Litotes By: Nicole Schumacher

Definition The deliberate use of understatement, not to deceive someone but to enhance the impressiveness of what we say.

In simpler words? Litotes usually describe what something is not. Litotes are easily made by using a double negative. Instead of saying something is attractive, you could say something is not unattractive.

Example 1: “He was not unfamiliar with the works of Mark Twain.” Shows that he is in fact familiar with the works of Mark Twain.

Example 2: “I was not a little upset” When in fact you mean you were very upset.

Example 3: “It isn’t very serious. I have the tiny little tumor on the brain”-J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye Understating the seriousness of a tumor and its size on the brain.

Example 4: "Freedom now appeared, to disappear no more forever”- Frederick Douglass Shows that freedom is being materialized.

Mnemonics Litotes could be read as “Light Out,” to consider night time a light out would be an example of litotes. Litotes -> Toes -> Under your body -> Understatement

Video 2:05 to 2:50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhbd9Z1oVS0

Works Cited "Examples Of Litotes." Litotes Examples -. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. "Litotes and Chiasmus Movie." YouTube. YouTube, 06 Mar. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.