A simile describes something by comparing it to something else, using like or as. A simile is a useful way to describe something without using a long list of adjectives. It can create a vivid image in ...

Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in a different format as part of The Atlantic’s Notes section, retired in 2021. Reading a poem by Robert Hass is like stepping into the ocean when the ...

Literal language is when we say what we mean. Like “The news van is parked outside,” or “Meeting new people makes me nervous.” Figurative language can be anything that doesn't mean what it says ...

The parable of the widow and the unjust judge might give us a radical look at the face of God. Since 1900, the Christian Century has published reporting, commentary, poetry, and essays on the role of ...