Different Types of Figures of Speech with Examples

What Is Figure of Speech? Definition & Key Details

A figure of speech is an expression or creative use of language that is used to make a greater effect on your reader or listener. It makes the language more imaginative and effective for communication. Also, it includes making comparisons, contrasts, associations, exaggerations, and constructions that give a much clearer picture of what you are trying to convey. However, language that uses figures of speech is collectively known as figurative language.

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Some key details about figures of speech:

• Figures of speech play with the exact meaning of words that are called tropes, while figures of speech that play with the order or pattern of words are called schemes.

• Figures of speech can take many forms. A figure of speech can involve a single word, a phrase, an omission of a word or phrase, a repetition of words or sounds, or specific sentence structures.

• Figures of speech are also known as figures of rhetoric, figures of style, rhetorical figures, figurative language, and schemes.

Overall, this is all about figure of speech and its key details.

Types of Figures of Speech with Examples

Figures of speech in English grammar add depth and color to language, which makes it more engaging and memorable. It is important to understand these devices, as they convey cultural shades and elaborative elements that are vital for accurate and efficient translation. Below we have listed down the 20 types of figure of speech with examples and when they are typically used.

1. Alliteration

Alliteration refers to the repetition of consonant sounds right next to each other, which creates a memorable or melodic effect. It is often used in poetry, marketing, and branding to build a musical outcome and make phrases more memorable.

• “Peter Piper picked a peck of peppers.”
• “I bought a bag of big bell peppers.”
• “She sells seashells by the seashore.”

2. Antithesis

An antithesis is a figure of speech that states strong contrasting ideas placed in juxtaposition. It places opposite things or ideas next to one another to highlight their contrast.

• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)
• “Many are called, but few are chosen.”
• “Give me liberty, or give me death.” (Patrick Henry)

3. Apostrophe

An apostrophe is used to address someone absent or dead. It can also be used to address an abstract quality or idea, and even a non-living object.

• “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” William Shakespeare, in Romeo and Juliet.
• “Oh, how I wish you were here with me.”
• “Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining.”

4. Circumlocution

A “circumlocution” is a figure of speech where someone uses an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea, majorly talking around a subject instead of saying something directly.

• “I wouldn’t mind having something to eat at the moment.”
• “I’m currently experiencing a lack of funds.”
• “I’m weary at the moment.”

5. Epigram

An epigram is a short, interesting, and memorable idea or statement about a specific subject that is expressed in a witty and funny manner. You will find the Epigrams in speeches, poetry, and sometimes at the start of a book.

• “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”- Oscar Wilde
• “If we don’t end war, war will end us.”- H.G. Wells
• “The child is the father of the man.”- William Wordsworth

6. Euphemism

Euphemism refers to those words or a phrase that is used to convey something unpleasant, sad, or considered taboo. It is communicating something in a less annoying and much lighter tone or an indirect manner.

• “The company experienced a revenue adjustment.” (instead of a loss)
• “His great grandfather passed away last week.” (instead of death)
• “We are restructuring the department.” (instead of firing employees)

7. Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that adds emphasis, urgency, or excitement to a statement. It is commonly used in marketing to grab attention.

• “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
• “I’m so tired I could sleep for a year.”
• “This is the worst day of my life.”

8. Irony

Irony is a rhetorical device that is used to express an intentional meaning by using language that conveys the opposite meaning when taken literally. Moreover, it is an inconsistency between expectation and reality.

• “A police station getting robbed.”
• “A vehicle was parked right in the front of no parking sign.”
• “The open door policy often led to more closed conversations.”

9. Litotes

A litotes is a part of figurative language where an understatement is created by stating the negative of the opposite to emphasize a positive point, often using a double negative. It means saying something is ‘not bad’ to imply it’s good.

• “The weather isn’t too bad.”
• “It’s not rocket science.”
• “He is not unfamiliar with the topic.”

10. Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison but in a way different from a simile. However, it makes the comparison as if it were true. It is commonly used in business to draw parallels between strategies and experiences.

• “The footballer Mohammad Salah is a machine.”
• “He plays like a lion when he comes to the field.”
• “She is such a firecracker.”

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11. Metonymy

Metonymy is a figure of speech that is formed by the use of a term (the name of an object or an idea) to replace another term that is closely related to the thing or idea.

• “All of us were so happy that Charlie finally made it to Bollywood.”
• “We loved the special exotic dish we had at the party.”
• “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

12. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is used when a word copies the natural sound of a thing, It makes the description more expressive and realistic.

• “The phone buzzed on the table.”
• “The heavy box thumped on the floor.”
• “The paint splatted onto the canvas.”

13. Oxymoron

An oxymoron is one the types of figures of speech that uses two contradictory or opposite words to form a new meaning.

• “There was only a small crowd in front of the grocery store.” (small crowd)
• “The process of giving birth is painfully beautiful.” (painfully beautiful)
• “Sanjana left the painting completely unfinished.” (completely unfinished)

14. Paradox

A paradox is a figure of speech where a statement appears to contradict itself, but further reveals a deeper truth or meaningful idea, often giving the listener time to think more deeply.

• “The more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know.”
• “The only way to overcome death is to die.”
• “This is the beginning of the end.”

15. Personification

Personification is one of the types of figures of speech that is used to allocate human characteristics to something that is not human. It is generally assigning human attributes to nonhuman things.

• “The sun kissed me while I was clicking a picture.”
• “I felt like the food kept calling me.”
• “Her smile was the sunniest part of my day.”

16. Pleonasm

Pleonasm is a part of figure of speech chart that refers to the use of more words than required to convey meaning. It is often used for humour or emphasis, or they might not realize sometimes that they are using extra words at all.

• “I saw it with my own eyes.”
• “The museum was full of visually ornate paintings.”
• “I’m imagining the paintings in my mind.”

17. Pun

A pun includes a play of words that have more than one meaning or those that sound alike. Among all the figures of speech, Pun is the most interesting and amusing.

• I used to be a baker, but I could not make enough dough. (the word dough is referred to both baking and money)

• Did you hear about the guy whose left side was cut off? He is all right now. (the word ‘All right’ is used both for “okay” and for the only side left.)

• I used to be a shoe salesman, but I got the boot. (Here “got the boot” means fired and a type of shoe.)

18. Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that is mainly used to compare two or more things that have a similar quality. It uses the words such as “like” or “as” to make the comparison.

• “Our new branding strategy is like a breath of fresh air.”
• “Closing this deal will be as easy as pie.”
• “The team worked as busy as bees to meet the deadline.”

19. Synecdoche

A synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. It essentially substitutes a smaller component to refer to a large entity.

• “The wheels are in motion.” (wheels representing progress)
• “The company hired new blood for innovation.” (new blood representing employees)
• “The team needs all hands on deck for this project.” (hands representing workers)

20. Understatement

Understatement is a part of the figure of speech chart that minimizes the significance of something. It can create an ironic or humorous effect.

• “This was a slight inconvenience.” (for a major problem)
• “He’s a bit of chatterbox.” (someone talks excessively)
• “There’s a small scratch on the car.” (after a bad accident)

These are the twenty types of figures of speech with examples for students to know and have a better understanding.

Why to Use Figures of Speech?

Using figures of speech in English grammar or figurative language in our writing is a way to convey meanings in fresh and unexpected ways. They can help the readers understand and stay interested in what the user has to say, and they also foster creativity and depth. However, below are some reasons that will let you know the benefits of using figure of speech.

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1. Add Depth and Imagery: By comparing things to something else, figures of speech create mental pictures and help the readers visualize concepts more clearly.

2. Make Writing More Enhancing: Apart from the exact language, it adds vibrancy and liveliness to paragraph writing, essay writing, and dialogue writing.

3. Clarify Complex Ideas: Using metaphors or similes can simplify complex concepts by relating them to similar things.

4. Emphasize a Point: Figures of speech are used to highlight the specific aspects of an idea or argument.

These are the advantages or benefits of using figures of speech for students.

Tips for Using Figures of Speech in Writing & Speech

To use figure of speech in your writing and speaking you must know the basic tips and tricks for using it. Thus, this section has mentioned some of the best tips and strategies for using figures of speech.

• Understand what each figure of speechis, including its type and purpose.

• Consider your audience while using figurative language to ensure it relates to them.

• Use the figure of speech wisely to maintain their impact and ensure your message remains clear.

• Ensure a balance between figurative and literal language to maintain clarity in your communication.

• Be mindful of the cultural context and expressions to avoid confusion.

• Take the good examples to make your content more engaging and memorable for the reader.

These are the useful tips that you can follow while using figures of speech.

Figures of Speech Worksheet with Answers

Till now we have understood that figures of speech play an essential role in understanding and usage of English grammar. However, to master this aspect of the language, one should solve the exercise or test. Thus, the below given is the figures of speech worksheet with answers for a better understanding.

Questions

1. "She sings like an angel."

2. "The leaves danced in the wind."

3. "I've told you a million times to clean your room!"

4. "He’s the black sheep of the family."

5. "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

6. “The idea was as refreshing as a cold lemonade on a scorching day.”

7. “He attacked the task like a bull charging at a red flag.”

8. “Books are the keys to the kingdom of knowledge.”

9. “The cake was disgustingly delicious.”

10. “I’ll start dieting when elephants fly.”

Answers

1. Simile

2. Personification

3. Hyperbole

4. Metaphor

5. Alliteration

6. Simile

7. Simile

8. Metaphor

9. Oxymoron

10. Hyperbole

Conclusion

To conclude, we discussed the figures of speech with their detailed explanations and additional points. Further, we had a brief look at the types of figures of speech with examples, benefits of using them, tips, and worksheets for practice. Getting an understanding of this topic is vital as it helps in the English grammar. Also, if you want more such exposure on tenses, adverbs, proverbs, nouns, and adjectives then visit our website and read about it.

FAQs

1. What Is a Figure of Speech?

A figure of speech is an expression or creative use of language that is used to make a greater effect on your reader or listener. It makes language more imaginative and effective for communication.

2. What Are the 20 figures of speech?

The twenty figure of speech types are as follows:

Metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, alliteration, oxymoron, litotes, paradox, irony, pun, metonymy, synecdoche, understatement, pleonasm, irony, apostrophe, antithesis, euphemism, epigram, and circumlocution.

3. Are Idioms Figure of Speech?

Yes, Idioms are a type of figure of speech. It is a word or phrase that uses a non-literal meaning to create an effect.

4. What Are the Examples of Personification?

Here are some examples of personification.

• “The sun kissed me while I was clicking a picture.”
• “I felt like the food kept calling me.”
• “Her smile was the sunniest part of my day.”