Tag: metaphorical language

5 Tips for Using and Understanding Literal and Metaphorical Language, Part III by Deborah DeCiantis

August 31, 2020

  TIP #3 Don’t avoid tough literal situations by referring to them only as metaphors. Taking literal language metaphorically is equally problematic.                         Kids can be masters of metaphor. Ask “Didn’t I tell you not to play in the mud?” and they answer, “We weren’t playing, we were making a snack for the frogs.” One child, … More 5 Tips for Using and Understanding Literal and Metaphorical Language, Part III by Deborah DeCiantis

5 Tips for Using and Understanding Literal and Figurative Language Part II by Deborah DeCiantis

August 24, 2020

  TIP #2 Don’t interpret literally what is supposed to be understood metaphorically. Taking figurative language literally is a problem that leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Does the photo above depict sunshine or shadow? A literal book title based on this image might be Sunshine on the Pages or Shadows on the Pages [When Grandpa Reads]. A nonfiction … More 5 Tips for Using and Understanding Literal and Figurative Language Part II by Deborah DeCiantis

5 Tips for Using and Understanding Literal and Figurative Language Part I

July 27, 2020

Tip #1: Use clear definitions and illustrations to distinguish literal from metaphorical. For writers and readers alike, understanding the terms literal and figurative (metaphorical) is essential: what do they actually mean? And how can we distinguish the way language is being used, whether in conversation, on social media, in literature, in advertisements, in business documents, … More 5 Tips for Using and Understanding Literal and Figurative Language Part I