Editing Litotes (section)

==Litotes and ethos==
Litotes can be used to establish [[ethos]], or credibility, by expressing modesty or downplaying one's accomplishments to gain the audience's favor. In the book ''[[Rhetorica ad Herennium]]'', litotes is addressed as a member of the Figures of Thought known as ''deminutio'', or understatement. It is listed in conjunction with antenantiosis and meiosis, two other forms of rhetorical deminutio.<ref name="Burton"/> For example, a very accomplished artist might say "I'm not a bad painter", and by refraining from bragging but still acknowledging his skill, the artist is seen as talented, modest, and credible.