How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Homoioteleuton

Techniques > Use of language > Figures of speech > Homoioteleuton

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Homoioteleuton is the repetition of word endings.

Example

He's the maddest, baddest, and maybe saddest person I know.

Learning anything is better than willy-nilly foolishness.

I ran easily and quickly on the strangely firm surface.

Discussion

When the ends of words are similar, the principles of repetition and recency are being used, creating pattern effects and thereby gaining attention.

Homoioteleuton is not often the same as rhyme, as the ends of the words are seldom stressed.

Verb tense endings such as '-ing' and '-ed' are an easy subject for homoioteleuton, as are adverbs with '-ly' at the end, adjectives with '-est' and so on.

Classification: Repetition