Which figure of speech involves repeating the same word or phrase at the start of successive clauses?

• A. Anadiplosis
• B. Anaphora
• C. Epistrophe
• D. Chiasmus

Answer: (B)

Repetition at the start of successive clauses is called anaphora. It fuels emphasis and rhythm, drawing attention to a idea by repeating the same phrase at the beginning of each clause, which helps unify thoughts and propel the message forward. The prompt asks for a figure of speech that repeats the same word or phrase right at the start of each successive clause, so this matches exactly.

To see how it fits, consider an example: “We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds.” The repeated beginning “We shall” gives a strong, marching cadence that makes the statement feel resolute.

For contrast, other patterns operate differently. Anadiplosis repeats the last word of a clause at the start of the next one, not the beginning of each successive clause. Epistrophe repeats at the ends of clauses. Chiasmus reverses the order of parallel phrases, rather than repeating the same opening phrase.

So the repeating at the start of each clause is the hallmark of anaphora, which is why it’s the best fit here.