Understanding Alliteration
Alliteration is a literary device that uses the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. It can be used to create a sense of rhythm and flow in a piece of writing or to emphasize certain words or phrases.
These words don't necessarily have to be consecutive, but should be near enough to create a rhythmic effect. This clever device adds a touch of musicality and flair to our language, making it more engaging and memorable.
To spot alliteration in action, let's explore some examples:
Alliteration can also be found in everyday expressions, advertisements, and even brand names. Companies like Coca Cola and Dunkin' Donuts use alliteration to make their names catchy and memorable. |
Quick Alliteration Spotting Guide
Before diving into examples, here's how to recognize alliteration:
Look for: Words close together that start with the same consonant sound (not necessarily the same letter). Examples that work:
Not alliteration:
Key point: Alliteration is about sound, not spelling. "Circular cacophony" works because both start with /k/ sounds. |
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Get Started NowTypes of Alliteration (With Examples)
Understanding different types helps you spot alliteration in various forms.
1. Initial Alliteration
Most common type words start with the same consonant sound.
Examples:
- "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."
- "She sells seashells by the seashore."
- "Big brown bears."
2. Internal Alliteration
Repeated sounds appear in the middle of words, not just at the beginning.
Examples:
- "The crumbling thunder of seas" (Whitman)
- "Back into the chamber turning" (Poe)
3. Consonance vs. Alliteration
- Consonance: Repeated consonant sounds anywhere in words (beginning, middle, or end)
- Alliteration: Specifically at word beginnings
4. Symmetrical Alliteration
Same sound at the beginning and end of nearby words.
Examples:
- "First and foremost"
- "Live and learn"
5. Plosive Alliteration
Uses explosive consonant sounds (p, b, t, d, k, g) for sharp impact.
Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers"
Effect: Creates a punchy, percussive rhythm.
6. Sibilant Alliteration
Uses hissing /s/ sounds.
Example: "The snake slithered silently through the grass"
Effect: Creates a whispering, sneaky, or sinister atmosphere.
Alliteration Techniques for Essays, Speeches, and Creative Writing
The goal of alliteration is to create a musical or rhetorical effect, not to tongue twist your reader. Overdoing it draws attention to the technique itself and away from your meaning. Two to three echoing sounds are often enough to create the desired rhythm and connection.
Famous Alliteration Examples Everyone Knows
These phrases stick in your head because of their repeated sounds.
1. Brand Names & Slogans
Companies use alliteration because it makes names memorable.
Brand alliteration:
Advertising slogans:
Why it works: You remember "Coca-Cola" more easily than "Soda Drink Company." The repeated sounds create a pattern your brain latches onto. |
2. Everyday Phrases
Alliteration appears in expressions we use constantly without noticing.
Common alliterative phrases:
Why they lasted: These phrases survived centuries because their rhythm makes them easy to remember and satisfying to say. Try replacing "safe and sound" with "safe and secure" it doesn't feel as complete. |
3. Character Names
Writers use alliterative names to make characters memorable.
Famous alliterative characters:
Why writers do this: When you're managing dozens of characters, alliterative names help readers remember who's who. "Peter Parker" sticks better than "Peter Johnson." |
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Order NowAlliteration Examples in Poetry
Poets use alliteration to create rhythm and emphasize key images.
Alliteration Samples From Classic Poetry
- "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe: "And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain"
- What's working: Three /s/ sounds ("silken," "sad," "uncertain") create a whispering, mysterious atmosphere. The repeated sound mimics the soft rustling described.
- "Pied Beauty" by Gerard Manley Hopkins: "For rose moles all in stipple upon trout that swim"
- What's working: The /s/ sounds in "stipple," "swim" emphasize the spotted pattern Hopkins describes. The alliteration makes you slow down and visualize.
- "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelo: "The caged bird sings with a fearful trill"
- What's working: The /f/ sounds in "fearful" and the hard /k/ sounds in "caged" create a sense of confinement and anxiety.
- "Ode to the West Wind" by Percy Bysshe Shelley: "Wild West Wind"
- What's working: Three /w/ sounds create a whooshing effect, mimicking wind movement. The repetition makes the phrase memorable and powerful.
Alliteration Samples From Modern Song Lyrics
- "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson: "She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene"
- What's working: Repeated /m/ sounds ("more," "movie") and /b/ sounds ("beauty," "Billie") create a smooth, flowing rhythm that matches the song's groove.
- "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell: "Big yellow taxi took away my old man"
- What's working: The /b/ and /y/ sounds create a bouncy rhythm that contrasts with the sad lyrics, emphasising the irony of the situation.
- "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran: "Come on, be my baby, come on"
- What's working: Repeated /k/ and /b/ sounds create a catchy, insistent rhythm that makes the hook stick in your head.
Alliteration Examples from Literature
Authors use alliteration for rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrases.
Alliterations From Shakespeare
- Romeo and Juliet: "From forth the fatal loins of these two foes"
- What's working: Four /f/ sounds create a harsh, aggressive tone fitting for a story about family conflict. The repetition emphasizes the word "fatal."
- Sonnet 30: "When to the sessions of sweet silent thought"
- What's working: The /s/ sounds ("sessions," "sweet," "silent") create a soft, contemplative atmosphere perfect for a poem about memory and reflection.
Alliterations From Novels
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
- What's working: Repeated /b/ sounds create a rhythmic, wave like effect that mirrors the boats pushing against water. The alliteration reinforces the theme of struggle.
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov: "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins."
- What's working: The /l/ sounds create a flowing, lyrical quality. Nabokov uses alliteration to make this opening line hypnotic and memorable.
- Beowulf (Old English epic): "He was four times a father, this fighter prince"
- What's working: The /f/ sounds emphasize the alliterative tradition of Old English poetry. This style was the standard for Anglo Saxon verse.
Alliterations From Children's Literature
- Dr. Seuss books: "Sam I am. I do not like green eggs and ham."
- What's working: Repeated sounds throughout Dr Seuss's work make the text rhythmic and fun to read aloud, essential for children learning to read.
- Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne: "The more it snows (Tiddely pom), the more it goes (Tiddely pom)"
- What's working: The /p/ and /m/ sounds create a bouncing rhythm that feels playful and childlike.
Alliteration Examples in Speeches
Political leaders use alliteration to make phrases memorable and powerful.
Famous Speech Examples of Alliteration
- Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have a Dream": "We cannot walk alone. We cannot turn back."
- What's working: The repeated /w/ sounds in the first sentence and the structure of both sentences create a rhythmic, almost biblical quality that makes the message resonate.
- John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address: "Let us go forth to lead the land we love."
- What's working: The /l/ sounds create a smooth, optimistic flow. The alliteration makes this call to action more memorable.
- Winston Churchill: "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that..."
- What's working: The /b/ sounds ("brace," "bear") create a sense of strength and determination appropriate for a wartime speech.
Alliteration Examples in Advertising
Marketers use alliteration because it makes slogans sticky.
Effective advertising alliteration:
- "Finger lickin' good" (KFC): /f/ and /g/ sounds
- "Snap, Crackle, Pop" (Rice Krispies): /k/ and /p/ sounds
- "Bed, Bath & Beyond": /b/ sounds
- "American Apparel": /a/ sounds
- "Circuit City": /c/ sounds
- "Krispy Kreme": /k/ sounds
Why marketers love it: Tests show alliterative slogans are remembered 22% better than non alliterative ones. The repetition creates a mental hook.
Common Alliteration Mistakes
Mistake #1: Confusing Alliteration with Assonance
- Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds at word beginnings
- Assonance: Repeated vowel sounds anywhere in words
- Assonance example: "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" (repeated /ai/ sound)
- Not alliteration, no repeated consonants.
Mistake #2: Relying Only on Spelling
"Circus centre" looks like alliteration, but it isn't; "circus" starts with the/s/ sound, "centre" starts with the/s/ sound. This actually IS alliteration, but many people think it isn't because of different spellings.
"Phone and photo" are NOT alliteration despite both starting with "ph"; both start with /f/ sounds, so this actually IS alliteration by sound.
Remember: Trust your ears, not your eyes.
Mistake #3: Overusing It
Too much alliteration feels forced and distracts from meaning.
- Overdone: "Silly Sally's seriously super special sparkly silver shoes shone spectacularly."
- Better: "Sally's silver shoes shone."
Use alliteration to enhance, not dominate. Quality beats quantity.
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Downloadable Resource
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Order NowThe Bottom Line
Alliteration makes language memorable through repeated consonant sounds. From "Peter Piper" tongue twisters to Shakespeare's plays to modern advertising, alliteration helps words stick.
Look for it in brand names, song lyrics, speeches, and poetry. Notice how the repeated sounds create rhythm, emphasize ideas, or match the mood.
Want to use alliteration in your own writing? Start small. Try two or three words with the same starting sound. Read it aloud. If it sounds natural and adds rhythm without distracting from meaning, you've got it.
For more sound devices and literary techniques, explore our complete literary devices guide.
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