Figurative language refers to the color we use to amplify our writing. It takes an ordinary statement and dresses it up in an evocative frock. It gently alludes to something without directly stating it.
Figurative language is a way to engage your readers, ushering them through your writing with a more creative tone. Although it's often debated how many "types" of figurative language there are, it's safe to say there are at least five distinct categories. They are: metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, and symbolism.
In this article, we'll highlight the main branches of the tree, or "the big five." In truth, this is only scratching the surface. There are waves of other literary devices that color our writing, including alliteration, onomatopoeia, idioms, irony , oxymorons, puns , synecdoche, and more. As a starting point, let's have some fun with the ones you're most likely to come across in your daily readings.
