Figurative language is\u00a0the use of words or phrases that is apart from their literal, dictionary definitions to create deeper meaning, or emotional impact.<\/p>\n
Think of it as adding a dash of flavour to your writing and helping your reader really get what you mean.<\/p>\n
It is a mix of metaphors, similes, personification, and so much more.<\/p>\n
Tools out there like Trinka’s free grammar checker<\/a> to help you with the professional writing.<\/p>\n Literal language means exactly what it says.<\/p>\n For instance, “It’s raining cats and dogs,” that does not mean actual animals are falling from the sky. It just means it’s raining really hard.<\/p>\n For example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Literal language:<\/strong> “After the exam, she was exhausted.”<\/p>\n Figurative language:<\/strong> “After the exam, she was dead on her feet.”<\/p>\n So, what are some of the go-to tools in the figurative language toolbox?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s where writers often go wrong: they overuse figurative language, which can make writing feel confusing, or overly dramatic.<\/p>\nFigurative vs. Literal: What’s the Difference?<\/h2>\n
Your Fig Language Cheat Sheet: Most Common Types<\/h2>\n
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\n Device<\/strong><\/td>\n What it Does<\/strong><\/td>\n Example<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n \n Simile<\/td>\n Compares two things using \u201clike\u201d or \u201cas\u201d<\/td>\n \u201cShe sings like an angel.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Metaphor<\/td>\n Compares two things directly, without \u201clike\u201d or \u201cas\u201d<\/td>\n \u201cLife is a rollercoaster.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Personification<\/td>\n Gives human qualities to inanimate objects<\/td>\n \u201cThe wind whispered through the trees.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Hyperbole<\/td>\n Exaggerates for emphasis<\/td>\n \u201cI\u2019ve told you a million times!\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Idiom<\/td>\n A phrase where the meaning isn\u2019t literal<\/td>\n \u201cBreak a leg\u201d means good luck.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Alliteration<\/td>\n Repeats consonant sounds at the beginning of words<\/td>\n \u201cPeter Piper picked a peck…\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Onomatopoeia<\/td>\n Uses words that sound like the noise they describe<\/td>\n \u201cThe bees buzzed.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Oxymoron<\/td>\n Combines contradictory ideas<\/td>\n \u201cSilent scream.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Euphemism<\/td>\n Uses a mild way of saying something unpleasant<\/td>\n \u201cShe passed away\u201d instead of \u201cdied.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Irony<\/td>\n Says the opposite of what is meant<\/td>\n \u201cOh great, another Monday.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Using Figurative Language Without Going Overboard<\/h2>\n
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