What does ‘rhetorical’ mean? – Microsoft 365 (2024)

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > What does “rhetorical” mean?

April 07, 2023

Rhetorical questions are frequently used in the English language—you’ve probably asked one without even thinking about it. You use rhetoric when you attempt to persuade someone or make a point. The word “rhetorical” is an adjective related to the art of rhetoric. Learn what a rhetorical question is, differences between the three major types, and how to effectively use one to make an argument.

What does ‘rhetorical’ mean? – Microsoft 365 (1)

What is a rhetorical question?

When someone asks a rhetorical question, they ask a question that does not require or expect an answer. People use rhetorical questions to make a point or create a dramatic effect. Some rhetorical questions have no answer at all—for example, “How dare you?” is a rhetorical question. Other rhetorical questions ask an obvious question—for example, “Is the sky blue?”

What does ‘rhetorical’ mean? – Microsoft 365 (2)

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Rhetorical question types

The names for these rhetorical devices all stem from Ancient Greece. There are three types of rhetorical questions: anthypophora, epiplexis, and erotesis.

Anthypophora

Anthypophora, also known as hypophora, is a rhetorical question asked and answered right away by the asker. This type of rhetorical question allows the asker to avoid arguments from others. These anthypophora examples might sound familiar:

Do you need water to survive? Yes, you do.
Were you born yesterday? No, you weren’t.
What makes the world go round? Money!

Epiplexis

An epiplexis is a rhetorical question used to reproach or make the recipient of the question feel bad. You can use this type of rhetorical question to chastise someone to prove a point. Some examples of epiplexis include:

Why would you say that?
Who doesn’t want to save the animals?
Do you have no shame?

Erotesis

An erotesis is a rhetorical question used to provoke a strong reaction, either positive or negative. You can use Erotesis to challenge the recipient of the question or to emphasize a specific point. Examples of erotesis include:

How and when to use rhetorical questions

You can use rhetorical questions in many ways to convey your expertise to your audience. Use rhetorical questions to:

Engage the reader or audience and make them think. For example, when writing or speaking about the importance of self-care, you could ask, “What are some ways you alleviate stress in your life?”
Get the reader or audience to agree with you. Rhetorical questions are a great persuasion tool. For example, when writing or speaking about the importance of preventing climate change, you could ask, “How can we ignore climate change when global temperatures rise each year?”
Create an emotional response. For example, if you’re a politician talking about your opponent, you could ask, “When have they ever shown they care about you?”
Emphasize a point or statement. Asking questions can make your points more powerful. For example, if you are writing about drunk driving, you could make the following statement, “One person dies every 45 minutes each day from drunk driving. How many more people must die if we don’t act now?”
Ask a question the reader may already be wondering. You can write a question the reader may already be asking internally, then immediately answer it. For example, if you are writing about proper sleep hygiene, you could write, “Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to get to sleep? The answer is simple: you must remove distractions and turn off your phone thirty minutes before you go to bed.”
Make a smooth transition from one point or paragraph to the next. Rhetorical questions are a great way to make transitions in your writing. For example, if you are writing about the causes of gum disease, you could transition to a new point or paragraph by asking, “Did you know that gum disease is highly preventable? Brushing twice daily, flossing, and using mouthwash are easy ways to prevent gum disease.”

Use rhetorical questions as powerful tools enhance your writing and engage with your audience. Now that you’ve explored how and when to use rhetorical questions, are you ready to start using them?