a verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first with the parts reversed.

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair."(William Shakespeare, Macbeth)

a verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the words in reverse grammatical order (A-B-C, C-B-A).

"You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance."(Ray Bradbury)

can also reverse the order of letters for literary effect.

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a waist is a terrible thing to mind.”

In this case, homophones waste and waist sound the same, but have different meanings.

can also be implied only.

“Time’s fun when you’re having flies.”(Kermit the Frog)

“Time flies when you’re having fun.”

What’s the difference between a boxer and someone who has a cold?

The first one knows his blows and the second blows his nose.

is one very specific form of chiasmus.

This is when the same words are used but in reverse order.

“Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” (John F. Kennedy)

doesn’t necessarily change meaning.

“I meant what I said and I said what I meant.”(From Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who)

Emphasis placed on both clauses as Horton assures his listener that he is “faithful 100 percent.”

Since repetition can form such an interesting part of speeches and writing, chiasmus definitely can be found in numerous places, and you can practice using it in your own work for emphasis, humor, or greater effectiveness

“Starkist doesn’t want

tuna with good taste. It wants tuna that tastes

good.”

can become high-toned and steeped with meaning.

”Virtue that transgressed is but patch’d with sin,And sin that amends is but patch’d with virtue.”(Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night)

A good person who does something wrong is only patched up with sin. And a sinner who does something good is only patched up with goodness.

A rhetorical fragment is an incomplete sentence that is used for persuading.

“Tickticktick. I'm missing study hall for this. Nap time. How many days until graduation? I lost track. Have to find a calendar.“ (Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson)

A rhetorical question is a question that does not expect an answer, as the person asking it already knows what the answer is.

Omitting the predicate verb produces a sentence fragment, something you may wish to do occasionally for deliberate rhetorical effect.

Like this. But too many sentences without verbs make your style seem telegraphic. Or silly.

Use the verbless sentence sparingly, as you would other strong stylistic devices.