A palindrome is a word, number, or phrase that reads the same backward and forward, such as โcivicโ or โ2002.โ Palindromes can appear in names, places, and even unintentionally in everyday language. They are also used in word games and puzzles.
Palindrome exampleThe longest one-word palindrome in English is considered to be the word โtattarrattat,โ coined by James Joyce in Ulysses to mean โa knockโ:
โI was just beginning to yawn with nerves thinking he was trying to make a fool of me when I knew his tattarrattat at the door.โ
โTattarrattatโ is also an example of onomatopoeia.
Palindromes add a playful element to language by encouraging creativity and wordplay.
Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in a series of words, such as โpitter-patterโ or โcheeky monkey.โ Consonance lends a musical quality to a piece of writing and can be used to create a specific mood or atmosphere.
Consonance examplesNursery rhymes often use consonance to add a melodic and memorable quality.
Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one,
And down he run,
Hickory, dickory, dock.
Consonance can enhance the impact of language in different contexts such as poetry, prose, and advertising.
An oxymoron is when two words with opposing meanings are used alongside one another (e.g., โorganized messโ or โcool passionโ).
This combination of contradictory terms may seem absurd at first, but usually results in a concise expression that conveys a new complex meaning. Due to this, we encounter oxymorons in various contexts, such as literature, everyday language, and advertising.
Oxymoron examplesThe officer was struck by friendly fire from a fellow service member.
After a marathon seminar, participants staggered out of the room like the living dead.
There was a small crowd at the rally.
All our requests have been met with deafening silence.
An anachronism is a person, thing, or event that is placed in a historical time where it does not belong. For example, a knight wearing a wristwatch in a movie set in the medieval era would be an anachronism. ฮnachronisms can happen by mistake or be used intentionally to convey a message or add humor to a story.
Anachronism exampleIn the movie Braveheart, characters, including William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson), are shown wearing kilts, which is historically inaccurate for the time period portrayed in the film. However, the anachronistic use of kilts serves a cinematic purpose, as kilts have become symbolic of Scottish identity.
Anachronisms can be found in books, paintings, movies, and other creative works.
Rhyme in literature is using words with identical or similar final sounds, like โcatโ and โhat.โ Typically, that happens at the end of a line of text, but it can also occur in the middle.
Rhyme exampleShall I compare thee to a summerโs day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summerโs lease hath all too short a date;
In these first lines of William Shakespeareโs famous โSonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summerโs day?โ rhyme occurs at the end of the line.
Because rhyme adds a musical quality to a text, it also makes it more memorable and pleasant to the ear. Due to this, rhyme is a common device in poetry and songwriting.
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in two or more nearby words, such as โdumb luckโ or โsqueaky wheel.โ Assonance helps to create a sense of flow between words that can make phrases catchy and easy to remember. Because of this, we often find it in poetry, prose, and song lyrics.
Example of assonanceโThe rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.โ
This phrase from the musical My Fair Lady is used as a speech exercise to help the protagonist โimproveโ her accent.
Sibilance is the repetition of โsโ sounds in a series of neighboring words, such as โsilent whispers in the shadows.โ This deliberate repetition creates a hissing sound that contributes to the musicality and mood of a text. Sibilance is used in poetry, prose, and song lyrics.
Sibilance examplesThe squirrel shook the snow off its coat.
A double entendre is a phrase that can be understood in two different ways, one of which is obvious and innocent while the other may require some interpretation. The second meaning is usually sexually suggestive or inappropriate in some way.
Double entendre exampleIn Shakespeareโs play Hamlet, there is a famous example of a double entendre. In Act 3, Scene 2, Hamlet engages in a wordplay with Ophelia:
Hamlet: Lady, shall I lie in your lap?
Ophelia: No, my lord!
Hamlet: I mean, my head upon your lap?
Ophelia: Ay, my lord.
Here, Hamletโs first line can be interpreted as either โshall I rest my head on your knee?โ or โshall we sleep together?โ When she refuses, he assures her he only meant the former, not the latter.
Double entendres are often used to communicate hidden meaning and inject humor in everyday conversation, movies, TV shows, and literature.
Published on
June 27, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA.
Revised on
October 29, 2025
A clichรฉ is an overused and unoriginal expression. For example, when having to decide between two unfavorable options, itโs common to say โcaught between a rock and a hard place.โ
The word clichรฉ functions as a noun (e.g., โI removed all the clichรฉs from my writingโ). While some dictionaries recognize it as an adjective (e.g., โThe movie had a clichรฉ storylineโ), others list clichรฉd as the adjective form (e.g., โHe had a clichรฉd perspectiveโ).
Examples of ClichesAvoid it like the plague.
Better late than never.
Symbolism involves using a word or object to represent something beyond its literal meaning. For example, a light bulb is an electric device that can also stand for sudden insight or innovation.
Symbolism exampleSome symbols are easy to interpret because they have been associated with specific meanings for a long time. For example, a heart symbolizes love and affection, a dove is a symbol of peace, and a globe with Wi-Fi waves signifies an available wireless internet connection.
We encounter symbolism in various aspects of life, including literature, art, and everyday experiences.
