Figurative Language: What It Is and When to Use It

Some sticklers I know are quite bothered by one conversational tic many people, young and old, have: mis- or overuse of the word “literally.” This is nothing new; I recall this habit dating back, literally, to at least my own childhood, and I remember my own dad questioning the use even then, suggesting that the word “figuratively” might be a better word, which of course no one, including me, took up using.

Why do some people mind this conversational use of literally? Merriam-Webster’s defines literal as “free from exaggeration” and “characterized by a concern mainly with facts,” yet people use “literally” to exaggerate and often embellish their argument to make a point. “Figurative” means “representing a resemblance” or “expressing one thing [as something] regarded as analogous.”

Figurative and literal speech, often confused, are important to understand, and both serve their purposes in writing. So, in today’s post, I will provide information about figurative and literal language and some tips for knowing when to use each.

Literal language is simple to explain: it is language that uses words and expressions to mean just what is written. For example, “The students complained and opened their textbooks to page 132,” means just what it says. There’s no room for alternate interpretations of what it states.

Figurative language, meanwhile, artfully voices ideas using words in ways other than their strict, literal meanings. Figurative language conveys ideas with creativity and pizazz, but it can be used to make a point clearer and more meaningful than literal language alone can achieve.

This table summarizes some common types of figurative language and provides examples and literal translations of each.

^*This refers to lexical metaphor, which involves using words in a figurative way. Grammatical metaphor is a little harder to define simply. I will discuss in a future post, but in brief, it involves substituting one word or phrase with a different form of a related word (noun: pleasure; verb: please).

Simile, metaphor, and analogy are often confused. To understand the difference, take a look at an example of the same thing said with a simile, a metaphor, and an analogy:

• Simile: Your kind words are like sunshine on my face.
• Metaphor: Your kind words are sunshine to my face.
• Analogy: Like sunshine warms my face, your words warm my heart.

In creative writing, there’s an emphasis on mode of expression, so it follows that writers expect to use figurative language. However, figurative language is not just for fiction and poetry. It is also useful in academic writing. Here are a couple of examples of figurative language used effectively in more academic writing:

• The clinic under study assists individuals battling with cancer.
• Mathematical problem solving is like following a recipe. In cooking, leave out an ingredient and you may wind up with bad-tasting results. In problem solving, leave out a step and your answer may be incorrect.

In all types of writing, figurative language can be very useful, but there are a few tips to be mindful of when using it:

• Stick to more common, relatable figures of speech. If a figure of speech is very specific to your region or dialect and your audience is made up of your friends and neighbors, readers may miss your point. For example, if I say, “The process moved like the Big Manistee River,” but you are not from northern Michigan, you won’t know what type of movement I am describing.
• Avoid clichés. Expressions like “think outside the box” are overused, and the accompanying uncreative vibe is likely to detract from rather than add to your message.
• Use figurative speech in moderation. If each phrase or sentence is chock full of gems you’ve concocted like a master chef churns out meals fit for kings—well, you get the idea. It’s too much.
• Avoid mixed metaphors. Mixed metaphors result when metaphors are  used together in an illogical or incompatible manner, resulting in a ridiculous or nonsensical statement. “My words are a stone tablet, and my actions are even louder” is a mixed metaphor because “stone” and “louder” don’t go together.
• Use figurative language to support or explain your  ideas, not to state your core ideas. When it comes to stating your main arguments, you don’t want to leave anything to chance, so it’s best in such sentences to speak plainly, concisely, and literally as possible.

If you keep in mind these suggestions, using figurative language in your writing, academic or otherwise can lead to more effective and enjoyable prose.

Sarah P.