Vernacular Discourse
  • Figures & Schemes
    • Similarity and Difference >
      • Analogy & Simile
      • Antithesis & Chiasmus
      • Fable & Allegory
      • Metaphor
      • Metonymy & Synecdoche
      • Personification
      • Synesthesia
      • Transferred Epithet
    • Expansion & Contraction >
      • Amplification & Depreciation
      • Apposition & Parenthesis
      • Enargia
      • Euphemism & Dysphemism
      • Hyperbole & Litotes
      • Rhetorical Question
    • Music and Repetition >
      • Alliteration & Assonance
      • Anadiplosis & Hyperbaton
      • Anaphora & Epistrophe
      • Asyndeton & Polysyndeton
      • Parallelism & Isocolon
      • Repetition
      • Short & Simple Words & Styles
      • Tricolon
    • Play and Mischief >
      • Irony & Sarcasm
      • Parodox, Oxymoron & Aphorism
      • Parody & Satire
      • Ridicule
      • Wordplay
  • Short Introduction
  • A-Z of Figures
  • Contact
Rhetoric for Beginners
These seductive and readable introductions to rhetoric and style are written for non experts by engaging and seductive writers.

The Elements of Eloquence – Mark Forsyth (2013)
A thoroughly readable introduction to and exploration of common figures of speech that anyone can understand and enjoy​
​

This delightful reference book explores and illustrates almost forty figures of speech with examples from high and low culture. The engaging writing style replaces arcane rhetorical jargon with plainspokenness and everyday terminology.
You Talkin' to Me? – Sam Leith (2012)
'The best available analysis of what rhetoric is and how it works' – Boris Johnson
​

This serious book on rhetoric explains its enduring appeal, theories and practice in a style that any serious scholar should emulate when writing for the general public. Leith makes rhetoric simple, interesting and relevant for today.
Language Intelligence – Joseph Romm (2012)
A Chicago Manual of Style for anyone who wants to communicate more effectively in any field

This practical guide remakes the case for studying figures of speech and shows that classical figures of speech are still used by good communicators today. The chapters on short words, repetition and irony bring the book bang up to date.
Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln – James Humes (2002)
Twenty-one techniques for more effective communication

This small book aims to help 'leaders' improve their speeches and manages to avoid the word 'rhetoric.' It nevertheless includes some figures of speech (also not mentioned) that good communicators can use in speech and in writing.
© 2015 Danyal Freeman