The isocolon is a stylistic device used in written English. If you put two sentence fragments together and make them the same length, you’ve created an isocolon.

The isocolon also can be similar grammatical structures joined together at the end of two successive clauses or sentences.

When two clauses are joined by a conjunction and have a similar grammatical structure and length, that’s an isocolon.

When your topic sentence has an isocolon between clauses, it can provide the reader with useful context for what the essay will explore.

What Is Isocolon?

An isocolon is a stylistic device used in written English. If you put two sentence fragments together and make them the same length, you’ve created an isocolon.

An isocolon [is-uh-kol-uh n] is a stylistic device used in written English. If you put two sentence fragments together and make them the same length, you’ve created an isocolon.

This device can be seen in both poetry and prose, but it’s most often used to emphasize something or bring attention to a concept. For example:

“A good book,” she said, “is like a friend.”

There are no commas between the words “friend” and “good”. They’re connected by the fact that both sentences are full stops (periods).

This makes it seem like they’re part of the same thought process or narrative voice.

An isocolon is a rhetorical device that involves the use of parallel phrases or clauses with equal lengths.

This literary technique is used to create emphasis and draw attention to a particular idea or concept.

Isocolons are commonly found in literature, poetry, and even everyday speech.

For example, in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, the character Antony uses an isocolon when he says, “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.”

The parallel structure of this sentence emphasizes Antony’s dual motives for speaking.

In addition to creating emphasis, isocolons can also add a sense of harmony and balance to a sentence.

For example, the phrase “to err is human, to forgive divine” uses an isocolon to create a parallel structure that reflects the opposing qualities of human frailty and divine mercy.

Examples Of Isocolon In Use

Isocolons can also be used for more artistic or creative purposes.

For example, the poet Emily Dickinson uses an isocolon in her poem “Hope is the thing with feathers” when she writes, “Hope is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul.”

The repetition of “Hope is the thing with” creates a sense of rhythm and flow, adding to the overall beauty of the poem.

While isocolons are often associated with formal or literary language, they can also be found in everyday speech.

For example, the phrase “easy as pie” uses an isocolon to compare the simplicity of a task to the simplicity of making a pie.

Overall, the use of isocolons adds a sense of parallelism and emphasis to language, enhancing its impact and making it more memorable.

Whether in poetry, literature, or everyday speech, the careful use of isocolons can elevate language and add beauty and harmony to any message.

The isocolon also can be similar grammatical structures joined together at the end of two successive clauses or sentences.

An example would be “In business there are no rules, only guidelines.” The word “only” helps create a sense of balance between the two clauses.

The first clause has no rules; the second clause has no guidelines—both statements have a similar structure, but one is negative and one is positive.

If you use an isocolon in your writing, you want to make sure that it sounds natural and smooth when read aloud — if it doesn’t flow, then it will sound awkward and unnatural for readers!

An isocolon is a stylistic device that uses a series of clauses with the same grammatical structure and length.

It is often used to emphasize a contrast between two ideas, but can also be used as a simple way to add emphasis to a single idea.

Here’s an example:

  • I have no money, but I have time.

In this sentence, there are two clauses that are joined by the conjunction “but”.

These two clauses share the same grammatical structure (both are simple sentences) and are roughly equal in length (each has four words).

Isocolon In Literature

The isocolon appears repeatedly in literature. It can be used to create a rhythm and sense of unity in your writing. Let’s look at some examples:

  • In the Odyssey, Homer uses the isocolon to create a unity between two parts of a story—the Phaeacians’ wedding feast and their voyage home: “the singing began and the dances; meanwhile tables were set out with bread at intervals” (Odyssey 21.70-71).

The repetition of “meanwhile” creates an echo effect that helps readers feel connected to one another as they read this passage together.

  • Shakespeare uses an isocolon to connect different characters in Hamlet by repeating “to be or not to be.”

This repetition emphasizes how each character feels about death, which makes it easier for readers to understand why they act as they do throughout the play.

Isocolon – Wrapping Up

The isocolon is a useful tool for writers who want to create a cohesive, persuasive essay.

It can be used in any genre of writing, but it’s especially helpful in academic essays because it helps readers understand the topic and improves your chances of making an impression on them.