Ways to Use Figurative Language in Writing

Ways to Use Figurative Language in WritingWays to Use Figurative Language in WritingFigurative language, also called a figure of speech, isa word or phrase that departs from literal language to express comparison, add emphasis or clarity, or make the writing more interesting with the addition of color or freshness. Metaphors and similesare the two most commonly used figures of speech, but hyperbole,synecdoche, and personification are also figures of speech that are in a good writers toolbox. A metaphor compares two things by suggesting that one thing is anotzu sich The United States is a melting pot.A simile compares two things by saying that one thing is like another My love is like a red, red rose.Hyperbole is a form of exaggeration I would die without you.Synecdoche is a literary device that uses the part to refer to the whole The crown has declared war rather than The king (or the government) has declared war.Personification involves giving non-living things the attributes of a l iving thing The car is feeling cranky today. Figurative language enhances your fiction if its used competently and can be an economical way of getting an image or a point across. But if its used incorrectly, figurative language can be confusing or downright silly a true mark of an amateur writer. Figurative language can also be described as rhetorical figures ormetaphorical language whichever term you use, these are called literary devices. Why Figurative Language Is Important to Good Writing Figurative language can transform ordinary descriptions into evocative events, enhance the emotional significance of passages and turn prose into a form of poetry. It can also help the reader to understand the underlying symbolism of a scene or more fully recognize a literary theme. Figurative language in the hands of a talented writer is one of the tools that turn ordinary writing into literature. How to Use Figurative Language Effectively There is no one right way to use figurative language. That said, there are many ways to use figurative language poorly. Bear a few rules in mind when use metaphors, similes, and other literary devices Always know why you are using figurative language. Why say our love is dead rather than I dont love you anymore? Does the expression sound right in your characters mouth? Does it fit your tone and style? If not, dont use it.Choose your figures of speech carefully. Yes, you can write her beauty hit me in the eye like a squirt of juice from a grapefruit, but how would such a simile enhance your fiction or expand upon the meaning of your work? Perhaps you have a character with serious communication issues for whom it would be appropriate otherwise, skip it. Use figurative language sparingly. A paragraph that is loaded with similes and metaphors can be dense and difficult to understand. Select the figures of speech that serve your purpose (enhancing mood, meaning or theme), but dont use figurative language simply because you can.If you are using figurative language as dialogue, be sure it is appropriate for that character. Avoid putting flowery phrases into the mouths of characters who speak plainly. One very good way to explore figurative language is to read it as written by some of the great literary figures. As you pick up a book by Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway or Thomas Wolfe, for instance, use a highlighter to mark how these writers used different forms of figurative language and note how it ?fits with their writing style as a whole. This technique will help you to understand how and why it is used and learn how to better integrate it into your own writing.