anecdote examples in essays

35 Anecdote Examples (Personal, Historical, etc.)

An anecdote is a short story that is used to demonstrate a point, entertain, or add value to a broader discussion.

They are typically based on real-life experiences, but can also be fictionalized for effect.

Humans tend to think and remember in stories, so anecdotes are often very useful in helping people to understand and relate to ideas. This is what makes them so valuable in storytelling and marketing.

However, anecdotes also have the effect of distorting truth and can lead to cherry-picking of data. Without careful consideration, people may come to believe anecdotal evidence over more reliable empirical evidence .

Anecdote Examples

1. personal anecdotes.

Key Purpose: Develop emotional or interpersonal connection

A personal anecdote is a short narrative about an incident or situation from a person’s own life. It typically offers a glimpse into the narrator’s experiences, feelings, or personality. These are useful for creating a sense of personal connection between the narrator and the listener or reader.

• “Last night, I accidentally locked myself out of the house and had to crawl through a small, dusty window to get back in.”
• “When I was seven, I mistakenly locked myself in the bathroom for hours, leading to a family-wide search. The incident taught me the importance of staying calm in unexpected situations and became a humorous family memory.”
• “During a solo trip to Japan, I attempted to order food in broken Japanese, only to receive a dish completely different from what I intended. This experience became a funny reminder of the challenges and joys of navigating language barriers while traveling.”
• “Once, while rescuing a kitten stuck in a tree, I found myself stranded on a branch, requiring a rescue of my own. This incident highlighted the irony of good intentions and left me with a slightly bruised ego and a new feline friend.”

2. Historical Anecdote

Key Purpose: Illuminate past events or people, providing context or perspective

A historical anecdote is a brief account of a notable or interesting incident or event from the past. It often sheds light on the personalities, customs, or values of the time, offering insights and reflections that can help in understanding history on a more personal level. These anecdotes can make historical events or figures more relatable and engaging for audiences.

• “When constructing London’s iconic Big Ben in the mid-19th Century, the first bell cracked during testing, leading to a delay of four years before a replacement bell was mounted and the clock started working.”
• “Benjamin Franklin, known for his experiments with electricity, once flew a kite during a thunderstorm, leading to the groundbreaking discovery of electrical charges in the atmosphere. This daring endeavor showcased his inventive spirit and curiosity, leaving a lasting impact on science.”
• “During the construction of the Great Wall of China, it is said that a grieving widow named Meng Jiangnu’s tears brought down a section of the wall to reveal the bones of her deceased husband, a conscripted laborer. This poignant tale reflects the human cost of the monumental project and has been a symbol of resistance and grief in Chinese folklore.”
• “When Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in 1914, it set off a chain of events leading to World War I. The anecdote of a wrong turn and stalled car leading the assassin to his target illustrates how seemingly small incidents can have far-reaching consequences in shaping world history.”

3. Humorous Anecdote

Key Purpose: Elicit laughter and entertain, creating a joyful and engaging atmosphere

A humorous anecdote is a short story or recount of an incident or situation designed to amuse and make people laugh. It often involves unexpected events, misunderstandings, or ironic situations, and is typically shared to lighten the mood and entertain listeners or readers. These anecdotes are effective in bringing joy and fostering a sense of camaraderie among people.

• “Once, a friend tried to bake a cake with salt instead of sugar, not realizing the containers were switched. The guests’ puzzled faces upon tasting the salty dessert turned into roaring laughter once the mix-up was revealed.”
• “During a camping trip, I mistook a skunk for a cat and attempted to pet it, only to be met with a rather pungent surprise. The incident left everyone in stitches and me in desperate need of a tomato juice bath.”
• “A man walked into a bar with a piece of asphalt under his arm and said, ‘A beer for me, and one for the road!’ The unexpected punchline had the whole room chuckling and lightened the atmosphere instantly.”

4. Inspirational Anecdote

Key Purpose: Motivate and uplift, fostering a sense of hope, resilience, and possibility

An inspirational anecdote is a short, impactful story recounting an individual’s experience of overcoming challenges, achieving the extraordinary, or demonstrating unwavering hope and positivity. These anecdotes serve to motivate, encourage, and instill a sense of possibility and resilience in the listener or reader, often sparking reflection and action.

• “Despite losing his leg to cancer at a young age, Terry Fox embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. His determination and selflessness inspired millions and left a lasting legacy of hope and perseverance.”
• “Malala Yousafzai, after surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban for advocating for girls’ education, continued her activism and became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Her courage and dedication to education have inspired countless individuals to stand up for their rights and pursue their dreams.”
• “When a young boy fell into a gorilla enclosure at a zoo, instead of harming him, a female gorilla named Binti Jua cradled the boy and brought him to the zookeepers, showcasing an unexpected and touching display of compassion and protection. This incident inspired many and highlighted the capacity for empathy and care across species.”

5. Cautionary Anecdote

Key Purpose: Warn and advise, illustrating the potential consequences of certain actions or decisions

A cautionary anecdote is a brief narrative illustrating the negative outcomes or dangers associated with specific behaviors, choices, or situations. These anecdotes serve as warnings, encouraging listeners or readers to think critically about their actions and make informed decisions to avoid similar pitfalls.

• “A hiker once ignored trail warnings and ventured off the path, only to find himself lost and stranded overnight. His ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of heeding advice and respecting nature’s unpredictability.”
• “A friend shared a story of leaving her car unlocked, only to return and find her belongings stolen. This incident underscores the necessity of being vigilant and mindful of personal security.”
• “An entrepreneur invested all his savings into a venture without conducting proper market research, leading to significant financial loss. His experience highlights the importance of thorough planning and risk assessment in business.”

6. Professional Anecdote

Key Purpose: Illuminate workplace experiences, offering insights into professional life and career development

A professional anecdote is a short story recounting an individual’s experiences, challenges, or accomplishments in the workplace or career field. These anecdotes provide insights into the dynamics of professional life, often offering valuable lessons, reflections, or advice for career development and interpersonal relations.

• “Early in her career, a colleague missed a crucial deadline, causing a ripple effect of delays in the project. She learned the importance of time management and communication, which significantly influenced her future work ethic.”
• “A young engineer innovatively solved a persistent problem on the production line, earning recognition and a promotion. His story inspires others to think outside the box and take initiative in their roles.”
• “During a networking event, I hesitantly approached a senior executive, sparking a conversation that led to a mentorship and later, a job offer. This experience underscores the value of stepping out of one’s comfort zone in professional settings.”

7. Travel Anecdote

Key Purpose: Share experiences of exploration, highlighting the joys, challenges, and learnings from visiting new places

A travel anecdote is a brief narrative about an individual’s experiences, encounters, or observations while exploring different places, cultures, or environments. These anecdotes capture the essence of travel, offering glimpses into the diversity of the world and the personal growth and enjoyment that can come from exploring it.

• “While navigating the bustling markets of Marrakech, I took a wrong turn and stumbled upon a hidden courtyard filled with local artisans. This serendipitous discovery became a highlight of my trip, showcasing the beauty of exploration and the unexpected treasures it can bring.”
• “On a backpacking trip through the Andes, I faced challenging terrains and unpredictable weather, but the breathtaking landscapes and the camaraderie of fellow travelers made every step worthwhile. The journey taught me resilience and the value of embracing the unknown.”
• “During a visit to Tokyo, I experienced the juxtaposition of ancient temples and cutting-edge technology, offering a fascinating glimpse into the harmonious coexistence of tradition and modernity. This trip left me with a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and the richness of human innovation.”

8. Childhood Anecdote

Key Purpose: Evoke nostalgia and share insights from early years, illustrating growth and learning from youthful experiences

A childhood anecdote is a short narrative recounting a memorable incident or experience from the narrator’s younger years. These anecdotes often highlight lessons learned, the innocence of youth, or the development of character and values, fostering a sense of connection and reflection on the formative years.

• “As a child, I once climbed a tree to retrieve a kite and found myself stuck, leading to a neighborhood rescue mission. This adventure became a cherished memory of community support and youthful daring.”
• “I remember trading my favorite toy for a handful of marbles, only to regret it instantly. This early lesson in value and decision-making has stayed with me throughout life.”
• “During a school play, I forgot my lines but improvised, turning an embarrassing moment into a comedic highlight. This experience taught me the value of quick thinking and resilience.”

9. Cultural Anecdote

Key Purpose: Illuminate cultural practices, values, or norms, fostering understanding and appreciation of diversity

A cultural anecdote is a brief story that highlights aspects of a particular culture or society, often illustrating customs, traditions, values, or societal norms. These anecdotes offer insights into the diversity of human experiences and contribute to cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.

• “While attending a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto, I learned the intricate rituals and the significance of mindfulness in Japanese culture. This experience deepened my appreciation for the richness of cultural traditions.”
• “During Diwali in India, I witnessed the joyous celebrations, the vibrant colors, and the communal spirit of the Festival of Lights. This cultural immersion offered a glimpse into the significance of family, community, and spirituality in Indian society.”
• “In a Maasai village in Kenya, I observed the traditional jumping dance, a symbol of strength and unity among the warriors. This cultural encounter highlighted the diversity of expressions of community and identity across the world.”

10. Educational Anecdote

Key Purpose: Illustrate learning experiences, offering insights into the educational process and personal growth

An educational anecdote is a short narrative about a learning experience or academic incident, often highlighting challenges, achievements, or insights gained in an educational setting. These anecdotes can illuminate the joys and struggles of learning and offer reflections on personal and intellectual development .

• “During a challenging calculus exam, I applied a concept learned in a different context, leading to an unexpected solution. This moment of insight underscored the interconnectedness of knowledge and the value of creative thinking.”
• “In a literature class, a heated debate on a novel’s interpretation taught me the importance of diverse perspectives and respectful discourse. This classroom experience became a cornerstone in my appreciation for the richness of literary analysis.”
• “Faced with a science project, I explored the effects of sunlight on plant growth, sparking a lifelong passion for botany. This educational endeavor marked the beginning of my journey into the world of plant science.”

11. Moral Anecdote

Key Purpose: Convey ethical lessons, illustrating the importance of values, integrity, and moral decision-making

A moral anecdote is a brief story that illustrates a moral or ethical lesson, often highlighting the consequences of certain actions and the importance of integrity, kindness, and values. These anecdotes serve to encourage reflection on ethical behavior and the impact of our choices on ourselves and others.

• “Caught stealing cookies from the jar, I faced my parents’ disappointment and learned the significance of honesty and trust. This early lesson in integrity has been a guiding principle in my life.”
• “When a classmate was being bullied, I chose to stand up for them, leading to a shift in the classroom dynamics. This incident highlighted the power of kindness and the importance of standing up for what is right.”
• “After finding a wallet on the street, I tracked down the owner to return it, experiencing the joy of a grateful stranger. This encounter reinforced the value of doing the right thing and the impact of small acts of kindness.”

Quiz: Understanding Anecdotes

1. What is the primary purpose of a personal anecdote?

a) To warn about potential dangers b) To develop an emotional or interpersonal connection c) To motivate and uplift the audience d) To share professional experiences

2. Which of the following anecdotes is intended to motivate and inspire the audience?

a) Cautionary Anecdote b) Inspirational Anecdote c) Humorous Anecdote d) Professional Anecdote

3. What is a common strength of using anecdotes?

a) They provide comprehensive and detailed information on a topic b) They make complex or unfamiliar ideas more relatable and understandable c) They offer statistical evidence to support a claim d) They are always factual and accurate

4. Which of the following is a limitation of anecdotes?

a) They can engage and entertain audiences b) They are often subjective and may not represent the experiences of others c) They can illustrate a point or observation effectively d) They foster connection and empathy

5. Which type of anecdote is primarily used to illustrate the importance of values, integrity, and moral decision-making?

a) Cultural Anecdote b) Moral Anecdote c) Educational Anecdote d) Childhood Anecdote

• b) To develop an emotional or interpersonal connection
• b) Inspirational Anecdote
• b) They make complex or unfamiliar ideas more relatable and understandable
• b) They are often subjective and may not represent the experiences of others
• b) Moral Anecdote

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Animism Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 10 Magical Thinking Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Social-Emotional Learning (Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?

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The Admissions Strategist

How to use an anecdote to write a powerful college essay (with plenty of examples).

Do you need help finding best-fit colleges or writing essays? You can sign up for a free consult here .

“Tap, tap, tap. My fingers danced across the computer keyboard which, while attempting to distract myself from the task at hand, I pretended was a piano. The made-up tune was rhythmic and catchy, but I made sure never to press hard enough on the keys to actually start typing. I remember glaring at the blank document on the screen which seemed to mock me with an ever-blinking cursor and chanted, “write, write, write.” I would eventually write the dreaded essay but not until the clock hands were well past midnight, I had sampled every snack in the pantry, and had typed “akdgja” or some other unintelligible word 37 times in my word processor.”

If you have ever stared at a blank document or piece of paper and were unsure of what to write, you might identify with the description above.

I could have simply expressed this idea to you by writing, “I understand what it feels like to be frustrated and not know what to write.” Instead, I chose to begin with an anecdote.

An anecdote is a brief and engaging story that is used to illustrate a point. Most importantly, anecdotes are  true  stories about your life.

College admissions committees are interested in your  life experiences , what makes you different from other students, and why you would make a great college student.

By using anecdotes in your college essay writing, you have the ability to create a powerful bond between you and your audience.

These stories help convince readers of your  sincerity and engage them in your life story .

Click above to watch a video on how to use an anecdote in your essay.

Statement or Anecdote: What’s the difference?

There is certainly a time and place for using brief, non-descriptive statements in college essay writing .

When describing your family, you might note that you have two younger sisters.

Unless your essay is focused on your sisters, there is no need to launch into a story about the day your sisters were born.

However, if there is an idea or experience that you would like an admissions committee to focus on, then you might be better off using an anecdote.

Let’s look at an example:

If using a statement, you might write in your essay that failing a test was a turning point in your educational career, and that it made you a better student.

While that seems like an interesting enough statement, it is not enough to prove that you were transformed.

A powerful and convincing strategy would be to instead tell the story of how after failing your first AP Psychology exam, you started recording class lectures, taking chapter notes, and created a study group.

You might then describe the feeling after taking the next exam and finding out that you and your study group all received significantly higher scores.

This anecdote confirms the idea that you want to get across (you learn from past mistakes) by giving a specific example that your reader can imagine and with which they can identify.

What makes an effective anecdote?

Anecdotes should not be used thoughtlessly to build word count. Rather, be purposeful in the stories that you tell.

Effective anecdotes are:

• Descriptive

The anecdotes you choose to share in a college essay should be fairly short in order to avoid losing your reader’s attention.

Short stories also ensure that you still have space to thoroughly address a prompt.

To stay brief, remember that it’s unnecessary to tell a story from beginning to end.

• Instead, focus on the most important event while providing just enough context for it to make sense to someone outside of your circle of friends.
• When including anecdotes, also use descriptive writing. You want your reader to be able to use the detail in your college essay to paint an image in their mind.

In the following example, a student was asked to write about their hometown for a college essay.

Rather than describe its geographical location and basic demographics, they use anecdotal and descriptive sensory writing to evoke an emotional response from their readers.

Anyone can look up facts about a city on the Internet or in a guidebook, but only you can tell the story of your life through your own eyes :

“One road runs straight past Mann’s Red and White store, past two kids racing on four-wheelers, past a sign supposed to read Pine Acres, but is missing the C, and finally loops around to the Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant and fishing docks. It’s evening and large fishing trawlers bring home catches of shrimp. The parking lot across the street is filled with empty eighteen-wheelers. Men in the warehouses wear knee-high white rubber boots, often called ‘Wanchese house slippers,’ and pack the catch in ice. As the sun sets, the town’s children return from their small boats and kayaks to the canals within Wanchese. They run home, covered in mud and dirt and their skin is tanned from endless hours in the sun, but they smile and are ready to do it again tomorrow.”

This brief anecdote describes the sights and sounds of the town, while also conveying the freedom neighborhood kids had to run around and play.

Finally, be sure that the anecdote you choose to include in your essay is relevant. While the story you describe might be funny or interesting, if it does not address the prompt or further the point you are making, it will only be considered a distraction.

Get personalized advice!

Where should i include an anecdote.

Structurally, there are two different parts of a college essay where an anecdote is often found.

The first is at the very beginning, and, in this case, your anecdote is used as a “hook” to engage your reader .

One of the best ways to begin a college essay is with a “cold hook.” A cold hook is an abrupt anecdote that pulls the reader into your essay right away.

Here are examples of a cold hook anecdote:

I was angry. I was confused. “Okay, almost there! Only a few more strokes.” Upon finishing my painting, I reflected on my journey to the final round of the art show. As we took our first couple steps off of the plane, the hot and humid air swarmed around us.

At the beginning of this article, I described the experience of having writer’s block and the distracting habits I turn to when I’m feeling stuck.

When using an anecdote as a hook, you want to consider what you can write that will be both relevant to the prompt, and compel your audience to continue reading.

Another way to include an anecdote in your essay is to use a story to illustrate a point.

Let’s say that you were given a prompt that asked you to write about a problem you have solved. In your response, you might include an anecdote about the time you wrote a letter to the editor to highlight an ongoing problem in your neighborhood.

You then describe the events that followed which led to a solution.

This response is an example of how you could use an anecdote to prove that you have solved a problem.  

More Examples of College Essay Anecdotes

Of course, you are probably looking for real-life examples of anecdotes in college essays that worked. Below, you’ll find a list of both pithy and detailed anecdotes for now-successful graduates. Enjoy!

Here’s a student setting the scene before giving a major presentation:

I moved centerstage of the massive arena with my two teammates by my side. Bright lights and thousands of eyes gazed at me. It’s showtime.

This is a student discussing the struggles of learning an instrument:

I had to teach myself how to read notes and play the strings. In the end, I spent hundreds of hours and countless nights watching tutorials, trying to translate the foreign language of music.  

This is a student battling anxiety and failure:

Trapped in a hurricane of doubt, I searched for the eye of the storm. I had to calm down and seek a break from the failure.

From a student who loves languages:

As I spoke with numerous professionals at the conference, I felt like French had been a part of my life since the very beginning. 

From another student who did some great charity work:

Altogether, we raised $15,000 for veterans. During the process, not only did we pair veterans with corporate mentors, but our team became more involved with veterans PTSD issues and fundraising. I had found my calling.

From a student who loves working with animals:

Outside of school, I care for two rescue dogs, a showy and energetic American Cocker Spaniel and a shy but regal English Cocker Spaniel. They haven’t let their traumtic pasts affect their moods, and neither will I. 

This is a student who writes about his love for politics:

During my first year participating in my Junior Statesmen of America chapter, I never spoke up for my beliefs or views regarding current events. Over the next two years, I changed my mindset and became willing to fail and face disagreemnt over my views. My willingness to discuss issues led me to become president of the chapter, where I involve classmates and speak to the younger students about volunteering for local campaign.

From the desk of a student who fell in love with a school after discovering an alumnus:

After concluding my visit to DC, I listened to a speech from Senator Warner, a voice for reason in a time of great confusion. I curiously Googled his history, learning that he is an alum. Senator Warner, I discovered, demonstrates why GW is the perfect university for me.

From a student who loves UPitt:

From the moment I stepped on PITT’s campus, I felt fully immersed in the community.  When I began the tour, a lively environment greeted me with students who were enthusiastically wearing PITT spirit wear and eager to help me find my way around campus.  My student tour guide seemed to know everything about the school. The student pride was inspiring, and she created a family environment I wanted to a part of.

A student and actor who loves  West Side Story :

Playing Chino was the greatest challenge I have ever faced as an actor. Witnessing the pure hatred presented in the musical forced a transformation not only in my character onstage, but also in me. I saw myself and every person in Chino; for, we all work hard to achieve what is best for ourselves and for our compatriots.

From a student and EDM composer:

A pulsing drumbeat flows through my headphones, outlining the foundation for a song.  Moments later, the strong sounds of a driving base line blast through the white noise of the underlying percussion.  The melody pours onto the track making way for a wave of rhythm and flow.  Thus begins a song; my song.  Like a brush upon canvas, music notes fly across my open laptop screen.  I am the artist of this song, this blend of emotion and color, this complexly beautiful composition that is my life.  

A student reflecting on his role in the family:

I recently heard an NPR segment about the effects of the one-child policy in the People’s Republic of China.  It described how the country has essentially produced an entire generation of “Little Emperors” that command the sole attention of their doting parents. Being a male only-child in an Asian family, hearing this story prompted immediate introspection.  I began to wonder – if I could build a prototype based on the alleged qualities of a Little Emperor, how would I compare?

From a student remembering his father:

One of my earliest memories of my father’s gravy was when I performed in my first piano recital. I remember completing my simple version of Silent Night, and as I hit the last note and prepared to stand up and take my vow, my father’s face stuck out in the crowd. I remember seeing my dad laughing and clapping, that unmistakable smile stretching across his face, and his thoughts as clear as his expression: “That’s gravy!”

From a gritty student who had to take care of his family from an early age:

I vividly remember hanging onto her legs, horrified, as she hung from a third story window in an attempt to end her life. Her caustic lifestyle made her vicious, manipulative, and vindictive towards everybody in her life, pushing everybody that loved her away. She stole thousands of dollars from my mom via check fraud, which made my mother unable to afford the rent to our house, clothes, or even food. It became my responsibility, seeing as I had a paying job since I was thirteen, to step in and help make ends meet.

A student discussing his love for the beach:

Sitting against the backdrop of stars, I then noticed the boats gently drifting on the ocean, taking me back through the tides of time to my childhood. These boats reminded me of my own boating trips with my grandfather and my next door neighbor. During fishing trips we took every three weeks, my grandfather continually talked about customers and sales from his business, introducing me to the world of economics and finance.

Transitioning from an anecdote

It is important not to “drop” an anecdote into your essay without transitioning back to your main idea.

If you don’t use transition statements, your reader might be left confused as to why you used an anecdote and your college essay could seem disjointed.

Consider these sentence starters when transitioning from an anecdote back to the main body of your essay:

• This experience led me to understand/realize…
• This is just one example of how…
• [Summary of anecdote] was significant because…

When writing a college essay, remember that style is often as important as content . Including these transition statements will help you to get your intended message across.

What if I don’t have any stories to tell?

Many students struggle with including anecdotes in their writing because they think nothing interesting or tragic has ever happened to them.

While “shocking” anecdotes about life-changing events can be great examples to illustrate struggle, they are not the only effective anecdotes.

Hold a magnifying glass to your life and think about a time where you were challenged and, as a result, learned something.

Your life does not need to have been in danger and no monument needs to have been erected in your honor.

Think: What events in my life (no matter how big or small) have led to me growing as a human being?

These are stories worth telling.

Conclusion: The College Essay Anecdote

Don’t be afraid to use an anecdote in your college essay. In fact, we recommend it. Keep it brief and relevant.

College admissions officers want to learn about you and your values. Anecdotes help you extrapolate important or pertinent events from your life.

Best of luck!

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What is an Anecdote? (Definition, Examples, Types, How to Write Them)

What is an anecdote? How does an anecdote work? Anecdotes are short stories about interesting topics that typically have a single lesson or theme. Anecdotes are almost similar to stories that friends tell among themselves. But, when employed in literature, they may do more than just pass the time.

What is an anecdote?

Anecdotes are stories that are self-contained and brief. The majority of anecdotes focus on a single, straightforward theme or incident. They can be factual or made up or can be a real incident mixed with some embellishment.

Anecdotes can be conveyed using different tones , ranging from lighthearted jokes to grave warnings. They also typically concentrate solely on one character.

Purpose of an anecdote

Anecdotes can be used for a number of purposes.  Anecdotes , when used in both nonfiction and fiction as a literary device, have a greater significance.

For instance, some anecdotes provide the readers with a better grasp of a character’s background or motivations by describing them in a manner that doesn’t match the central narrative. 

They are used to introduce backstory or character information. Authors usually use them to share some past story of their character usually to provide substance and intrigue. 

They also offer a good way to fill in plot holes in the narrative or to impede its flow. And are typically used in real life to convey an important message in a lighthearted way rather than a direct explanation.  

Good anecdotes use rhetoric to their advantage. Sentimental language is usually used in inspirational anecdotes to touch the heart of the listener or reader.

Similarly, authors may use profanity or slang in humorous anecdotes to make them appear even funnier.

Anecdotes: The different types

There is no formal classification of anecdotes . But they can be broadly divided into different groups based on the purpose they serve.

These include:

Inspirational or motivational anecdotes

Anecdotes can be used by elders or experienced people to motivate youngsters by describing the challenges they have faced in their lives and how they are willing to assist them. Inspirational anecdotes are a powerful writing technique that can be used to evoke specific emotions in the reader.

This is an especially effective technique in emotional and persuasive writing . Inspirational stories frequently center on extraordinary experiences that occurred to regular individuals that the listener or reader can relate to.

Writers frequently use motivational stories to emotionally appeal to their readers. These stories can convince the readers that difficult times will pass after some time and better days are ahead.

Some examples include:

• A professor beginning his first session by explaining the struggles he faced with the said subject and how he overcame them.
• A dog shelter volunteer recounting stories of the successful rehoming of several rescue animals over the years and how they, with the help of families, found many dogs their forever homes.
• A manager recounting his early days at the company and the difficulties he faced with a group of new recruits on their induction day.
• Members of a youth organization telling stories to a group of young people about the volunteer work they have done over the years and how it changed their lives and the lives of those they helped.

Reminiscent anecdotes

The majority of anecdotes focus on the past. In anecdotes, people usually look back fondly on special periods of their lives and share the happiness of those times with others. These fond tales usually build an idealized view of the past by evoking feelings of longing or nostalgia.

But this reminiscing may not always be happy. Sometimes depressing memories can creep up in the stories, giving rise to a feeling of melancholy or despair.

• A father recounts to his daughter a trip his family took when he was a child.
• A kid shares an account of his best vacation to Disney Land during a discussion about theme parks.
• A senior doctor shares his favorite experiences in the ER with the new interns.
• A war veteran recount his experiences during deployment of how war can change common people with young soldiers.

Humorous anecdotes

Anecdotes started out as stories that people would share in groups to amuse one another. Writers now use jokes to convey a much more complex topic in a lighthearted way. A humorous anecdote can be used to cheer people up following a significant or dramatic plot development in a story.

Similarly, it can also provide audiences or readers with a brief diversion from the main plot and give them something to laugh about.

Some examples of funny anecdotes include:

• A boy telling a humorous story to his friends while sitting around a campfire on a school trip.
• A father telling his kids about the funny pranks he did with his brother during his childhood days.
• A professor starting the first day of college by telling a funny story that happened during his college days.
• A speaker starting his address with a funny incident that happened to him.

Cautionary anecdotes

Anecdotes are always concise and focused. This makes the perfect tool for imparting an important lesson or message to the readers. Such “cautionary tales” often feature irresponsible or flawed individuals who suffer punishment or unfavorable outcomes by doing the wrong thing.

Religious parables, fairy tales, and historical myths all use cautionary anecdotes to inspire people to act morally by illustrating the consequences of doing otherwise.

• The story of Narcissus in Greek mythology is a cautionary tale for people not to fall into the clutches of vanity.
• The fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” is a cautionary tale warning kids about the dangers of talking to strangers.
• Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is a cautionary tale against power, greed, and mayhem.
• Before giving a presentation on alcohol addiction, a speaker can start with a story that details the bad effects alcohol had on the lives of someone like himself.

Characterizing anecdotes

Anecdotes are frequently employed in literature to give characters more depth by highlighting aspects of their personalities or prior experiences that don’t directly relate to the central story.

This strategy is also applied in real life, frequently with historical figures and celebrities to emphasize specific qualities or traits.

Some of these anecdote examples include:

• Everybody is familiar with the story of Alexander and his encounter with the famous Gordion Knot. It was said that whoever could untie this knot would control Asia. For many ages, kings and princes flocked to Phrygian Gordion in an effort to untangle this intricate knot, but all of them failed. When Alexander heard about the knot, he rode to Phrygian Gordium, pulled out his sword, and cut the knot. There were no instructions on how to unravel the knot. This meant that Alexander did nothing wrong by cutting it rather than untying it. This anecdote demonstrates the way Alexander approaches a problem and his capability to think outside the box. These qualities were what made him a great conqueror in the future.

How to write good anecdotes

Writing anecdotes isn’t difficult. Anecdotes can be used in a myriad of forms of writing, including general fiction and non-fiction works, speeches, essays, and even school or college works.

Using anecdotes while writing improves the writer’s skills and makes the text engaging. There are some tips writers can use to craft excellent anecdotes.

Have a clear objective or purpose in mind

Many writers think that, despite having fewer words, crafting anecdotes takes more effort and time. Sometimes the writers may need to express their thoughts in a limited number of words. All these can make using anecdotes a bit difficult.

The first step to crafting a good anecdote is to define the purpose or intention of the text, whether it is to make the reader laugh or to give some serious advice .

After this objective is clear, writers can design their anecdotes around it.

Begin with the action

Essays usually begin with an introduction that gives the reader an idea about the topic that is about to be discussed in detail. But writers can forgo this by using anecdotes and jumping directly into the story.

When compared to boring introductory paragraphs, using quirky anecdotes, in the beginning, can easily hold the attention of the readers.

Many famous fiction writers, like Malcolm Gladwell, use this technique to capture the attention of readers.

Create a short anecdote

An anecdote is brief, so it is important to stay true to its purpose and not include unnecessary details. Rereading the writing while viewing it from the perspective of another person can help writers identify unnecessary details in the text.

The target audience must always be taken into account. For example, while employing scientific terminology, writers should be prepared for the possibility that some listeners won’t comprehend what they’re saying.

It’s best to choose the alternative collocation because further explanation will just make things worse.

Include a clear conclusion

The writers should make sure that the readers will be able to tell when the anecdote is ending. Writers can use terms like “and that’s what happened” to indicate the end of anecdotes. The ending of anecdotes is heavily dependent on the message they put forth.

Anecdotes are typically one or two paragraphs long at most. Stories are much longer than anecdotes. When writers create stories, they have far more room for detail and put more work into making the readers feel immersed in the narrative.

Anecdotes, as they are meant to be brief, typically center on a single main character, with very little information about supporting characters.

The narratives are also similarly kept simple by typically concentrating on just one conflict or subject.

Anecdotes rely heavily on rhetoric to create the desired mood. Experienced writers who use anecdotes focus on the language they use to ensure it reflects the tone they are striving for.

Anecdotes typically have a start, middle, and conclusion, like any other form of narrative. The characters and overarching ideas are introduced at the start, the conflict or action of the narrative is presented in the middle, and everything is resolved at the conclusion.

The structure of anecdotes is similar to that of stories, but everything is considerably shorter.

Anecdotes are by nature brief and straightforward; therefore , they typically follow a more rapid pace with fewer specifics.

Both types are considered short stories. When referring to short stories, they are the same as a brief tale or short narrative.

• Merriam Webster – anecdote – Definition
• Wikipedia – Anecdote
• Literary Terms – Anecdote
• Cambridge Dictionary – anecdote

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About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

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• When & How to Write an Anecdote

I. What is an Anecdote?

An anecdote (pronounced an-ik-doht)  is a very short story that is significant to the topic at hand; usually adding  personal knowledge or experience to the topic. Basically,  anecdotes are stories . Like many stories, anecdotes are most often told through speech; they are spoken rather than written down.

The term “anecdote” originally comes from the Greek phrase  ἀνέκδοτα  , meaning “things unpublished.”

II. Examples of Anecdotes

Picture a mother and a father discussing whether or not to get a dog for the family. The father says:

You know, when I was a kid, my dog was my best friend. My childhood was better because of him.

The mother contemplates his story —a.k.a. his anecdote —and then agrees that they should get a dog.

Sometimes anecdotes are funny or effective because they interrupt an important moment. Imagine a big wedding dinner on a TV sitcom. The best man is giving a speech, when suddenly another guest, clearly drunk, stands up and yells:

That reminds me of a wild party I went to with the groom, before he got that new ball and chain! If you had told me back then that he would choose just ONE woman, I never would have believed it!

The audience laughs at his drunken anecdote, while the bride looks at the groom in anger. Here, the anecdote brings both humor and tension to the moment.

Anecdotes can be as simple as a relative joke. Picture a group of friends discussing their Halloween costumes for this year. One friend says:

I was an owl last year—it was a real hoot!

Her friends groan and giggle. Here, the anecdote is told just to bring laughter.

III. Types of Anecdotes

Anecdotes can be presented in an endless number of forms. Below are several typical types of anecdotes.

a. Humorous

An anecdote that adds humor to the topic at hand. For example, two friends are arguing about driving directions. The driver tells the passenger to turn off the GPS, insisting that he knows the way. The passenger replies, “oh, like the time we turned it off and ended up out in the middle of that cow farm?!”  We then see a flashback of their car surrounded by loudly mooing cows.

b. Reminiscent

A story that remembers something general about the past or a specific event, expressed in ways such as “that reminds me of…”, “when I used to…”, “I remember when…”, and so on. For example, a child asks her grandmother for $2 to buy candy at the store, and the grandmother says, “you know back in my day, all you needed was a penny to go to the candy shop! My grandmother would give me a nickel and I’d be a happy clam!”

c. Philosophical

An anecdote expressed in order to make others think more deeply about the topic at hand. For example, a group of college students are discussing the morality of lying; most are arguing that it is never okay to lie. One student offers an anecdote to the others: “what about families who lied to German soldiers, you know, about hiding Jews in their homes during World War II? Do the lives saved justify the lies they told?” The students then contemplate the validity of their prior arguments .

d. Inspirational

An anecdote that is told in order to inspire hope or other positive emotions. They are often about not giving up, achieving goals or dreams, making the impossible possible, and so on. For example, a doctor talking to a group of war amputees tells them about a soldier who came in with no hands and no hope—but left the hospital holding his newborn baby in his prosthetic hands.

e. Cautionary

Stories that warn others about the dangers or negative consequences surrounding the topic at hand. For example, a speaker is giving a talk to teenagers about the risks of using drugs. During his presentation, he reminds them of a well-known straight-A student who died of a heroin overdose a few years before; warning them that it could happen to anyone.

IV. Importance of Anecdotes

Anecdotes, like other forms of stories, are common and highly effective devices found throughout literature, film, television, theater, and even real life. Anecdotes make conversations or dialogue more personal and interesting. Usually, they are employed in a way that will make the audience and/or other characters laugh or think more deeply about a topic.

V. Examples of Anecdotes in Literature

A very famous anecdote in literature is from Swann’s Way of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time novels, when he recalls a specific time that he ate a madeleine cookie. Below is a small selection from this memory:

Many years had elapsed during which nothing of Combray, save what was comprised in the theatre and the drama of my going to bed there, had any existence for me, when one day in winter, as I came home, my mother, seeing that I was cold, offered me some tea, a thing I did not ordinarily take. I declined at first, and then, for no particular reason, changed my mind. She sent out for one of those short, plump little cakes called ‘petites madeleines,’ which look as though they had been moulded in the fluted scallop of a pilgrim’s shell.

Proust uses this anecdote in part of an ongoing discussion on memory and remembrance of the past. For him, this particular childhood moment represents one of his strongest and most intense memories, particularly of those tied to senses.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , Albus Dumbledore is having a conversation with a visiting headmaster about the knowledge they have of their own castles. Dumbledore then says:

Oh, I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts’ secrets, Igor. Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turn on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I had never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber pots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished.

Dumbledore’s brief story is related to their conversation; it gives a personal example to support his view on the topic, and provides something for Igor to ponder. Furthermore, the anecdote makes Dumbledore appear humble against his visitor’s prideful attitude.

Anecdotes don’t always have to be personal; some are just interesting stories about specific people or subjects. The Book of Three Hundred Anecdotes , for instance, includes 300 brief stories about topics from affection to librarians to war. The following anecdote is from the topic “Forgiveness”:

Mariè Antoinette.—On the elevation of this princess to the throne after the death of Louis XV., an officer of the body-guard, who had given her offence on some former occasion, expressed his intention of resigning his commission; but the queen forbade him. “Remain,” said she, “forget the past as I forgive it.”

Each of the anecdotes provides a brief account of something related to its adjacent topic. The book is filled with similar stories referencing historical figures, places, books, ideas, etc for each topic included; providing anecdotes for any and all conversations.

VI. Examples of Anecdotes in Pop Culture

Sometimes anecdotes can bring up the past while also foreshadowing the future. In the movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf shows the Fellowship the mines in Moria, where they tirelessly mined for Mithril, a valuable metal. He then shares a short relative story—an anecdote—about how Bilbo once had a shirt made of Mithril. The audience already knows that Frodo now has that very shirt, thus Gandalf’s anecdote teaches the Fellowship something about Mithril while simultaneously foreshadowing that the shirt will be important in the future.

The comedy Modern Family is full of funny anecdotes. In this scene, Phil has a gift for Claire followed by an anecdote about the gift. He then has a subsequent anecdote about how “easy” it was to get the porch swing:

Claire: What is it? Phil: It’s the actual porch swing where we had our first kiss. Claire: No. Phil: Check it out. The carvings are still on the back from 25 years ago. Claire: Oh, my gosh. “Phil hearts Claire.” Oh, honey, this is gonna look so great out on our porch. I can’t believe you did this. Wow! Phil: It was nothing. I made a few calls, – drove half a day – Claire: Uh-huh. Phil: had Campari and haggled with a handsy gay landlord, took the swing apart, loaded it in a van, ran out of gas in the desert, got harassed by a shady state trooper, and drove back with a blinding migraine. But easy-peasy.

VII. Related Terms

A quote is something that has been said by a person, not necessarily a story . Sometimes, quotes are used as anecdotes, which leads some to wrongly use the terms “anecdote” and “quote” interchangeably.

VII. Conclusion

In conclusion, anecdotes are valuable literary devices because of their diversity in style, tone, and utility—they can be used by almost any person, in any situation, in any genre. Like any story shared with others, anecdotes serve countless purposes and make situations more interesting for both the characters and the audience. An anecdote is a timeless device that is used across literature, film, television and theater, and has been benefiting storytellers for centuries.

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Anecdote Essay

Anecdotal essays are common among colleges. It is useful when you want to have a bond between you and the readers. Through anecdotes, the audience will be able to engage themselves in your work. The question is “how are you going to create good anecdotal essays?”. Always remember that like any other essays , anecdotal essays also follow a specific format. In this article, you will be able to know details about the nature and structure of an anecdotal essay.

3+ Anecdote Essay Examples

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4. Anecdote Essay Template

What is an Anecdote?

An anecdote is a short account of a specific person or a real occurrence. They make conversations that are considered to be personal. They are placed for the purpose of making the readers entertained.

An example of an anecdote would be: “When I was a kid, I used to have a dog who happens to be my best friend. I couldn’t imagine my life without him.”

How to Use Anecdotes in Essays?

•       To have a very good message in your story , use your past experience as anecdotes.
•       Venture out into the real world.
•       Start a new story when you are being placed with another inspiration.
•       If you have diaries, you may use it to connect together and make a good storyline.
•       Let your stories speak for themselves.

Here are some examples of anecdotal essays that you may want to read:

“Kendall Hill describes how he was a “nerd” at school: he wishes it was easier to be “different”. He states, “if only it were easier to be different in this country. Back then our education system – and, by extension, most teachers and students – rejected anything unconventional”. Refer “Habitual cruelty: maybe the bullies get screwed up the most”, The Age, 19/6/11).

When the TV series of Alex Haley’s slave epic Roots was first broadcast in Australia a few decades ago, my high school tormenters had a brilliant idea. We could play Roots at school the next day.

“You can be Kunta Kinte!” my nemesis hooted, his eyes flashing evil mischief. “And the rest of you can go home and make willow whips.”

Electric excitement rippled through the group. Me? I thought I might cry.

The episode sums up the hell of high school for me – falling into a poisonous group that terrorised other students but, mostly, terrorised me. Soccer matches where I became the ball, kicked around until I was coated in mud like a choc-dipped loser. Threats hissed through clenched teeth to force two unwilling combatants, one of them always me, to brawl at lunchtime for the school’s entertainment. Every student on every bus chanting insults at me at home time.

And they say school days are the best of the your life.”

Linda Duberley recounts her despair at the fact that her son, Connor, was ruining his life owing to his gaming addition. (See “My son was a cyber addict – hooked on fantasy and sci-fi games” in The Age .) “For three years, Connor played truant, failed exams and shut himself away from people to create a new personality in his electronic universe.”

Duberley recounts: “To me, the problem seemed to be school; Connor was truanting. He was tired and stressed. So, I cut back my work as a media consultant to be around more at home. But he found new ways to sneak home from school, only now he had to be even more surreptitious to avoid me. Then, at a parents’ evenings, two of his teachers were clearly surprised to see me – they thought that he had left the school. That Christmas, his father took Connor’s younger brother and sister away so he and I could be alone together and talk. I was optimistic. But shortly after that, on just the second day of the new term, I found Connor hiding in the bathroom, having sneaked back into the house. In fact, he turned up at home several times that week, once having gone missing for so long that I called the police. That time, I eventually found him hidden, wrapped up in a duvet inside a cupboard.” 

Writing anecdotes and real-life examples. (2014). English Works.

How do we formulate ideas when creating an anecdote essay.

You may start by using your own experiences to tell a story and then gather your ideas and start producing to make it a wholesome anecdote essay.

How long should an anecdotal essay be?

Anecdotal essays are like any other essays that contain two or more paragraphs.

When do we use anecdotes?

You may use anecdotes when you give personal perspectives or make people feel something like extreme happiness or sadness depending on the story.

The use of anecdotes makes your story more valuable. They can be used anywhere especially in telling a story about a specific person or an experience.

Anecdote Essay Generator

Text prompt

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Write an anecdote essay about a time you overcame a challenge.

Describe in an anecdote essay a moment that changed your perspective on life.

Have you ever been talking to someone, and they suddenly interrupt the conversation to tell you a story about something? They say, “Hey. Speaking of …” or “Did I ever tell you about the time…?” Well, that is usually how an anecdote begins. We’re all guilty of using them. Sometimes, without even a point. In writing, the anecdote always has a purpose, even if you don’t realize it at the time.

What is Anecdote ?

Anecdote is a literary device that uses a short, simple story to tell a story about something of interest. They revolve around a single character and usually involve a theme or message. An anecdote may be light-hearted or serious in tone and it may make a point in an argument , add humor to a story, or simply entertain the reader .

How to pronounce Anecdote ?

When do writers use anecdotes .

First and foremost, anecdotes create diversity in perspective and experience . An anecdote is a short story or brief account of an interesting or humorous incident . Writers use anecdotes for a variety of reasons. They may be used to add humor to a story by means of introducing profanity to make it funnier. They may present a character in a different point of view or in another way that would not make sense to introduce in the main narrative .

Anecdotes may be used to make a point, provide an example, illustrate a theme , or convey a more subtle message. A very skilled writer may choose to incorporate an anecdote as a way to introduce rhetoric . Or, the use of an anecdote may serve no other purpose than to simply slow the pace of the story.

How do you use an Anecdote in your writing?

Anecdotes are short, focused stories within a larger narrative . Since anecdotes are essentially micro-stories , a good rule of thumb is to treat them as you would any other story when incorporating them into your writing. To do that:

• Introduce your story
• Say what happened
• Conclude your story
• Either draw a conclusion or ask a question so that your reader may come to their own when writing your anecdote, remember to:
• Be relatable.
• Make it memorable.
• Write with impact in mind.

Are there different types of anecdotes?

There is not a formal grouping for anecdotes, but they are generally regarded as falling into one of several groupings.  Not so surprising, there are almost as many types of various anecdotes as there are ways to use the tool, so please keep in mind that depending on who you ask, the following list represents the major categories of anecdotes. The purpose of your anecdote will determine what type of anecdote most closely aligns with what your purpose.

Characterizing – Characterizing anecdotes often present a side or perspective of a character that would not make sense to introduce within the main narrative . This type of anecdote may be used to build character or offer insigh t into that character. One of the most well-known examples of characterizing anecdotes is the A merican tale of George Washington who cut down the cherry tree and then professed, “I cannot tell a lie.”

Humorous – As the name may suggest, this type of anecdote introduces humor into the main story. It is centered around one specific character and may or may not be relevant to the story, such as a famous example of “ The Revenge of Lard Ass Hogan ,” from Stephen King ’s novel , The Body (also known as Stand by Me )

Inspirational – This type of anecdote is most often found in persuasive writing and speeches. Like pathos of the famed ethos , pathos . Logos , an inspirational anecdote pulls on the heartstrings in an effort to offer hope and inspiration to the reader or audience. A famous example of an inspirational anecdote occurred during an interview with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he was asked if he ever felt the weight of his position. He replied with an anecdote about a little girl who couldn’t even pronounce freedom. In this anecdote, he describes how a police officer approached the girl and asked what she wanted. She said fee-dom . The inspirational part of his story is that while the child could not say the word, she knew and understood the concept and what everyone was fighting for.

Nostalgic – Also referred to as a r eminiscent anecdote , this type takes the reader back to the distant past . Nostalgic anecdotes may be humorous or an exaggeration and usually try to make a point. One of the most common examples is probably used by grandparents the world over and goes something like, “Back in my day, we had to walk 10 miles in the rain, snow, and ice just to get to school.”

Anecdotes in Literature 📚

Anecdotes in literature are quite common in longer narratives and serve a wide range of purposes. In the selections below, we’ve chosen text which speak on inequality and class.

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , Mark Twain, Huck encounters a young slave named Jim. In their conversation, Jim tells Huck how he escaped to Jackson Island.

“Well, you see, it ’uz dis way. Ole missus—dat’s Miss Watson—she pecks on me all de time, en treats me pooty rough, but she awluz said she wouldn’ sell me down to Orleans. […] Well, one night I creeps to de do’ pooty late, en de do’ warn’t quite shet, en I hear old missus tell de widder she gwyne to sell me down to Orleans, but she didn’ want to, but she could git eight hund’d dollars for me, en it ’uz sich a big stack o’ money she couldn’ resis’. De widder she try to git her to say she wouldn’ do it, but I never waited to hear de res’. I lit out mighty quick, I tell you. ”

Even though this story is brief, it is impactful because it tells of the differences between slaves and white society.

Another great example comes from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby . In this brief excerpt, Daisy wants to tell Nick a story, although rather inadequately. However, once she finishes the story, the novel’s theme , class, and social climbing, is highlighted and Daisy’ subpar story serves as a cautionary tale.

“I’ll tell you a family secret,” she whispered enthusiastically. “It’s about the butler’s nose. Do you want to hear about the butler’s nose?”

“That’s why I came over to-night.”

“Well, he wasn’t always a butler; he used to be the silver polisher for some people in New York that had a silver service for two hundred people. He

had to polish it from morning till night , until finally it began to affect his nose ——”

Things went from bad to worse,” suggested Miss Baker.

“Yes. Things went from bad to worse, until finally he had to give up his position.”

These examples illustrate how a brief side story can offer insight in characters and situations while remaining impactful even if they do not initially seem to serve a purpose.

Anecdote in Songs 🎧

While somewhat unconventional, an anecdote can exist in song. Sometimes, as in the case here, the song itself is an anecdote.

“ American Pie ,” Don McLean – This song reminisces on the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper and loosley tells the story of the day the music died, which refers specifically to that crash.

“ The Devil Went Down to Georgia ,” The Charlie Daniels Band – While fictional, much like “American Pie,” this song reminisces on a story once told to the singer about a fiddle contest between the devil and a young man. Interestingly, this song also appears to have a moral. One of the best examples of an anecdote in a song, regardless of who sings it (there are many renditions) is “ The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia .” This song has it all – an affair, jealousy, murder, and false justice. In it, the singer recalls the night her little sister murdered a man and got away with it while another man was falsely accused.

And in Poetry ✍🏽

When examining poetry for examples of anecdotes, you may find that the bin is shallow and the occurrence rare. However, that does not mean that anecdotes are not used in poetry. It simply means that the occurrence is rare.

One such example is “Death in the Arctic,” by Robert W. Service. What makes this poem such a unique example is that it is actually an anecdote within a poem. The poem is rather long, but it begins,

“I took the clock down from the shelf;

“At eight,” said I, “I shoot myself.”

It lacked a minute of the hour,

And as I waited all a-cower,

A skinful of black, boding pain,

Bits of my life came back again. . . .

  “Mother, there’s nothing more to eat —

Why don’t you go out on the street ?

Always you sit and cry and cry;

Here at my play I wonder why.

Mother, when you dress up at night ,Red are your cheeks, your eyes are bright …”

Note that as the first verse ends, it offers a transition to the memory beginning with line 1 of the second verse.

Anecdotes in Film and Pop Culture 🎥

Forrest Gump (1994) is actually a really good example of an anecdote in film. White most of the film is technically flashbacks, the argument can be made that each flashback is also anecdotal. Each time Forrest returns to his past, he reveals a significant part of history along with a moral or lesson to be learned from the experience.

And for real-life examples, check out this clip from the Jay Leno Show with Jennifer Lawrence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kggwE_vAdOs

Remember, it is kind of an unspoken rule that every guest on American talk shows is more or less required to provide a witty or humorous anecdote to lighten the mood . Although, there are almost certainly occasions where this never occurred.

Often Confused With …/R elated literary devices 👥

• Dialogue – Conversation between two or more people in a story, poem, or narrative .
• Narrative – A written or spoken account of connected events in a story.
• Perspective – A particular way of seeing things by an individual or group.

What is an anecdote in literature?

An anecdote is a short, amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person, often used to illustrate a point or to engage the reader’s interest. It can provide personal insights, highlight human nature, or elucidate a particular trait or situation through a brief narrative .

How are anecdotes used in writing?

Anecdotes are used in writing to personalize abstract concepts, make arguments more relatable, or introduce humor or insight into a narrative . They are effective in speeches, essays, and literary works to draw readers in and provide a vivid illustration of the writer’s point.

What is the difference between an anecdote and a short story?

The main difference lies in their purpose and structure. An anecdote is typically brief and focused on a single incident or idea, used to support a point or demonstrate a lesson in a larger context . A short story is a complete narrative with a structured plot, character development, and a resolved ending, intended as a work of fiction for its own sake.

Why do speakers and writers use anecdotes?

Speakers and writers use anecdotes to make their messages more compelling and memorable. Anecdotes humanize abstract concepts, evoke emotions, and create connections with the audience by sharing relatable experiences. They can make complex ideas easier to understand and retain.

How can I identify an anecdote in a text?

To identify an anecdote, look for a brief passage that tells a specific story about an individual or incident, often introduced to illustrate a point or add depth to the discussion. Anecdotes are usually personal or historical and are presented as a mini-narrative within a larger context .

How to Write a Great Anecdote

Why Use Anecdotes?

Anecdotes are used to give a personal perspective, illustrate a point, make people think about something, or make them laugh. One of the places where you might find anecdote writing useful is when writing a college application essay . Perhaps something that happened in your life inspired you to study in a certain direction, and you’d like to share the story to show why you are highly motivated to do well.

Non-fiction, informal essays can also be livened up with anecdotes that show how the information you’re sharing works in practice, and why people need to know about or think about the topic. For example, when I write about gender discrimination in the workplace, I always remember to point out that women can also be guilty of this.

A female boss I worked under years ago didn’t like hiring young women, “They’re just going to get married and move away or have babies, and then we have to give them maternity leave,” she would say. This illustrates that women are sometimes also guilty of gender discrimination.

You can also use anecdotes to amuse or entertain. Not all anecdotes are serious! If something really funny happens to you today, you’ll tell your friends, won’t you? That’s an anecdote! Here’s one of my favorites:

My brother used to have an absolute obsession with answering the phone in time. He would get quite agitated if it stopped ringing before anyone picked up. One day, the phone started ringing while he was in the bathroom. He called out in a panicky voice, “Ring the phone! It’s answering!” The phone didn’t get answered. I was laughing much too hard for that!

How to Write an Anecdote

First, be sure the anecdote you have in mind is relevant to the context . If you are writing about dogs, for example, an anecdote about a cat is irrelevant. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to use this anecdote? What point does it illustrate?”

Next, consider these questions:

• Who was involved in the story?
• What happened?
• When did it happen? Is this relevant?
• Where did it happen? Is this relevant?

Because an anecdote is a mini-story, you structure it in the same way that you would structure a longer piece. You introduce the story, you say what happened, and you either draw a conclusion or ask a question so your reader can reach his or her own conclusion.

The main point you’re trying to get across is your “punchline” (whether it’s funny or serious), so save it for last. The first thing to mention is the person or group of people directly involved in the story. In my anecdote about a sexist female boss, I introduce her, but not the other people on the recruitment panel. They are not relevant to the story itself, so we leave them out.

We also don’t bother to mention the weather, the color of the boardroom furniture, and so on. These facts don’t contribute to the story. If they did, we could add them. Always remember you’re illustrating a point, and anything that doesn’t form part of that point will be a distraction.

Once you have introduced your players and have provided any necessary context to set the stage, you can move on to explaining what happened. Begin at the beginning and write the events chronologically. It’s possible to tell your anecdote differently, but this is the easiest way to keep it coherent and easy to understand. Lastly, state your conclusion, or ask your readers to draw their own conclusion.

The Differences Between Anecdotes and Stories

Anecdotes are short. At most, they will consist of a paragraph , or maybe two paragraphs . Stories are longer. When we write stories, we can include a lot more detail, and we will spend more effort on drawing the reader into the scene so that they feel part of it.

Can an Anecdote Be a Single Sentence? Yes, It Can

• “My cat always cuddles me in the morning.”
• “George is so polite, he always shakes hands instead of just greeting me.”
• “When I was a student, I worked in a bookshop after classes.”

Admittedly, these aren’t great anecdotes, but they are anecdotes nonetheless.

• Choose a relevant event that happened to you or someone else (even a famous figure).
• Is your story interesting, amusing, inspiring or thought-provoking? Try to aim for at least one of these.
• Structure your ideas.
• Tell your story briefly.
• Draw a conclusion.

Does anyone out there have an anecdote about anecdotes? Do tell!

I was reading an article about anecdotes, and in the process, I realized that I was creating my own anecdote learning what it takes to understand anecdotes.

Superb answer…It’s like an anecdote only ! I liked yours !

Can an anecdote also be a story? I’ve heard the phrase “anecdotal story” before so this leads me to believe that an anecdote can be a story, but you say there is a difference in one is short and one is long.

An anecdotal story is a short story about oneself.

Can an anecdote be fictional?

nah it has to be based on a real incident

My English teacher doesn’t need to know that…

Actually, it can be. I am just learning about anecdotes and informal essays.

An anecdote can be anything, fact or fiction, that helps develop, further or improve one’s narrative.

Yes, it can be. But it has to be realistic.

On the contrary, anecdotes may be unrealistic as well an obvious exaggeration as satire and sarcasm are often used by comedians.

Very very useful article Thank you very much …

But how would you follow after the story like what connects the hook and bridge.

There is a memoir by the entertainer Carl Reiner and the book cover calls it an anecdotal memoir! That works for me.

can I use an anecdote for a formal essay?

yes you can

this article was super helpful.. can anyone please share a three sentence anecdote of a personal experience you have had.

Our school conducted sports day in a near by school.I parked my vehicle in that school playground.I left my hand bag inside my vehicle and joined the sports meet. After sometime I heard that handbags left in vehicle were robbed. I rushed to see and found my handbag too got stolen. That day I learnt we should never leave our belonging gs in the vehicle even though it is locked.

How do you suppose you could use an anecdote as the conclusion in a biographical sketch?

I would think you would need a “concluding statement” of some kind, and then include an anecdote about the subject of the biography that hasn’t already appeared. Anecdotes, I think, need a “bridge” of some kind.

I’ve been searching for a way to explain, in understandable language, the process of writing an anecdote to my international college students (ESL). My brain is “fried” with teaching online, so I’ve turned to the friendly Internet. Breathing a sigh of relief.

Just say that it’s them describing a past experience.

I was trying to comment on this article after finishing it, I found lot of people already commented what i wanted to comment ! True,What you think become reality !

This article on anecdotes helped me to learn the following: (a.) it’s purpose, meaning, (b.) how to write a it, (c.) what needs to be included in my outline for my supportive evidential support by including facts, evidence, anecdote and structure. FYI: differentiate by color code. Thanks you

This was really helpful, thanks a lot.

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What Is an Anecdote?

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

An anecdote is a brief narrative , a short account of an interesting or amusing incident usually intended to illustrate or support some point in an essay , article , or chapter of a book. Compare this to other literary terms, such as parable —where the whole story is a metaphor—and  vignette  (a brief descriptive story or account). The term's adjective form is  anecdotal . 

In "The Healing Heart: Antidotes to Panic and Helplessness," Norman Cousins wrote, "The writer makes his living by  anecdotes . He searches them out and carves them as the raw materials of his profession. No hunter stalking his prey is more alert to the presence of his quarry than a writer looking for small incidents that cast a strong light on human behavior."

Consider the use of an anecdote to illustrate something like the literary version of "a picture is worth a thousand words." For example, use anecdotes to show a person's character or state of mind:

• Albert Einstein :   "There was something elusively whimsical about Einstein. It is illustrated by my favorite  anecdote  about him. In his first year in Princeton, on Christmas Eve, so the story goes, some children sang carols outside his house. Having finished, they knocked on his door and explained they were collecting money to buy Christmas presents. Einstein listened, then said, "Wait a moment." He put on his scarf and overcoat and took his violin from its case. Then, joining the children as they went from door to door, he accompanied their singing of 'Silent Night' on his violin." (Banesh Hoffman, "My Friend, Albert Einstein."  Reader's Digest , January 1968)
• Ralph Waldo Emerson :   "In [Ralph Waldo] Emerson's later years his memory began increasingly to fail. He used to refer to it as his 'naughty memory' when it let him down. He would forget the names of things, and have to refer to them in a  circumlocutory  way, saying, for instance, 'the implement that cultivates the soil' for plow." (Reported in Clifton Fadiman, ed., "The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes," 1985)

Brainstorm to Choose the Right Anecdote

First, consider what you want to illustrate. Why do you want to use an anecdote in the story? Knowing this should help brainstorm the story to choose. Then make a list of random ideas. Just free-flow the thoughts onto the page. Examine your list. Will any be easy to present in clear and concise enough manner? Then sketch out the basics of the possible anecdote. Will it do the job? Will it bring extra layers of evidence or meaning to the point you're trying to convey?

If so, develop it further. Set the scene and describe what happened. Don't get too long-winded with it, because you're just using this as an illustration to your larger idea. Transition to your main point, and hearken back to the anecdote where needed for emphasis.

• Anecdotal Evidence

The expression  anecdotal evidence  refers to the use of particular instances or concrete  examples  to support a general  claim . Such information (sometimes referred to pejoratively as "hearsay") may be compelling but does not, in itself, provide  proof . A person may have anecdotal evidence that going out in the cold with wet hair makes him or her sick, but correlation is not the same as causation. 

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Definition of Anecdote

Anecdote is defined as a short and interesting story , or an amusing event, often proposed to support or demonstrate some point, and to make the audience laugh. Anecdotes can include an extensive range of tales and stories. In fact, it is a short description or an account of any event that makes the readers laugh or brood over the topic presented for the purpose.

Types of Anecdote

There are several types of anecdotes. Amusing anecdotes are often used in literature, or at such events as family reunions, wedding receptions, and other get-togethers. Teachers tell anecdotes to their students in classrooms about eminent people and celebrities. Writers and poets use them in their literary works.

Examples of Anecdote in Literature

Example #1: the crucible (by arthur miller).

Parris: “ (It is very hard to say): Aye, a dress. And I thought – someone naked running through the trees !” Abigail: (In terror) “No one was naked! You mistake yourself, uncle!” Parris: (With anger) “I saw it! (Her moves from her, then, resolved.) Now tell me true, Abigail. And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry’s at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life. Whatever abomination you have done, give me all of it now, for I dare not be taken unaware when I go before them down there.” Abigail: “ There is nothin’ more. I swear it, uncle.” Parris: (Studies her, then nods, half convinced) “Abigail, I have fought here three long years to bend there stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character . I have given you a home, child, I have put clothes upon your back – now give me upright answer. Your name in the town – it is entirely white, is it not?” Abigail: (With an edge of resentment) “Why, I am sure it is, sir. There is no blush about my name.” Parris: (To the point) “Abigail is there any other cause that you have told me, for you being discharged from Goody Proctor’s service? I have heard it said, and I tell you as I heard it, that she comes so rarely to church this year for she will not sit so close to something soiled. What signified that remark?” Abigail: “She hates me, uncle; she must, for I would not be her slave. It’s a bitter woman, a lying; cold, sniveling, woman, and I will not work for such a woman!” Parris: “She may be. And yet it has troubled me that you are now seven month out of their house, and in all this time no other family has ever called for your service.” Abigail: “They want slaves, not such as me. Let them send to Barbados for that. I will not black my face for any of them! (With ill-concealed resentment at him.) Do you begrudge my bed, uncle?” Parris: “No – no.” Abigail: (in a temper) “My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!”

Here in this literary text, Reverend Parris finds her niece Abigail Williams chanting and dancing in the woods, along with the native village girls. He suspects them of magic and witchcraft. However, she does not accept any of the accusations of Parris and starts narrating whimsical stories to justify her actions. Abigail makes an account that Goody Proctor is a liar. The stories of Abigail are perfect examples of anecdotes.

Example #2: Death in the Arctic (By Robert W. Service)

is that? Bells, dogs again! Is it a dream ? I sob and cry. See! The door opens, fur-clad men Rush to my rescue; frail am I; Feeble and dying, dazed and glad. There is the pistol where it dropped. “Boys, it was hard – but I’m not mad … Look at the clock – it stopped, it stopped. Carry me out. The heavens smile. See! There’s an arch of gold above. Now, let me rest a little while – Looking to God and Love … and Love …”

In this poem , the speaker is freezing slowly in the Arctic. He recollects the memories of his life and tells the whole story to the readers, but sees flashes of his life before he dies. In fact, he is using anecdotes to tell his life story.

Function of Anecdote

Anecdotes and humorous pieces are not only jokes, but exquisite literary devices as well. Their primary purpose is to stir up laughter, to disclose a truth in a general way, or to describe a feature of a character in such a way that it becomes humorous, and at the same time gives us a better understanding of the character.

Anecdotes may also serve as cautions. Writers tell their readers about the possibilities of future happenings, in case they do not follow particular processes and techniques.

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English Works

Writing anecdotes and real-life examples

March 17, 2014

• A personal anecdote should be relatable, dramatic and colourful, consisting of sharp and accurate descriptions,  possibly humorous, and often showing raw emotions. It must relate to the prompt or to the theme of your discussion.
• A real-life story or anecdotal evidence draws upon people’s every-day (ordinary) and/or extraordinary experiences; it may draw upon articles or short stories you have read. It must be meaningful.
• You must capture as accurately as possible the protagonist’s (person-as-main-character’s) views, values, attitudes, responses, dilemmas and reactions.
• What are they thinking and feeling?
• Think about the descriptions you use to reflect their state of mind; be as fresh and original as possible. If possible use some figurative devices – metaphor, similes, personification.)
• An anecdote or recount comes to life if it captures people’s uniqueness, differences and/or idiosyncrasies. Even ordinary, common incidents or events will not be just another cliché if you use interesting and precise descriptions.

See “Writing in Context”

Here’s a few of my favourite ones. You will notice that the example provides a very accurate insight into how the person is thinking and feeling.  It gives a chance to step inside their shoes, or as Scout says in To Kill a Mockingbird , to “wriggle around in their skin”.

Notice how the person is in a position of weakness; they are showing quiet courage or resilience in the face of difficulties; often showing a sense of humour.

Sometimes short, snappy dialogue works well.

See: Tim Costello: “The lessons still to be learnt from Rwanda”, The Age, Monday 7 April 2014.

Tim Costello, the chief executive of World Vision of Australia, discusses the ability of Rwandan citizens to forgive and heal the terrible scars caused by the genocide in 1994. The genocide include 100 days of “frenzied violence and merciless killing that left more than 800,000 Rwandans dead.” For the past 20 years, these events cast a dark shadow over the lives of Rwandans. The survivors and perpetrators held 100 days of national mourning to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the killings. Costello writes:

“But I believe that the extraordinary progress Rwanda has made is equally due to the extraordinary decision that Rwandans have made to forgive each other and themselves. You don’t have to have been in the country very long before you realise that this is the choice that virtually every Rwandan has made – whether they are survivors, perpetrators or their descendants.

I met one such Rwandan last week. His name is Gaspard. Now 39-years-old, he was only 19 when he lost his parents and 10 siblings in the genocide. He quietly told me that he had chosen to forgive his Hutu school friend who had savagely killed some of his siblings. This perpetrator eventually confessed and was released from jail. This man took Gaspard and showed him the grave where he had dumped their bodies.

Gaspard also told me he had rebuilt his parent’s family home and has two young children of his own. Yes he remembers, but there is no trace of bitterness and he has embraced his family’s attackers. Gaspard, like most Rwandans, has taken to heart Desmond Tutu’s admonition: ‘‘There is no future without forgiveness”.”

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-lessons-still-to-be-learnt-from-rwanda-20140404-zqqps.html#ixzz2zNW9TRnt

Lonely years, (Good Weekend, 15 th March 2014: the stories are from Fiona Scott Norman’s book. The author interviewed local celebrities and collected their stories in a new book called Don’t Peak at High School: From Bullied to A-List .

Stella Young (comedian with a disability)

“At high school, I just wanted to fit in with my non-disabled friends. I didn’t like hanging out with other people with disabilities. But walking to class with friends, invariably I’d have to duck off and find the accessible entrance, and I’d get really worried about rejoining the conversation. I’d pretend I hadn’t missed huge chunks. I’d be all, “Oh, yes, yes. Of course.” ….

I had surgery on my legs in year 8, so I had time off school, and it was at the end of Year 8 that they kicked me out. I stressed all holidays because I was terrified of having no friends. So I thought, “Right, I’m going to try to sit with other people at lunchtimes.”

I floated around and sat with other people, and it felt really awkward.  It’s difficult to be subtle in a chair.   I was sure they were wondering what I was doing there.

Then I thought, “What the hell, I could be the worst house on the best street”, and I “joined” the popular group. I’d go and sit with them, eat lunch and hang out, until this mortifying incident one lunchtime.   The girls were all talking about how they wished someone would go away. You know, “I wish she’d just f… off.”    As usual, I didn’t know who they were talking about. I was just agreeing like always, nodding and smiling, saying, “I know, oh yes, I know.” Eventually, yes, I realised they were talking about me. So, I raised my chair up, and said, “I’m just going to go to the toilet,” and I went and I cried.”

Tiffany Hall, Television Presenter, also interviewed in Fiona Scott Norman’s book.

“School stressed me out so much that I got glandular fever, which led to chronic fatigue syndrome, and I had to take six or seven months off. That was year 9, the pivotal time when you make your friends. Socially, I never recovered.

I never fitted in. A lot of the girls were really well off and stuck together. The dominant thing was wealth and having the right things. One girl was bullied because her family rented their BMW.

Sometimes, if I couldn’t deal with something, I’d clean. Mum would always yell at me because I’d just empty a drawer into the bin, which would make me feel better, but she’d have had important stuff in there. So, for my 12th birthday, I asked for cleaning agents and some Ballerina cleaning cloths. When the girls came over for the sleepover, I said, “Let’s all clean the house!” Three of them were like, “Seriously?” But one girl helped – she’s still my friend today.

When I was 19, I had a party and invited all those uni kids. Mum made big beautiful bowls of fantastic pasta and we’d bought a little bit of alcohol, and I sat there waiting with my parents and they didn’t show. I haven’t had a party since. Uni, for me, was just a disaster.”

Kendall Hill’s experiences

“Kendall Hill describes how he was a “nerd” at school: he wishes it was easier to be “different”. He states, “if only it were easier to be different in this country. Back then our education system – and, by extension, most teachers and students – rejected anything unconventional”. Refer “Habitual cruelty: maybe the bullies get screwed up the most”, The Age, 19/6/11).

When the TV series of Alex Haley’s slave epic Roots was first broadcast in Australia a few decades ago, my high school tormenters had a brilliant idea. We could play Roots at school the next day.

“You can be Kunta Kinte!” my nemesis hooted, his eyes flashing evil mischief. “And the rest of you can go home and make willow whips.”

Electric excitement rippled through the group. Me? I thought I might cry.

The episode sums up the hell of high school for me – falling into a poisonous group that terrorised other students but, mostly, terrorised me. Soccer matches where I became the ball, kicked around until I was coated in mud like a choc-dipped loser. Threats hissed through clenched teeth to force two unwilling combatants, one of them always me, to brawl at lunchtime for the school’s entertainment. Every student on every bus chanting insults at me at home time.

And they say school days are the best of the your life.”

Linda Duberley recounts her despair at the fact that her son, Connor, was ruining his life owing to his gaming addition. (See “My son was a cyber addict – hooked on fantasy and sci-fi games” in The Age .) “For three years, Connor played truant, failed exams and shut himself away from people to create a new personality in his electronic universe.”

Duberley recounts: “To me, the problem seemed to be school; Connor was truanting. He was tired and stressed. So, I cut back my work as a media consultant to be around more at home. But he found new ways to sneak home from school, only now he had to be even more surreptitious to avoid me. Then, at a parents’ evenings, two of his teachers were clearly surprised to see me – they thought that he had left the school. That Christmas, his father took Connor’s younger brother and sister away so he and I could be alone together and talk. I was optimistic. But shortly after that, on just the second day of the new term, I found Connor hiding in the bathroom, having sneaked back into the house. In fact, he turned up at home several times that week, once having gone missing for so long that I called the police. That time, I eventually found him hidden, wrapped up in a duvet inside a cupboard.”

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• Scriptwriting

What is an Anecdote — Definition, Examples, and Functions

W hat is an anecdote? In simplest terms, an anecdote is a short story that illuminates a nuanced facet of a greater subject matter. We’re going to break down anecdotes by looking at their definition — and anecdote examples in film and literature. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize and implement anecdotes in your own works.

How to Use Anecdote in a Sentence

First, let’s define anecdote.

Anecdotes are used to add dramatic nuance to dialogue. For example: say two characters are having a conversation about whether or not to attempt “the big one” – a bank robbery they can retire on; but one character tells a short story about how when he was a kid, he’d always ride his bike down a dangerous hill, then one day, his luck ran out; his tire popped and he fell down the rock-covered hill, leaving him with a giant scar. This anecdote adds dramatic nuance to the two character’s dialogue and potentially foreshadows future events.

Anecdotes can also be used to support themes . Take Orson Welles’s best movie Citizen Kane for example. In this clip, Bernstein (Everett Sloane) tells a short story about a beautiful girl he once saw and how it relates to Kane’s final word: Rosebud.

What is an Anecdote in Writing  •  Anecdote Example in Citizen Kane

Both Kane’s final word and Bernstein’s anecdote symbolize forlorn desire. In many ways, this anecdote tells us the significance of “Rosebud” – but in a way so nuanced we don’t recognize it until the end.

ANECDOTE DEFINITION

What is an anecdote.

An anecdote is a short story — usually about a very specific subject matter — that’s told in order to illuminate a greater point regarding a situational, narrative or thematic principle. We tell each other these stories all the time in everyday life, usually humorous in nature. In storytelling, they can aid in characterization of the teller and/or their subject. Some movies like  Big Fish quite literally use these "fish stories" as the crux of the conflict. Will Bloom tries to understand if the stories his father told him about his life were real or fantasy.

Types of Anecdotes:

Inspirational, philosophical, reminiscent, all shapes and sizes, types of anecdotes.

Anecdotes can take many forms. There’s a few categories that the figure of speech can fall into, though they’re not ironclad — you’ll get different labels depending on who you ask.

This is probably the most common type, especially if you’re talking to a grandparent. The reminiscence is essentially a person’s memory. You know you’re about to hear this type when someone says, “Back in my day…”

A few examples of a reminiscent anecdote:

• “I remember when I used to sit on my dad’s lap while he drove around town delivering mail.”
• “That reminds me of when the entire family gathered around the TV to watch Nixon resign.” 
• “Back in my day I had to walk three miles to the watering hole just to brush my teeth.”

A humorous anecdote is funny. Aptly named. These are just short stories designed to get a chuckle.

The humor usually comes from the context in which it’s told. Maybe your friend is getting his medical license, and you remind him of that time he thought he had Lyme’s Disease because he drank too much the night before.

An inspirational anecdote is a story that usually revolves around a person overcoming insurmountable odds. You know, something inspiring.

You will often hear these in politician’s speeches: “I was just talking to a farmer who lost her whole family in a rogue tornado, and thought she was done for. But she worked day and night to get her farm back into working shape. Today, she’s the head of Wells Fargo. That’s the power of the American Dream.”

The cautionary anecdote is usually employed on children or teens to get them to not do something. Think of something like, “I had a friend who smoked a cigarette once. Now she’s in jail for tax evasion.”

This type is for all the brainiacs out there. A philosophical anecdote gets people to think more deeply about a given topic.

Say, for example, a group of buddies are discussing the ethics of violence, and most of them are agreeing that violence is never justified. Then one of them says, “What about the Native Americans who in a last-resort act of self-defense fought to keep settlers from destroying their families and way of life?” A silence falls over the buddies as they reevaluate their position.

Anecdote Meaning

What does anecdote mean.

Anecdotes are stories about the past, and if one thing’s for certain: it’s that we often misrepresent the past. In The Dark Knight screenplay , The Joker flat-out deceives other characters by lying about how he “got his scars.” 

We imported The  Dark Knight script into StudioBinder’s screenwriting software to take a look at a scene where we know The Joker is using a misleading anecdote. As you’re reading, think about what benefit using a misleading recollection can have on a story.

Click the image below to read the entire scene.

Anecdote Definition Literature to Screen  •   Example in The Dark Knight

We know this story is misleading (but not necessarily untrue) because The Joker used a different version earlier in the story to explain “how he got his scars.” The goal of using a misleading anecdote is to keep the audience on edge. It tells us that we can’t trust the character, and in the case of The Joker, he may not even be able to trust himself.

Want to see the iconic scene in action? Check out the clip below.

Anecdote Examples in Movies  •  The Dark Knight

It’s moments like these that make Heath Ledger’s Joker one of the greatest depictions of the Batman villain (we ranked all of the best Jokers ).

If you want to use an anecdote to mislead the audience, you need to set a precedent in which the character previously addressed the subject matter; or show us contradictory information in a flashback .

What is an Anecdote in Writing Used For?

How to use an anecdote.

As you might have picked up at this point, an anecdote can be used towards a variety of ends. Here’s a couple general tips for how to best use them:

Illustrate a Point

When using an anecdote, you’re usually making a point clearer (unless you’re purposefully not, like Mr. Joker). So when you write out one, double check it to make sure it actually is helping you make your argument.

Here’s a good example of using an anecdote to make an argument: “When I was a kid, I depended on school lunch, since my family was barely making ends meet, and my mother often didn’t have the money to give us enough food. That’s why subsidized school lunches are so important — they make sure kids are getting the nutrients they need.”

Here’s a bad example: “George Washington once cut down a cherry tree, and when his father found out, he told him what happened because he couldn’t tell a lie. This is why I support subsidized school lunches.”

Establish a Mood

An anecdote can do a lot to establish the mood of a given speech, piece of writing, or scene. A good anecdote should read the room. In other words — if you’re writing a funny scene, a humorous short story will fit in well. If you’re writing a horror story, humor makes less sense (although, hey, there’s always exceptions to the rule).

Make Things Interesting

This is perhaps the most important guiding principle for an anecdote. They should spice things up; they should grab a reader’s attention. If they’re not doing that, then why are they there?

Use anecdotes to build a world

Sometimes, anecdotes can say more about the world of a film than anything else. In this regard, I can think of few better examples than that of the “Pagliacci joke” in Watchmen .

Let’s take a look at the Watchmen script to see how this ironically humorous tale sets the tone for the story. Click the image to read the entire scene, including the punchline.

How to write an anecdote like Watchmen

Here, Rorschach’s joke establishes the singular tragi-comedic tone of Watchmen . It tells us that at its surface, the world of Watchmen is superficial, but underneath, it’s teeming with darkness.

Check out the iconic scene from Zack Snyder’s movie version below – and read our breakdown of Looking Glass from the Watchmen TV show for more on the world of Watchmen .

What Does Anecdote Do?  •  Anecdote in Watchmen

If you want to use an anecdote to build the world of your story, consider being overt — like screenwriter Alex Tse (based on Watchmen by Alan Moore) is in this example.

Purpose of Anecdote Comedy

Anecdotes can be jokes too.

Wikipedia states that “anecdotes differ from jokes because their primary purpose is not simply to provoke laughter but to reveal a truth more general than the brief tale itself.”

Essentially, they should speak to a greater truth of the world.

With that said, many “jokes” in Woody Allen’s best movies can be characterized as anecdotes. Allen frequently blends fictional jokes with real (film world) events to create quasi-anecdotes that blend the line between narrative and autobiography; Annie Hall   is the epitome of this point.

Let’s take a look at the ending of Annie Hall to see how Allen and co-writer Marshall Brickman effortlessly weave drama and humor through an anecdote.

What is an Anecdote?  •  Anecdote in Annie Hall

We can say this monologue is an anecdote for two reasons: the first is that it addresses “realism” in the story (about Alvy and Annie’s relationship). The second is that it speaks to a great point about the world; which is to say that relationships are a crucial part of surviving. Of course, we can also say the anecdote is a metaphor because Alvy compares himself to the guy in the story.

Purpose of Anecdotes

Anecdotes in literature.

Anecdotes abound in literature, ranging from small examples to entire chapter-long detours. As such, there are countless iconic examples of anecdotes in books.

Swann’s Way, Marcel Proust

One of the most famous anecdotes can be found in Proust’s crowning achievement, Swann’s Way . The book revolves around memories, and Proust uses the anecdotal form when he bites into a madeleine cookie.

The taste quickly reminds him of another time long ago when he was eating the same snack.

Ah… the memories

The madeleine story is one of literature’s finest reminiscent anecdotes.

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

“‘I’ll tell you a family secret,’ she whispered enthusiastically. ‘It’s about the butler’s nose.’”

There’s a number of anecdotes in Fitzgerald’s most famous work. Gatsby deals with people haunted by their pasts, so it only makes sense. One of the most beguiling examples is Daisy Buchanan’s story about her family butler, which readers and literary scholars have been dissecting to this day.

“Consider the Lobster,” David Foster Wallace

“The enormous, pungent, and extremely well-marketed Maine Lobster Festival is held every late July in the state’s midcoast region, meaning the western side of Penobscot Bay, the nerve stem of Maine’s lobster industry.”

David Foster Wallace is one of the great essayists, and with his most famous essay, he illustrates how instrumental an anecdote can be to the form.

Wallace visited the Maine Lobster Festival, and uses the pretty run-of-the-mill experience to delve into the history of lobsters, discuss the ethics of eating lobsters, the ethics of eating sentient creatures at all, all before returning once more to the festival anecdote.

If you think essays are boring high school assignments, read “Consider the Lobster” and think again.

What is a Flashback?

Anecdotes are short stories that illuminate light (or insight) on a greater point of a subject matter. In many ways, flashbacks are very similar – but they’re differentiated by how they always take place in the past. In our next article, we break down flashbacks with examples from Big Fish , Manchester by the Sea , and more. By the end, you’ll know how to effectively implement flashbacks in your own writing.

Up Next: Flashbacks Definition and Examples →

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Very interesting write up on anecdotes subject with insight coverages.

I was in the process of writing and would be considering to publish a book, title : My Nostalgic Memoir. So much so, I have been studying more into anecdotes related articles and to explore and prepare for the part 2 of the book.

Thank You Roy

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Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process, chapter: anecdote - anecdotal evidence.

May 6, 2021

Anecdote – Anecdotal Evidence

What is an Anecdote? An anecdote is a brief, engaging story, often real but sometimes fictionalized, used to illustrate a point or convey a lesson. It’s the narrative equivalent of a snapshot: quick, focused, and revealing something about its subject. An anecdote, when viewed as a form of evidence, serves as a unique and compelling ...

June 27, 2014

In the Moment: A Write-from-Experience Activity

This assignment asks you to craft a story based on personal experience. This is different from literary analysis or research paper assignments which ask you to open with a thesis to continually reference and support. Stories are constructed differently. Successful stories describe events in such a way that readers get to experience the story as if they were directly observing events. Consider the following when drafting, writing, and revising:

Place your readers into a significant moment you’ve experienced. Narrow your focus from the start. Select a story out of one, tiny, narrow corner of your life and avoid expanding on all the details around the story. Do not give us an introduction that explains everything before it happens. Let the story speak for itself and trust your readers work at discovering what your story is about. Try to drop your readers into the action of your story to create immediacy.

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of anecdote.

An anecdote is a very short story that is usually interesting or amusing, and concerns real people and real incidents. Anecdotes are often humorous, but also often impart a deeper truth. They are not the same as a joke because the purpose is not just to evoke laughter.

The word anecdote comes from an Ancient Greek biographer who wrote an unpublished book called Ἀνέκδοτα , or Anekdota (which means “unpublished” or “not given out”). This biography included many short stories from the private life of the Byzantine Court of Justinian I. Thus, though the original word had nothing to do with stories, the definition of anecdote derived from the idea of very brief accounts used to illustrate a point.

Common Examples of Anecdote

We tell anecdotes all the time to one another. There are also many famous anecdotes that get passed down through the generations that concern famous people (such as the Ancient Greek scientist Archimedes shouting “Eureka!” when discovering how to solve a problem measuring volume after stepping into a bath). With the advent of the internet, there are even more channels for sharing anecdotes, such as the popular website called “Humans of New York,” which posts pictures of people with inspiring anecdotes about their lives. We can also see anecdotes in advertising, such as lottery winners sharing their success stories. Here are some examples of anecdotes about famous writers:

• Tolstoy was a great pacifist and was once lecturing on the need to be nonresistant and nonviolent towards all creatures. Someone in the audience responded by asking what should be done if one was attacked in the woods by a tiger. Tolstoy responded, “Do the best you can. It doesn’t happen very often.”
• Goethe once wrote a very long letter to one of his friends. In the end he added a postscript explaining: “I am very sorry for sending you such a long letter but I did not find enough time to write a shorter one.”
• One day during a lecture tour, Mark Twain entered a local barber shop for a shave. This, Twain told the barber, was his first visit to the town. “You’ve chosen a good time to come,” he declared. “Oh?” Twain replied. “Mark Twain is going to lecture here tonight. You’ll want to go, I suppose?” “I guess so…” “Have you bought your ticket yet?” “No, not yet.” “Well, it’s sold out, so you’ll have to stand.” “Just my luck,” said Twain with a sigh. “I always have to stand when that fellow lectures!”

Significance of Anecdote in Literature

While most examples of anecdote are about actual people who really did or said the things in question in the anecdote, there are also some anecdote examples in literature. Authors may choose to have their characters tell one another anecdotes for many reasons. The characters may want to inform the other characters about something that has happened for the same reason the rest of us tell anecdotes: to entertain and/or inform. Authors also may use anecdotes to illustrate their own theme or impart wisdom or humor to the audience.

Examples of Anecdote in Literature

“I’ll tell you a family secret,” she whispered enthusiastically. “It’s about the butler’s nose. Do you want to hear about the butler’s nose?” “That’s why I came over to-night.” “Well, he wasn’t always a butler; he used to be the silver polisher for some people in New York that had a silver service for two hundred people. He had to polish it from morning till night, until finally it began to affect his nose ——” Things went from bad to worse,” suggested Miss Baker. “Yes. Things went from bad to worse, until finally he had to give up his position.”

( The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

In the above excerpt from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby , the character of Daisy wants to tell Nick Carraway a story. Though Daisy doesn’t finish the anecdote in a completely fulfilling way, there are several underlying meanings behind this brief story. The entire theme of the novel is class and class mobility in the United States. Nick pretends not to care (and thus responds with the sarcastic ““That’s why I came over to-night.”) The anecdote works to illustrate Fitzgerald’s theme, as well as provide a cautionary tale; being a silver polisher perhaps was a higher station than being a butler. However, by wanting to be higher than his state, the man has to give up his position and become a butler forever.

Having been bound in chains and left to die in the basement (there were basements in Meridian) by his new father, who disliked him, and secretly kept alive on raw field peas by a passing farmer who heard his cries for help (the good man poked a bushel pod by pod through the ventilator), Dill worked himself free by pulling the chains from the wall. Still in wrist manacles, he wandered two miles out of Meridian where he discovered a small animal show and was immediately engaged to wash the camel. He traveled with the show all over Mississippi until his infallible sense of direction told him he was in Abbott County, Alabama, just across the river from Maycomb. He walked the rest of the way.

( To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)

This anecdote comes from Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird . The character of Dill tells Scout and Jem the above story, which turns out not to be true. However, Dill has gone to lengths to tell this story to give a legitimate reason for leaving, when it turns out that he just doesn’t feel loved or wanted by his parents. Scout realizes that she has no idea how this could feel, knowing that she is essential and needed in her family. Thus, Harper Lee uses this anecdote to allow Scout to understand one aspect of her life a little better.

Every year, the end of summer lazy and golden, invites grief and regret: suddenly it’s 1980, winter buffets us, winds strike like cruelty out of Dickens. Somehow we have seven horses for six stalls. One of them, a big-nosed roan gelding, calm as a president’s portrait lives in the rectangle that leads to the stalls. We call it the motel lobby. Wise old campaigner, he dunks his hay in the water bucket to soften it, then visits the others who hang their heads over their dutch doors. Sometimes he sprawls out flat to nap in his commodious quarters. That spring, in the bustle of grooming and riding and shoeing, I remember I let him go to a neighbor I thought was a friend, and the following fall she sold him down the river. I meant to but never did go looking for him, to buy him back…

(“Jack” by Maxine Kumin)

Not all anecdote examples are found in prose; some, like the one above in Maxine Kumin’s poem “Jack” can be found in poetry. In this poem, the narrator recalls a horse she once used to own named Jack and feels regret and nostalgia over having not saved him from an unknown fate. The anecdote illustrates the central emotion and tone of the poem.

Test Your Knowledge of Anecdote

1. Which of the following statements is the best anecdote definition? A. A drug which counteracts a poison. B. A brief account that is often witty or interesting. C. A piece of evidence used in scientific trials. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #1″] Answer: B is the correct answer. A is the definition of antidote. And while there is sometimes anecdotal evidence that comes up in scientific experiments or in courts, it cannot be used as real proof of anything, like in C .[/spoiler]

2. Why might an author choose to use an anecdote example in his or her work of literature? A. To amuse or inform the audience, or to explore a theme of the novel or poem. B. To annoy the audience. C. To frustrate the audience by providing an obscure reference or abstruse digression. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #2″] Answer: A is the correct answer. An author would not create an anecdote example purposefully for reasons B or C .[/spoiler]

3. Which of the following quotes from George Bernard Shaw is an example of an anecdote? A.  “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” B. “Youth is wasted on the young.” C. The celebrated dancer Isadora Duncan once wrote to George Bernard Shaw declaring that, given the principles of eugenics, they should have a child together. “Think of it!” she enthused. “With my body and your brains, what a wonder it would be.” “Yes,” Shaw replied. “But what if it had my body and your brains?” [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: C is the correct answer. While A and B are pithy and interesting statements, C is the only answer that contains a story.[/spoiler]

What is an Anecdote? Definition, Examples of Anecdotes in Literature

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is an Anecdote? Definition, Examples of Anecdotes in Literature

Anecdote definition: An anecdote can be defined as a short story that can be described as entertaining or amusing.

What is an Anecdote in Literature?

Anecdote meaning: Anecdotes are short stories that are entertaining or amusing. The event described in these tales is often told with a purpose in mind.

In life, we often tell anecdotes to people in order to entertain or teach others. A common example of this is when elders tell their grandchildren stories about when I was your age in order to reinforce the privilege or recklessness of younger generations.

Anecdote Example

The anecdote of George Washington and his cherry tree is told to reinforce Washington’s honest character. In this anecdote, Washington admits to having cut his father’s cherry tree with a hatchet. While the anecdote is a myth, it stands as a popular tale of this famous president’s character.

The Function of Anecdote in Literature

Anecdotes entertain the audience as well as enable the characters to have more depth. Through these stories, the reader is able to better understand the personalities of the people in the piece of literature.

Modern Examples of Anecdote

In the beginning of each episode of Seinfeld, the protagonist, Jerry Seinfeld, is shown doing stand-up comedy and tells various humorous anecdotes. These add to the humorous mood of the show.

In the movie Father of the Bride , the father, played by Steve Martin, is having a hard time with his daughter’s newly announced engagement. The film includes anecdotal moments when he reminisces about moments when his grown daughter was a young child. By including these moments, it adds to the sentimental feeling of the film.

Examples of Anecdote in Literature

In Harper Lee’s novel Go Set a Watchmen , Scout narrates the story as a young woman. While the majority of the novel takes place in the present, there are times when Scout tells anecdotes of when she was a child. Many of these anecdotes tell stories of her adventures with her brother, Jem, and childhood friend, Dill. By including the anecdotes, the readers are better able to understand Scout as a woman and how her childhood impacted her present. They also allow for brief moments of lightheartedness in an otherwise emotionally heavy novel.

In the novel Hollow City by Ransom Rigg’s, there are brief anecdotes included in order to help Miss Peregrine’s peculiar children solve a mystery. These anecdotes are told in the form of stories from a book called Tales of the Peculiar . At first, the children believe these tales to be fictional story, but they soon find out there is truth to them and find assistance on their adventure to save their caretaker.

Summary: What are Anecdotes?

Define anecdotes in literature: Anecdotes are short stories that are entertaining or humorous for the reader. These stories are told with a purpose in mind and add depth to a text.

Final Example:

In the popular television show Family Guy , anecdotes are often added to enhance the humorous aspect of the cartoon. Oftentimes, these stories are told in flashback form through the perspective of the patriarch of the family, Peter Griffin.

Anecdotes: Examples + How to Use Them

July 9, 2023

10 min read

If you’ve ever seen a television show, you’ve probably seen an anecdote. 

When characters reminisce about their childhood or even about the dinner they had the night before, that’s considered an anecdote. These are useful devices for not only television show writing, but also in speeches and everyday conversation. 

To learn more about anecdotes, how they work, and why you should use them, explore our below guide on this resourceful technique. 

What Are Anecdotes?

At its core, an anecdote is a story. Usually, anecdotes are true, personal short stories that the speaker or writer recalls to an audience. However, they can be fictional, too. 

Because they’re short stories, they are simple and easy to understand. That doesn’t mean they’re all the same, though. 

Anecdotes can be extremely versatile and differ greatly depending on the speaker and context. For example, it could be an embarrassing moment someone recalls or a serious, traumatic memory shared to educate or inform someone. 

These are often personal, but regardless, they revolve around one person in most cases. These stories are usually interesting or amusing to the listener.

How to pronounce ‘anecdote’

The word “anecdote” is pronounced like: “an-ik-doh-tuh.” This word was first recorded in the 17th century. 

People often confuse other words for “anecdote,” such as “antidote” or “antedate.”

Anecdote synonyms

In terms of anecdote synonyms, there are a few similar words worth noting. These can help exemplify the meaning of anecdotes a little further.  

For example, some of the most common anecdote synonyms include: 

• Reminiscence 

Types of Anecdotes

Cluttering can look different for everyone. No one person speaks the same. Still, looking at some examples can better demonstrate what this type of speech can look like. 

Keep in mind that although there’s specific types of anecdotes, some people combine multiple types. For example, your own short story might fall into a few of these categories. Here are the five types of anecdotes you need to know.

1. Reminiscent

One of the most recognized types of anecdotes is reminiscent. In other words, they rely on moments in the speaker’s past. Depending on the speaker’s purpose and intent, this type of short story can evoke emotions, especially nostalgia.

2. Humorous

Humorous anecdotes are one of the most popular types, if not the most popular. These types of stories are mostly for entertainment, although they’re also commonly used in speeches. It might start out as a typical story, but the jokes and humor used can make the story humorous as a whole. 

In media — such as television shows, movies, and books — you’ll start to notice that humorous anecdotes are often used directly after a serious or climactic moment in efforts to lighten the mood. 

3. Cautionary

Some writers and speakers prefer to use anecdotes as cautionary tales. Negative consequences can be a great motivator for an audience to take your story seriously and grow from whatever lesson the story is meant to teach.  

For example, you might use a cautionary anecdote if you’re trying to teach someone a lesson. You might recall a time when you chose to arrive at the airport half an hour before your flight. The consequence of missing your flight might encourage a listener to get there earlier so as to not make the same mistake. 

Examples of cautionary anecdotes include:

• Fairy tales
• Historical myths
• Parables from religious texts

4. Inspirational

If you’re trying to encourage, motivate, or excite your audience, inspirational anecdotes might be perfect for you. This type of anecdote uses serious, emotional, or dramatic recollections with moments that the audience can relate to. 

For writers who specialize in speeches for example, inspirational anecdotes are the most common strategy to hook the readers or listeners. Politicians also use this type of short story to target their voters and motivate them to action.

5. Characterizing

For someone looking to further develop a character — real or fictional — characterizing is a great way to do so.

This type of anecdote leverages the story to shed light on what the character is like, especially with regard to their personality. These stories stand out because they show aspects of the character that the audience wouldn’t normally see. 

You’ll see characterizing anecdotes in places like:

• Television shows

When to Use Anecdotes

Whether you’re giving a speech, chatting with a friend, or writing a paper, anecdotes are a great way to captivate your audience. You can use them in so many scenarios that they’re considered a fantastic literary device.

If you’re speaking or writing and you need to include either background information or extra context, anecdotes are a good way to connect that information to your main story. You can also use them to grab your audience’s attention , especially if the primary narrative is dry, dull, or serious. 

They can also act as a transition in both speech and writing. 

Some worthy times for when to use an anecdote include:

• For persuasive essays or speeches, during which you’re trying to convince or motivate your audience
• In everyday conversation, when you’re recalling a memory
• During formal (or informal) speeches to grab the attention of your audience 
• In television scenes or other theatrical work 

However, these are just some examples of when to use an anecdote. Keep in mind that these can be used in so many various situations thanks to the versatile types you can use. 

Purpose of Anecdotes

So, what’s the purpose of anecdotes? 

In a nutshell, this type of short story is to make a bigger point and expand on the main narrative in a tangential way. They can connect complex topics and ideas in a simple, straightforward way while also captivating your audience. 

They can strengthen arguments, inspire people to action, show a side of your favorite TV character that you haven’t seen before, or make your best friend laugh uncontrollably. The possibilities are essentially endless. 

For example, TEDxABQED speaker Ian Esquibel recalls a childhood dog attack in his speech, and discusses times during grade school when he was bullied for facial differences.

To better understand the purpose of anecdotes, let’s take a look at some examples. 

Anecdote Examples

Because anecdotes are used so often (and have been for centuries), there are plenty of noteworthy examples that can give you a better idea of what these short stories can do.

For example, many famous speeches feature gripping or captivating anecdotes. 

Famous anecdotes in speech

In speeches, an anecdote can connect complex ideas, motivate an audience, or something else entirely; they’re that versatile. Famous anecdotes in speech can come in many forms too, such as the ones seen in the top seven most motivational speeches .

For some more examples, check out these three anecdotes, in both film and speeches. 

1. At the funeral of legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal shares a story of during his eulogy . He combines the reminiscent and humorous types to tell this tale of the time when Bryant first earned O’Neal’s respect. 

2. Actress and “Saturday Night Live” host Jenna Ortega remembers her time as a child in the film industry. She expertly combines the humorous and reminiscent types to entertain her audience. 

3. “Adventure Time” character Marceline recalls memories from her childhood and uses an anecdote to both flesh out her character more and entertain the audience. She also uses the story to describe what another character’s personality was like before he changed dramatically. 

Anecdotes in literature

Anecdotes in literature are plentiful. From poetry to screenplays to novels, you can find these short stories in almost any form, including in monologues .

Here are some common examples of anecdotes in literature.

• In Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” one of the main characters, Abigail, “remembers” stories that conveniently explain why she was seen dancing in the woods
• The book “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen is in and of itself an anecdote recalled by the protagonist, Jacob Jankowski
• The famous “Go Set a Watchman,” by Harper Lee features character Scout reminiscing about her childhood
• In the self-titled “Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir,” Tan uses a plethora of anecdotes to paint the picture of her youth

Anyone can write an anecdote, whether it’s for a speech or for school. Here’s how.

How to Write an Anecdote

No matter the reason or context, the steps to writing a great anecdote are pretty simple. If you’re ready to get started on your own personal short story, here are four easy steps to write an anecdote. 

1. Choose a relevant event or happening that you experienced. This could be anything. For example, maybe you’d like to tell your kids the story of how you met your partner. Or maybe you’d rather recall the time you went to explore the woods behind your house only to return with eight ticks to emphasize how important it is to wear bug spray. Whatever the story is, it’s best to choose one that somehow relates back to your original narrative. 

If you were talking to an environmental science class about to collect water samples from a local creek, the tick bite anecdote might be the perfect way to motivate the students to practice outdoor safety.

2. Identify a type of anecdote for your story. Remember the types of anecdotes mentioned above? When you’re telling or writing a short story like this, it’s easier if you choose a theme or two from the types list. 

If your story is meant to be comedic and light-hearted, you’d want to steer clear of the cautionary theme. Nailing down an initial theme can help keep you on the right path. 

3. Structure your story for your audience. Your anecdote will depend on your audience. For example, if you’re an author trying to flesh out a character, a backstory that takes place with the character was younger can show a bit of their history and background. This can further illustrate who the character is. 

Your structure would be different if your audience was a group of young teenagers who you’re trying to motivate to study for the upcoming exam. If this was the case, you might recall a time when you yourself failed to study for an exam and paid the price with a failing grade. 

4. Connect your anecdote to your larger narrative. Lastly, make sure your anecdote makes sense to the main story by clearly connecting it to the larger narrative. This is perhaps the easiest step. 

To do so, think of the meaning behind your main topic. If you’re writing a screenplay in which a character is explaining why they became evil, make sure your anecdote that reminisces on the character’s past relates to their origin story. 

Here are some more tips and tricks for crafting the perfect anecdote. 

Tips for the Perfect Anecdote

If you’re aiming to include an anecdote in your writing or speech, here are some tips to ensure you get the most out of sharing your short story. 

There are three main tips for writing the perfect anecdote, from writing it out to incorporating direct feedback.

Write it out

No matter if you’re giving a speech or writing an essay with an anecdote, be sure you first write the entire short story out. 

Although you might envision it as a waste of time — especially if the story is for a speech — writing out your anecdote lets you see it in its entirety, right in front of you. It’ll be easier for you to see any mistakes , awkward areas, or other minor inconveniences when you can visually see it. 

If you’re telling an anecdote as part of a speech, there’s no question about it: You need to practice. 

A great way to practice your story after you write it out is through an AI speech coach like Yoodli . You can upload a video of you practice (or record one directly on Yoodli) and get instant analytics and feedback to help you improve. 

For example, Yoodli might suggest you slow down while telling the anecdote because you’re speaking too fast. You might also get tips on areas where you can make the language tighter or more concise to make sure your anecdote isn’t too long. 

It’s a safe space to practice this rhetorical device without fear of judgment. 

Get feedback

A commonly overlooked aspect of crafting anecdotes is incorporating feedback . When you write down your anecdote, try saying it to a friend or letting them read it if that’s more comfortable for you. 

By doing this, you can use another set of eyes to identify any trouble areas, like confusing tidbits or even just incorrect grammar. You can take advantage of Yoodli’s free services to get actionable feedback, too.  

The Main Takeaway

Anecdotes are one of the most useful tools you can leverage in both speeches and writings. They’re extremely versatile, so they’re perfect for almost any occasion. 

Just remember to practice your anecdote with an AI speech coach like Yoodli to ensure it’s the best it can be (and fits your overall narrative). You’ll be glad you did when you have an anecdote that works for your speech or writing.

Start practicing with Yoodli.

Getting better at speaking is getting easier. Record or upload a speech and let our AI Speech Coach analyze your speaking and give you feedback.

What is Anecdote? Definition, Usage, and Literary Examples

Anecdote definition.

Anecdotes  (ANN-ek-DOETSS) are short stories that recount amusing, interesting, or informative events to make a point or express an idea. Their length can range from a single  sentence  to a couple paragraphs.

The word  anecdote  stems from the Greek  anekdota , meaning “unpublished items.” Its modern meaning developed after the discovery of Procopius of Caesarea’s  Anecdota , which details moments in the private lives of Greek Byzantine courtiers.

How Anecdotes Are Set Up

There are a few key considerations when constructing an anecdote.

Anecdotes often begin with an introductory or transitional element that indicates the  narrative  is taking a detour from its main story. Next, writers relay the basic information of the tale— who’s involved; what happens; when and where it happens, if relevant—and why this story is important to the broader narrative. They attempt to stick to pertinent details, as anything inconsequential can distract from the message. After sharing the anecdote, writers must present a conclusion or pose a question that prompts readers to draw their own.

There are some specific ways writers can incorporate anecdotes into a narrative.

• Anecdotal evidence : This is information gathered informally through personal accounts. Unlike scientific evidence, which can be investigated and proven or disproven using specific methods, anecdotal evidence is a story. Therefore, it can skewed by bias or the limitations of memory or observation.
• Anecdotal digressions : These occur when a narrative temporarily departs from the main story to recount a secondary story. Anecdotal digressions can be tangential, with little relevance to the primary narrative, but they can also be used to make a point.

The Functions of Anecdotes

Anecdotes serve a number of purposes. Amusing anecdotes can kindle friendship between strangers or lighten the atmosphere. Interesting anecdotes catch a character’s attention. They can also heighten tension and warn about potential obstacles or misfortune.

Anecdotes sometimes present challenges or provide direction; for example, a private detective may not fully trust a neighbor’s account of events, but that information can still inform the detective’s understanding of the case. Biographical anecdotes can be humanizing, encouraging empathy and connection between characters—or do the opposite and unveil a deplorable personality trait. Anecdotes can also be tools for manipulation or deception, with fictional and fabricated anecdotes serving similar purposes as factual ones.

You probably encounter more anecdotes than you realize. They’re a feature of conversation that figures into everyday life. You’ve likely heard family or friends share them, or perhaps you’ve encountered them in school because teachers often use anecdotes to express a point and facilitate understanding.

Anecdotes are used in various forms of narrative media for all these reasons and more.

Examples of Anecdotes in Literature

1. Mark Twain,   The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Twain’s picaresque novel is notable for its regionalism and use of  vernacular , but it also uses anecdotes to emphasize themes. One such anecdote occurs after protagonist Huck Finn encounters the slave Jim, who details how he escaped to Jackson Island:

Well, you see, it ’uz dis way. Ole missus—dat’s Miss Watson—she pecks on me all de time, en treats me pooty rough, but she awluz said she wouldn’ sell me down to Orleans. […] Well, one night I creeps to de do’ pooty late, en de do’ warn’t quite shet, en I hear old missus tell de widder she gwyne to sell me down to Orleans, but she didn’ want to, but she could git eight hund’d dollars for me, en it ’uz sich a big stack o’ money she couldn’ resis’. De widder she try to git her to say she wouldn’ do it, but I never waited to hear de res’. I lit out mighty quick, I tell you.

Although Jim’s tale is brief, it depicts the unequal relations between slaves and white society, and it demonstrates the harsh trials slaves endured. In this way, the anecdote supports Twain’s critical commentary on slavery as well as the text’s overarching theme of freedom.

2. Andrew Sean Greer,   Less

Less  follows protagonist Arthur Less as he crosses the globe, hoping to forget his increasing age, failed relationships, and other shortcomings. Chapter 1 develops Less through various introspective passages, flashbacks, and anecdotes:

Once, in his twenties, a poet he had been talking with extinguished her cigarette in a potted plant and said, “You’re like a person without skin.” A  poet  had said this. One who made her living flaying herself a live in public had said that  he , tall and young and hopeful Arthur Less, was  without skin . But it was true.

This short recollection reveals an aspect of Less’s personality to the reader. It shows that he is sensitive and easily offended. Less’s indignant reaction confirms the poet’s observation; it also suggests that Less dislikes this personality trait and resents attention being called to his vulnerability.

Further Resources on Anecdotes

Check out  Secret History , also known as  Anecdota , the book that informed our modern understanding of what makes an anecdote.

This article from Word Counter  explains the difference between an anecdote and a story, as well as how to pen a standout anecdote of your own.

Best-selling author Jerry Jenkins  shares six anecdote-writing tips  to enhance nonfiction.

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Using Anecdotes in Formal Writing

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An anecdote is a brief story used to make a larger point. Anecdotes can add a storytelling touch to your explanatory and persuasive writing—connecting your ideas to real life and real people. Here are some ways you can use anecdotes in the main parts of formal writing.

Beginning: To Introduce a Topic

In the ocean, two hungry dolphins pick up speed when they spot a school of flying fish. Sensing danger, the fish dart ahead. Soon they are cruising through the deep blue water at 20 miles an hour. As the dolphins get closer, the flying fish break through the surface, spread their fins like wings, and take off. Amateur explorers have called them “dragonflies of the deep,” but flying fish are most definitely fish.

Middle: To Support an Idea

The bleachers in the gym are unsafe. Some of the boards are cracked, which makes them hard to navigate. Just last week, a student was walking up the bleachers when she tripped on a crack, spilled her popcorn, and banged her wrists. She wasn't seriously hurt, but the next person who trips on the bleachers might not be so lucky.

Ending: To Make a Final Point

On the third turn of the 111th lap at Bellville Speedway, racer Keith Sweat lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a new shock-absorbing wall. After a caution flag cleared the track, Sweat unbuckled his new head and neck braces and walked out of his mangled race car without so much as a scratch or limp. At least for today, the new mandatory safety measures triggered by a year-old tragedy fulfilled their promise: to keep drivers safe.

Your Turn Identify an anecdote in each of the following stories. Then choose one of the anecdotes and follow a similar pattern to create an anecdote about a topic of your choosing. (Click on the links to find each story.)

• " Hang Up and Drive "
• " Save the Elephants "
• " 100 Years Old. 5 World Records. "

From page 101 in Writers Express

Teacher Support:

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Standards Correlations:

The State Standards provide a way to evaluate your students' performance.

• 110.6.b.11.B.ii
• 110.6.b.12.B
• LAFS.4.W.1.2
• 110.6.b.11.B
• 110.6.b.12.A
• LAFS.4.W.1.3
• 110.7.b.11.B.ii
• 110.7.b.12.B
• LAFS.5.W.1.2
• 110.7.b.12.A
• LAFS.5.W.1.3
• 110.22.b.10.B.ii
• 110.22.b.11.B
• LAFS.6.W.1.2
• 110.22.b.10
• 110.22.b.11.A
• LAFS.6.W.1.3
• 110.23.b.10.B.ii
• 110.23.b.11.B
• LAFS.7.W.1.2
• 110.23.b.10
• 110.23.b.11.A
• LAFS.7.W.1.3
• 110.24.b.10.B.ii
• 110.24.b.11.B
• LAFS.8.W.1.2
• 110.24.b.10
• 110.24.b.11.A
• LAFS.8.W.1.3
• 110.36.c.10.C
• 110.36.c.9.B.ii
• 110.37.c.10.C
• 110.37.c.9.B.ii
• LAFS.910.W.1.2
• LA 10.2.1.b
• LA 10.2.1.c
• LA 10.2.2.b
• 110.36.c.10.A
• 110.37.c.10.A
• LAFS.910.W.1.3
• LA 10.2.2.a
• 110.38.c.9.A
• 110.38.c.10.B
• 110.39.c.9.A
• 110.39.c.10.B
• 110.38.c.5.C
• LAFS.1112.W.1.2
• LA 12.2.1.b
• LA 12.2.2.a
• LA 12.2.2.b
• 110.38.c.10.A
• 110.39.c.10.A
• LAFS.1112.W.1.3

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Related Resources

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• How to Engage Your Students with Shared Inquiry
• Correcting End Punctuation
• Correcting Capitalization 1
• Using Commas in a Series
• Using Commas in Dates and Addresses
• Learning Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation
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John Milton's secret notes reveal he was a prude

• Experts have unearthed handwritten annotations made by the English poet
• They found he crossed out a lewd anecdote and dismissed it as inappropriate 

His work, Paradise Lost, is thought to be one of the greatest poems in the English language.

But John Milton was quick to judge others' attempts at writing, according to a new discovery.

Experts have unearthed rare handwritten annotations made by the famous English poet, which include an example of 'prudish censorship'.

The notes were identified in a copy of Raphael Holinshed's 'Chronicles', which was published around 20 years before he was born and was an enormous account of English, Irish and Scottish history.

In it, he crosses out a lewd anecdote and dismisses it as inappropriate.

The discovery, made in a library in Phoenix, Arizona, makes this one of only three known books to preserve Milton's handwritten reading notes.

The anecdote in question refers to the mother of William the Conqueror, Arlete.

Spotted while dancing by Robert I of Normandy, and summoned to his bed, Arlete refused to let him lift up her smock.

Instead she tore it herself from top to bottom, explaining that it would be immodest for her ‘dependant’ garments to be ‘mountant’ to her sovereign’s mouth – meaning she did not want her clothes rising up or getting in the way of her lover’s mouth.

In the margin, Milton dismisses this anecdote as inappropriate and told in the style of a pedlar hawking wares on the streets.

In Milton's exact words, it was: 'an unbecom[ing] / tale for a hist[ory] / and as pedlerl[y] / expresst'.

Professor Jason Scott-Warren, from Cambridge University's English faculty, was consulted to confirm that the handwriting was Milton's.

He said: 'The adverb 'pedlerly' was quite rare in writing at the time so we are seeing Milton really stretching language to express his contempt.

'Milton is renowned as an enemy of press censorship, but here we see he was not immune to prudishness.'

Milton had crossed through the lewd passage with a single, light diagonal line so the words beneath remained fully legible.

Dr Aaron Pratt, curator of early books & manuscripts at the University of Texas, was also one of the researchers involved in the study.

While analysing the book, he noticed a recognisable 'e' used in the annotations.

'I was like, there's no way this is true, but it kids of looks like this stupid way Milton writes 'e',' he said.

Further analysis revealed the brackets used in the margins were also very similar to those found in one of two other known books with Milton's handwriting.

Other giveaways included hooks and curls on particular letters and a characteristic unevenness in the formation of the letter 's'.

Raphael Holinshed's massive account of English, Irish and Scottish history from antiquity to the reign of Elizabeth I was a major source for Shakespeare's histories and other plays including Macbeth.

Milton himself is known to have repeatedly quoted Holinshed in some of his other work.

The discovery was published in the Times Literary Supplement.

WHAT IS 'PARADISE LOST'?

'Paradise Lost' is an epic poem written by the 17th century English author John Milton.

The poem relates the biblical tale of the Fall of Man, covering the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan which ultimately led to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and distance from God.

According to Milton himself, the purpose of the work was to 'justify the ways of God to men'.

The first version, published in 1667, contained over 10,000 lines of verse spread over ten books.

A slightly revised version issued in 1674 redistributed the poem over 12 books, mirroring the structure of Virgil's epic poem, the 'Aeneid'.

7 Common Errors in Writing + How to Fix Them (With Examples)

Table of contents

Yona Schnitzer

We’ve all made errors in our writing — from simple spelling and grammar mistakes to larger structural issues. While we’ll likely make mistakes again (we’re human, after all!), the good news is that we can learn to spot them and keep our writing as polished as possible. 

But to do that, we have to identify them first. 

That’s where I come in. As a professional writer, I’ve made — and corrected — plenty of writing mistakes over the years. 

In this blog post, I share seven common errors in writing and explain how to fix them using handy before-and-after examples. 

What are the different types of writing errors? 

Writing errors can be divided into several categories, including: 

• Spelling errors: These occur when words are misspelled — e.g., “bisness” instead of “business.”
• Grammar errors : These are mistakes in sentence form or structure, such as writing an incomplete sentence like “Because of the snow.”
• Punctuation errors: These involve using punctuation incorrectly or not using it at all — like writing “Let’s eat Dad” instead of “Let’s eat, Dad.” 
• Structure errors: These occur when the ideas in a piece of writing are unclear, not well-organized, or repetitive.
• Style errors: These happen when a writer doesn’t follow language and style rules — e.g., using passive instead of active voice.

7 common errors in writing (and how to fix them)

Now that you understand the categories of writing mistakes, we can look at specific examples. Below, I cover seven common errors and how to fix them. 

1. Run-on sentences 

A run-on sentence is a grammatical error that occurs when two independent clauses (complete thoughts) aren’t properly joined. This kind of sentence makes it difficult to see where one idea ends and the other begins . 

Two common types of run-on sentences are fused sentences and comma splices. 

Fused sentences

A fused sentence joins two independent clauses without using a punctuation mark or coordinating conjunction (e.g., “and” or “but”), as seen below: 

❌ Kel loves orange soda it’s his favorite drink. 

You’d correct this sentence by inserting a semicolon between the two complete thoughts: 

✅ Kel loves orange soda ; it’s his favorite drink.

Another option is to use a period to divide the clauses into two sentences:

✅ Kel loves orange soda . It’s his favorite drink. 

Comma splices 

A comma splice uses a comma between two independent clauses but forgets the necessary coordinating conjunction . 

For example: 

❌ Margaret went to Lenox Mall , she bought a new dress. 

To correct this sentence, simply add a conjunction after the comma. 

✅ Margaret went to Lenox Mall, and she bought a new dress. 

2. Passive voice 

Passive voice occurs when the receiver of the action (object) becomes the focus of the sentence rather than the one performing the action (subject). 

Passive voice:

The decision was made by the jury. 

Here, the focus is on the decision being made (object) instead of the jury making the decision (subject). As a result, the reader spends more time processing who is doing what . 

To rewrite this sentence in active voice , put the subject at the front of the sentence. That way, the jury becomes the focus and performs the action, as shown here: 

Active voice:

The jury made the decision.

This sentence is easier to understand because it follows a straightforward structure: subject (“the jury”) + action (“made”) + receiver of the action (“the decision”). 

3. Subject-verb disagreement

Subject-verb agreement means that a singular subject (one person, place, or thing) takes a singular verb , and a plural subject (two or more people, places, and things) takes a plural verb . 

For example, in the sentence “ Nancy eats popcorn,” “Nancy” is a singular subject, and “eats” is a singular verb. 

Meanwhile, “ Nancy and Rodney eat popcorn” pairs a plural verb (“eat”) with a plural subject (“Nancy and Rodney”). 

Notice that when you use a third-person singular subject (e.g., “Nancy,” “he,” “she,” and “it”) in the present tense (the tense for action happening now), you add an “s” at the end of the verb . 

Ignoring this rule results in subject-verb disagreement, meaning the subject and its verb don’t match. 

For example:

❌ Nancy eat buttered popcorn. 

✅ Nancy eats buttered popcorn.

That said, you don’t add an “s” to the end of the verb when using the subjects “I” (singular), “we” (plural), and “they” (plural), as this would also lead to subject-verb disagreement. 

❌ I eats buttered popcorn. 

❌ We eats buttered popcorn. 

❌ They eats buttered popcorn. 

To correct the error, simply remove the “s” from the end of “prefer” for these subjects: 

✅ I eat buttered popcorn. 

✅ We eat buttered popcorn. 

✅ They eat buttered popcorn. 

AI tip: Wordtune’s Editor can identify subject-verb disagreement and offer suggestions on how to correct it.

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

4. Incorrect word choice

Many writers confuse one word for another or misuse words in their work. This often happens with homophones — words that sound the same but have different meanings or spellings, such as “weather” and “whether.”

❌ The whether is lovely today.

The word “whether” means a choice between alternatives or indicates uncertainty. However, in this sentence, it’s used like the homophone “weather,” which refers to the state of or changes in the air or atmosphere (e.g., sun, rain, etc.)

Therefore, the word “weather” is the correct choice for this sentence:

✅ The weather is lovely today.

Now, let’s reverse the context: 

❌ I don’t know weather I should read a book or watch a movie. 

The word “weather” is incorrect here because the sentence focuses on the speaker’s inability to choose between two options: read a book or watch a movie. 

Therefore, you’d use “whether”:

✅ I don’t know whether I should read a book or watch a movie. 

Pro tip: The best way to avoid incorrect word choice is to use a memory device. For example, you could remember that “we a ther” refers to the “ a ir” or “ a tmosphere” because all three words contain the letter “ a .”

5. Vague pronouns

A vague pronoun is a pronoun (e.g., “he,” “she,” or “it”) with more than one antecedent (the person, place, or thing that a pronoun refers to). Using vague pronouns confuses readers because they don’t know who or what you’re referencing. 

For instance, this sentence about Mitchell and Mike (antecedents) doesn’t clarify who the pronoun “he” refers to: 

❌ Mitchell and Mike went to the football game after he finished work. (Who finished work, Mitchell or Mike?)

To fix this issue, you could restate the subject (for instance, “Mike”) so readers know who you’re talking about:

✅ Mitchell and Mike went to the football game after Mike finished work.

A less redundant option would be to rewrite the sentence so the pronoun (“he”) is closer to the subject it replaces (“Mike”): 

✅ After Mike finished work, he and Mitchell went to the football game. 

6. Dangling modifiers 

A modifier is a word, such as an adjective, or phrase that describes another part of the sentence . 

For example, in the sentence “Lex is an English professor,” the word “English” modifies the word “professor.” Additionally, in the sentence “After watching TV, Hunter went to sleep,” the phrase “After watching TV” modifies the word “Hunter.”  

However, when a modifier describes the wrong thing because the intended subject isn’t in the right place, you get a dangling modifier. 

❌ While standing in the freezing outdoors , thoughts of hot chocolate consumed Louise . 

In this sentence, the phrase “while standing in the freezing outdoors” modifies “thoughts of hot chocolate.” However, that’s incorrect because “thoughts of hot chocolate” don’t stand outdoors.

Instead, “While standing in the freezing outdoors” is supposed to modify the person having the thoughts — the intended subject, Louise.

To correct this error, place the subject being modified immediately after the modifying phrase :

✅ While standing in the freezing outdoors , Louise was consumed with thoughts of hot chocolate. 

Now, the modifier describes what it intended to all along: the person thinking about hot chocolate, not the thoughts themselves. 

7. Missing or misplaced apostrophes

An apostrophe is a punctuation mark that forms a contraction (e.g., turning “you are” into “you’re”). It’s also used to indicate ownership . For instance, the apostrophe in the sentence “Lily’s cell phone went off in class” shows that Lily owns the phone. 

Writers often forget to include apostrophes, or they use them in the wrong place. 

The following sentence is an example of a missing apostrophe :

❌ Its hot outside.

This example uses a possessive pronoun (its), but the context of the sentence doesn’t indicate ownership. Instead, the sentence is trying to say that “it is” hot outside. 

Therefore, we need to add an apostrophe to create a contraction for “it is”:

✅ It ’ s hot outside. 

As for misplaced apostrophes , writers often make this error when dealing with plural possessive nouns. These nouns indicate that something belongs to more than one person — e.g., “the teachers’ lounge” belongs to more than one teacher. 

❌ Lane heard laughter coming from the girl ’ s locker room.

Here, the apostrophe is misplaced because the locker room doesn’t belong to only one girl (singular noun). It belongs to a group of girls (plural noun). 

So, we’d correct the sentence by adding an apostrophe after the letter “s” to make “girls” a plural possessive noun: 

✅ Lane heard laughter coming from the girls ’ locker room.

Common writing errors include run-on sentences, passive voice, subject-verb disagreement, incorrect word choice, and dangling modifiers. Many writers make these mistakes, and the first step in correcting them is knowing what they are and when they happen.

By using the information and tips in this guide, you can better understand these errors and how to fix them in your writing. 

For even more actionable advice on improving your work, read our guides on writing better sentences and making your writing flow smoothly . 

What are grammar errors in writing?

Grammar errors in writing are mistakes writers make when constructing sentences. These mistakes include subject-verb disagreement (e.g., “I eats” instead of “I eat”), run-on sentences (e.g., “Lisa was thirsty she drank three water bottles”), and inconsistent verb tense (e.g., shifting from past to present tense). 

What are common errors in writing essays?

Common errors in writing essays are grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. These include using dangling modifiers, spelling words incorrectly, and forgetting to use an apostrophe to form a contraction (e.g., writing “its” for “it is” instead of “it’s”). Essays may also feature structural errors, such as disorganized sections or redundant arguments.

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Shedding his Lemony Snicket persona, Daniel Handler lets off some steam

In his new book, “And Then? And Then? What Else?,” the author of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” explores the joys, frustrations and ironies of the writing life.

Writers lead messy lives, constantly condemned to days of lousy first drafts, failed ideas and chronic misstatements. Daniel Handler feels this deeply throughout his kinda-sorta memoir, “ And Then? And Then? What Else? ” Eventually it reaches a boiling point. Late in the book he abandons his quirky-cool demeanor — he’s best known as Lemony Snicket, author of the offbeat children’s books “A Series of Unfortunate Events” — and lets fly with an f-bomb-laden rant about cancel culture and the pressure writers feel to be everything to everyone.

It’s a fierce cri de coeur at a time when books — especially kids’ books — are targeted on the right and writers who misstep on the inclusivity front get targeted on the left. (Oddly, Handler doesn’t mention his own moment as a near-cancelee. Onstage while emceeing the 2014 National Book Awards, he directed a racist watermelon joke at Black author Jacqueline Woodson ; after a social media pile-on, he apologized.) Handler isn’t interested in wading far into the politics of writing today — elsewhere his prose tends toward the gentle, sprightly and personal. Still, it’s not hard to see why he made room for the tirade: He wants to encourage you to give up seeking easy answers about who writers are and how writing works.

“And Then?” — the title comes from a poem by Baudelaire, the namesake of the “Unfortunate Events” siblings — doesn’t have a subtitle to explain itself. But a good one might be “A Memoir of Writerly Confusions.” For Handler, the writing life means forever stepping into frustration and strange ironies. He recalls writing nine drafts for the “Unfortunate Events” movie before being fired from the job — and then being asked to consult on the script, without pay. “Previously I had considered these people innocent,” he says of the moviemakers, “and then maybe dumb, and then maybe a pack of vicious demons. I understood, too, that they were, at least obliquely, the reason I owned a house.”

Plainly, embracing the mess has made him a success: He recalls how some young Lemony Snicket fans were so excited to see him at readings that “bookstores began to have contingency plans for when a child, excited to meet me, threw up.” (The life of a reader can get messy, too.) So understandably, he’s fully embraced the idea of mess-as-process, that successful writing means wrestling with demons. On that front, he’s had a few. In one chapter, he recalls that during his college years he was stalked by visions of malevolent figures, accompanied by seizures that briefly sent him to a psych ward. Recovery wasn’t conquering those visions but making a kind of peace with them: “I still, to this day, see these figures, frequently but not frighteningly, not anymore,” he writes.

That experience has fueled a sensibility in which he does best when he’s open to strangeness. He takes inspiration from the melodrama of opera but also finds joy and insight in tacky kitsch like “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.” His polestars as an artist are art-film figures like Guy Maddin, who tweaks silent-film conventions, and, most obviously, Edward Gorey, whose not-for-kids-but-really-they-are illustrated stories inspired the Lemony Snicket books’ mordant brilliance. Still, he keeps his heroes at arm’s length: Recalling sending Gorey a fan note, he writes: “I never heard back from Gorey, but shortly afterward he died. I like to think that I killed him.”

Lines like that reflect the sort of tone we want from writer’s guides — intimate, self-deprecating. But these days, we also want them to be practical. The most prominent modern example remains Stephen King’s memoir “On Writing,” and countless others since have borrowed its tone and intention. George Saunders’s “A Swim in the Pond in the Rain” invites us to study classic Russian short stories. In “Essays One,” Lydia Davis brilliantly dismantles her own stories like a car engine. Handler’s book belongs in that company, but he’s skeptical of how much he can offer in terms of practical tips: Whenever he hears the word “process,” he writes, “I wish I could lay my head down on a table.”

Yet there are moments when Handler warms to the role of advice giver. Like every author, he encourages you to read a lot — he recalls the teacher who introduced him to Muriel Spark, the perfect writer for him at just the right time. And he encourages writers to abandon bespoke notebooks and keep it simple; he describes his (yes) process for gathering and reshuffling notes into stories, and how he forgives his sloppy drafts. He’s taken a lesson from his occasional musical collaborator, Magnetic Fields frontman Stephin Merritt, who’s “a devout corraller of happy accidents, encouraging musicians to try the wrong approach, the bonkers note, anything to fill the blanks.”

But all this — Spark, Gorey, B-movies, weird troubling figures in the corner of your eye — doesn’t solve the problem of producing good writing. As for what does, Handler recalls working on a script for a director who sent his draft back pockmarked with the letters “DB,” short for “do better.” Handler was infuriated at the vague note, but he took the lesson: “Now I write it in my own margins all the time, shorthand for I don’t know what’s wrong here but it needs to improve. I want to write better, but I usually don’t know how. Nobody does, really.” For Handler, knowing there’s no right way to do it is the most liberating advice of all.

Mark Athitakis is a critic in Phoenix and the author of “ The New Midwest .”

And Then? And Then? What Else?

By Daniel Handler

Liveright. 240 pp. $26.99

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Guest Essay

I Don’t Write Like Alice Munro, but I Want to Live Like Her

By Sheila Heti

Ms. Heti is the author of the novels “Pure Colour,” “How Should a Person Be?” and, most recently, “Alphabetical Diaries.”

It is common to say “I was heartbroken to hear” that so-and-so died, but I really do feel heartbroken having learned about Alice Munro, who died on Monday.

As a writer, she modeled, in her life and art, that one must work with emotional sincerity and precision and concentration and depth — not on every kind of writing but on only one kind, the kind closest to one’s heart.

She has long been a North Star for many writers and was someone I have always felt guided by. We are very different writers, but I have kept her in mind, daily and for decades, as an example to follow (but failed to follow to the extent that she demonstrated it): that a fiction writer isn’t someone for hire.

A fiction writer isn’t someone who can write anything — movies, articles, obits! She isn’t a person in service to the magazines, to the newspapers, to the publishers or even to her audience. She doesn’t have to speak on the political issues of the day or on matters of importance to the culture right now but ought first and most to attend seriously to her task, which is her only task, writing the particular thing she was most suited to write.

Ms. Munro only ever wrote short stories — not novels, though she must have been pressured to. She died in a small town not too far from where she was born, choosing to remain close to the sort of people she grew up with, whom she remained ever curious about. Depth is wherever one stands, she showed us, convincingly.

Fiction writers are people, supposedly, who have things to say; they must, because they are so good with words. So people are always asking them: Can you say something about this or about this? But the art of hearing the voice of a fictional person or sensing a fictional world or working for years on some unfathomable creation is, in fact, the opposite of saying something with the opinionated and knowledgeable part of one’s mind. It is rather the humble craft of putting your opinions and ego aside and letting something be said through you.

Ms. Munro held to this division and never let the vanity that can come with being good with words persuade her to put her words just everywhere, in every possible way. Here was the best example in the world — in Canada, my own land — of someone who seemed to abide by classical artistic values in her choices as a person and in her choices on the page. I felt quietly reassured knowing that a hundred kilometers down the road was Alice Munro.

She was also an example of how a writer should be in public: modest, unpretentious, funny, generous and kind. I learned the lesson of generosity from her early. When I was 20 and was just starting to publish short stories, I sent her a fan letter. I don’t remember what my letter said. After a few months, I received a handwritten thank-you note from her in the mail. The fact that she replied at all and did so with such care taught me a lot about grace and consideration and has remained as a warmth within me since that day.

She will always remain for me, and for many others, a model of that grave yet joyous dedication to art — a dedication that inevitably informs the most important choices the artist makes about how to support that life. Probably Ms. Munro would laugh at this; no one knows the compromises another makes, especially when that person is as private as she was and transforms her trials into fiction. Yet whatever the truth of her daily existence, she still shines as a symbol of artistic purity and care.

I am grateful for all she gave to the world and for all the sacrifices she must have made to give it. I’m sorry to be here defying her example, but she was just too loved, and these words just came. Thank you, Alice Munro.

Sheila Heti is the author of the novels “Pure Colour,” “How Should a Person Be?” and, most recently, “Alphabetical Diaries.”

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I prompted AI to summarize Google's 45-page book about how to write the best AI prompts. Here are the key takeaways.

• Google  handed out free guides on how to write successful AI prompts for Gemini at Google I/O.
• The booklet covers best practices for Google Workspace and gives examples for various professions.
• Some tips include drafting 21-word prompts that include persona, task, context, and format.

Google handed out booklets about how to write successful AI prompts at its big summer developer conference, Google I / O .

But you're still in luck even if you weren't one of the developers or press in attendance — Google has a free PDF version available for download on its website.

The guide breaks down how to best write AI prompts for Gemini for the company's Google Workspace apps, which include Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Meet, and Google Slides.

But there are some great takeaways in general for writing AI prompts.

It lists some helpful tips, like how the most successful AI prompts average around 21 words, and users should refrain from making them too long or too short. The guide also went over the four key points to hit in every prompt to receive the most useful responses.

The guide showcases how different roles can use Gemini to improve productivity. For example, an HR manager might use Gemini to create a script for an onboarding presentation, while a sales representative may use it to create an elevator pitch for a client.

Related stories

While the digital version is only 45 pages long, we uploaded the booklet to Google's Gemini to see the biggest takeaways (yes, we prompted AI to summarize a book about AI prompts).

Here's what it said in response.

Gemini for Google Workspace: A Guide for Busy Professionals

This guide is a comprehensive resource for anyone who wants to learn more about using Gemini for Google Workspace to improve their productivity and creativity. It covers a variety of use cases for different roles (Recruiter, HR Manager, Marketing Manager, Project Manager, Sales Manager) and provides specific prompts and examples to help them leverage Gemini's capabilities.

Key Takeaways

• Gemini for Google Workspace integrates with various Google Workspace apps (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet) to assist with tasks like writing, organizing, summarizing information, creating visuals, and more.
• Effective prompts for Gemini should include Persona (who you are), Task (what you want to achieve), Context (background information), and Format (desired output style).
• Gemini can be used across various departments to improve productivity and streamline workflows.

Additional Tips

• Level Up Your Prompt Writing: The guide offers additional tips to help you improve your prompt writing skills. These include breaking down complex tasks into smaller prompts, using constraints to generate specific results, and tailoring your prompts to the desired tone and audience.
• Stay Up-to-Date: The guide recommends checking workspace.google.com and workspace.google.com/blog for the latest information on Gemini for Google Workspace.

Overall, this guide is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about using Gemini for Google Workspace to enhance their work within the Google ecosystem.

On February 28, Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, joined 31 other media groups and filed a $2.3 billion suit against Google in Dutch court, alleging losses suffered due to the company's advertising practices.

Watch: AI expert explains how to incorporate generative AI into your business strategy

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