Writing The Various Ways To Use Repetition To Write With More Clarity, Coherence, And Emphasis

By Author: Jesse Ross
Total Articles: 38
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1. Repetition
The Greeks called this Anaphora.
Often in your writing the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences will add interest and strength to the presentation of your thoughts. Often repetition is used together with the devices of climax and parallelism.
A good mother gets obedience without spanking, without angry words, without bribes and toys.
If we can get the car started, if we can find the right road, and if we can see the sign for the turn off, we should get there by midnight.
Not wanting food, not wanting drink, not wanting human contact, the poor man was resigned to a lonely death.
In paintings I inhabit the past and its residents as if they were alive; in music I feel the emotions of mankind; in books I learn of other peoples and climes; but only in love do become human.
To be a writer, you must have a broad strategy: instead of trying to impress your readers with involved logic, you must hope to improve them by the power of your arguments; rather than looking for praise for clever turns of phrase, you should aim ...
... at fame by the depth of your content.
Modern corporate mass media provide entertainment to people with no ideas of their own, and therefore easily prey to influences; with no firm principles, and therefore easily following the latest fad; with no personal experience, and therefore open to every false argument and reasoning.
This device can be used with questions, denials, opinions, conclusions, and subordinating conjunctions, adverbs and prepositions although care must be taken not to appear false or forced in your use of it.
Remember, the Greeks called this Anaphora.
2. Wrap-up Repetition
The Greeks called this Epistrophe
As you saw above, repetition will be a valuable tool in your writing. There is another related device for you to use. You can repeat the same word or words at the end of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences. This is a very powerful device because of the special emphasis that comes with the last word in a phrase or sentence.
Where lobbyists are abundant, independent legislators are scarce; where police surveillance is excessive, civil liberties are scarce; where money rules, democracy is scarce.
You will have to read to pass this course; you will have to write to pass this course, and most of all you will have to think to pass this course.
If you have an idea you want to stress heavily, then this device of repeating the idea at the end of a phrase might be a good construction to use. The danger is in overusing this tool.
Remember, the Greeks called this Epistrophe.
...
3. Roundtrip Repetition
The Greeks called this Anadiplosis.
There is a useful device that can add beauty or emphasize the logic of your writing. You do this by repeating the last word or concept of one part of your expression at the beginning of the following part.
It is used for emphasis of the repeated word or idea which reinforces the writer's argument.
How much confidence can we have in a leader, when this leader denies the reality of climate change?
This car has excellent popularity, popularity that ensures its resale value.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. --John 1:1
With this device the main point of the sentence becomes clear by repeating the same word twice in close succession. You emphasize the focus of your thought when you use it.
You can use also this tool to create a sequence to emphasize a logical progression:
A good person studies to be wise, uses her wisdom to be strong, uses her strength to serve others, and her service strengthens those she serves.
Remember, the Greeks called this Anadiplosis.

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