Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same first letter or sound in a group of words. The term shares phonetic similarities with "repetition," which can serve as a helpful way to remember what it means.

Not every word in a sentence must begin with the same letter or sound for alliteration to exist — but a good chunk of them should. The effect becomes more apparent when these sound-alike words appear consecutively, though this arrangement isn't strictly necessary.

Tongue twisters commonly employ this literary device. "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" is a classic example, as is "She sells seashells by the seashore."

Readers can develop their alliteration-spotting skills by examining poems and written passages. The technique appears frequently enough in literature that practice allows writers and readers to become more proficient at identifying and employing it effectively.