Writing Techniques

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Twenty-nine Useful Writing Techniques

There are many writing techniques that writers can use to make their work more engaging and memorable. There are techniques to paint "mind pictures," to clarify ideas, to invoke emotions, to add emphasis, to add rhythm or musicality, and to control the flow the text.

Below is a list of 29 techniques that writers can use to enhance their readers' interaction with their work. The techniques are all examples of figurative language, which is catch-all term used to describe the use of words in an unusual or imaginative manner.

Table of Contents

Fundamental Writing Techniques
Advanced Writing Techniques
Terms Related to Meaning or Structure

Fundamental Writing Techniques

Listed below are the first 6 writing techniques. I judge these to be fundamental skills. Note that "fundamental" does not mean basic. They are all important techniques that creative writers employ to engage their readers. (To help with prioritizing reading, I have ordered them by importance, IMHO.)

For each technique, I have given a short explanation, the primary benefits, and three simple examples. The link in each entry leads to a detailed lesson with more examples and a test.

(1) metaphors

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another. Using a metaphor helps explain an idea or make a comparison, often by creating "mind pictures" for readers. For example:

The classroom was a zoo.
Her eyes were darting searchlights.
Paul's cheek was a moon surface.

(2) similes

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as." Like metaphors, similes help explain idea or make comparisons. For example:

The sponge was as light as a feather.
He moved like a snail on tranquillizers.
Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.

(3) analogies

An analogy is a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. Analogies help writers make complex ideas more relatable and understandable. For example:

A singer? She's a crow.
The passengers arrive like molasses in January.

While metaphors and similes are the most common types of analogy, there are other forms. For example, in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", Aslan's sacrifice, death and return into the story refer to Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. This type of comparison is known as an allegory.

The story "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" is an analogy in the form of a parable.

(4) personification

Personification involves giving human traits, ambitions, or feelings to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. Personification is an efficient way to describe inanimate things as it allows readers to identify with the human trait and its connotations. For example:

The avalanche is stalking you.
The ivy throttled the regal oak.
Canadians remain in winter's icy grip.

Personification is a form of metaphor.

(5) onomatopoeia

The term onomatopoeia describes words that imitate or evoke the sound of what they represent. Onomatopoeic words can help to create vivid imagery and enhance the sensory experience for readers or listeners. For example:

The bees buzzed from bud to bud.
The sausages sizzled in the pan.
Matt gurgled the salt water.

(6) alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in multiple words in close succession. It is used to make writing more rhythmic or more memorable. For example:

The bushes were bursting with berries.
Don't gut your golden goose!
In Howth, the wild westerly winds ravage the coast.

Advanced Writing Techniques

Here are the next 23 techniques. I would describe these are more specialized than the first six. (These ones are listed in alphabetical order.)

(7) anastrophe

Anastrophe is the deliberate changing of normal word order, usually for emphasis. For example:

She stared into the dog's eyes deep and menacing.
In the night sky shimmered the bright stars.
Bright he was not.

(8) assonance

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. It is used for emphasis or to make text more memorable or pleasing to the ear. For example:

Patience always pays.
The early bird catches the worm.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

(9) consonance

Consonance is the repetitive sounds produced by consonants in nearby words. Like assonance, it is used to make text more memorable or pleasing to the ear. More so than assonance, consonance adds rhythm and musicality to writing, without being as obvious as alliteration. For example:

I'm not rattled by your little tittle-tattle
He struck a streak of bad luck.
Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes

(10) diction

In the context of writing techniques, diction refers to the style created by word choice. Word choice is a key aspect of conveying messages effectively and influencing readers. For example:

Using "youthful" instead of "young" to imply energy and vitality.
Using "stuff you need to know" instead of "terms and conditions" to portray your company as contemporary, friendly, and non-corporate.
Using "thrifty" instead of "cheap" to suggest careful spending positively.

See also connotation, which refers to the additional sense of a word.

(11) emotive language

Emotive language consists of word choices that are intended to evoke an emotional response from the audience, whether positive or negative. For example:

The victims were executed in cold blood.
The government will slash interest rates.
He pestered passers-by for help.

(12) ethos

In a text designed to be persuasive, writers can show their "ethos" to establish their credibility, knowledge, and morals. Demonstrating ethos builds trust. To achieve most influence, ethos is combined with pathos (empathy or emotion) and logos (logic or evidence). For example:

Ethos: Expressing confidence; sharing credentials, endorsements, and morals; proving experience and knowledge.
Pathos: Using emotive images and language; sharing personal feelings; employing inspirational quotations.
Logos: Providing data, statistics, analysis, references, or case studies; providing supportive analogies.

(13) euphemisms

A euphemism is an agreeable or inoffensive term used to replace a rude or offensive one. It is often used to address sensitive topics gently. For example:

Your budgie has been put to sleep.
I will enjoy the challenge.
The police force is being streamlined.

(14) extending a sentence

Knowing how to extend a sentence is a great addition to a writer's toolkit. Here are four methods:

(1) Use a colon (:) to give more information about something mentioned previously in the sentence.

He blamed his divorce on one thing: beer.

(2) Use a semicolon (;) when a slight break is preferable to starting a new sentence.

The pilot was worried; the elevators were packed with ice.

(A semicolon gives a smoother transition than a period (full stop).)

(3) Use three dots (...) as a pause for effect.

Crime does not pay ... as well as politics.

(4) Use a dash (–) if you can't remember any of the rules above. It covers all three.

(15) hyperbole

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally. Hyperbole is usually used for emphasis or comedic effect. For example:

Your mum is going to have a fit when she sees that tattoo.
Cold? The polar bears were wearing mittens.
Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world. (Actress Marilyn Monroe)

(16) logosglyph

A logosglyph is a word that looks like what it means (e.g., the word "bed" looks like a bed). Logosglyphs are used to enhance the sensory experience for readers. They are for the eyes what onomatopoeic words are for the ears. For example:

eyes like pools
tall stilts
The daffodil's perfectly round head caught my attention.
Are they your "come to bed" eyes?

In marketing, logosglyph has come to mean the combination of an image and words or writing with a font designed to resemble the word

l💜ve

(17) metonyms

A metonym is a term used in place of a closely related term. Using metonyms is a good way to keep your writing interesting. It's also a good way of showing your readers that you trust them. For example:

The top brass will disagree.
A statement by the The Kremlin is expected at 9 o'clock.
The audience is smarter than the studio thinks it is.

(18) oxymorons

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposite terms in a single phrase or expression. In literature, they are used to make readers pause and ponder the concept. They can also be used to inject humour or irony. For example:

a screaming silence
dull shine
non-prosaic prose

(19) parenthetical punctuation

The term parenthetical punctuation refers to commas, dashes, or brackets. They are used in pairs to insert a clarification, explanation, or additional information into a sentence. For example:

Mrs Allan, 64 at the time, rang the police immediately.
Due to pub quizzes, Buzz Aldrin – the second man on the Moon – is now as famous as Neil Armstrong.
Mrs O'Grady's new macaw (called "Billy Two") rides a motorized skateboard.

The choice of parenthetical punctuation is the writer's, and there are pros and cons for each type. Here are some guidelines:

commas	(pro) normal-looking sentence (con) commas are often confused with other commas in the sentence
brackets	(pro) parenthesis easily seen (con) brackets make official letters look a little unorganized
dashes	(pro) parenthesis easily seen (con) dashes look a little stark

(20) periodic sentences

A periodic sentence is a sentence that has been deliberately structured to place the main point at the end. Usually, the last word in the sentence is the point the writer wants to emphasize. used for emphasis and can be persuasive by putting reasons for something at the beginning before the final point is made. For example:

When I was shopping in the town yesterday, I saw Mike!
The winner of best city, with a mile-long modern shopping mall, cycle paths hugging every road, and a network of canals, is Milton Keynes.
Because she knows the filing system, has more experience than the rest of the team, and can get into work at a moment's notice, Sarah will be charge next week.

Look at the last two examples. Notice that the reasoning is placed up front before the big announcement. Writers also use this technique when being persuasive.

(21) point of view

The term point of view (POV) in literature refers to the perspective from which a story is narrated. There are three: the first person (using "I"), the second person (using "you"), and the third person (everything else). For example:

First-person: "I stare into the bear's eyes."
Second-person: "You stare into the bear's eyes."
Third-person: "He stares into the bear's eyes."

(22) repetition (anaphora)

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It used for emphasis and rhythm and to make a text more memorable. For example:

"We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be..." (Sir Winston Churchill)
"The future's bright. The future's Orange." (Telecommunication company Orange's slogan)
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..." (Author Charles Dickens)

(23) repetition (commoratio)

Commoratio is the repetition of an idea, rephrased and restated several times to emphasize a point. For example:

This was their fault. They were to blame. They caused this problem.
We must act, take a stand, do something now, before it's too late.
"It's not pinin'. It's passed on! This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late parrot! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed it to the perch, it would be pushing up the daisies! Its metabolical processes are of interest only to historians! It's popped the twig! It's shuffled off this mortal coil! It's run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! This is an ex-parrot!" (Monty Python's Dead Parrot Sketch)

(24) repetition (epiphora)

Epiphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. Like the other techniques involving repetition, it used for emphasis and rhythm and to make a text more memorable. For example:

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Where now? Who now? What now?
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child." (Corinthians, The Apostle Paul)

(25) sentence fragments

A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence but, grammatically, does not qualify as one. In other words, a sentence fragment starts with a capital letter and has end punctuation, but it does not contain a subject and a verb and express a complete idea as a sentence does. Sentence fragments are used to impart information quickly (particularly when creating drama or surprise) and for emphasis. For example:

She heard a tinkle. She looked at the leaves. She kicked them aside. Another tinkle of metal. She brushed her foot over the leaves again. Her ring! A ray of unblemished sparkle. As perfect as the day it was crafted.
The booklet was gone. At the back? No, definitely, missing. Stolen.
A tall figure emerged from the shadow. Nicely dressed. Suddenly too close. Staring straight at me. Closing. Do I know him? No. Goose bu... Teeth!

(26) staccato sentences

Staccato sentences are short sentences (full, grammatically fine sentences) written back to back for literary effect. The effect sought with a string of staccato sentences is usually emphasis, clarity, or speed for drama or excitement. For example:

I stopped. My mouth opened. It improves listening. I was an alert statue.
The reel clicked once. Matt noticed and carefully lowered his beer to the deck. It clicked again. Two more clicks. Three. Now faster. Click, click, click. The reel screamed. The rod bowed. Fish on! Fish on!
The wind howled. Lights flickered. Silence.

Notice that staccato sentences are often combined with sentence fragments to keep reading speed high.

(27) tmesis

Tmesis involves inserting a pause, a word, or a phrase into another word. It is a useful and fun technique for adding emphasis. For example:

un-be-lievable
A-whole-nother level
abso-blooming-lutely

(28) zeugma

Zeugma is a technique in which a single word joins two (or more) parts of a sentence. Often, the shared word is used in a literal sense and a figurative sense. It can be used to entertain, to inspire deeper thinking, and also to shock

She aroused curiosity and men.
They grew potatoes, turnips, and bored.
She broke his car and his heart.

(29) sentence structure

There are four sentence structures:

(1) simple sentence

A simple sentence has just one independent clause. For example:

You can't surprise a man with a dog.

(2) complex sentence

A complex sentence has an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. For example:

Diplomacy is the art of saying "nice doggie" until you can find a rock.

(3) compound sentence

A compound sentence has at least two independent clauses. For example:

Cry "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war. (Playwright William Shakespeare)

(4) compound-complex sentence

A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. For example:

When a dog bites a man, that is not news because it happens so often, but if a man bites a dog, that is news. (Editor John B Bogart)

In most texts, it is appropriate to use a mix of sentence structures as this helps to keep readers engaged. In other words, a text overloaded with just one type of sentence structure runs a high risk of being dull.

Short sentences are great for creating speed or surprise and highlighting important information. They can also be appropriate for young or foreign audiences. Longer sentence, on the other hand, help with explaining complex ideas or relationships, allowing a writer to be more descriptive or accurate.

Terms Related to Meaning or Structure

Here is a list of 15 terms related to the meanings or structures of words and texts. These are not writing techniques like the ones above, but they are terms that a creative writer ought to know. These aspects of writing might describe or categorize a word or a text. (They are listed in alphabetical order.)

(1) anagrams

Anagrams are words that share the same letters as each other. Anagrams are often used as a form of wordplay in learning games. They can also be used for humour or to add to the truth of a statement (if the letters are same, then in must be true). For example:

Elvis lives!
The country side: No city dust here
eleven plus two = twelve plus one

(2) antonyms

Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. By using antonyms, a writer can add variety by expressing an idea from the other direction. For example, in both literature and business writing, they can be used with double negatives to make statements sound more diplomatic or factual. For example:

She could not be described as unattractive.
My statement was not untrue.
The project wasn't a failure.

(3) archaisms

An archaism is an archaic word or spelling. Archaisms are used for impact, comic effect, or portraying a sense of the old fashioned.

To thine own self be true.
There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip. (Old English proverb)
With this ring I thee wed. (a line from the wedding ceremony)

(4) Clichés

Clichés are overused expressions that have lost their original impact or novelty. As a rule, they are to be avoided, but they can also be an efficient way of making a point.

As useful as a lead balloon.
Go for the low-hanging fruit.
He's as much use as a chocolate teapot.

(5) colloquialisms

Colloquialisms are informal words or phrases that are commonly used in everyday conversation within particular geographical areas.

"finna" instead of "I'm going to." (internet slang)
"Y'all" as a plural form of "you" (in the southern United States)
"Cuppa" for a cup of tea (UK)

(6) idioms

Idioms are phrases or expressions whose meanings cannot be understood from the literal definitions of the words they contain

He's been pushing up the daisies for a year.
He has an axe to grind.
Let sleeping dogs lie.

(7) irony

Irony is when the reality of something is different to the expectation it generates. There are three types:

(1) verbal irony

Verbal irony is when the intended message is the opposite of the words' meaning. Sarcasm is an example of verbal irony.

Oh, thank you for that observation, Mark. I feel much better now.

(2) dramatic irony

Dramatic irony is an event the significance of which is known only to observers (typically, the audience).

"There's no evil witch here." ("Behind you!" shout the audience.)

(3) situational irony

Situational irony is an event that occurs seemingly in mockery of the circumstances.

Let's examine the words "hyphenated" and "non-hyphenated."
Sorry I'm late the town-planning meeting. The traffic was awful.
The first caused significant damage to the fire station.

(8) neologisms

Neologisms are newly coined words or expressions that may be in the process of entering common use but have not yet been accepted into mainstream language. A neologism can be useful to inject humour or to portray a sense of the modern, but a neologism can also be meaningless for readers who do not operate where it was birthed.

"blogosphere": the world of blogs
"broflake": an easily offended male
"oversharer": a person who posts too much personal information on social media

(9) palindromes

Palindromes are words, phrases, or numbers that read the same way forwards and backwards. Palindromes are created for fun or for the challenge. They have no obvious appeal in literary or business writing.

Dammit, I'm mad!
A man, a plan, a canal: Panama
Norma is as selfless as I am, Ron.

Using palindromes runs the risk of triggering aibohphobia in your readers. Aibohphobia is a fear of palindromes, a condition first recognized by Dr. Awkward in 1881 in Allagalla.

(10) paradox

A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself but might include a latent truth.

"I always lie."
"When you increase your knowledge, you understand how little you know."
"Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life." (Prime Minister Herbert Asquith)

This one might melt your brain:

My nose will grow. (Pinocchio)

(11) portmanteau words

A portmanteau word is a word made by blending the meanings and parts of the spellings of two or more other words.

"brunch" (breakfast + lunch)
"smog" (smoke + fog)
"spork" (spoon + fork)

Note that the "borrowed" parts give the portmanteau word both its spelling and its meaning.

(12) prose

Prose is a form of written or spoken language that is structured in sentences and paragraphs, without any specific rhythmic or metrical pattern. In other words, it is the standard mode of expression used in most written works, including novels, essays, articles, and non-fiction books.

(13) satire

Satire is the use of comedy, sarcasm, irony, or exaggeration to expose the flaws of individuals, institutions, or groups. It is most commonly used to target politicians to expose the errors in their ideas, claims, and proposals.

If voting changed anything, they would make it illegal.
Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
The government keeps censoring my messages.

This quotation by Playwright George Bernard Shaw captures how satire works:

"When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth."

(14) paragraph

A paragraph is a distinct section of a piece of writing, usually dealing with a single theme. A paragraph starts on a new line. Sometimes, paragraphs are indented or numbered.

In print, an unbroken lengthy text looks dull and daunting. On a screen, an unbroken lengthy text looks doubly so. Therefore, dividing a long text into bite-sized topics is essential for keeping your readers engaged.