Weekly Grammar Tips from The Red Pen Editor - Don’t Mix Your Metaphors
Monday, August 27th, 2007When I started writing this grammar tip, I had no idea there were so many types of metaphors. After searching Wikipedia.com, I uncovered at least 16 different types.
The metaphor is the most common figure of speech. It lets us use one image to conjure up another. You hear metaphors used every day and some we’ve heard so often they are now considered cliches.
Metaphors are different than similes, although they are often confused because they both show a comparison of two different things. Whereas a simile is like something else, a metaphor is something else.
GRAMMAR TIPS from The Red Pen EditorExamples of Metaphors
All the world’s a stage
Love is war
Life is a journey
You are my sunshine
Time flies
Examples of Metaphors Used in Writing
The thick blanket of snow covered the frozen field.
His explosive temper erupted causing his magma of emotion to heat everyone around him.
The young girl was a butterfly flittering from one activity to another.
NOTE: What you don’t want to do is mix your metaphors; otherwise, your two competing images will drown each other out and your reader will be thoroughly confused.
Examples of Mixed Metaphors
Don’t count your chickens till the cows come home.
She saw the cloud’s silver lining at the end of the tunnel.
He stepped up to the plate and grabbed the bull by the horns.
We’ll be here until the fat lady freezes over.
Next week . . . Adding Character to Your Personification.
Happy Writing!
– Karen Reddick, The Red Pen Editor
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P.S. Want to test your Word Power? Choose the correct meaning for the following word:
askance (adv.)
a. inquisitively
b. permission
c. skeptically
d. a slanderous tone
Now click here to see if you are correct.
http://www.theredpeneditor.com/wordpower/082407.htm
