When I say onomatopoeia, you might think of words like crash, woof or shout. These are all great examples of onomatopoeia. A large numbers of words in the English language are onomatopoeic words, and they can be useful to create the effect of sound within your writing.

What is Onomatopoeia?

Onomatopoeia is any word that means nothing more than the sound it makes. For instance, the word baa is an onomatopoeia, because baa is a sound. We recognise it and we all know what it sounds like. Many onomatopoeic words can also mean other things, usually related to their sound effect. The word crash, for example, can also be used to describe a moment when two things collide with one another.

Examples of Onomatopoeia:

There are many examples of onomatopoeia. Animal sounds are good examples. Words relating to speech, such as whisper or yell, are also onomatopoeia.

Using Onomatopoeia in your Writing:

There are many common onomatopoeic words in English. You do not need to avoid using them, but you should be careful not to overuse them in any one piece of writing. Try to find more obscure words with similar meanings and use them at strategic points when you want to create a dramatic pause or a powerful impact upon your reader.

Written by: Laura Clark

* Laura is a 23 year old English woman with a history degree residing in the UK. She has been writing for many years and enjoys writing horror/fantasy stories, as well as poetry. You can view her work at: https://inspiredstoriesandpoems.wordpress.com/

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