What are Logos, Pathos and Ethos in writing?

We refer them to as the three kinds of appeals made famous by the Greek Philosopher Aristotle. 

When we write, especially on a controversial topic, we use appeals to help the reader see our point of view. We are appealing to their senses, so they are more inclined to accept what we are saying. 

This isn’t an attempt to manipulate, it’s an attempt to communicate in a way that allows the reader to be more open to the viewpoint rather than dismissive. We have all read something that from the start, our minds just click off. 

With the three appeals of Logos, Pathos and Ethos, we encourage our readers’ minds to continue reading so they may better comprehend the content of our message. 

Basic Overview of Logos, Pathos and Ethos: 

Logos is Greek for “word” and is an appeal to logic or reasoning. 

Using supporting evidence, facts or data to prove the claim you are attempting to make are examples of an appeal from logos. When you appeal with logos, you are using logic and reasoning to appeal to the audience and often planning a logical argument. 

Pathos is Greek for “suffering” and is an appeal to the emotions of a reader. 

When using pathos, you are using it to appeal to the feelings rather than logic (logos) or credibility, as we will see when we look at ethos. Within our writing, when we want our words to resonate with the audience’s emotions, we are attempting to give our readers a pathway to identify emotionally with our message. 

Ethos is Greek for “Character” and is an appeal to the writer’s credibility or character. 

Unlike the first two logos and pathos, whose purpose is to appeal to the reader, ethos is an appeal about the writer. With this appeal, the writer is establishing their expertise in the subject or viewpoint. For some, it would be their reputation, education or experience that they used to appeal to the reader’s sense that they are a person who the reader has a reason to listen to. 

Can you use Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Together? 

The straightforward answer is yes, and it’s encouraged to do so. The hard answer is that some people find it difficult to use a mix of these three appeals. Some have found that mixing appeals is off-putting and can decrease the effectiveness of their writing. 

So what can you do? Practice with each appeal within the context of the same topic, then use logos to place each appeal in a logic way within the piece of writing you are working on. 

Once you become more versed with the three appeals of logos, pathos and ethos, you may find that you are using all three in each paragraph. This repetitive approach can lead to a repetitive appeal to the reader and garner better results. 

In Conclusion of Logos, Pathos, and Ethos and the basic for writing. 

It’s fun to experiment with formulating different arguments with the three appeals of Logos, Pathos, and Ethos. The internet has many examples of how to use each and the more proficient you become with them, the easier you will find them incorporated into your writing. 

As a reminder, 

Logos is Greek for “word” and is an appeal to logic or reasoning.

Pathos is Greek for “suffering” and is an appeal to the emotions of a reader.

Ethos is Greek for “Character” and is an appeal to the writer’s credibility or character.