Is hyperbole the same as exaggeration or is it a type of exaggeration?

1 Answer
Jul 24, 2016

A hyperbole is an exaggeration, but it is not exactly the same as an exaggeration.

Explanation:

When someone uses an exaggeration, the person expects the reader to believe what he is saying. For example, if you said you had 10 pieces of homework to do when, in reality, you only had 5, you would be exaggerating.

When someone uses a hyperbole, the person expects the reader to understand that exaggeration is being used to make a point. For example, if you said you had a million pieces of homework to do, the reader understands that you are purposefully exaggerating to show that you have a lot homework.

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