Communicating with Metaphors

Metaphors are important, but tricky to use appropriately. A good metaphor is one that is:

• Apt and used appropriately

• Enlightening

• Engaging

• Makes the reader say, “Aha!”

There is no sweeter part of writing than employing a metaphor well! And nothing ickier than writing that uses sloppy metaphors.

Metaphors can be the best way to explain something difficult. A brief metaphor can describe something more completely than reams of dry text. Metaphors are the poetry in our lives!

However, apparently plausible metaphors can seduce readers into undertaking great leaps of logic. Entire churches, false religions, faiths, dubious social movements, and totalitarian states have all been founded upon the rock of specious metaphors.

This chapter explains what metaphors are and also explains some related figures of speech. You will also learn about some different types of metaphors.

After reading this chapter and working through the exercises in the “Stretch Your Brain” section you will know how to recognize a metaphor when you meet one.

In practice, how do you come up with a good metaphor? How do you use it appropriately?

It’s good to learn by opposition. I’ll also show you in this chapter poorly constructed metaphors, metaphors that are used to support erroneous reasoning, and metaphors that are just plain old-fashioned ridiculous.

Since metaphors are so much fun, I will use a whole truck load of them in this chapter!

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