Descriptive Language

• Descriptive language refers to words or phrases that create a vivid image or perception of the subject in the reader’s mind.

• It uses sensory details to paint a picture in the reader’s mind, by engaging the five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

• A variety of techniques come under the umbrella of descriptive language, including similes and metaphors, symbolism, personification, onomatopoeia, and alliteration.

• Similes and metaphors: Similes compare one thing to another using ‘like’ or ‘as’, while metaphors imply a direct comparison. For instance, ‘Her eyes were as bright as stars’ (simile) and ‘He was a lion in the battle’ (metaphor).

• Personification gives inanimate objects or ideas human qualities, for instance, ‘The moon smiled down at us’.

• Symbolism is a device where an object, person or situation has another meaning than its literal meaning. It is used to provide a mood or express an ideology.

• Onomatopoeia refers to words that mimick the sound they represent like ‘buzz’, ‘clang’ or ‘sizzle’.

• Alliteration uses a series of words that start with the same letter or sound to create rhythm or to emphasise a point. For example, ‘Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers’.

• Descriptive language is valuable in any form of writing as it can create a more emotional response, and engage the audience on a deeper level.

• Reading comprehension is improved by understanding and interpreting the use of descriptive language, as well as using it in your own writing.

• It is useful to underline or highlight descriptive language when revising texts in order to help understand the writer’s methods and intentions.

• The ability to recognise and analyse the use of descriptive language is key when discussing how a piece of writing works.