Editor's Corner

Good morning, folks. Kara wrote the following Editor’s Corner article and asked me to send it out for her while she’s on PTO. Enjoy!

Hello, you amazingly well-educated folks!

Today’s rhetorical advice is anaphora. Anaphora is “the repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect.” (Merriam-Webster)

There are examples of anaphora all over the place: music, poetry, writing, speeches, prose, and more. The example from M-W is:

“we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground”

I read that with a back beat and dance moves because I thought, “That sounds so musical.” I’m embarrassed to say it is actually from Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” I stopped bopping around and got serious. Here is an example that most of us are probably more familiar with. From Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I have a dream” speech:

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state, sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

And Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech about the battle against Nazi Germany is full of anaphora. All of these speeches are memorable and have some kind of rhythm to them.

And music definitely uses anaphora. From Pro Writing Aid, we are reminded of the Police, Destiny’s Child, Taylor Swift, and others. Here are the three groups (or people) mentioned:

In the 1980s, The Police used anaphora to creepy effect in the hit, “Every Breath You Take.” Anaphora lets the listener know they are always being watched.

Every breath you take

And every move you make

Every bond you break

Every step you take

I’ll be watching you

In 2002, the speaker in Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor” proved their ex wrong, with assistance from anaphora.

You thought that I’d be weak without you, but I’m stronger

You thought that I’d be broke without you, but I’m richer

You thought that I’d be sad without you, I laugh harder

In 2014, Taylor Swift used anaphora to demand answers and emphasize her sense of betrayal.

Did you have to do this?

I was thinking that you could be trusted

Did you have to ruin

What was shining? Now it’s all rusted

Did you have to hit me

Where I’m weak? Baby, I couldn’t breathe

That’s a bunch of examples, but there are more in poetry and prose. Today I’m just going to stick with these and let you see how the rhythm in the words works to make these emotional and memorable.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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