What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
polyptoton
Example
The love that you withhold is the pain that you carry. [polyptoton: withhold, pain, carry]
Example
We must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separately. [polyptoton: hang together, hang separately]
rhetoric
Example
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. [rhetoric: rhetorical question]
Example
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. [rhetoric: metaphor]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rhetoric is more commonly used than polyptoton in everyday language. Rhetoric is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while polyptoton is less common and refers to a specific literary device.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between polyptoton and rhetoric?
Both polyptoton and rhetoric are associated with a formal tone and are often used in formal contexts such as speeches, literature, and advertising.