Repetition facts for kids

Repetition is when words, phrases, or even whole sentences are used more than once in a text. Think of it like hitting a drum beat over and over to make a rhythm, or saying something again to make sure everyone hears it clearly. Writers use repetition for many reasons, especially in books, poems, and songs.

It helps to:

• Emphasize an idea or feeling, making it stand out.
• Create a rhythm or musical sound.
• Build a certain mood or atmosphere.
• Help readers or listeners remember important parts.
• Give clues about the story or characters.

Why Writers Use Repetition

Writers are like artists, and repetition is one of their tools. When they repeat words or phrases, it's usually on purpose.

To Make a Point Stronger

Imagine you want to tell your friend how excited you are. You might say, "I'm so excited, so, so excited!" The repeated "so excited" makes your feeling much clearer. In writing, repeating a key word or phrase can make an idea stick in your mind. It tells you, "Hey, this part is important!"

To Create Rhythm and Music

Repetition can make writing sound like music. Think about your favorite songs. Many songs repeat the chorus or certain lines. This makes the song catchy and easy to sing along to. In poems, repetition helps create a flow and a beat, making them more enjoyable to read aloud.

To Build a Mood

Sometimes, repetition can help create a specific feeling or mood. If a writer keeps repeating words like "dark" or "alone," it can make a story feel spooky or sad. If they repeat words like "bright" or "happy," it can make the story feel joyful.

To Help You Remember

Repetition is a great way to help people remember things. That's why slogans for products or important messages often use repetition. In stories, repeating a character's name or a special phrase can help you remember who they are or what's important to them.

Types of Repetition

There are many different ways writers use repetition. Here are a few common types:

Anaphora

Anaphora is when the same word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of several sentences or clauses. It's like starting each new thought with the same powerful idea.

• Example: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up... I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation..." (from Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech).

* The repeated "I have a dream" makes the speech very powerful and memorable.

Epiphora

Epiphora is the opposite of anaphora. It's when the same word or phrase is repeated at the end of several sentences or clauses.

• Example: "And that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." (from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address).

* The repeated "people" at the end emphasizes the idea of a government that serves everyone.

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of words that are close together. It's often used in tongue twisters or poetry.

• Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

* The repeated "P" sound makes the phrase fun to say and remember.

Refrain

A refrain is a line or group of lines that is repeated throughout a poem or song, usually at the end of a stanza or chorus. It's very common in music.

• Example: In many songs, the chorus is a refrain that repeats after each verse.

* The refrain helps to tie the song together and makes it easy to sing along.

Parallelism

Parallelism is when parts of a sentence or sentences have a similar grammatical structure. It's not just repeating words, but repeating the way words are put together.

• Example: "To err is human; to forgive, divine."

* Both parts of the sentence have a similar structure ("To [verb] is [adjective]"), which makes the idea clear and balanced.

Repetition is a simple but powerful tool that writers use to make their work more impactful, musical, and memorable. Next time you read a book or listen to a song, try to spot how repetition is being used!