Anaphora
noun
In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several succeeding sentences or lines to create a literary effect.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech uses anaphora as he repeats the phrase 'I have a dream' to emphasize his point.
Often appears as...
- use of anaphora
- examples of anaphora
Usage tips
Formal
Literary, Academic
noun
In grammar, the use of a word referring back to a word or phrase used earlier in a text to avoid repetition.
In the sentence 'John loves his dog because he always takes good care of it', the pronouns 'he' and 'it' are an example of anaphora.
Often appears as...
- anaphora resolves to
- pronominal anaphora
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several succeeding sentences or lines to create a literary effect.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech uses anaphora as he repeats the phrase 'I have a dream' to emphasize his point.
Often appears as...
- use of anaphora
- examples of anaphora
Usage tips
Formal
Literary, Academic
noun
In grammar, the use of a word referring back to a word or phrase used earlier in a text to avoid repetition.
In the sentence 'John loves his dog because he always takes good care of it', the pronouns 'he' and 'it' are an example of anaphora.
Often appears as...
- anaphora resolves to
- pronominal anaphora
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Literary Technique
Used to create rhythm and draw attention to specific ideas in speeches and writing.
In speeches, politicians often use anaphora: 'We will fight. We will succeed. We will thrive.'
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Speakers use anaphora to evoke emotions and make their message more memorable.
Her poem began with anaphora: 'Hope is the thing that... Hope guides us. Hope sustains us.'
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just for Beginnings
Anaphora can also appear in the middle or end of sentences to emphasize a point.
He asked, 'Is this what we want? A world where nobody cares, where nobody helps?'
Pro Tip 1/3Literary Technique
Used to create rhythm and draw attention to specific ideas in speeches and writing.
In speeches, politicians often use anaphora: 'We will fight. We will succeed. We will thrive.'
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Speakers use anaphora to evoke emotions and make their message more memorable.
Her poem began with anaphora: 'Hope is the thing that... Hope guides us. Hope sustains us.'
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just for Beginnings
Anaphora can also appear in the middle or end of sentences to emphasize a point.
He asked, 'Is this what we want? A world where nobody cares, where nobody helps?'
Pro Tip 1/3Literary Technique
Used to create rhythm and draw attention to specific ideas in speeches and writing.
In speeches, politicians often use anaphora: 'We will fight. We will succeed. We will thrive.'
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Speakers use anaphora to evoke emotions and make their message more memorable.
Her poem began with anaphora: 'Hope is the thing that... Hope guides us. Hope sustains us.'
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just for Beginnings
Anaphora can also appear in the middle or end of sentences to emphasize a point.
He asked, 'Is this what we want? A world where nobody cares, where nobody helps?'
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