Often, how we speak differs from how we write. Sometimes, we do not even realize it is happening. For instance, humans use asides and segues to shift between ideas. Anacoluthon in writing is just that. It can be an abrupt change, or a shift to a different idea. Writers may use anacoluthon in dialogue and argumentation to shift ideas or obscure meaning.

Anacoluthon Defined

Whereas anaphora works through repetition, anacoluthon is defined as an inconsistency in a grammatical sentence. These rhetorical devices are made to “shift in an unfinished sentence” unintentionally or with purpose. In other words, anacolutha is a break in a sentence, or a movement from one idea to another, though they can be unrelated.

More often than not, it is used in rhetoric as a means of persuasion, or it is simply a grammatical mistake. In this way, it mimics real-world speech patterns, as humans are apt to shift between ideas midsentence. Additionally, anacoluthon is used in poetry and verse to show a splintering in ideas and topics. It shows the break in structure to steer the reader toward a significance.

Anacoluthon in Context

Anacoluthon appears in a variety of texts to show the shifting of thoughts. It also operates as an interruption of thought.

A well-known example of Anacoluthon comes from King Lear by Shakespeare.

Example #1: Shakespeare writes: “I will have such revenges on you both, / That all the world–I will do such things, / What they are, yet I know not.”

Take notice of the break in thought. First, it is about revenge (“I will have such revenges …”). Then, the reader can sense the frustration of the speaker (“–I will do such things,”). Suddenly, the narrative changes. The anger and rage of the speaker comes through (“What they are, yet I know not”). Not only does it shift between ideas, but it also shows us the temperament of the character.

Example #2: “There is a terrible storm headed—forget it! Run!”

Here, the narrator is trying to warn somebody about a oncoming storm, but decided to pivot to a more pressing matter: escaping.

Example #3: “I thought about him every night and day–no matter, he will never love me.”

In this example, the narrator describes a love that is not returned. While in conversation, they shift from their loving feelings to crushing reality.

Similarly, it is often used in stream-of-conscience writing to indicate the swerving of ideas.

Example #4: “There is no greater prize–nothing I can do to stop it–no greater fault of mine–must remember the code!”

Here, the narrator is shifting between thoughts and ideas from what may be beyond the coded door (“no greater prize”) to what is inevitable (“nothing I can do to stop it”) to feeling at fault for not remember the code itself (“must remember the code!”).

Conclusion

We use anacoluthon in everyday speech, yet barely acknowledge it, relying on informal language to carry meaning. Recognizing anacoluthon then allows you to add it to your own dialogue, aiding the descriptive experience. So, stop the next time you are having a conversation, and consider how you are communicating. Is it broken and interrupted? Maybe that is just what your next chunk of dialogue needs.