Learn The Magic Art of Saying More with Less

Here are two interesting techniques that creative writers use!

Metonymy and synecdoche are literary devices used by creative writers.

Synecdoche and metaphor both employ symbolism.

Metonymy

A car's wheels are an example of metonymy, which is a figure of speech in which we use a word to refer to something associated with that word. All four wheels make up an automobile. The oval office can refer to either the President of the United States or their administration. This is a concept that’s derived from the Greek word metonymy, which means "name change." Metonymy, then, is the substitution of one word or phrase for another. Thus, after the name of the machine used to print newspapers, journalists are generally referred to as the Press.

The media is skilled at using metonymy. Hollywood, the American film business, is being shaken up by Silicon Valley, the American technological sector, which made a film on Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange. The phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword" can be used to refer to the written word and military assault, respectively. When you say, "I'm reading Malky on my holidays," what you really mean to say is, "I'm reading books by Malky McEwan on my holidays," in that case you are engaging in metonymy.

It’s easy to mistake Metonymy as a metaphor; we have to keep in mind that metaphors refer to two things that are connected cryptically in their usage in the language. Metonymy always denotes that there is a physical connection, for example to denote business people or detectives using suits while we use the literary device of Metonymy.

Here is an example from an excerpt of Malky McEwan using Metonymy with poetic precision: “We make several more stops. Collars, cufflinks, and purple frocks come on board. Older couples. Also on the way to our wine tasting. Hands pat shoulders, eyes crinkle, lips curl. Heads cock and sway.”

Synecdoche

A step above metonymy is synecdoche. It is a figure of speech where the whole is sometimes represented by the parts, and vice versa. The word synecdoche comes from the Greek word synekdoche, which means simultaneous meaning.

Your team needs some new blood, a typical phrase to use which describes new employees. Legs are used to symbolise the players as a whole. Synecdoche enlarges a specific area of the image. It enriches, deepens, and emphasises our language. The expression "all hands on deck" is a typical example of synecdoche, in which the word "hands" refers to employees. You wouldn't show deference to a powder puff wig by admiring it, would you? It all makes sense, though, if you frame it like Cervantes —Respect should be shown towards grey hairs. Don Quixote was written by Miguel de Cervantes.

And if Julius Caesar is not so naive as to assume his followers would paint him a Van Gogh, he nonetheless wants their attention — "Friends, Romans, and countrymen, lend me your ears." Shakespeare, William, Julius Caesar. The reader's imagination is stimulated by synecdoche. Grey hairs should be valued and can only be understood in the context of the elderly population they are associated with. The cleverest tactic used by Caesar to get his followers to pay attention to him is "lend me your ears."

Part of something can serve as a synecdoche for the entire, and vice versa —

Today, the whole world is against me. People talk about the jerks at work, red lights, delays, and other annoyances. A press conference was called by Downing Street. Streets, not even those where the Prime Minister lives, do not summon news conferences; the press secretary does. Synecdoche is frequently used in everyday discourse. In order to feed hungry mouths and listen in on their talks, you might get butts on seats.