Anadiplosis

Writing has power. Power grows through repetition. And repetition, should you reuse the last words of a sentence at the start of the next, is called anadiplosis.

Like the amazing addition of alliteration, anadiplosis is a simple device to give more oomph to your words. Words that are barely changed but pack a lot more punch.

Even if you can't remember the specifics, there's something about Yoda's wisdom that makes the logic sound impeccable and irresistible and the message deep. Deep, at least partly, from anadiplosis.

"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

— Yoda

Sun Tzu, another character famed for their wisdom, real this time, uses anadiplosis very effectively in the eminently quotable Art of War:

"The skilled warrior...maintains safeguards and discipline. And so he may steer wins and losses by management:

• Commitment
• Numbers
• Supplies
• Comparisons
• Victory

The terrain determines your commitment.
Commitment affects your Numbers.
Numbers affect your supplies.
Supplies affect the comparison of your forces.
The comparison of your forces sways your victory."

This is from Chapter 4 of Disposition, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, translated by Jonathan Clements, in the lovely Macmillan Collector's Library edition.

Notes

I learned about anadiplosis—and pleonasm, and ordering adjectives—from the entertaining and educational, The Elements of Eloquence by Mark Forsyth.

Anadiplosis is from the ancient Greek ana meaning again, and diplous meaning double. The Greeks were fond of their techniques for persuasive speeches.

Related Ideas to Anadiplosis

Also see:

• Ablaut reduplication — zig, zag
• Ordering adjectives
• Pleonasm
• Ghoti