Should you use a metaphor, a simile, or an analogy in your writing?
While all three are closely related, it’s smart to understand the differences. The distinctions among metaphors, similes, and analogies will also help underscore why you may want to use one and not the other in certain situations.
Now that we know metaphors can be powerful persuasion tools, let’s make sure everyone is on the same page from a definitional standpoint.
Let’s take a look at some basic definitions before exploring each one further …
A metaphor is a figure of speech that uses one thing to mean another and makes a comparison between the two. A simile compares two different things in order to create a new meaning. An analogy is comparable to metaphor and simile in that it shows how two different things are similar, but it’s a bit more complex.
Metaphor
Remember, metaphors use “one thing to mean another.”
So, when someone says, “He’s become a shell of a man,” we know not to take this literally, even though it’s stated directly as if this person had actually lost his internal substance.
Simile
In the case of similes, we are made explicitly aware that a comparison is being made due to the use of “like” or “as.” (He’s like a shell of a man.)
For fun, the next time someone corrects you and says, “That’s a simile, not a metaphor,” you can respond by letting them know that a simile is a type of metaphor, just like sarcasm is a type of irony.
Resist the urge to be sarcastic in your delivery.
Analogy
Rather than a figure of speech, an analogy is more of a logical argument.
The presenter of an analogy will often demonstrate how two things are alike by pointing out shared characteristics, with the goal of showing that if two things are similar in some ways, they are similar in other ways as well.
Why metaphor?
There are circumstances where either a simile or an analogy is the more appropriate vehicle for getting your point across.
But coming up with a great metaphor may be your best bet in many situations. A metaphor carries so much more power than a simile, because it’s direct.
Using “like” or “as” to make an open comparison will often diminish the vivid visual you’re trying to paint in the reader’s mind.
Likewise, a spot-on metaphor will spark instant understanding for a reader, without the elaboration that an analogy requires.
From here, we’ll examine specific ways to use metaphor in your blog posts. Headlines, openings, themes, calls to action and more can all benefit from the use of metaphor, as long as the metaphors don’t suck.
We’ll look at ways to avoid that, too.
Did you miss the first post in this series? Read it now: Become a Master of Metaphor and Multiply Your Marketing Effectiveness
Next in the series:
5 Smart Ways to Use Metaphors to Create Irresistible Content
The Persuasive Power of Analogy
By Jennifer Betts, B.A. , Staff Writer
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simile as playful as a kitten
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Used under ThinkStock license
Have you ever said your brother was like a raging bull? If so, then you have made a comparison using a simile. There are a lot of different similes used in the English language. Check out some fun simile examples for kids they can add to their writing.
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things. The simile is usually in a phrase that begins with the word "as" or "like." This is different from a metaphor, which is also a comparison, but one that says something is something else. Hopefully, these simile examples for kids will get them excited about using "like" or "as" in their writing.
Dive into a list of phrases that use the format "as something as something else" to make a comparison.
as American as apple pie | as big as an elephant |
as black as coal | as blind as a bat |
as boring as watching paint dry | as brave as a lion |
as busy as a bee | as cheap as dirt |
as clean as a whistle | as clear as mud |
as clear as crystal | as cold as ice |
as cool as a cucumber | as cunning as a fox |
as dead as a doornail | as deaf as a post |
as difficult as nailing jelly to a tree | as dry as a bone |
as dull as dishwater | as easy as ABC |
as fit as a fiddle | as flat as a pancake |
as free as a bird | as fresh as a daisy |
as gentle as a lamb | as good as gold |
as hard as nails | as heavy as lead |
as helpless as a baby | as honest as the day is long |
as hot as blue blazes | as hungry as a bear |
as innocent as a lamb | as large as life |
as light as a feather | as long as a month of Sundays |
as loose as a goose | as mad as a hatter |
as mad as a hornet | as old as the hills |
as pale as death | as plain as the nose on your face |
as playful as a kitten | as pleased as punch |
as proud as a peacock | as quick as lightning |
as quiet as a church mouse | as regular as clockwork |
as scarce as hen's teeth | as sharp as a razor |
as sick as a dog | as silent as the grave |
as slippery as an eel | as slow as molasses |
as smooth as a baby's bottom | as snug as a bug in a rug |
as solid as the ground we stand on | as sour as vinegar |
as stiff as a board | as straight as an arrow |
as strong as an ox | as stubborn as a mule |
as sturdy as an oak | as sweet as pie |
as tall as a giraffe | as tough as old boots |
as useless as a chocolate teapot | as warm as toast |
as white as snow | as wise as an owl |
Now that you've seen "as" in action, try out these similes that compare using the format "something like something else."
sing like an angel | act like an animal |
eat like a bird | fight like cats and dogs |
work like a dog | work like a dream |
soar like an eagle | sound like fingernails on a chalkboard |
swim like a fish | race like a scared bunny |
have eyes like a hawk | eat like a horse |
sleep like a log | gravitate like a moth to the flame |
eat like a pig | smell like a rose |
sound like a screaming baby | shine like the stars |
meander like a stream | explode like a volcano |
shine like diamonds | slept like a baby |
drools like a St. Bernard | sweet like sugar |
leaked like a sieve | strong like a raging bull |
soft like a lamb | flutter like a hummingbird |
snarl like a rabid dog | puff up like a pufferfish |
Did you have any favorites from the similes lists? Let's pull out a few and see how similes can make your writing more interesting and colorful.
- During the house fire, my dad was as brave as a lion.
- Sunday is cleaning day. By the time we're done, the house is as clean as a whistle.
- That teacher was as dull as dishwater.
- I think my grandfather is as old as these hills!
- This house of cards is as sturdy as an oak.
- My literature teacher was as wise as an owl.
- My best friend sings like an angel.
- After I received that "A" on my spelling test, I thought I might soar like an eagle.
- Gah! Her voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard!
- In our eighth grade pageant, we shone like stars.
- This path meanders like a stream.
- The sink leaked like a sieve.
- The boy snarled like a rabid dog.
- She fluttered like a hummingbird around the classroom.
- They puff up like a pufferfish when they get mad.
Now that you've seen similes in action, you might be wondering how they are different from a metaphor. Lucky for you, there's a chart breaking down these two rhetorical devices.