2.1.10
Sibilance
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Sibilance
Sibilance is a more specific form of alliteration, which focuses on 's' sounds.
Strange sizzling sky
- A strange sizzle softly filled the silent sky.
- In this phrase, the repeated ‘s’ sounds combine with the words chosen to create a sense of calm, but also the feeling that something more sinister is about to happen.
- The adjectives ‘strange’ and ‘silent’ give us the feeling that we are waiting for something to happen, but the adverb ‘softly’ also creates a sense of calm.
Sad, uncertain circumstances
- The uncertain circumstances were sad.
- In this phrase, the ‘s’ sound comes from the letter ‘s’ and also the soft letter ‘c’ (in ‘circumstances’, the second ‘c’ makes a harder sound and so is not part of the sibilance here).
- In this phrase, the repeated ‘s’ sounds combine with the words chosen to create a sense of uncertainty and secrecy.
- The adjective ‘uncertain’ immediately sets an unsure, negative tone, which is reinforced by the sibilance in the sentence.
Cheeky child chattered
- A cheeky child chattered.
- In this phrase, the repeated ‘ch’ sounds are soft and create a light-hearted, positive feeling. It sets a lighter tone for the writing.
- The adjective ‘cheeky’ with the verb ‘chattered’ builds up a softer image of a child enjoying themselves.
Tips for Using Sibilance
Sibilance is a more specific form of alliteration, which focuses on 's' sounds.
Wooshing or hissing sound
- Sibilance relies on the repetition of soft consonant sounds in words to create a wooshing or hissing sound in the writing.
- The sounds used include 's', 'sh', 'c' and 'ch'. The sounds can happen anywhere in the words.
Plan where sibilance should go
- Use sibilance carefully – before you put it into your writing, think about where it should go. What do you want to draw attention to?
Choose vocabulary carefully
- Remember that sibilance is only effective when used with the correct choice of words – your choice of vocabulary is vital in creating effective sibilance.
- Sibilance will reinforce the words you have chosen – it will combine with your words to emphasise the tone of your writing, so be aware of the tone you want to create before you start.
Focus on the sound
- Focus on the sound you are trying to create. Is your sibilance going to emphasise a sinister, secret, calm or still feeling? The type of sounds you choose to repeat will affect the mood of your writing.
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
3.1Paper 1: Reading - Section A
3.1.1Paper 1: Reading - Overview - Section A3.1.2Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 13.1.3Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 23.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading3.1.5Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 33.1.6Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 43.1.7End of Topic Test - Section A3.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading3.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q13.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q23.1.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q33.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q4 13.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q4 2
4Paper 1: Writing
4.1Paper 1: Writing - Structuring Your Answer
4.1.1Paper 1: Writing - Overview - Section B4.1.2Paper 1: Writing - Descriptive Writing4.1.3Paper 1: Writing - Narrative Writing4.1.4Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B (option 1)4.1.5Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B (option 2)4.1.6Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B - Checklist4.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Section4.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Writing4.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q5 14.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q5 2
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1Paper 2: Reading - DAFORESTER
5.1.1Paper 2: Reading - Direct Address5.1.2Paper 2: Reading - Alliteration5.1.3Paper 2: Reading - Facts5.1.4Paper 2: Reading - Opinions5.1.5Paper 2: Reading - Repetition5.1.6Paper 2: Reading - Exaggeration (Hyperbole)5.1.7Paper 2: Reading - Statistics5.1.8Paper 2: Reading - Triples (Rule of 3)5.1.9Paper 2: Reading - Emotive Language5.1.10Paper 2: Reading - Rhetorical Questions5.1.11End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER
5.2Paper 2: Reading - Structuring Your Answer
5.2.1Paper 2: Reading - Overview - Section A5.2.2Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 15.2.3Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 25.2.4Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 35.2.5Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading5.2.6Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 45.2.7End of Topic Test - Section A5.2.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading5.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q15.2.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q2 15.2.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q2 25.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q4
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Paper 2: Writing - Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.2.1Paper 2: Writing - Article6.2.2Paper 2: Writing - Essay6.2.3Paper 2: Writing - Leaflet6.2.4Paper 2: Writing - Letter6.2.5Paper 2: Writing - Speech6.2.6Paper 2: Writing - Review6.2.7Paper 2: Writing - Travel Writing6.2.8Paper 2: Writing - Diaries & Journals6.2.9End of Topic Test - Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Inform6.3.2Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Inform - Example6.3.3Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Explain6.3.4Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Explain - Example6.3.5Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade6.3.6Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade - Example6.3.7Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Argue6.3.8Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Argue - Example6.3.9Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade vs Writing6.3.10Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Advise6.3.11Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Advise - Example6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
Jump to other topics
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
3.1Paper 1: Reading - Section A
3.1.1Paper 1: Reading - Overview - Section A3.1.2Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 13.1.3Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 23.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading3.1.5Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 33.1.6Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 43.1.7End of Topic Test - Section A3.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading3.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q13.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q23.1.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q33.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q4 13.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q4 2
4Paper 1: Writing
4.1Paper 1: Writing - Structuring Your Answer
4.1.1Paper 1: Writing - Overview - Section B4.1.2Paper 1: Writing - Descriptive Writing4.1.3Paper 1: Writing - Narrative Writing4.1.4Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B (option 1)4.1.5Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B (option 2)4.1.6Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B - Checklist4.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Section4.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Writing4.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q5 14.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q5 2
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1Paper 2: Reading - DAFORESTER
5.1.1Paper 2: Reading - Direct Address5.1.2Paper 2: Reading - Alliteration5.1.3Paper 2: Reading - Facts5.1.4Paper 2: Reading - Opinions5.1.5Paper 2: Reading - Repetition5.1.6Paper 2: Reading - Exaggeration (Hyperbole)5.1.7Paper 2: Reading - Statistics5.1.8Paper 2: Reading - Triples (Rule of 3)5.1.9Paper 2: Reading - Emotive Language5.1.10Paper 2: Reading - Rhetorical Questions5.1.11End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER
5.2Paper 2: Reading - Structuring Your Answer
5.2.1Paper 2: Reading - Overview - Section A5.2.2Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 15.2.3Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 25.2.4Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 35.2.5Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading5.2.6Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 45.2.7End of Topic Test - Section A5.2.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading5.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q15.2.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q2 15.2.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q2 25.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q4
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Paper 2: Writing - Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.2.1Paper 2: Writing - Article6.2.2Paper 2: Writing - Essay6.2.3Paper 2: Writing - Leaflet6.2.4Paper 2: Writing - Letter6.2.5Paper 2: Writing - Speech6.2.6Paper 2: Writing - Review6.2.7Paper 2: Writing - Travel Writing6.2.8Paper 2: Writing - Diaries & Journals6.2.9End of Topic Test - Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Inform6.3.2Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Inform - Example6.3.3Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Explain6.3.4Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Explain - Example6.3.5Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade6.3.6Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade - Example6.3.7Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Argue6.3.8Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Argue - Example6.3.9Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade vs Writing6.3.10Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Advise6.3.11Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Advise - Example6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
Practice questions on Sibilance
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1What is sibilance a specific form of?Multiple choice
- 2What sound does sibilance focus on?Multiple choice
- 3Which phrase uses sibilance?Multiple choice
- 4Soft consonant sounds used in sibilance:True / false
- 5Which use of sibilance creates a sinister tone? Multiple choice
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