What term describes words or phrases that create comparisons or imagery?

The term that describes words or phrases that create comparisons or imagery is figurative language. This form of language goes beyond the literal meaning of words, enabling writers to express complex ideas and evoke emotions through various figures of speech, such as similes, metaphors, and personification. By employing figurative language, authors can paint vivid mental pictures and engage the reader’s senses, making their writing more dynamic and impactful. For instance, saying “the world is a stage” is a metaphor that invites readers to view life through the lens of performance and acting, enriching the reader’s understanding and connection to the text.

This concept is different from diction, which refers to word choice; syntax, which deals with sentence structure; and connotation, which involves the emotional associations of words. Each of these terms plays a significant role in writing but does not specifically address the creative and comparative aspects that figurative language encompasses.