Why Would a Writer Use Paralipsis?

A paralipsis is “a passing over with brief mention so as to emphasize the suggestiveness of what is omitted,” according to Webster's Dictionary. Its use allows the legal writer to avoid becoming mired in correcting every inaccuracy in a brief riddled with errors.

Why do authors use paralipsis?

The purpose of the employment of paralipsis is to deliberately emphasize or assert an idea by pretending to ignore or pass over it. Paralipsis examples are very common in literary works, journalism, and political speeches.

What does paralipsis mean in literature?

Paralepsis (also spelled paralipsis) is the rhetorical strategy (and logical fallacy) of emphasizing a point by seeming to pass over it. Adjective: paraleptic or paraliptic. Similar to apophasis and praeteritio.