Anadiplosis is a figure of speech that uses repetition of the last word in one clause or sentence at the beginning of the next.

It was originally used in Greek and Latin, but has become very common in English literature.

Anadiplosis is often used to create emphasis, to draw attention to an important point or to make it stand out from other parts of a poem or prose piece.

What Is Anadiplosis?

Anadiplosis is a repetition of the last word in one clause or sentence at the beginning of the next.

Anadiplosis is a rhetorical device in which the last word of one clause or sentence is repeated at the beginning of the next clause.

Examples Of Anadiplosis

Example: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, that makes me happy when skies are grey.” (song lyrics by Josephine Puster)

“And we’re not scarecrows or paper flowers/Just two spirits to be together forever.” (song lyrics by Damien Rice)

Anadiplosis, also known as “reduplication,” is a rhetorical device in which the last word of a clause is repeated at the beginning of the next clause. This repetition creates a sense of emphasis and cohesion, and can help to drive the reader’s attention forward.

One of the most famous examples of anadiplosis can be found in the opening lines of Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

In this sentence, the repetition of the word “times” creates a sense of contrast and duality, setting the stage for the story to come.

Anadiplosis can be a powerful tool for writers and speakers, as it can add emphasis and clarity to a passage.

It can also create a sense of rhythm and flow, helping to draw the reader in and keep their attention.

Additionally, by repeating a key word or phrase, anadiplosis can help to reinforce the central idea or theme of a text.

Despite its effectiveness, anadiplosis is often used sparingly, as overuse can become tedious and detract from the overall impact of the text.

When used judiciously, however, anadiplosis can add depth and richness to language, making it a valuable tool for writers and speakers alike.

In addition to its use in literature, anadiplosis can also be found in everyday speech. For instance, a speaker might say, “I want to go to the store, to pick up some milk and bread.”

In this sentence, the repetition of the word “to” helps to create a sense of forward momentum, emphasizing the speaker’s intention to take action.

Anadiplosis can also be used in advertising and branding, as it can help to create a memorable and catchy slogan.

For example, a popular car brand might use the slogan “Safety first, peace of mind second” to emphasize the importance of safety features in their vehicles.

Despite its versatility, anadiplosis can be a challenging figure of speech to master. It requires a keen ear for language and a sense of balance, as well as a good understanding of the overall structure and flow of a text.

However, with practice and attention to detail, anyone can learn to use anadiplosis to add emphasis and clarity to their writing.

Anadiplosis is a figure of speech where the last word of one clause or sentence is repeated at the beginning of the next.

Here’s an example:

“I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam-I-am.” (Dr. Seuss)

This repetition gives this phrase a sense of rhythm and rhyme that adds to its humor.

Examples of Anadiplosis in Use

  • Noust in the grass / grass in the wind / wind on the lark / lark for the sun / Sun through the sea / sea in the heart / heart in its noust / nothing is lost —John Glenday, Noust
  • “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” —Yoda
  • “For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime, Young Lycidas and hath not left his peer.” —John Milton, Lycidas
  • “Queeg: ‘Aboard my ship, excellent performance is standard. Standard performance is sub-standard. Sub-standard performance is not permitted to exist.'” —Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny.
  • “Mine be thy love, and thy love’s use their treasure.” —Shakespeare, Sonnet 20.
  • “Having power makes [totalitarian leadership] isolated; isolation breeds insecurity; insecurity breeds suspicion and fear; suspicion and fear breed violence.” —Zbigniew Brzezinski, The Permanent Purge: Politics in Soviet Totalitarianism
  • “What I present here is what I remember of the letter, and what I remember of the letter I remember verbatim (including that awful French).” —Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
  • “The years to come seemed waste of breath, / A waste of breath the years behind” – William Butler Yeats “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death”
  • “Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.” 
  • Turn the lights out now, Now I’ll take you by the hand, Hand you another drink, Drink it if you can, Can you spend a little time, Time is slipping away, Away from us so stay, Stay with me I can make, Make you glad you came – Nathan Sykes of The Wanted, 2010
  • “To lead a better life, I need my love to be here / Here, making each day of the year”, etc. — Paul McCartney, “Here, There and Everywhere”
  • “I love her! Isn’t that a wonder? / I wonder why I didn’t want her? / I want her! that’s the thing that matters! / And matters are improving daily!” — Sheldon Harnick, “She Loves Me.”

Anadiplosis And Different Clauses

Anadiplosis can also be used in different clauses, with the repetition of a middle word instead of an ending word.

The repetition of the middle word creates a parallel structure, which gives impact to what is being said.

The repetition also creates emphasis on that particular word or phrase and can be used for a variety of purposes.

The term derives from Greek anadiplosis literally means “a doubling, folding up” and it is related to other stylistic devices such as polysyndeton, anaphora, epistrophe and symploce.

Anadiplosis is a figure of speech in which the last word, or last few words, of a phrase that has been used are repeated at the start of another phrase.

The term derives from Greek anadiplosis literally means “a doubling, folding up” and it is related to other stylistic devices such as polysyndeton, anaphora, epistrophe and symploce.

The following sentence is an example of anadiplosis: “I am here today because I want to be here today because I am here today and so on…

When you use anadiplosis, you repeat words in a sentence to create emphasis or rhythm. You can use it to emphasize something that is being said, or as a choriambic (two-word) parallelism. Anadiplosis can also be used to create rhyme within a sentence.

Examples of this would be:

“The boy was tired, but he ran faster than the dog!

You mustn’t eat when you’re driving!

It’s really easy—you just peel and eat!”

Anadiplosis – Wrapping Up

Anadiplosis is a figure of speech where the last word of one clause or sentence is repeated at the beginning of the next.

It can be used in different clauses, with the repetition of a middle word instead of an ending word.

The term derives from Greek anadiplosis literally means “a doubling, folding up” and it is related to other stylistic devices such as polysyndeton (link), anaphora (link), epistrophe (link) and symploce (link).