Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Matt Ellis
Updated on
October 13, 2021
WRITING TIPS
Figurative language is a way of expressing oneself that does not use a word’s strict or
realistic meaning. Common in comparisons and exaggerations, it’s usually used to
add creative flourish to written or spoken language or explain a complicated idea.
Have you ever heard someone talk about “butterflies in their stomach” when they’re
nervous? There aren’t actually butterflies inside of their stomach—that would be
cruel! They’re just using figurative language to describe the uneasy sensation in their
body that feels as if a butterfly were moving around inside them.
intend
Basically, figurative language is anytime you stretch the actual meaning of words for
effect, whether to sound artistic, make a joke, or communicate more clearly and
engagingly. Figurative language is a common technique in narrative writing, where
the author strives to make emotional connections with the reader.
The opposite of figurative language is literal language, or phrasing that uses the
exact meaning of the words without imagination or exaggeration. For example, if an
athlete is doing well, you might say they’re “on fire” figuratively. If their clothes catch
on fire (which hopefully doesn’t happen), then they’d be on fire literally.
On the contrary, figurative language helps make writing and speeches more engaging
and amusing. The reader or listener has to think about the words a little more, as if
deciphering a riddle, which means they’re actively participating.
Another use of figurative language is to help simplify complex ideas. Scientists might
use it to explain the more complicated aspects of their research that a general
audience might not understand.
Figurative language makes full use of literary devices, particularly the five mentioned
below. Literary devices, in general, work well for making your writing more
entertaining, comprehensible, and poignant, so it’s no surprise that they go hand-in-
hand with figurative language.
1 Simile
A simile compares two different things, using the words “like” or “as” to draw
attention to the comparison.
“The very mystery of him excited her curiosity like a door that had neither lock nor
key.” —Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
“He swung a great scimitar, before which Spaniards went down like wheat to the
reaper’s sickle.” —Raphael Sabatini, The Sea Hawk
2 Metaphor
A metaphor compares two different things, similar to a simile. The main difference
between a simile and a metaphor is that metaphors do not use the words “like” or
“as.”
“The sun was a toddler insistently refusing to go to bed: It was past eight thirty
and still light.” —John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
“All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.” —Albert Einstein,
Out of My Later Years
3 Personification
And Immortality.”
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you
could miss it.” —John Hughes, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
4 Hyperbole
“There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to
buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County.” —Harper
Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
“I heard all things in the heaven and in the Earth. I heard many things in Hell. How
then, am I mad?” —Edgar Allan Poe, The Tell-Tale Heart
5 Allusion
“The camera has its own kind of consciousness; in the lens the Garden of Eden
itself would become ever so slightly too perfect.” —Arthur Miller, Timebends: A
Life
Figurative language can improve any piece of writing, but only when used effectively.
Here are four tips to keep in mind for using figurative language in your own writing:
With figurative language, a little goes a long way. Think of it like cooking with salt:
Using a little bit can enhance the taste and add wonderful new flavors, but overdoing
it can ruin your meal.
Figurative language can be distracting, so it’s best to limit its usage. If you’re using
metaphors, hyperbole, or other literary devices in every sentence, you’re going to
exhaust your reader. Save them for only the key moments in your story.
Aside from creating more engaging writing and helping to explain complex ideas,
figurative language is also great for a laugh. Comedians and comedic writers often
use it for punchlines and humorous analogies.
Even if a writer is particularly proud of a certain turn of phrase, putting those words
in the mouth of a character can seem out of place or inauthentic. Excessive figurative
language in dialogue can ruin the reader’s immersion and remind them that they’re
actually reading a story. The exception is if talking extravagantly is a particular trait
of your character, such as the purposefully pretentious Humbert Humbert from
Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita.
Think about how people talk in real life and use that as a guideline. If you come up
with a brilliant figurative phrase that must be used, work it into the narration
instead.
Sometimes figurative language can simplify a complicated idea, but other times it
can complicate a simple idea. If you want to add some figurative spice to a sentence,
make sure that you don’t convolute the meaning.
Related Articles
A Guide to Personification, with 33 What Are Imperative Sentences? How to Write a Report: A Guide
Examples
How to Write a Short Story in 5 Steps What Is Direct Characterization in Our 8-Step Guide for How to Write a Pro
Literature? Blog Post
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