Which pair correctly describes metonymy and synecdoche?

• A. Metonymy substitutes a related concept; synecdoche uses a part for a whole.
• B. Metonymy uses a part for a whole; synecdoche substitutes a related concept.
• C. Both are forms of hyperbole.
• D. Both refer to denotation only.

Answer: (A)

Metonymy works by substituting something closely related or associated for what’s meant. For example, saying the White House issued a statement uses a place to stand for the presidency or the administration itself. Synecdoche, on the other hand, uses a part to represent the whole (and sometimes the whole to represent a part). A common example is all hands on deck, where hands (a part) stand for the sailors (the whole crew). The statement that metonymy substitutes a related concept and that synecdoche uses a part for a whole matches how these figures typically function. The other ideas miss the point: hyperbole is about exaggeration, and denotation focuses on literal meaning rather than figurative substitution.