Sometimes you stumble across knowledge so useful it feels like you’ve been handed cheat codes for the universe.
I felt that way when reading Mark Forsyth’s The Elements of Eloquence, which is a wonderfully witty romp through popular rhetorical devices found in the English language.
I’ve gathered my favourite ones in this post for easy reference. They’re a reminder that in our brave new world of AI language models, there are time-honoured formulas and patterns you can use in the grand tradition of Shakespeare, Byron, Austen, and Taylor Swift (all of the greats, basically) to empower you to outsmart the machines.
Alliteration
Origin
Latin. Addition of a letter.
Definition
Starting several syllables in a sentence using the same letter. Simple.
Examples
Bright as a button
Cool as a cucumber
Dead as a doornail
Power to the people
Full fathom five thy father lies — The Tempest
Voila! In view humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the “vox populi” now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin, van guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it’s my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V — V for Vendetta
Antithesis
Origin
Greek. Opposition, or set against.
Definition
When a thing is compared to its polar opposite for dramatic effect.
Examples
To be or not to be, that is the question — Hamlet
‘Cause you’re hot then you’re cold
You’re yes then you’re no
You’re in then you’re out
You’re up then you’re down
You’re wrong when it’s right
It’s black and it’s white — Katy Perry
Andiaplosis
Origin
Greek. To be made double.
Definition
When you start a line using the last word of the previous line.
Examples
The love of wicked men converts to fear; that fear to hate, and hate turns one or both, to worthy danger and deserved death — Richard II
Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering — Yoda
Diacope
Origin
Greek. Cut in two.
Definition
Repetition of a word, but broken up by a word or two in the middle.
Examples
To be or not to be — Hamlet
Food, glorious food! — Oliver!
Bond. James Bond. — You know who
Epizeuxis
Origin
Greek. Fastening together.
Definition
Repeating something over and over (and over and over and over and over) for extra oomph.
Examples
Location location location
O horror, horror, horror — Macbeth
Howl! Howl! Howl! Howl! Howl! – King Lear
We are never ever, ever, ever getting back together. Like, ever
‘Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
Shake it off, I shake it off – Taylor SwiftThe first rule of Fight Club is you don’t talk about fight club. The second rule of Fight Club is: You. Don’t. Talk. About. Fight club – Fight Club
Hendiadys
Origin
Greek. One thing by two.
Definition
Take an adjective and turn it into a noun. Voila. Instantly deep, indecipherable verse.
Examples
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune — Hamlet
Full of sound and fury – Macbeth
She walks in beauty, like the night — Byron
Nice and warm
Hyperbaton
Origin
Latin. Transposed or inverted.
Definition
Intentionally writing words in the wrong order for poetic effect.
Examples
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown — Henry IV
One swallow does not a summer make
Off you two f*** – The Thick of It
Literally everything Yoda says
Merism
Origin
Latin. Divide or partition.
Definition
Two (or more) contrasting parts of a whole.
Examples
Hook, line and sinker
From A to Z
Every nook and cranny
From nose to tail
Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes — The Tempest
Periodus
Origin
Latin. The time during which something runs its course.
Definition
When you bury the active verb under a whole pile of poetic fluff to build tension.
AKA period, periode, periodos, periodic sentences.
Examples of periodus
The cloud-capp’d towers,
The gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples,
The great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve — The TempestEvery breath you take,
Every move you make,
Every bond you break,
Every step you take,
I’ll be watching you — Sting and The Police
Polyptoton
Origin
Latin. Many cases.
Definition
Using a word’s multiple meanings in one sentence.
Examples
Is this a dagger that I see before me,
The handle towards my hand? — MacbethPlease please me — The Beatles
I dreamed a dream — Les Miserables (and Susan Boyle)
Tricolon
Origin
Greek. Three clauses.
Definition
The immortal, the eternal, the unbeatable rule of 3s. Three really is the magic number.
Examples
The good, the bad, and the ugly
Truth, justice, and the American way
Ready. Set. Go.
Eat, drink and be merry
We few. We happy few. We band of brothers — Henry V
I came. I saw. I conquered — Julius Caesar