When it comes to explaining complicated material, one helpful tool is what I call “expressive writing.” That’s using analogies – similes and metaphors – to spark an “aha” moment of understanding. (And couldn’t we all use a shortcut to understanding these days?)
Similes use the words “like” or “as” to compare the unknown to known. (“Love is like a red, red rose.”) Metaphors show how two things are alike without using those words. (“Love is a battlefield.”)
In the July issue of my newsletter, Wordnerdery, I share a collection of examples of similes that do a terrific job of explaining. They describe the way an enormous salamander-like beast would have used its sharp fangs (“like an aggressive stapler”) and the link between high levels of a drug and bad effects (“like turning the light switch on in your bathroom”).
Have you seen any similes that do a super job of explaining something complicated? Please share! I’m always looking for examples.
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