Expository writing is an interesting creative process. It has its own peculiarities, tricks, and subtleties. Different language techniques are widely used in expository writing, since it is one of the best ways of allocating a text from the general mass, adding unusualness, uniqueness and the ability to arouse lively interest and a desire to read it completely as quickly as possible.
As it is known, language techniques were often used by thinkers, poets, and writers in ancient times. But nowadays, they are actively used by journalists, marketers, copywriters, students, as well as all those people who sometimes need to write a good and memorable text. Using literary techniques, the author embellishes his text and provides the reader with the opportunity to more accurately understand its main idea. The ability to use various language techniques in practice is a very good skill that is useful to every person, including a student.
If you are now involved in the process of expository writing, you can turn to online assignment writing service for help and get a paper written by professionals, or read this article to the end and learn how to use different language techniques in practice.
Effective Language Techniques
The most common and effective literary techniques for expository writing are represented below:
- Epithet is a word or phrase that contains an expressive characteristic of the subject of the speech, attached to the name of the latter. Very often, the epithet is a dependent member of a definitive or adverbial phrase. The epithet may have a metaphorical character. However, the epithet may also not have a figurative basis and express the emotional-evaluative attitude of the speaker to the subject of the speech. In addition, the epithet can be either figurative or devoid of a figurative basis, but it always has an emotionally-evaluative content.
- Metaphor is a transfer of a name from one subject to another on the basis of the commonality of any attribute they have. The metaphor is also often called a ‘squeezed’ or ‘hidden’ comparison.
- Comparison is a figure of speech based on a comparison of two objects that have any common feature between them, in order to more clearly and accurately characterize one of them. Compared objects are most often linked together by conjunctions as or like, but there are cases of exclusion. Comparison has always been one of the basic and simplest means of expression, in whatever form it appears.
- Metonymy is a technique where one word is replaced by another based on the relationship of their adjacent meanings. Unlike a metaphor, which is aimed at comparing and likening objects to each other to identify similarities, metonymy is aimed at highlighting some characteristic feature of an object or object and bringing it to the fore.
- Synecdoche is a stylistic device, which involves the use of a certain part instead of the whole, singular instead of the plural or vice versa, etc. Synecdoche gives expression of thought a certain catchiness, energy and at the same time generalized character.
- Allegory is an abstract thought that is expressed through a specific image. Allegory is intended to enhance the impact by adding an element of emotional-sensory representation to the logical content of speech. A metonymic allegory is used less often, where the name of an object serving as a sign of an idea (symbol) is used instead of its direct purpose. This technique allows writers to express their opinions as accurately as possible and at the same time increase the expressiveness of the text.
- Euphemism is the replacement of rude expressions with softer ones, and forbidden expressions with permissible ones. The form of the statement is usually changed from such a replacement. But the meaning is not changed.
- Personification is an attribution of properties, thoughts, and actions inherent in man to inanimate objects and phenomena.
- Periphrase is a technique, which describes the subject of speech instead of using its name, or indirectly reflects thought. This technique has a poetic or humorous coloring.
- Oxymoron is a stylistic device through which a subject (quality, action, condition) is assigned to the subject of the speech, which contradicts the nature, essence of what is being determined. This is the so-called collision of words that are interconnected with each other, but logically they are incompatible.
So, you have probably noticed that there are a lot of literary techniques that can be used in expository writing. We have listed and characterized only 10 basic ones, but, in fact, this list can be continued for a long time. We should also mention the importance of such techniques as ellipsis, hyperbole, epiphora, anaphora, parcellation, etc. Put the acquired knowledge into practice and your written speech will become more vivid and expressive. In addition, you will learn to correctly and accurately express your thoughts. But remember that it is important not to overdo it. Everything should be in moderation. Use these techniques deliberately.
