When a word describes a sound, it actually replicates the sound of the item or activity to which it refers when uttered. Onomatopoeia appeals to the sense of hearing, and it is used by authors to bring a tale or poem to life in the reader's mind. These words are known as phonetic words because they use the sounds of the language to tell their story. An example of onomatopoeia used in writing is BOOM. This word brings to mind the sound of gunfire or fireworks. It can be used in stories to describe something that makes a loud noise. Children understand onomatopoeia very well because they have heard many different voices inside their heads while reading about what things look like or feeling them with their hands. The writer can use this knowledge to paint a picture in the minds of his readers. For example, if the story is about a battle, the author could write: "The warlord shouted as he led his troops into battle. The sound of swords clashing rang out across the land." In addition to sounding like guns and bombs, other examples of onomatopoeia include CLANG, WHIRL, and ZZZZT. Authors use these words to describe sounds that come from vehicles, machines, and objects. For example, an author could write: "The car made a strange sound as it drove off down the road.