Onomatopoeia in an Essay: How to Use Onomatopoeia in Essay Writing

Writing features various branches such as creative and technical writing and so much more where there are many aspects involved including, formatting techniques, grammar, punctuation, and citation. A not so much addressed issue is the integration of onomatopoeia in an essay.

There are instances where you will be required to describe a sound to arouse the reader’s imagination and engage them further. You have probably used onomatopoeia without realizing it when crafting your essay. To help you understand what onomatopoeia is and how to include it in your essay sentences, I have gone the extra step of writing the below piece for you to read on for further insights.

What is onomatopoeia?

Onomatopoeia refers to a word that represents and describes a sound. You will come across onomatopoeia when researching animal noises and loud sounds. However, you should note that people living in different countries use different words to describe the same sound.

It is, therefore, crucial to research deeper when dealing with different audiences. Identify your audience and their location to choose the most appropriate sounds.

The use of onomatopoeia helps give your essay a concrete visual effect. Consequently, it allows the reader to transfer himself into another world based on their imagination.

How to write onomatopoeia in an essay

When you integrate onomatopoeia in your essay, you engage the reader’s imagination as they get to say that word mentally. You successfully invoke the image you intend to get across. For you to successfully use onomatopoeia, you need to;

1. Create a scene that features a sound
2. Choose a word or design one that imitates the sound. The words you choose should flow in your sentences naturally.

You can use onomatopoetic words as adjectives, nouns, or verbs. Using these words is advisable instead of integrating interjections in your essay. You avoid pulling the reader out of your story because the terms become part of the flow of your events.

Verbs as onomatopoeia

When you incorporate powerful active verbs in your creative essay, you provide an ideal way of showing instead of telling. You give your reader the perfect platform to experience a specific scene and help them set the tone. Strong verbs also add specificity to the essay.

Some examples of onomatopoetic verbs include;

1. He turned the ignition key, and the engine roared to life.
2. I trembled and heavily panted in pain as the doctor twisted my broken wrist.

If you write the above sentences without onomatopoeia, the reader can’t really relate to what is happening.

For example, the first sentence will read;

He turned the ignition key, and the engine started.

In the above example, the reader will not understand the situation as vividly as before. Was the sound of the engine loud or low?

 Nouns as onomatopoeia

There is a wide range of onomatopoetic words you can use as nouns like bang, splash, roar, chatter, clang, and so on. They help add a degree of specificity and realness to the various descriptions in your essay.

Below are examples of onomatopoetic nouns;

1. A crash sounded from the opposite junction, followed by scrapes.
2. He jumped into the water with a splash.

If you fail to incorporate onomatopoetic nouns in the above examples, you will ultimately use general words like noise and sound. There exist different types of sounds and noise, and your reader may find it hard to find the ideal effect for themselves. Ensure you use a word that will allow the audience to hear it in their mind.

 Adjectives as onomatopoeia

Although you should use onomatopoetic adjectives sparingly throughout your essay, they can be highly effective. Examples in sentences include;

1. The barn is housing bleating sheep and squealing ducks.
2. The drizzling rain complemented by rumbling thunder made me question my bravery.

Use onomatopoetic adjectives if you want your audience to pay specific attention to the surrounding in your story.

How do you punctuate sound effects in an essay?

Onomatopoeia appears as either nouns, adjectives, or verbs. To successfully incorporate your preferred sounds, you have two options. First, you can italicize them. For example, Woof or grr.

Secondly, use quotation marks to highlight the word.

For example;

The bag landed with a “thud.”

You have the above options or just set them like ordinary text. For convenience, use one style throughout your essay. For verb onomatopoeias, set them as conventional texts, especially if they are renowned words.

For example;

The cat meowed.

How do you use onomatopoeia in a sentence?

Remember that onomatopoeia helps bring your essay alive. Most writers use it in creative writing. Avoid using onomatopoeia in technical writing as much as possible. However, if you are writing a history essay, you can use onomatopoeia to describe certain events.

To use onomatopoeia in a sentence, you need to choose an ideal word for the specific occasion. Knowing the sound created by a particular action is an added advantage because you skip the process of formulating one. The below examples showcase how onomatopoeia makes your essay interesting:

 Example 1;

They began to run when they heard the alarm

The screeching alarm prompted them to run.

 Example 2;

I first heard loud footsteps and then the sound of the door.

Thud, thud – I heard loud footsteps and then the creaking sound of the door.

 Conclusion

When you use onomatopoeia in an essay, you integrate a powerful literary device that enriches your story. Your main task as a writer is to ensure your work is lively. Consequently, one effective way of spicing up your descriptions is by integrating tone-appropriate onomatopoeia.