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Corrective statement

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A poetic phrase that revises, qualifies, or replaces a prior statement, often introducing nuance, irony, or self-correction within a single thought.

Detailed Definition
A rhetorical device where the poet checks, modifies, or corrects an earlier statement within the poem, creating the appearance of spontaneous thought revision. This technique adds conversational intimacy and suggests the poet is thinking through problems in real time rather than presenting polished final thoughts. The correction may be genuine reconsideration or strategic rhetoric, emphasizing the corrected point through contrast with the initial statement and drawing attention to the thinking process itself.
Example
Example in poetry:
Herbert's "The Collar" correcting rebellion with "Me thoughts I heard one calling, Child"; Donne revising initial conceits; Poems where speaker checks own statements
Additional Notes
Rhetorical device where poet checks or modifies earlier statement. Creates appearance of spontaneous thought process. Common in metaphysical poetry where complex arguments require mid-course corrections.
Also Known As
Correction Revision statement Amended line Rectification Epanorthotic correction
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