Figures of Speech

Tropes: not to be taken literally

	Name	Explanation	Example
metaphor
metonymy
synekdoche
metalepsis
irony
paradox
oxymoron
litotes
hyperbole

Metaplastic figures: playing with spelling and sound

The addition of letters and sounds

prosthesis addition of letters to the beginning of a word epenthesis addition of letters to the middle of a word paragoge addition of letters to the end of a word

The omission of letters and sounds

aphaersis omission of letters from the beginning of a word syncope omission of letters from the middle of a word apocope omission of letters from the end of a word

The switching of letters and sounds

antisthecon substitution of a letter or sound for another within a word metathesis transposition of a letter out of its normal order in a word

Combinations of these factors

synaeresis

Playing with the word order

	Name	Explanation	Example
Headline
Headline

Omissions of words

	Name	Explanation	Example
Headline
Headline

Repetions of words

	Name	Explanation	Example
Headline
Headline

Figures of unusual word order

	Name	Explanation	Example
Headline
Headline

Peculiar thoughts

	Name	Explanation	Example
Headline
Headline

anthimeria