Figures of Speech

Symploce

Combine anaphora and epistrophe - repeat words at both beginning and end of clauses.

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What & why

What it is
A rhetorical device that combines anaphora (repetition at the beginning) with epistrophe (repetition at the end) in the same passage. This creates powerful emphasis through dual repetition patterns that reinforce key messages from both directions.
Why it works

Symploce locks a sentence at both ends, holding the opening and closing words steady while only the middle changes. That fixed frame makes the varying part stand out by contrast, and the double repetition drives a rhythm that builds with each line. Because the structure is so regular, audiences anticipate the pattern and feel its momentum, which is why symploce is a staple of call-and-response and speeches meant to rouse rather than merely inform.

Before & after

Before

“We need to work harder and be more innovative to succeed.”

After

“When the market shifts, we adapt. When the rules change, we adapt. When the market shifts, we win. When the rules change, we win.”

When you’ll use it

Motivational speeches: 'We will fight for justice, we will stand for justice, we will prevail for justice'

Brand messaging campaigns: 'Quality drives us, innovation drives us, quality defines us, innovation defines us'

Crisis leadership communications: 'Today we face challenges, tomorrow we face challenges, today we overcome, tomorrow we overcome'

Pro tip

Sandwich your message: repeat key words at both the beginning and end of each statement.

Questions & answers

What is symploce in speaking?

Symploce combines anaphora and epistrophe, repeating the same words at both the beginning and the end of successive clauses. The opening phrase and the closing phrase each repeat, like 'When we fight together, we win together. When we plan together, we win together.' Here 'When we' opens each clause and 'we win together' closes each one.

When should I use symploce in presentations?

Use symploce for critical moments requiring maximum emphasis: key values, important transitions, or powerful conclusions. The dual repetition creates strong rhythm and makes messages highly memorable, perfect for mission statements or calls to action.

How is symploce different from anaphora or epistrophe alone?

Symploce combines both patterns for amplified effect. While anaphora repeats at the beginning and epistrophe at the end, symploce uses both simultaneously, creating stronger rhythm, balance, and emphasis than either technique alone.

Learn more

Silva Rhetoricae (BYU) - Symploce
Manner of Speaking - Rhetorical Devices: Symploce
Wikipedia - Symploce

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