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Litotes - GCSE English Language Definition

Reviewed by: Nick Redgrove

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In GCSE English, litotes is a rhetorical device and a type of understatement where a positive idea is expressed by denying the opposite. It is often used to add emphasis or create a subtle, sometimes ironic, effect. For example, saying "not bad" to mean "good" or "not unfamiliar" to suggest something is actually familiar are both examples of litotes. This technique is common in literature and everyday speech, and it can make language sound more thoughtful or modest. Recognising litotes in GCSE English texts can help you explore how writers use understatement to add depth, tone, or hidden meaning in their writing.

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Nick Redgrove

Reviewer: Nick Redgrove

Expertise: English Senior Content Creator

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.

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