You might have noticed alliteration in the names of some of your favorite characters (from Peter Parker to Lois Lane) or even your favorite stores, like Best Buy or Bed Bath & Beyond.
But while alliteration can make names sound funnier and easier to remember, it’s also a useful tool to use in your writing.
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what is alliteration?
alliteration is a literary device in which a series of words begin with the same consonantal sound to create a rhythmic repetition.
“peter piper picked up a peck of pickled peppers” is a classic example of alliteration.
The device is often used in tongue twisters, poetry, and other prose for emphasis and effect.
Note that only the same consonant sound, not necessarily the same letter, should be repeated to achieve alliteration.
for example:
Kim carefully cut the cookies after they cooled.
kim and carefully start with the same consonant sound (“k” or hard “c”), so this is still an example of alliteration, even if different letters are used.
purpose of alliteration
alliteration creates a musical effect that is particularly useful in poetry, as it makes it easier to read and recite, while also creating a nice flow.
In marketing, alliteration is often used in advertisements or brand names, as such phrases are easy for customers to remember.
some examples include:
- coca cola
- lulu lemon
- bed bath & beyond
- dunkin’ donuts
- paypal
- krispy kreme
- merry maids
- best buy
- weight watchers
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In literature, alliteration is generally used to emphasize a certain sentence or idea. however, keep in mind that too much can make your writing seem juvenile or overly funny, so try to use it only when it has a purpose.
examples of alliteration in sentences
In addition to the products mentioned above, there are many examples of alliteration that can be found in tongue twisters, songs or popular sayings.
The boy was as busy as a bee.
the lazy lion licked his lips.
sells snails by the seashore.
“whisper words of wisdom, let it be.”
“They paved paradise and put in a parking lot.”
examples of alliteration in literature
many authors and poets have used alliteration in their works to highlight an idea or theme.
from “the ancient mariner’s rhyme” by samuel taylor coleridge:
The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, and the furrow remained free. We were the first to burst into the silent sea.
Each line in this excerpt uses a different letter to achieve alliteration, which helps create more vivid images.
from “i know why the caged bird sings” by maya angelou:
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In the hallway, the moans and screams merged with the revolting smell of black woolen clothes worn in summer and green leaves wilting on yellow flowers.
Here, the alliteration is a bit more subtle, but the effect is the same. we can notice the repetition of ‘w’ and ‘s’ even if they are surrounded by non-alliterative words.
macbeth by william shakespeare:
fair is gross and gross is fair.
float through fog and dirty air.
In this example, alliteration is used to highlight a dirty environment through words like “gross”, “fog”, and “gross”.
from the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald:
“so we keep sailing, boats against the current, carried incessantly towards the past.”
Through the repetition of the ‘b’ sound, this example of alliteration maintains the image of something being hit when read aloud.
alliteration and assonance
Alliteration is just a literary device you can use to add emphasis to your poetry or prose.
learn how you can also use assonance, the repetition of internal vowel sounds, to improve your writing.
what are your favorite funny examples of alliteration? feel free to share them in the comments below!
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