step-by-step explanation:

ΔTUS ΔBSC would also be a right answer, but remember that the order of the points matter.

Both of these triangles share a point S, so the order of where the S is placed should be the same.

In this answer, ΔTUS ΔBCS, notice that the S is in the end of the triangle notation.

However, in this answer,  ΔTUS ΔBSC, the S is in the end of ΔTUS while the S is in the middle of ΔBSC even S is the correspondent point for both triangles.

Hence, ΔTUS ΔBCS is the correct notation and correct answer.

For more help on similar triangles, click here:

brainly.com/question/14285697

Part b given that a randomly chosen us airways (us) flight arrives in denver (den), what is the probability that it arrives on time?

The   probability that it arrives on time is 0.877

As we know probability involves the chance of occurrence of an event E

Using the stated percentage , it is determined that it has a 0.877 = 87.7% chance of arriving on time.

By definition also, the number of desired outcomes divided by the total number of outcomes yields a probability .

A percentage can be regarded as a probability over a big sample.

In this question, 87.7% of flights arrive on time in Denver ( den), based on a significant number of flights. As a result, there is a 0.877 = 87.7% chance that it will arrive on time.

In conclusion, the probability of arriving Denver is 0.877

Learn more about probabilities on https://brainly.com/question/30034780

32 divide 9=_with_over

3.555555555555556

Decimal: 3.555555555555556

Fraction: 32/9

A crate of medicine with a density of 2400 kilograms per cubic will be shipped from israel to the us. what is the crates density in pounds per cubic foot?

The crates of medicine density are 149.8271 pounds per cubic foot .

While the majority of nations use the metric system of measures, the United States uses its own unique system, pounds per cubic feet, which is defined by the International System of Units as kg/m3 for density.

1 kilogram per cubic meter is equal to 0.062427960576145 pounds per cubic foot. To convert the density of 2400 kilograms per meter cubic into pounds per cubic foot, we need to do multiplication:

2400 x 0.062427960576145 = 149,8271

Thus, the crates of medicine density would be 149,8271 pounds per cubic foot.

To learn more about density , click here:

https://brainly.com/question/29775886

PLEASE HELP ME Answers that are possible: A. –3 > |x + 1| B. 1 > |x + 2| + 2 C. 2 < |x + 3| – 2 D. 4 > |x + 1| + 2

The inequality represented by the graph is given as follows:

D. 4 > |x + 1| + 2.

The solution set represented by the graph is composed by numbers between -3 and 1, with an open interval, that is:

-3 < x < 1.

Then we solve each inequality in this problem, to find the one with the solution set that matches this one.

For item a , we have that:

|x + 1| < -3.

Which has no solution, as the absolute value function always assumes a value of at least zero.

For item b , we have that:

1 > |x + 2| + 2.

|x + 2| < -1.

No solution, for the same reason as item a.

For item c , we have that:

2 < |x + 3| - 2

|x + 3| < 4.

-4 < x + 3 < 4.

The lower bound of the solution is of:

x + 3 > -4

Which does not match.

For item d , we have that:

4 > |x + 1| + 2

|x + 1| < 2

-2 < x + 1 < 2

x + 1 > -2

The upper bound of the solution is of:

x + 1 < 2

Meaning that option D is the correct option.

More can be learned about inequalities at https://brainly.com/question/9290436

Simplify negative 2 and three fifths minus 5 and one half. negative 10 and three tenths negative 8 and 1 over 10 negative 3 and 3 over 10 7 and 1 over 10

The value of the expression is (b) -8 1/10

From the question, we have the following parameters that can be used in our computation:

The expression is given as

negative 2 and three fifths minus 5 and one half.

Express properly

-2 3/5 - 5 1/2

Express as improper fraction

-2 3/5 - 5 1/2 = -13/5 - 11/2

Evaluate the difference

-2 3/5 - 5 1/2 = -8 1/10

Hence, the solution is (b) -8 1/10

Read more about expression at

https://brainly.com/question/15775046

estimate 49.6 × 6.04

[tex]299.584[/tex]

[tex]49.6 X 6.04=299.584[/tex]

Think about the process find the quotient of the first factors of 3.7x 105 7.4 x 10-1 what do you notice? find the quotient. use pencil and paper. how does this affect the exponent of the quotient? divide the first factors of the given numbers. what do you notice? o a. the quotient of the first factors is greater than 1 but less than 10. ob. the quotient of the first factors is less than 1. oc. the quotient of the first factors is greater than 10.

When we divide 3.7x 10⁵ by 7.4 x 10⁻¹, we get 0.5 x 10⁶.

The answer is (b) the quotient of the first factors is less than 1.

To find the quotient of 3.7x 10^5 and 7.4 x 10^-1, you can divide the first factors of the numbers, 3.7 and 7.4, to get a quotient of 0.5.

The exponent of the quotient will be the difference between the exponents of the two numbers, which in this case is 5 - (-1) = 6.

This means that the quotient will be expressed as 0.5 x 10⁶.

--The question is incomplete, complete question is as follows--

"Think about the process find the quotient of the first factors of

What do you notice?

Find the quotient. use pencil and paper. How does this affect the exponent of the quotient?

Divide the first factors of the given numbers. What do you notice?

a. the quotient of the first factors is greater than 1 but less than 10.

b. the quotient of the first factors is less than 1.

c. the quotient of the first factors is greater than 10."

To know more on exponent

https://brainly.com/question/15270222

(ASAP) Noah drew 5 hearts and 34 circles. What is the ratio of hearts to all shapes? Worked out pls not just the answer

The ratio of hearts to all shapes is 5/39.

In the given question, Noah drew 5 hearts and 34 circles.

We have to find the ratio of hearts to all shapes.

Compare these two numbers by dividing them seems to be how ratios works. Your formula would be A/B if you were contrasting one data point (A) with another data point (B). By doing so, you are multiplying information A by information B.

Noah drew hearts = 5

Noah drew circles = 34

Total shapes Noah drew = 5+34

Total shapes Noah drew = 39

Now finding the ratio of hearts to all shapes

Ratio = ratio of hearts/ratio of all shapes

Ratio = 5/39

Hence, the ratio of hearts to all shapes is 5/39.

To learn  more about ratio link is here

brainly.com/question/13419413

3. Explain why the area of the parallelogram is not 9 square centimeters.

The area of the parallelogram is not 9 square centimeters because a parallelogram not always a square.

A rectangle is a two dimension figure with 4 sides, 4 corners and 4 right angles. The opposite sides of the rectangle are equal and parallel to each other.

Given that;

The area of parallelogram is 9 square centimeters.

We know that;

A parallelogram not always a square.

And, The area of parallelogram is 9 square centimeters is possible when the parallelogram is a square .

Thus, The area of the parallelogram is not 9 square centimeters because a parallelogram not always a square.

Learn more about the rectangle visit:

https://brainly.com/question/25292087

A. Instruction. Solve the following Equations 1. log 5x = log(2x + 9) 2. log(4y − 2) = log(−5 y + 5) 3. 2 log7 −2x = 0 4. log −x + 2 = 4 5. log9 (−11x + 2) = log9(x 2 + 30) HELP ME GUYS

log 5x = log(2x + 9)

x = (2x + 9)/5

log(4y − 2) = log(−5 y + 5)

(4y - 2) = (-5y + 5)

9y - 2 = -5y + 5

y = 0.21428571428571427

2 log7 −2x = 0

log −x + 2 = 4

log (-x) = 4 - 2

log (-x) = 2

log9(-11x + 2) = log9(x^2 + 30)

(-11x + 2) = (x^2 + 30)

(-11x + 2) - (x^2 + 30) = 0

-12x + 32 = 0

x = 2.666666666666667

Step-by-step explanation:MARK BRAINLIEST PLEASE

How do you find the zeros of a polynomial if the sum and product of zeros is given?

The formula to calculate the quadratic equation when the sum and the product of roots are given x² − (sum of roots)x + (product of roots) = 0.

The term quadratic equation is defined as an algebraic equation of the second degree in x.

Basically, the general form of the quadratic equation in its standard form is written as,

=> ax² + bx + c = 0

Here a and b are the coefficients, x is the variable, and c is the constant term. Where the value of coefficient a is greater than zero.

Here we have to know that the sum and product of zeros in a quadratic polynomial have a direct relation with the coefficients of variables in the polynomial.

To know more about Quadratic equation here.

https://brainly.com/question/17177510

Please help please ! No fake answers pls

<GHC congruent to <EHD

By vertical angles

The table shows the growth y (in inches) of an elk's antlers during week x. The equation y = - 0.7 + 6.8 models the data. Is the model a good fit? Explain.

If a number i multiplied by 8 intead of 5, the product increae by 39, then what i the number?

If a number is multiplied by 8 instead of 5, the product increases by 39

to find: the number

Let the number be x

Product of number is and 8 = 8x

Product of number is and 5 = 5x

A number is multiplied by 8 instead of 5 , the product increases by 39

so,     8x-5x=39

         3x=39

          x=13

Hence the number is 13

Multiplication is an arithmetic operation, where we find the product of two or more than two numbers.

The Number System contain any of the numerous sets of symbols and the rules for using them to denote numbers , which are used to state how many objects are there in a given set.

To know more about Number System:

https://brainly.com/question/22046046

An account earning 6. 5% compounded daily for 10 years would have a balance of how much if the principal amount was $5500. 00?

To find the balance of an accoun t that earns compound interest, by using the appropriate formula is $13,471.64.

Compounding is the method through which interest is added to both the principle balance already in place and the interest t hat has already been paid. Thus , compounding can be thought of as interest on interest, with the result that returns on interest are magnified over time, or the so-called " magic of compounding."

balance = principal * (1 + rate/n)^(n*t)

In this case, the principal is $5500.00, the rate is 6.5% (expressed as 0.065), and the number of compounding periods per year is 365 (since the interest is compounded daily). The number of years is 10. Plugging these values into the formula, we get:

balance = 5500 * (1 + 0.065/365)^(365*10)

Evaluating this expression, we find that the balance of the account after 10 years is approximately $13,471.64.

Learn more about compounding

brainly.com/question/28020457

. jane has developed a new happiness questionnaire. to demonstrate its scientific merit, she uses it to measure happiness in 10 couples who have just started dating. she asks each participant to complete a happiness questionnaire. she waits a year, then attempts to re-contact each of the couples to ask them to complete the questionnaire again. jane then calculates the pearson r correlation coefficient between happiness levels at the outset of her study and one year later. what scientific standard is jane evaluating?

The scientific standard which jane evaluates based on the condition above is falsifiability .

It may appear that Jane is attempting to measure test-retest reliability, that is, a correlation between the first scores and those a year later. But without control over variables that could affect the second scores, there is there is hardly a strong argument for the reliability of her test. Moreover, some of the couples may not be together after a year has passed.

Falsifiability  or refutability is the probability that a statement can be falsified or proven false through observation or physical testing . Something that can be falsified does not mean that it is wrong, but it means that if the statement is wrong, then the error can be shown.

The claim that "it is not true that humans live forever" cannot be falsified because it is impossible to prove wrong. In theory, one would have to observe a human living forever to falsify that claim. On the other hand, "all humans live forever" is falsifiable because the death of a single human being can disprove the statement false (excluding metaphysical statements about the soul, which cannot be falsified).

Falsifiability , especially testability, is an important notion in science and philosophy of science. This thought was popularized by Karl Popper . Popper stated that a hypothesis, proposition, or theory is scientific if it can be falsified. Falsifiability is an important (but not sufficient) criterion for scientific ideas. He also stated that statements that cannot be falsified are unscientific.

Learn more about falsifiability at https://brainly.com/question/17370873.

If complex number z = 3 left-bracket cosine (startfraction 3 pi over 2 endfraction) i sine (startfraction 3 pi over 2 endfraction) right-bracket, then complete the statements for z4. the modulus of z4 would be . the coefficient in front of the argument (or angle) of z4 would be .

The modulus of z4 would be |-81i|  and the coefficient in front of the argument of z4 is -81.

Every complex number may be represented in the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers. A complex number is an element of a number system that extends the real numbers with a particular element labeled I sometimes known as the imaginary unit, and satisfies the equation display style i2=-1.

The complex conjugate of a complex number is the number that has equal real and imaginary parts that are opposite in sign but equal in magnitude. In other words, display style {a+bi}'s complex conjugate is equivalent to display style {a-bi}.

The coefficient of a complex number is the number that appears in front of the i in the standard form of the complex number.

If z = 3[cos(3π/2)i sin(3π/2)], then z4 = (3[cos(3π/2)i sin(3π/2)])^4 = 3^4[cos(12π/2)i sin(12π/2)] = 81[cos(6π)i sin(6π)] = 81[-1i 0] = -81i.

Therefore, the modulus of z4 is |-81i| = 81, and the coefficient in front of the argument of z4 is -81.

To learn more about trigonometry visit:

https://brainly.com/question/29002217

Eleanor makes a cake and cuts it into 20 equally sized pieces. She gives 8 pieces to Camilla. What fraction of the cake does Camilla have? Give your answer in its simplest form.​

Step-by-step explanation: Camilla has 8 of the 20 peices of cake.This means the fraction would be 8/20 which if you divide by 2 gives you 4/10 and if you divide by 2 Again you get 2/5

2/5 is your final answer

Help fast please!! will give brainliest!! the difference in length of a spring on a pogo stick from its non-compressed length when a teenager is jumping on it after (theta) seconds can be described by the function f(theta)=2sin(theta)+sqrt2 part a: determine all values where the pogo stick's spring will be equal to it's non compressed length part b: if the angle was doubled, that (theta) became two(theta), what are the solutions in the interval [0, 2pi]? how do these compare to the original function? part c: a toddler is jumping on another pogo stick whose length of its spring can be represented by the function g(theta)=1-cos^2(theta)+sqrt2. at what times are the springs from the original pogo stick and the toddlers pogo stick lengths equal?

a) The solutions to sin(θ) = -√2 / 2 are θ = 7π/4 and θ = 11π/4.

b) The solutions for θ in the original function were θ = 7π/4 and θ = 11π/4. In the new function, after doubling the angle, the solutions are θ = 5π/12 and θ = 7π/12. We can see that the new solutions are smaller than the original solutions and fall within the interval [0, 2π].

c) The springs from the original pogo stick and the toddler's pogo stick are equal at θ = 0, θ = π, and θ = 2π.

At first we have to find the values of θ where the pogo stick's spring is equal to its non-compressed length, we need to set f(θ) equal to zero (since the non-compressed length corresponds to zero compression).

f(θ) = 2sin(θ) + √2

Setting this equal to zero:

2sin(θ) + √2 = 0

Subtract √2 from both sides:

2sin(θ) = -√2

Now, divide by 2:

sin(θ) = -√2 / 2

Since the non-compressed length corresponds to zero compression , the spring will be equal to its non-compressed length at θ values where sin(θ) = -√2 / 2.

The solutions to sin(θ) = -√2 / 2 are θ = 7π/4 and θ = 11π/4.

If θ becomes twoθ, then the new function will be f(2θ) = 2sin(2θ) + √2.

Using double angle identities, we have sin(2θ) = 2sin(θ)cos(θ). Substituting this into the new function:

f(2θ) = 2(2sin(θ)cos(θ)) + √2

f(2θ) = 4sin(θ)cos(θ) + √2

Now, let's find the solutions for f(2θ) = 0 in th e interval [0, 2π].

4sin(θ)cos(θ) + √2 = 0

Divide by 4:

sin(θ)cos(θ) + √2/4 = 0

Using double angle identities, we have sin(2θ) = 2sin(θ)cos(θ). Substituting this:

sin(2θ) + √2/4 = 0

sin(2θ) = -√2/4

The solutions to sin(2θ) = -√2/4 in the interval [0, 2π] are θ = 5π/12 and θ = 7π/12.

Comparing to the original function:

The solutions for θ in the original function were θ = 7π/4 and θ = 11π/4. In the new function, after doubling the angle, the solutions are θ = 5π/12 and θ = 7π/12. We can see that the new solutions are smaller than the original solutions and fall within the interval [0, 2π].

To find the times when the lengths of the two pogo sticks' springs are equal, we need to equate f(θ) and g(θ) and solve for θ.

f(θ) = g(θ)

2sin(θ) + √2 = 1 - cos²(θ) + √2

2sin(θ) = 1 - cos²(θ)

Using the identity sin²(θ) + cos²(θ) = 1, we have sin²(θ) = 1 - cos²(θ).

Substitute this into the equation:

2(1 - cos²(θ)) = 1 - cos²(θ)

Expand and simplify:

2 - 2cos²(θ) = 1 - cos²(θ)

Now, move all terms to one side:

2cos²(θ) - cos²(θ) = 2 - 1

cos²(θ) = 1

Now, take the square root:

cos(θ) = ±1

The solutions we get for cos(θ) = 1 are θ = 0 and θ = 2π.

The solutions we get for cos(θ) = -1 are θ = π.

So, the springs from the original pogo stick and the toddler's pogo stick are equal at θ = 0, θ = π, and θ = 2π.

To learn more trigonometry click:

brainly.com/question/26719838

if a ladder of length 30 ft that is leaning against a wall has its upper end sliding down the wall at a rate of 1/2 ft / sec, what is the rate of change of the acute angle made by the ladder with the ground when the upper end is 18 ft above the ground?

The rate of change of the acute angle made by the ladder with the ground is -.021

According to the question,

Given: length of ladder(L)=30ft

Sliding down the wall at the rate of [tex]$=\frac{d y}{d t}=\frac{-1}{2} \mathrm{ft} / \mathrm{sec}$$[/tex]

To find: Rate of change of the acute angle made by the ladder when upper end is 18 ft above the ground.

Acute angle measure less than 90 degrees. right angle measures 90 degrees. obtuse angle measures more than 90 degrees

Now, we know that

[tex]$$\sin \theta=\frac{y}{30}$$[/tex]

let the time be (t) at general height (h) and at angle(θ)

[tex]$$\begin{aligned}& \Rightarrow \quad \frac{d y}{d t}=-\frac{1}{2} \mathrm{ft} / \mathrm{sec} \\& \Rightarrow \quad \sin \theta=\frac{y}{30}\end{aligned}$$[/tex]

Differentiate above equation

[tex]$$\begin{aligned}\Rightarrow & (\cos \theta)\left(\frac{d \theta}{d t}\right)=\left(\frac{1}{30}\right)\left(\frac{d y}{d t}\right) \\& \text { Substitute } \frac{d y}{d t}=-\frac{1}{2} \mathrm{ft} / \mathrm{sec} . \\\Rightarrow & \frac{d \theta}{d t}=\left(\frac{1}{30}\right)\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)\left(\frac{1}{\cos \theta}\right)\end{aligned}$$[/tex]

[tex]$$\Rightarrow \frac{d \theta}{d t}=\left(\frac{-1}{60}\right)\left(\frac{1}{\cos \theta}\right)$$\\[/tex]

So, when h=18, from (1)

[tex]$$\begin{aligned}& \Rightarrow \quad \sin \theta=\frac{18}{30} \\& \Rightarrow \sin \theta=\frac{3}{5}\end{aligned}$$[/tex]

As we know that,

[tex]$$\begin{aligned}& \sin ^2 \theta+\cos ^2 \theta=1 \\& =\cos \theta=\sqrt{1-\sin ^2 \theta} \\& =\cos \theta=\sqrt{1-\left(\frac{3}{5}\right)^2} \\& \Rightarrow \cos \theta=\frac{\sqrt{25-9}}{5} \\& \Rightarrow \cos \theta=\frac{4}{5}\end{aligned}$$[/tex]

2) Substitute [tex]$\left(\cos \theta=\frac{4}{5}\right)$[/tex] from (4) eqn in.

Then, [tex]$\quad \frac{d \theta}{d t}=\left(-\frac{1}{60}\right)\left(\frac{5}{4}\right) \mathrm{rad} / \mathrm{sec}$[/tex]

[tex]$\frac{d \theta}{d t}=\frac{-1}{48} \mathrm{rad} / \mathrm{sec}$[/tex]

Therefore, the rate of change of the acute angle made by the ladder with the ground is [tex]$\frac{d \theta}{d t}=\frac{-1}{48} \mathrm{rad} / \mathrm{sec}$[/tex].

For such more questions about acute angle

https://brainly.com/question/2761036

Brianlzy helpp!! if "there are baby alligators in the sink" is a true statement, "the groundhog sees its shadow" is a true statement, and "ajay plays soccer" is a true statement, evaluate the truth of the statment "there are baby alligators in the sink or the groundhog sees its shadow or ajay plays soccer." ___1.____ or statements are true if ___2.______ 1. true or false 2. all atomic or constituent statements are true or at least one atomic or constituent statements are true

If "there are baby alligators in the sink" is a true statement , "the groundhog sees its shadow" is a true statement, and "Ajay plays soccer" is a true statement, the statement "there are baby alligators in the sink or the groundhog sees its shadow or Ajay plays soccer " is true.

This is because "or" statements are true if at least one of the atomic or constituent statements is true. In this case, all of the atomic or constituent statements are true, so the "or" statement is also true.

Atomic statements are the most basic statements that can be made in a logical argument. They are statements that cannot be broken down into simpler statements. An example of an atomic statement is "The sky is blue."

Constituent statements are statements that are composed of multiple smaller statements. An example of a constituent statement is "The sky is blue and the grass is green." This statement contains two atomic statements, "The sky is blue" and "The grass is green

To learn more about the statements , visit:

brainly.com/question/2370460

How can you use patterns to find the missing number in a multiplication or division equation? Give an example and explain your strategy.

For the multiplication and the division equations , The patterns can be used to find the missing number by using the cumulative property for the multiplication and reciprocal nature of cumulative property for division.

The definition of an equation in algebra is a mathematical statement that demonstrates the equality of two mathematical expressions. Every equation is a formula. Not all equations have formulas. It is the purpose of equations to be solved for a variable. We analyze formulas.

A recurring arrangement of numbers, forms, colors, and other elements constitutes a pattern in mathematics. The Pattern can be connected to any kind of occasion or thing. When a group of numbers are arranged in a particular way, the arrangement is referred to as a pattern. Patterns can also occasionally be referred to as a series.

for multiplication,

Using the cumulative property,

4*5 = 20 and 5*4 =20

for division,

2/4 = 1/2 and 4/2 = 2 which is reciprocal .

To learn more about patterns visit:

https://brainly.com/question/7043766

Vertically stretched by 2, moved 1 unit to the left, and 3 units up Write in rational equation

The mathematical formula that is the rational equation for the function is:

y = 2(x + 1) ² + 3

A rational equation is one in which the variable appears in the denominator of a quotient. By multiplying both sides by the denominator, we can find the answer, but we must be careful not to find any other solutions.

The quadratic parent function must be used: y = x²

When a vertical stretch is 2 units, we must multiply by 2: y = 2x²

We must add 1 to x if the unit is moved to the left: y = 2(x + 1)²

Finally, 3 units higher mean that we must increase the function by 3: y = 2(x + 1)² + 3

Therefore, the rational equation is: y = 2(x + 1)² + 3

To know more about Rational Equation , refer to this link:

https://brainly.com/question/20850120

A conical tank is partially filled with water. the height of the tank is 11 m and the radius of the tank is 5 m. the height of the water is 6 m and the radius of the water is 3 m. how much more water, in cubic meters, could you fit in the tank

The remaining amount of water will be  [tex]\dfrac{\pi}{3}[/tex] cubic meters.

We must determine the volume difference between the tank and the water already there in order to determine how much additional water might be accommodated in the tank. Here is the procedure in detail:

Utilising the formula for a cone's volume, determine the tank's volume :

[tex]\rm V= \dfrac{1}{3} \times \pi \times r^2 \times h[/tex]

[tex]\rm V= \dfrac{1}{3} \times \pi \times (5)^2 \times 11[/tex]

Use the same formula to get the tank's water volume:

[tex]V_w= \dfrac{1}{3} \times \pi \times 3^2 \times 6[/tex]

To determine the tank's remaining capacity , subtract the volume of the water from the tank's volume.

Remaining capacity = Volume of the tank - Volume of the water

Simplifying the equation , we have:

[tex]\rm Rc= [\dfrac{1}{3} \times \pi \times 5^2 \times 11] - [\dfrac{1}{3} \times \pi \times 3^2 \times 6]\\\\Rc = \dfrac{1}{3} \times \pi \times [5^2 \times 11 - 3^2 \times 6]\\\\Rc = \dfrac{1}{3} \times \pi \times [55 - 54]\\\\Rc= \dfrac{1}{3} \times \pi \times 1\\\\Rc= \dfrac{\pi} {3} \rm \ cubic\ meters[/tex]

Therefore, more water might fit in the tank by [tex]\dfrac{\pi}{3}[/tex] cubic metres or around 1.047 cubic metres.

To know more about volume follow

https://brainly.com/question/29801108

Simultaneous equations- write an expression for. (question b).

We want to write the expressions in terms of y ( solve each for y )

The two equations are y = a-x

                                      y = b-2x

Julia and vikram have a total of 72 math problems assigned for their homework. the ratio of the number of problems in julia's homework to the number of problems in vikram's homework is 7:5. how many more problems does julia have to solve more than vikram

Total 12 more problems does Julia have to solve more than Vikram.

In the given question, Julia and Vikram have a total of 72 math problems assigned for their homework.

The ratio of the number of problems in Julia's homework to the number of problems in Vikram's homework is 7:5.

We have to find how many more problems does Julia have to solve more than Vikram.

Total math problems = 72

Let the number of problems in Julia's homework is 7x.

Let the number of problems in Vikram's homework is 5x.

The number of problems in Julia's homework + The number of problems in Vikram's homework = Total math problems

7x + 5x = 72

Divide by 12 on both side, we get

Then, the number of problems in Julia's homework = 7*6 = 42.

The number of problems in Julia's homework = 5*6 = 30.

Hence, more problems Julia have to solve more than Vikram = 42 - 30 = 12

To learn more about ratio link is here

brainly.com/question/30065467

Morgan used to the equation below to find the number of mini netbooks she could purchase to fit her budget. 87.5x = 350 How many mini netbooks can Morgan buy?

The number of   mini netbooks can Morgan buy are 4.

Two or more expressions with an Equal sign is called as Equation.

Given that Morgan used to the equation 87.5x = 350 to find the number of mini netbooks she could purchase to fit her budge

We need to find the number of mini netbooks can Morgan buy

The equation 87.5x = 350

x represents the number of  mini netbooks

Divide both sides by 87.5

Hence, the number of   mini netbooks can Morgan buy are 4.

To learn more on Equation :

https://brainly.com/question/10413253

Elena walked 12 miles. Then she walked 1/4 that distance. How far did she walk all together? select all that apply.

She walked all together 15 miles.Because she walks 12 miles before and 3 miles after.Then the total distance will be 15 miles.

The length between two points is called distance.Distance may refer to a physical length.It is all called total movement.Distance is a actual length covered by a body.

There are many formulas to find distance but here we want to find total distance that she covered.

Now we find

Distance covered by Elena before=12 miles

                                                S1     =12 miles

After that she walked  = 1/4 * distance walked before

                               S2= 1/4 * 12

                                S2= 3 miles

Total distance= (distance walked before) + (distance walked after)

                   S=    s1+s2

                   S=  12 miles + 3 miles

                   S=  15 miles

hence she covered total distance 15 miles.

To learn more about distance visit;

https://brainly.com/question/15172156

what is the solution to this equation?

1. distribute

10x - 3(x - 6) = x + 30

10x - 3x + 18 = x + 30

2. simplify

7x + 18 = x + 30

3. move 18 to the right side

7x + 18 - 18 = x + 30 - 18

7x = x + 12

4. move x to the left side

7x - x = x + 12 - x

Advertisement

News Analysis

An Assassination Attempt That Seems Likely to Tear America Further Apart

The attack on former President Donald J. Trump comes at a time when the United States is already polarized along ideological and cultural lines and is split, it often seems, into two realities.

• Share full article

By Peter Baker

Peter Baker has covered the past five presidents.

• Published July 14, 2024 Updated July 15, 2024

Follow the latest news on the Trump assassination attempt.

When President Ronald Reagan was shot by an attention-seeking drifter in 1981, the country united behind its injured leader. The teary-eyed Democratic speaker of the House, Thomas P. O’Neill Jr., went to the hospital room of the Republican president, held his hands, kissed his head and got on his knees to pray for him.

But the assassination attempt against former President Donald J. Trump seems more likely to tear America further apart than to bring it together. Within minutes of the shooting, the air was filled with anger, bitterness, suspicion and recrimination. Fingers were pointed, conspiracy theories advanced and a country already bristling with animosity fractured even more.

The fact that the shooting in Butler, Pa., on Saturday night was two days before Republicans were set to gather in Milwaukee for their nominating convention inevitably put the event in a partisan context. While Democrats bemoaned political violence, which they have long faulted Mr. Trump for encouraging, Republicans instantly blamed President Biden and his allies for the attack, which they argued stemmed from incendiary language labeling the former president a proto-fascist who would destroy democracy.

Mr. Trump’s eldest son, his campaign strategist and a running mate finalist all attacked the political left within hours of the shooting even before the gunman was identified or his motive determined. “Well of course they tried to keep him off the ballot, they tried to put him in jail and now you see this,” wrote Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to the former president.

But the Trump campaign seemed to think better of it, and the post was deleted. A memo sent out on Sunday by Mr. LaCivita and Susie Wiles, another senior adviser, instructed Trump team members not to comment on the shooting.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .