Literal language is when words mean exactly what they say.

Literal language uses the

dictionary definitions of words, so
there is nothing that the reader must interpret or guess. You can expect to see literal
language in places.

Example:
Wolves have sharp teeth and a great sense of smell.
First, mix flour, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
Did you know that the human hand has 27 bones?
Underwater earthquakes cause deadly waves called tsunamis.

Figurative language is when words are used in a way that is different from their literal
meaning. People use figurative
language to make their message more descriptive and interesting. Describing things
figuratively helps the reader make
comparisons that create a strong mental image or feeling. Figurative language can also use
exaggeration to help prove a
point.

What Is Figure of Speech?

We spend our days communicating. When you wake up in the morning, you probably check
your email or social media.
From there, you may have a conversation with your spouse, coworker, or friend. Midday, you
may take a phone call or
send a text message. In the evening, you may relax by watching television, perhaps even
listening to a speech or debate.
All of these are types of communication, and they all rely on language.

But what makes language unique and memorable? Often what we remember is the words
and descriptions people use.
Part of what makes a language memorable is the use of different figures of speech.

What is a figure of speech? A figure of speech is an expression in which the words are not
used in their literal sense. For
example, if there is a storm outside and you say, 'It is raining cats and dogs,' you do not
mean this literally. There are no
cats and dogs falling from the sky, but you want to create an image of heavy rain.

When you use a figure of speech in your writing, you are not only giving a more detailed
description but making your
writing more memorable and vivid. You have probably used figures of speech in your writing
or conversations without
even realizing it. While there are many different kinds of figures of speech, we will look more
closely at the more common ones.
Simile
Metaphor
Personalification
Oxymoron
Paradox
Hyperbole

A simile is figurative language that compares two things using the words “like” or “as.”

Example:
Hot as fire.
Cold as ice.
Shining like a diamond.
Ran like a wind.

A metaphor is a direct comparison between two things. Metaphors don’t suggest one thing is
like another; they declare
that one thing is another.

Example:
Life is a highway.
Her eyes were fireflies.
She is a shining star.
He is hard rock.

A Personalification is a type of figurative language where you put a human characteristics to

a non-human. That non-human can be a animal, object, idea or a concept.

Example:
My alarm clock is yelling at me.
Her dog is complaining because she forgot to feed it.
His cat is furious to his friend's cat for eating its food.
She sat down at the tired, overworked desk.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing

meanings. An oxymoron is a literary device that juxtaposes contradictory terms. Oxymorons
are often used poetically as a way of
bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. An oxymoron is what’s known as a
"contradiction in terms."

Example:
accurate estimate
alone together
successfully failed
bittersweet

Paradox is a figure of speech that seems to lead to an illogical contradiction or a situation

that contradicts common
sense and reasoning. Paradoxical statements contradict themselves while creating a rare
sense of depth in language.

Example:
Save money by spending it.
If I know one thing, it's that I know nothing.
This is the beginning of the end.
Deep down, you're really shallow.

Onomatopoeia is a type of figurative language that is hard to spell but easy to use, an
onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it means.

Example:
BEEP!!! BEEP!!! BEEP!!!
VROOM!!! VROOM!!! VROOM!!!
BANG!!! BANG!!! BANG!!!
MOO!!! MOO!!! MOO!!!

Hyperbole is language that is obviously exaggerated and not meant to be taken literally.
Writers often
use hyperbole for emphasis or to be funny.

Example:
I have a mountain of homework to finish.
Its so hot in here i could melt.
I'm so hungry, i could eat a horse.
That broken computer took forever to fix.

EXTRA:

What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?

Oxymorons are often confused with paradoxes—after all, both are textbook contradictions of
terms. Despite the
similarities, however, oxymorons and paradoxes are two different types of literary devices,
each with their own special
usage

A paradox is a statement that

technically contradicts itself but remains true nonetheless. It may seem illogical or
unrealistic, but, upon reflection, it’s
based in reality and stems from valid reasoning.

Oxymorons have been used for millennia. More than a few have even become
commonplace expressions in modern-day
English.