Descriptive Techniques

This is two (or more) words in a row beginning with the same letter.

E.g. The waves washed against the white shore.

• alliteration

• onomatopoeia

• sibilance

• imagery

Words that sound like the noise they are trying to describe.

e.g. snap, bang, crackle, zip, buzz

• onomatopoeia

• verb

• metaphor

• pathetic fallacy

Something that is similar, it is ‘like’ or ‘as’ something else.

e.g. The moon is like a white balloon in the sky

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• onomatopoeia

An image in which the writer refers to one thing as being another.

e.g. The moon is a big, white balloon in the sky.

• metaphor

• simile

• personification

• pathetic fallacy

Repetition of the ‘s’ sound which creates a hissing effect.

e.g. Sing a song of sixpence

• sibilance

• alliteration

• onomatopoeia

• imagery

Using descriptive words, especially the 5 senses, to form a picture in the reader’s mind.

e.g. A plump soft egg oozed warm yellow yolk over the freshly-baked bread

• imagery

• pathetic fallacy

• simile

• sibilance

Giving something non-human human characteristics.

e.g. The trees whispered as I walked by.

• personification

• simile

• metaphor

• pathetic fallacy

A doing/action word.

e.g. walk, run, fight, dance

• verb

• adverb

• adjective

• noun

A word that describes how a verb is done.

e.g. She walked quickly to the shops.

• adverb

• verb

• noun

• adjective

A describing word. Sometimes there are three together to make them more effective.

e.g. The soldier was a fierce, brave, and clever man.

• adjective

• adverb

• noun

• verb