Alliteration is when words close together start with the same sound. Tongue twisters like “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” use alliteration to create their tricky, stumbling effect. Poets and writers use alliteration to make phrases more memorable and fun to say: “the wild and woolly West” or “busy as a bee.”

The repeated sounds don't have to be at the very beginning of each word, but they usually are. Notice that alliteration depends on sound, not spelling. “Crazy cat” uses alliteration even though one word starts with C and the other with K, because they make the same sound. Similarly, “phone” and “fast” would not be alliteration because they do not share the same starting sound.

Writers use alliteration to draw attention to certain phrases or to create a mood. Fast, sharp sounds like “slithering snake” or “crashing waves” can make writing feel more dramatic. Softer sounds like “lovely, lazy afternoon” create a gentler feeling. Companies use alliteration in names and slogans because the repeated sounds make them easier to remember: Coca-Cola, Dunkin' Donuts, Best Buy.

When you write, sprinkling in some alliteration can make your sentences more interesting, but too much can start to sound silly or distracting.