Element of Eloquence: Prolepsis

Prolepsis is a figure of speech where the writer raises an objection and then immediately answers it. It's a way to preemptively address potential counterarguments or concerns.

Why a writer would use it

Prolepsis allows the writer to strengthen their argument by dealing with objections head-on.

It shows the reader that the writer has considered other viewpoints and has a response ready.

Use-case

Imagine you're writing an opinion piece advocating for a controversial policy.

You could use prolepsis to address common criticisms of the policy, explaining why they're misguided or how your proposal accounts for them.

A couple more examples:

1. "I know what you're thinking - isn't this plan too expensive? But when you consider the long-term benefits, it's actually a smart investment."

This anticipates the reader's concern about cost and tries to reframe the issue.

2. "Some might argue that this approach is too idealistic. However, history has shown that big dreams lead to big achievements."

Here, the writer acknowledges the critique of idealism before countering it with an appeal to historical precedent.

Effect on AI prompts

Using prolepsis in AI prompts could help generate more nuanced and persuasive responses.

By preemptively raising potential objections, you're encouraging the AI to consider counterarguments and craft a more comprehensive response. This could lead to outputs that are better at addressing common criticisms and presenting a well-rounded perspective.