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Over the past few weeks, we have explored an exotic array of language spices starting with A. This week, we complete the collection with Z.
Simile compares two different things that are similar to each other using like and as. They often border on cliché. A hidden simile does not use like or as.
Jane curled up on the couch like a satisfied cat licking her lips.
Jane curled up on the couch, a satisfied cat licking her lips. (hidden)
Symploce uses anaphora and epistrophe in the same sentence or paragraph. It should appear once or twice in a manuscript for maximum impact and emotion.
Dick should have walked away. He should have put the diary down. He should never have read the shocking words. Jane had charmed him, confused him, and consumed him.
Synecdoche uses part of something to refer to the whole, a whole thing to refer to a part, a specific thing to refer to a generality, or a generality to refer to a specific thing. It is referring to a car as wheels, workers as hands, eyewear as glasses, and bandages as Band-Aids.
When it came to books, Jane preferred paper over plastic.
Tricolon repeats phrases, clauses, or sentences three times. If the phrases, clauses, or sentences increase in length with each repetition, it is called a tricolon crescendo.
It was a dark, dark, darkmoment for them both.
The book was old, oldand faded, old enough to be dangerous.
Zeugma ends a sentence with a last word or clause that doesn't fit in with the proposition. It offers a twist. It should end a paragraph for maximum effect.
Jane left with her book, her suitcase, and her pride.
Next week, we will talk about how to use them and revise for them.
For the complete list of spices and other revision layers, pick up a copy of:
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