As a child, I read somewhere that God gave humanity metaphor to help us better understand the world. But we don’t need religion to see that the more complex or powerful a sensation, the more words fail us. That’s why we use comparisons: Simile and metaphor can be far more effective than mere adjectives in communicating what we feel. When we evoke a familiar sensation, our listeners and readers can grasp that meaning instantly. Similes begin with “like” or “as” This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Four Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 40 Mixed Metaphors Let’s get our ducks on the same page. Arts & Culture Issue 48 Jordan Casteel The acclaimed painter of people—and now plants. Arts & Culture Issue 48 The Sweet Spot How long is the perfect vacation? Arts & Culture Issue 48 Cliff Tan Four questions for a feng shui guru. Arts & Culture Issue 48 Figure Skating with Mirai Nagasu The Olympic athlete has known glory, pain and transcendence on the ice. Arts & Culture Issue 48 Sweet Nothing On the virtues of hanging out.
Arts & Culture Issue 48 Figure Skating with Mirai Nagasu The Olympic athlete has known glory, pain and transcendence on the ice.
