Literary Devices Your Can Use to Elevate Your Writing (with examples)
I suggest you think of literary devices, like the ones discussed below as a toolkit.
Used judiciously, the right ones can make your ideas:
resonate more deeply,
remain in your audience's memory longer, and
create that elusive emotional connection that turns casual readers into devoted followers.
You’ve probably used some of these before, and probably even some of the “less common ones” without even knowing it.
These devices can help can create mental images, establish rhythm, highlight important concepts, and make abstract ideas concrete.
I’m going to go through thirty-eight “essential” literary devices (part two coming soon) that can “dramatically improve” your writing. We’ll also look at some successful business people, thought leaders, and presidents have used these devices to captivate audiences and convey complex ideas with clarity and impact.
1. Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound across multiple words. It creates rhythm and mood, and can make language more engaging and distinctive.
Take George R.R. Martin's book that will eventually maybe come out: The Winds of Winter.
The repeated "w" sounds in the winds of winter mirrors the whisper-like quality of the wind, and the repition crease a flow that mimics the movement of the wind.
2. Analogy
An analogy is an extended comparison that explains something unfamiliar by relating it to something more familiar.
Stephen Hawking used an analogy when he said:
A black hole is like a giant vacuum cleaner.
A black hole is not vacuum cleaner.
I know this because I have a vacuum cleaner in my house and when I turn it on I (and the rest of my apartment and our planet) have not been sucked inside.
Joking aside, thinking of a black hole as a giant vacuum cleaner is a useful way to visualize it.
Analogies are useful to explain concepts, build themes, and emphasize ideas. They simplify complex ideas by making them accessible through everyday experiences. By framing a concept in relatable terms, analogies can persuade and resonate with an audience, and they encourage imaginative thinking and deeper connections.
For example, in The Lean Startup, Eric Ries uses an extended analogy when he compares startup management to driving a car:
A startup is like driving a car while building it. You're constantly making adjustments based on feedback, constructing new components, and trying to reach your destination without falling apart.
3. Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It creates emphasis and rhythm. It reinforces ideas and (hopefully) intensifies the reader’s emotional response. (Plus, the repetitive structure makes content more memorable.)
Steve Jobs, for example, used anaphora masterfully in his 2005 Stanford commencement address:
Don't settle. Don't settle for dogma. Don't settle for what other people tell you. Don't settle for a life that is less than what you're capable of living.
Each repetition brings his message closer to the audience’s heart, and it intensifies the emotional weight of his hopes for the future.
4. Allusion
Allusions add depth and layers to text by connecting it to broader themes, history, or cultural touchstones. By doing this, you’re able to convey complex ideas succinctly while creating a sense of connection with readers who recognize the reference. This makes the reading experience more interactive.
In non-fiction, allusions can support arguments by connecting contemporary ideas to historical events or revered texts. Common sources of allusions include mythology, literature, history, and popular culture. However, when using allusions, it’s essential to consider the target audience's knowledge; obscure references can alienate readers who may not understand the context
In his book Start With Why, Simon Sinek alludes to Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech with:
Dr. King gave the “I Have a Dream” speech, not the “I Have a Plan” speech…
In doing so, Sinek is uses this cultural touchstone to emphasize the importance of inspiration over detailed strategy.
5. Antithesis
Antithesis juxtaposes contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses, often using parallel structure, emphasizing their differences and highlighting key themes.
In John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address he said:
Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
Antithesis makes differences stark and easier to comprehend. The balanced structure gives arguments a polished, logical appeal, and contrasting ideas stick in readers' minds due to their striking differences.
Jim Collins, for example, in Good to Great writes:
Good is the enemy of great.
This concise antithesis captures a profound business insight in just six words.
6. Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, creating a subtle musicality in text.
The choice of vowel sounds can influence the mood. Long vowels can create a somber tone, and short ones add energy.
For example, in his TED Talk "How Great Leaders Inspire Action," Simon Sinek uses assonance:
People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it.
The repetition of the "i" sound creates a pleasing rhythm that makes the phrase more memorable.
7. Asyndeton
Asyndeton is the omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence, often to create a fast-paced or dramatic effect.
By removing conjunctions, asyndeton speeds up the rhythm of a sentence, creating excitement or tension. Each item or phrase stands out, drawing more attention to each point and making the structure more memorable.
For example, Winston Churchill famously used asyndeton in one of his wartime speeches when he said:
We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills."
8. Cacophony
Cacophony is the use of harsh, discordant sounds in writing, often to evoke chaos, tension, or discomfort. This can be used to mirror chaotic or intense moments, making scenes feel more vivid and realistic and, when juxtaposed with softer sounds, it can highlight transitions or shifts in tone.
In describing market crashes, for example, financial journalists often use cacophony with phrases like "stocks crashed," "debt crisis crushed," and "markets plummeted," where harsh consonants mirror the painful financial disruption.
9. Chiasmus
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which the structure of two clauses is reversed, creating symmetry and emphasis. This can make statements catchy and impactful.
An example of this is JFK’s inaugural address when he said:
Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
10. Colloquialism
Colloquialism refers to informal words, phrases, or expressions commonly used in everyday speech but less so in formal writing.
Colloquialisms can make dialogue or narratives feel more realistic and relatable.
Also, which colloquialisms one uses can reveal details about a person, such as their background, culture, or personality.
11. Consonance
Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity, especially at the end of words. Consonance creates harmony and rhythm, draws attention to specific words or phrases, and enhances mood.
Depending on the consonants used, it can convey calmness or harshness, adding texture to the writing.
For example, in Outliers Malcolm Gladwell uses consonance when describing success:
It is not the brightest who succeed...Nor is success simply the sum of the decisions and efforts we make on our own behalf.
The repetition of "s" sounds creates a smooth, flowing explanation.
12. Diction
Diction refers to an author's choice of words and their arrangement. This has a significant impact on tone, style, and meaning.
It can reveal a speaker's personality, education, or social background and captivates readers when well-chosen.
Steve Jobs was known for his precise diction in presentations, using simple yet powerful words like "revolutionary," "magical," and "incredible," to create an accessible yet aspirational tone that made technology seem approachable.
13. Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is the use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the story. Foreshadowing builds suspense, keeping readers guessing and engaged. It links earlier and later parts of the narrative and encourages readers to look for deeper meanings and connections.
In Jim Collins' Good to Great, he foreshadows his findings early by mentioning companies that made the leap from good to great performance, creating anticipation for the revelations about what differentiated these companies.
14. Hyperbole
This is the best one, without a doubt!
Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally. It’s often used for emphasis or humor.
This can be useful because it draws attention to key ideas or emotions. It can create a playful or exaggerated tone, and makes descriptions or arguments stand out in readers' minds.
A quick check in.
Okay, this is pretty long already and there are still 22 or so more. So, here’s a call to action if you want to reach out and talk to us about any of the things we do.
Or, you can keep reading! And check out the other 22 or so pieces here (coming soon)
Happy writing!