Etiology is the study of causation in the development of disorders. Psychological disorders can develop from loss, pain, family matters, and environmental factors, and understanding these various causes can help people ultimately get better. The Roots of Etiology in Psychology Etiology, a fancy term that might sound like a kind of pasta, is actually the …
A texture gradient is how our eyes see a slow change in how objects look the closer they get, going from fine to coarse. It’s a monocular cue, which can occur in either or both eyes, showing a change in how an object looks. If they’re close, they appear coarse, the farther away they get, …
A palindrome is a word, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward and forward. For example, ‘Ro–b-ot‘ or ‘Was it a car or a cat I saw?‘. Palindromes can be serious or silly, but they’re always worth at least a chuckle. Unraveling Palindromes: A Fun Wordplay Adventure Palindromes can be found across various forms of …
What is a Palindrome? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them Read More »
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two opposing terms for humorous or dramatic effect. For example, “jumbo shrimp“ or “instant classic.” Understanding Oxymorons: A Contradictory Concept An oxymoron creates a sense of contradiction or paradox by pairing two words that seem to oppose each other. These combinations often evoke humor, irony, or thought-provoking …
What is an Oxymoron? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them Read More »
Metalepsis is a writing technique where you take a concept from one genre or area of knowledge and apply it to another, usually for humorous effect. For example, a writer might describe international warfare as a “game of thrones” or a chef might talk about “cooking up a storm”. Definition and Origin of Metalepsis Metalepsis is a rhetorical …
What is a Metalepsis in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them Read More »
Irony is when the opposite of what you expect to happen or what you mean to say actually happens or is said. It‘s often used in writing to create humorous or sarcastic effects. For example, if you say, “I love doing my taxes,” that‘s ironic because no one actually loves doing taxes, except accountants and …
What is Irony in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them Read More »
Malapropism is a comedic speech error where a word is substituted for a similar-sounding one with a different meaning, often for humorous effect. A famous example from a modern movie is in The Princess Bride when Vizzini says, “Inconceivable!” but means to say “incredible.” Definition and Origin of Malapropisms Malapropism is a humorous language mistake that occurs …
What is a Malapropism in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them Read More »
A portmanteau is a fun way to combine two words into one to create a new word. It‘s like a mashup of two words that have a special meaning when put together. For example, ‘brunch‘ is a portmanteau of ‘breakfast‘ and ‘lunch‘. The Magic of Portmanteaus: Combining Words for Fun and Creativity Portmanteaus are a …
What is a Portmanteau? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them Read More »
Synthetic Parallelism is when a writer uses two or more clauses of equal or similar length, structure, and meaning to create a balanced and rhythmic effect. It‘s a great way to make your writing more lively and fun! A fun example is “The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.” …
What is Synthetic Parallelism in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them Read More »
A spoonerism is a play on words in which the initial sounds of two words are swapped to create a new, often humorous phrase. Named after Reverend William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), a British theologian, who was known for his unintentional habit of spoonerizing words. For example, “The blushing crow” instead of “The crushing blow”. A …
What is Spoonerism in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them Read More »
