The Power of Paralepsis: How Leaving Things Out Can Create Impactful Writing

Paralepsis (Greek: παράλεψις, "a leaving aside") is a rhetorical device in which the speaker or writer intentionally leaves out or omits something that would be expected to be included. This can create an effect of surprise or emphasis by drawing attention to what is not being said.

In literature and poetry, paralepsis is often used to create irony, humor, or to subvert expectations. For example, if a character is expected to say something important but instead chooses to remain silent, this can be a form of paralepsis. Similarly, if a writer describes a scene without mentioning something that would normally be considered crucial, this can also be a form of paralepsis.

The term "paralepsis" comes from the Greek words "para," meaning "beside" or "beyond," and "lepsis," meaning "a taking." It was first used by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle to describe a rhetorical device in which a speaker intentionally leaves out something that would be expected to be included.