assonance

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'assonance' is a correct and usable term in written English.
It is a literary device that refers to the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, typically in poetry or prose. It can also refer to the similarity of vowel sounds in words that are not necessarily located close together in a text. Example: "The light of the fire flickered and sizzled, creating a peaceful ambiance." In this sentence, the repeated 'i' sound in "flickered" and "sizzled" creates assonance, which adds musicality and rhythm to the sentence.

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

As Max crumbles, his thoughts and memories seem physically to swell within him, expressed in sentences that are ever expanding with another clause, another adjective, another assonance being added to the travelling wave.

The Economist

Compare assonance; consonance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Remarkably, several are in verse, with a stress-based metre and line-final vowel assonance (the repetition of the same vowel in the last syllable).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most are anonymous and are composed in lines of 10 or 12 syllables, grouped into laisses (strophes) based on assonance and, later, rhyme.

Encyclopedia Britannica

About 420 lines remain, indicating remarkable freedom from the originals, great skill in adapting the native Latin metres to the Greek framework, heightening the rhetorical element and the pathetic appeal (a feature of Euripides that he greatly admired) through skillful use of alliteration and assonance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Later Norse poets (after 900) also combined many forms of rhyme and assonance with alliteration in a variety of stanzaic forms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There were also the rude verses improvised at harvest festivals and weddings and liturgical formulas, whose scanty remains show alliteration and assonance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Following the works of al-Jāḥiẓ, one strand in Arabic prose style, influenced by the same aesthetic principles as had driven the badīʿ trend in poetry, relished elaboration and its concomitant patterns of repetition and assonance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Poetic devices such as repetition, assonance, alliteration, and figures of speech contribute to the overall vigour of the lines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Laforgue's fluid verse form, shaped by rhythmic patterns and assonance, is the first important example of free verse in French poetry.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They abound in verbal conceits, ambivalence, assonance, alliteration, palindromes; they change abruptly from earnest to jest, from the crude to the most sublime, as the mid-20th-century scholar G.E. von Grunebaum pointed out in his evaluation of this form, which he regarded as the most typical literary reflection of the Islamic spirit.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "assonance" intentionally in your writing to create a musical or lyrical effect, especially in poetry and prose where sound patterns are important.

Common error

Don't mistake "assonance" (repetition of vowel sounds) for alliteration (repetition of consonant sounds). For example, assonance is in "the cat sat back", while alliteration is in "silly snakes slither silently."

Linguistic Context

The word "assonance" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a literary device. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable term in written English. The examples show its use in discussing poetry, prose, and linguistic techniques.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

33%

News & Media

59%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "assonance" is a literary device characterized by the repetition of vowel sounds within words. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently used in both encyclopedic and news contexts. While understanding the difference between it and similar terms like alliteration is important to make the usage of "assonance" more effective to reach "sound repetition" or "poetic sound device". Its application enhances the musicality and memorability of written and spoken language making it a key element in artistic expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vowel rhyme

Refers specifically to the rhyming of vowel sounds, a key component of assonance.

vocalic repetition

Emphasizes the recurrence of vowel sounds.

echoing vowels

Vowel sounds are mirrored or repeated within phrases or lines

vowel harmony

Describes the pleasing combination of vowel sounds within words or phrases.

sound repetition

Highlights the act of repeating similar sounds for aural effect, closely linked to assonance.

poetic sound device

Broader term encompassing assonance as one technique used in poetry.

literary device of sound

A general reference to any technique using sound for effect in literature.

internal rhyme

Occurs within a line, not necessarily at the end but is similar to assonance.

sonic texture

Focuses on how sounds create a rich, interwoven quality in language.

aural resonance

Highlights the echoing and lingering qualities of sound in language.

FAQs

How is "assonance" used in poetry?

"Assonance" is used to create internal rhyming and musical effects in poetry, enhancing rhythm and mood. For example, repeating the 'o' sound in "go slow on the road" creates "vowel rhyme".

What is the difference between "assonance" and consonance?

"Assonance" involves repeating vowel sounds (e.g., "men sell the wedding bells"), while consonance involves repeating consonant sounds within words (e.g., "He struck a streak of bad luck"). Consonance isn't necessarily at the beginning of the words like alliteration.

How does "assonance" enhance writing?

"Assonance" can make writing more engaging and memorable by adding musicality and emphasis to certain words or phrases. It is a "poetic sound device" used to enrich the reading experience.

Can you provide an example of "assonance" in everyday language?

An example of "assonance" in everyday language is the phrase "the early bird catches the worm", where the repetition of the 'er' sound creates "sound repetition".