Figures of excess and superfluity
Many figures name the ways that expression can exceed what is strictly necessary to get an idea across. (Indeed, all rhetorical figures can in some ways be considered superfluous, so long as one maintains the artificial separation of form from content).
However, what is semantically unnecessary may in fact be rhetorically advantageous; that is, the form may communicate as much as the content. The following figures name both purposeful excess for effect, as well as stylistic vices, and you can find further information on Bomphiologia, Hyperbole, Macrologia and Periergia by clicking on the links below or by clicking on the dark blue "Figures of excess and superfluity" tag above.
Acknowledgement
The above information on individual rhetorical techniques is reproduced from the website “Silva Rhetoricae” (www.rhetoric.byu.edu ) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Credit for this content lies with Professor Gideon O Burton of Brigham Young University.