Title: Ways to Use Figurative Language in Writing
Headings: Ways to Use Figurative Language in Writing
Ways to Use Figurative Language in Writing
Why Figurative Language Is Important to Good Writing
How to Use Figurative Language Effectively

Content: Ways to Use Figurative Language in Writing
Fiction Writing Careers Craft & Technique
Ways to Use Figurative Language in Writing
•••
Alicia Llop / Getty Images
By
Full Bio
Follow
LinkedIn with Background
Linkedin
Follow Twitter
Ginny Wiehardt wrote about fiction for The Balance Careers. She is an editor, instructor, and award-winning writer with over 15 years of experience. Read The Balance's editorial policies
Ginny Wiehardt
Updated January 08, 2020
Figurative language, also called a figure of speech, is a word or phrase that departs from literal language to express comparison, add emphasis or clarity, or make the writing more interesting with the addition of color or freshness. Metaphors and similes are the two most commonly used figures of speech, but hyperbole, synecdoche, and personification are also figures of speech that are in a good writer's toolbox. A metaphor compares two things by suggesting that one thing is another: " The United States is a melting pot." A simile compares two things by saying that one thing is like another: " My love is like a red, red rose." Hyperbole is a form of exaggeration: " I would die without you."