Grammatically Correct 1/02/08
A weekly grammar tip created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors.
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901

Allusion and Illusion: Clarifying the Mystery.
The Author

Karalyn Jones
Peer Writing Tutor

 
Definitions

Allusion (n):

1. a passing or casual reference
2. an indirect reference

Illusion (n):

1. something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.
2. the condition of being deceived.
3. an instance of being deceived.

-Adapted from Dictionary.com
 
If something is said explicitly, it cannot be an allusion or illusion. These two nouns both deal with the vague.

Both come from words meaning to play with, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. An allusion plays with words in order to indirectly refer to something else and to transfer emotional, psychological, and conceptual content from one situation to another. An illusion plays with one’s perception in order to deceive.

An allusion is an indirect reference, a sometimes subtle indication.

I’ve been going around this mountain for forty years.

This is an allusion to the Bible story of Moses leading the Israelites in the wilderness and around Mount Sinai for forty years.

Notice that it is vital to consider one’s audience when using allusions. If the reader is unfamiliar with the material being alluded to, the meaning is lost to the reader. For example, if you were unfamiliar with the story of Moses, the example sentence would not make sense to you, at least not in the same sense the author intended.

On a final note, an allusion can refer to anything, although it is often used in literature to refer to other literature.

An illusion refers to a misleading impression of reality.

He created the illusion of wearing a tie without actually wearing one.

The appearance of the subject in this sentence was a false impression. Illusions deal with appearances. Things appear one way but are actually another.

Illusions deceive by appearing like another situation while allusions clarify by connecting to other known situations.

References

"Allusion." Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from Dictionary.com website.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from Biblegateway.com.

"Illusion." Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from Dictionary.com website.

Margulies, S., Wolper, D. L. (Producers), & Stuart, M. (Director). (1971). Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory [Motion Picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures
 

Test Your Knowledge

Identify each of the following as an allusion or illusion:

1. When it comes to assessments, my boss is an Ahab.

2. During the eclipse, the moon moved over the sun, casting a shadow over everything. It wasn’t day and it wasn’t night. It seemed as if we had passed into another world entirely.

3. "Here. A small step for mankind, but a giant step for us. All ashore!"
- Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (Margulies, Wolper, & Stewart, 1971).

4. In Heroes, Candice uses her powers to cause Sylar to see himself on a beach on a secluded island rather than in a concrete bunker.
 


Answers

1. Allusion. The reference is Ahab is an allusion to the book Moby Dick, specifically the Sea Captain who ruthlessly chases the whale Moby Dick.

2. Illusion. The eclipse deceived them by producing the false impression that they were in another world.

3. Allusion. Willy Wonka is alluding to Neal Armstrong when Armstrong stepped on the moon and said "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

4. Illusion. Candice gives Sylar a false impression of reality.

 

Suggested Resources
Related Academic Center Resources

An earlier issue of Grammatically Correct featured a briefer discussion of allusion and illusion.  It was published on March 29, 2005 and was written by Kelli Trungale.  Visit When to Use: Allusion or Illusion.

Recommended Grammar Website of the Week

The Online Etymology Dictionary is a compilation of explanations about the origins of words. The information about allusion and illusion came from this source. Understanding the origin of a word makes your use of it more flexible. This dictionary was compiled from a wide array of sources and tells when the word was first used and how its use changed.

 
 

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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