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A juxtaposition between light and dark

What is a Juxtaposition? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

A juxtaposition is when two ideas, characters, plot points, or other elements of a story are placed side–by–side for comparison (or to create an interesting contrast). It‘s like the literary equivalent of putting two photos side–by–side and saying “Hey, check out this cool comparison!” Sometimes it‘s funny, sometimes it‘s ironic, and sometimes it‘s just plain …

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a goated goat as an example of anthimeria in writing

What is Anthimeria in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

Anthimeria: A fun and creative way of spicing up your writing by using words in a different form than their original meaning! For example, instead of saying “I wrote an essay and handed it in.” You could say, “I papered the hell out of that essay!”  It’s when a word takes on a new form …

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a sky candle i.e. the sun as an example of kenning in writing

What is a Kenning in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

A kenning in writing is a humorous two–word phrase used to describe something without using its name. It is often used to add a creative element to writing and to make a play on words. For example, a kenning for a bicycle could be “two–wheeled steed”. Definition and Origin of Kennings A kenning is a figurative, usually …

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a cat and a caar to demonstrate a palindrome in writing

What is a Palindrome? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

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 …

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a jumbo shrimp as an illustration of an oxymoron in writing

What is an Oxymoron? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

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 …

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a chef cooking up a strom as an example of metalepsis in writing

What is a Metalepsis in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

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 …

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A knee made out of iron showing irony

What is Irony in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

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 …

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a peach tree dish or Petri dish as an example of a Malapropism in writing

What is a Malapropism in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

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 …

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some brunch to represent portmanteau in writing

What is a Portmanteau? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

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 …

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