What is a Metaphor?
A metaphor is a descriptive term; basically, it is a way of expressing an understanding about something by using nouns to compare or even contrast this with something else, thereby giving a more descriptive sense to a passage. Remember that a metaphor, never uses the words ‘like’ or ‘as’, since the use of either of these would transform the figure of speech into a simile. So a metaphor might read, ‘His face was paler than a sheet.’ This uses the noun ‘sheet’ to illustrate just how pale that person was looking.
If we were to use a simile in this context, then the sentence would read, ‘His face was as pale as a sheet.’ The metaphor is the strongest descriptive term here, because it indicates that his face was actually paler than a sheet. The metaphor can give added depth and meaning and is usually more powerful than a simile.
The word, ‘metaphor’ is derived from the Greek, where it literally meant, ‘transferring something across.’ A metaphor is closely related to a simile and sometimes there is a good deal of confusion about the difference between the two. When using metaphors be careful to use them appropriately, otherwise you can end up with mixed metaphors which can sometimes be amusing but are nevertheless incorrect.
When your writing is completed either proofread your work yourself or use some kind of online grammar checker (there is lots of software available) to ensure that your metaphors are appropriate and that they convey the appropriate message. When used in the correct sense they can really make your work come alive.
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