U is for Underscoring the Importance of Understatement | #AtoZChallenge

Understatement

An understatement is a figure of speech used in writing and speaking that diminishes (understates) the seriousness or importance of an event or situation. It is the opposite of hyperbole/overstatement.

An understatement creates the effect of irony, since the response is contrary to what is expected in a severe situation. Understatement can also be accompanied by an ironical tone. The device can be used to deliberately decrease the intensity of an event or situation.

Writers should not underestimate the effect of understatement.

Examples

Holden Caulfield in Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye: “I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.”

See more examples for understatement here at literarydevices.net.

(Source: Understatement, Literary Devices, Definition and Examples of Literary Terms, literarydevices.net.)

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About Eva Blaskovic

I am a multi-genre author of literary fiction and fantasy, and writer of non-fiction articles on parenting, writing, education, health, and travel. My background encompasses both the sciences and the arts. I teach at a specialized clinic for learning difficulties and mentor young authors. In addition to writing and teaching, my passions are weather, Indian food, gardening, and music. I have played eight musical instruments and spent many years immersed in taekwondo and karate. In my youth, I was an avid canoeist. I was born in Prague, Czech Republic, grew up in Ontario, Canada, and moved to Alberta in 1988, where I raised four children.

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8 Responses to U is for Underscoring the Importance of Understatement | #AtoZChallenge

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Iain Kelly says:

April 25, 2017 at 4:07 pm

I always feel understatement is underused and overstatement is overused in a lot of writing!

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- Eva Blaskovic says:
  
  April 25, 2017 at 7:18 pm
  
  I find that ironic. (Haha.)
  
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Prakash Hegade says:

April 26, 2017 at 4:47 am

ohh! It does add a little humor!

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- Eva Blaskovic says:
  
  April 26, 2017 at 8:24 am
  
  It does. It’s something we use a fair bit in real life. In fiction, it adds to characterization as well as humour.
  
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  - Prakash Hegade says:
    
    April 26, 2017 at 8:48 am
    
    🙂 🙂
    
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JJAzar says:

May 17, 2017 at 12:47 pm

I can always go for a dose of irony.

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