Sometimes known as rhetorical tools or devices, a rhetorical strategy is generally a phrase or arrangement of words. The use of rhetorical devices is not limited to literature or speeches. You may well use rhetorical strategies in your everyday conversations. For instance, using the phrase ‘feeling under the weather’ suggests that you are unwell. The names of many rhetorical devices will be familiar to you, such as ‘metaphor’ or ‘oxymoron’, but you may not have heard of others, like ‘chiasmus’ and ‘anadiplosis’. You may be surprised, however, just how many of them you use on a day-to-day basis. Learning about rhetorical strategies, and exactly how each strategy can be used effectively, will improve your skills and confidence in both your written and spoken communication. If you want to know even more, our article on 10 more things you need to know about communication skills will be useful.
When and Why Are Rhetorical Devices Used?
Rhetorical strategies are generally used to persuade the audience to consider the author’s point of view. They may do this by conveying a certain meaning or provoking a response. How rhetorical strategies are used to persuade generally fall into the following three categories:
Logos – Intellectual persuasion (note, pronounced like ’low-goss’, which is different from logos (’low-goes’) meaning images representing a company) Pathos – Persuading through emotions Ethos – Establishing authority and trust
Rhetorical strategies’ main benefit is developing and strengthening a connection with the audience, making it simpler to persuade them into sharing the author’s opinion. This might be done by emphasis, comparison or repetition. Rhetorical strategies may also be used to establish the speaker or writer’s authority, making them appear trustworthy. In a workplace scenario, rhetorical devices are useful in many applications. For example:
Interview presentation – Having passed the first round of interviews, you may be asked to make a spoken presentation to a panel to show how you would solve a workplace challenge. You could use rhetorical devices to make a good impression. Written report – Following a meeting with colleagues and managers, you could be asked to write a report on how you envision your role will impact a future project. The preciseness of written versus spoken communication can allow for the use of more particular rhetorical strategies, such as symploce (read on for an explanation of this). Team presentation – With a project wrapped up, you and your team may likely have to make a spoken presentation on performance and outcomes. Using rhetorical strategies will increase how persuasively you convince your colleagues of your project’s success. Procedures document – If you are a member of the HR department, you could be tasked with writing health and safety procedures documents, which fully explain the benefits of adhering to the safety protocols. Using rhetorical strategies in them can make them more engaging, meaning the workforce is more likely to actually read them. Client pitch – You and a colleague could be asked to pitch the services of your company to a new client; here, you would want to pull out all the stops to be the most persuasive you can to sell your company’s services.
All of the above scenarios require an element of persuasion, whether to establish authority, build a bridge with the audience or share information in a positive light. Rhetorical strategies can help you do all those things.
25 Commonly Used Rhetorical Devices
Now that you understand how effective rhetorical strategies can be in your written and spoken communications, here is a selection of 25 rhetorical devices for you to learn about and use:
1. Amplification
Amplification is used to embellish a statement or message by adding more information. Repetition is often used to draw further attention and urgency to the message. For example:
2. Anacoluthon
Anacoluthon generally features a break mid-statement, often diverting to a different topic. It is an interruption in the flow of speech and generally disruptive. Such disruption can re-capture the audience’s attention because their assumptions of where the sentence was going are challenged. For example: For example:
4. Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or a phrase at the beginning of multiple successive sentences. Anaphora creates an expectation in the audience. Anaphora gives emphasis to the sentences. For example: For example: For example: For instance: It is generally used where the speaker or writer wishes to address the audience’s questions on a matter. The author can then go on to answer the doubt and gain authority through assuaging fears. For example: It is often used to create rhythm and speed. For example: For example:
11. Chiasmus
Chiasmus is the inversion of the order of words in a recent, prior phrase or sentence. This rhetorical strategy is often used to make the audience think or reassess their perspective. For example: For example: This example also shows antanagoge, as it begins with the negative of no job but follows with explaining the speaker’s financial savvy, putting a positive spin on the sentence.
13. Epiphora
This rhetorical strategy is also known as epistrophe. It is the repetition of a phrase or word at the end of several clauses or sentences. When paired with anaphora, mentioned above, the combination is called symploce. For example: The suddenness of the emotional expression can make it seem genuine and increase intimacy with the audience as the author apparently lets their walls down. For example: For example: It should be used with caution, however, because it can sound archaic. For example: Another example: This rearrangement emphasizes the ’not’ and puts the audience on the spot, making them more likely to agree because assent is easier than dissent.
17. Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration to give a heightened impression of a person, situation or topic. It may be the use of a phrase, a sentence, a whole paragraph or more. For example:
18. Hypophora
This rhetorical strategy is made up of two parts. First, a question is asked of the audience, and then the answer is provided. This is different from a rhetorical question (the next item in this list) because the answer is explicitly provided. For example: For example: For example: For example: For example:
23. Simile
A simile compares two things using words such as ‘like’ or ‘as’. It is similar to a metaphor but there is more distance between the thing and its comparison. For example: For example: For example: Here is a list of tips to get you started:
Learn rhetorical strategies – There are 25 devices given in this article but carry out your own research to find out about others or to gain a deeper understanding. Use websites like Literary Devices and Merriam-Webster. The best way to understand a strategy is to test the logic of each and create your own examples. Understand the modes of persuasion – Earlier in this article, you were introduced to Logos, Pathos and Ethos, three different ways to persuade your audience. Research how different rhetorical strategies feed into each mode. For instance, consider which strategy will incite emotion and which will establish authority. Read carefully for persuasiveness – Investigate the writing and speeches you encounter for how they utilize rhetorical strategies and overall persuasiveness. Consider what level of effect they have, what mode of persuasiveness they have, what rhetorical strategies they have. Write for your audience – Think of who will read what you write or hear what you speak. Different rhetorical strategies and modes of persuasion will suit different types of audiences. For instance, an academic audience may be motivated by devices that would not work in a corporate project report.
Final Thoughts
Raise your eager fingers and the level of your rhetoric by employing these rhetorical devices when next writing. Writing an engaging speech for your work peers or an end-of-project report that explodes your manager’s mind like a firework with your prowess is possible when you properly consider persuasive modes and rhetorical strategies. Writing with new strategies may seem scary, but it will not hurt your audience’s impression of you and can improve your communication skills.
