WRITING
Stylistic Devices: Understatement
What is understatement?
Understatement is a figure of speech used by writers or speakers to deliberately make a situation seem less important or serious than it really is.
Examples of understatement
- "It stings a bit" - a soldier describing the pain he feels after he has just lost his leg.
- "It has rained a little more than the average" - describing a flooded area.
- "It was an interesting experience." - describing a difficult unbearable experience.
- "The grave's a fine and private place,
But none, I think, do there embrace."
(Andrew Marvell, "To His Coy Mistress")
