What Is An Analogy?
In its simplest form, an analogy is a stated likeness between two things that are otherwise
unlike.
The embarrassed girl’s face turned as red as a beet.
Such a comparison is made to explain something vividly or to make it easier to understand.
Analogies that look like little word puzzle are often used to test vocabulary and reasoning
ability. These analogies require the use of logic to identify the relationships between words and
ideas.
Here are some common types of analogies.
characteristics synonyms antonyms
emerald : green error : mistake never : often
lemon : sour remark : comment comedy : tragedy
joke : funny doctor : physician clumsy : graceful
association whole / part object / movement
fork : knife alphabet : letter hammer : pound
Jack : Jill flower : petal kangaroo : leap
rock : roll shirt : sleeve eye : blink
There are many different types of analogies. Your task in these lessons will be to select the
word or words that correctly complete each analogy.
How Do You Read An Analogy?
Notice the special notation used in analogies.
cow : tame :: lead : pencil :: hand : finger ::
cougar : wild ink : pen foot : toe
The single colon ( : ) stand for the words is to. The double colon ( :: ) stands for the word as.
So, in sentence form, the analogies read
Cow is to tame as cougar is to wild. Lead is to pencil as ink is to pen.
Hand is to finger as foot is to toe.
