Alright, y’all, let’s talk consonance. If you’re anything like me—always hunting for that something to make your writing sound less like a robot and more like, well, you—then this little trick called consonance might just become your new best friend.
So what is consonance anyway? It’s basically when consonant sounds repeat close together in words. Not just at the beginning like alliteration, but anywhere in the words. Think of it like a secret sound party happening inside your sentence. And oh boy, there are some wicked cool consonance examples that’ll have you spotting this stuff everywhere. Trust me, once you catch the bug, you can’t unhear it.
What’s the Deal With Consonance?
Imagine you’re walking down a path and hear a soft click-clack, click-clack. That’s consonance playing its part. It’s the repetition of consonant sounds—like the “ck” in click and clack. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s loud, but it always adds rhythm and vibe to language.
I learned the hard way that consonance isn’t the same as alliteration (their mix-ups? Guilty as charged). Alliteration is when the first letter repeats, like Peter Piper picked peppers—super obvious. Consonance can hide anywhere in the word, making it a little sneakier.
Side note: You ever try explaining this at a party? People stare. Like you just told them you talk to your begonias to keep from going mad (true story: Victorians actually believed talking to ferns prevented madness. So… I’m on the right track).
Why Should You Even Care?
Look, if you’re just here to jazz up your texts or sound like a poet without the MFA, consonance is your jam.
- It makes your writing sing without you having to sing (which, trust me, I can’t).
- It gives your words rhythm, like a drumbeat for your brain.
- It highlights important ideas without yelling.
- And it’s way easier to pull off than you think.
I still remember the cracked watering can from Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave. It survived my epic overwatering phase. That sound of clink-clank every time I dropped it? Yeah, consonance vibes.
Some Famous Consonance Examples That’ll Blow Your Mind
Okay, time for the good stuff. Some literary heavy-hitters knew how to rock consonance like pros:
- Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven: “And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain.” Hear those s’s and r’s? Creepy and beautiful. Like a haunted whisper.
- Shakespeare (because duh): “And all the air a solemn stillness holds.” The l’s and s’s make you feel the silence.
- Dylan Thomas yelling at death in Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night: “Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” That g sound? Like a growl.
I swear, every time I read these lines out loud, I feel smarter. Or at least, I pretend to.
Poets and Consonance: A Match Made in Heaven
Poetry is like that friend who’s all about style and flair—and consonance is their secret weapon.
- “Pitter-patter, pitter-patter” (rain, duh) uses repeated t’s and p’s to mimic raindrops.
- “The black rock blocked the path” has that hard “ck” sound hammering the scene home.
Poets love consonance because it’s a sly way to rhyme inside words without forcing it.
If you want to write a poem that doesn’t sound like a nursery rhyme, you gotta get cozy with consonance examples.
You’re Hearing Consonance More Than You Think
No joke, consonance sneaks into everyday life and music all the time.
Ever heard someone say, “click-clack of the clock” or “better butter makes better batter”? That’s consonance making your brain go “ooooh.”
Or in songs:
- “Feel the beat of the street” (beats, streets, you get it).
- “Sweet dreams are made of this” (s’s all over).
My neighbor Tina swears her kale patch cured her Zoom fatigue—and she’s not wrong. I bet she didn’t even realize she was surrounded by consonance magic.
How to Spot Consonance Like a Pro
Finding consonance is like a scavenger hunt for your ears.
Step one: Read out loud. If you sound like you’re rapping your grocery list, you’re probably onto something.
Step two: Don’t just look at the start of words. Consonance hides inside and at the ends too.
Step three: Mark those sounds—underline, highlight, or doodle hearts if you want.
Step four: Check if it’s consonants repeating. If it’s vowels, that’s assonance. (Easy to confuse, trust me. I’ve googled this twice already today.)
Wanna Play? Try These Fun Consonance Activities
Get your hands dirty—figuratively, or literally if you want.
- Write a short poem packed with one consonant sound. Like, all your words have “l” somewhere. Bonus points if it doesn’t sound like a tongue twister.
- Listen to your fave songs and jot down consonance examples. Warning: You might annoy your friends.
- Make your own tongue twisters. “Sally sells seashells” is old news. Go for “Billy’s bubbly bobbles burst beautifully.” Yeah, try saying that three times fast.
Tongue Twisters = Consonance Bootcamp
Classic stuff that makes you trip over your own tongue but teaches you consonance like a champ.
- “She sells seashells by the seashore” (lots of s’s and sh’s).
- “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” (p-p-p everywhere).
- “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck” (ch-ch-ch!).
Try not to laugh when you mess these up. I fail at these every time.
What Happens When You Use Consonance Too Much?
Like anything fun, too much can be a headache.
If you cram your writing with consonance examples, it starts sounding like a bad rap song.
Balance is key. Don’t force it. Let it happen naturally.
And remember: Their/there mix-ups? Guilty as charged. (Sorry, grammar police.)
My Go-To Consonants (and Why)
Certain consonant sounds just work. Here are my favorites:
| Sound | Why I Like It | Example |
| s | Soft and sneaky like a snake | “silken, sad” |
| t | Sharp, quick, like a heartbeat | “tick-tock” |
| k/ck | Punchy and abrupt | “click-clack” |
| l | Smooth and flowing, like a lullaby | “lilting lullabies” |
| r | Rolling, kinda rebellious | “rustling, roaring” |
Try them out in your writing. You’ll thank me later.
The Best Way to Get Good at Consonance
I’m no Shakespeare, but here’s how I practice:
- Pick a consonant. I usually go with “s” ’cause it’s fun.
- Jot down words with that sound anywhere inside.
- Write a paragraph or poem using those words naturally.
- Read it aloud. If you sound like a 90’s rapper, you’re on track.
- Fix the parts that sound forced (but maybe keep a “teh” or two for flavor).
The Weird but Wonderful World of Consonance
Anyway, here’s the kicker—consonance isn’t just for fancy poems. It sneaks into advertising slogans, speeches, even everyday chats.
Remember my first herb garden died faster than my 2020 sourdough starter—RIP, Gary. But the sound of my watering can? Click-clack—that’s consonance keeping me company.
As noted on page 42 of the out-of-print Garden Mishaps & Miracles (1998), even disasters have rhythm.
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