what are pathos

Pathos is a term used to describe an appeal to emotion in persuasive rhetoric or other forms of writing. It is one of the three modes of persuasion, alongside ethos and logos. Pathos appeals to the emotions and ideals of the audience and elicits feelings that already reside in them. Emotional appeal can be accomplished in many ways, such as through metaphors, storytelling, passion in the delivery of the speech or writing, and personal anecdotes. Pathos tends to use "loaded" words that will get some sort of reaction. Examples could include "victim," in a number of different contexts. Pathos can be used in any style of creative and professional writing, such as in developing a character in a novel or in ad copy for a company. However, when pathos isn’t balanced with other modes of persuasion, it can turn into manipulation. For example, an author might make an argument that’s not based on logic about a subject they don’t have expert knowledge in or authority to speak on, and use false or misleading details to sway an audience’s feelings.