Published Jan 16, 2019 Updated Aug 25, 2026 2 min read
Avoid Alliteration
“I want my fans to pay attention to my magnificent mastery and manipulation of the English language in this argumentative essay,” explained Teddy.
“I’d rather focus their attention on my evidence,” said Cherish. “Save the attention-getting alliteration for your poetry.”
Definition and Examples
Alliteration is a poetic device in which the initial (first) consonant sound is repeated. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Read the rule.
Don’t use poetic devices, such as alliteration, in formal writing. Poetic devices focus the reader’s attention on the writing itself, while essays are designed to argue a point of view or inform and explain. Essays focus on the content of the writing.
Practice
Write the following sentences and [bracket] the alliteration.
The bear buried its nose in the berry patch.
My cat cowered under the couch, afraid of the vacuum monster.
Sam simply asked if the salmon seemed a bit under-cooked.
The four hyenas paced nervously in their constricting cages.
Amaria never noticed that the champion chihuahua was dressed in a fur-lined sweater and diamond dog collar.
Revise the sentence to eliminate alliteration.
Always avoid attention-getting alliteration.
Answers
The [bear buried] its nose in the [berry] patch.
My [cat cowered] under the [couch], afraid of the vacuum monster.
[Sam simply] asked if the [salmon seemed] a bit under-cooked.
The four hyenas paced nervously in their [constricting cages].
Amaria [never noticed] that the [champion chihuahua] was dressed in a fur-lined sweater and [diamond dog] collar.
Teaching Essay Strategies | Step by Step Worksheets, Skills, and 8 Process Essays For more essay rules and practice, check out the author’s TEACHING ESSAYS BUNDLE.This curriculum includes 42 essay strategy worksheets corresponding to teach the Common Core State Writing Standards,8 on-demandwriting fluencies, 8 writing process essays (4 argumentative and 4 informative/explanatory), 64 sentence revisionand 64 rhetorical stance“openers,” writing posters, and helpful editing resources.
Differentiate your essay instruction inthis comprehensive writing curriculum with remedial writing worksheets, including sentence structure, grammar, thesis statements, errors in reasoning, and transitions.
Plus, get an e-comment bank of 438 prescriptive writing responses with an link to insert into Microsoft Word® for easy e-grading (works great with Google Docs),
Download the following 24 FREE Writing Style Posters to help your students learn the essay rules. Each has a funny or ironic statement (akin to “Let’s eat Grandma) to teach the memorable rule.
Get the Writing Style Posters FREE Resource:
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Mark Pennington, M.A. Reading Specialist
Thirty-six years teaching ELA and reading, elementary through community college, plus district reading specialist. He wrote every program on this site.
