Language describing ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific

Abstract Language
things, people, or places.

Active voice The subject of the sentence performs the action.

In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's

Ad Hominem
ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning "against the man."

Adage A folk saying with a lesson

A story, fictional or non fictional, in which characters, things, and events

Allegory
represent qualities or concepts.

Allegory A work that functions on a symbolic level

The repetition of initial consonant sounds, such as "Peter Piper picked a peck
Alliteration
of pickled peppers."

An indirect reference to something with which the reader is supposed to be

Allusion
familiar.

Ambiguity An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way.

A literary device employed to serve as a basis for comparison. It is assumed

Analogy that what applies to the parallel situation also applies to the original
circumstance. In other words, it is the comparison between two different items.

repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more

Anaphora sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the
writer's point more coherent.

Anecdote A story or brief episode told by the writer or a character to illustrate a point.

Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, clarify, or prompt further thought;

Annotation
can also cite sources or give bibliographical data.

Antecedent The word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers.

Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses, or even ideas, with

Antithesis
parallel structure.

a terse saying embodying a general truth or astute observation, expresses a

general truth or moral principle
Aphorism
Ex: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" (Lord
Acton).

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or

Apostrophe personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. The effect may add familiarity
or emotional intensity.

A word or group or words placed beside a noun or noun substitute to

Appositive
supplement its meaning.

A single assertion or a series of assertions presented and defended by the

Argument
writer
 The purpose of this rhetorical mode is to prove the validity of an idea, or point
Argumentation of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that
thoroughly convince the reader.

Assonance Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity

Commas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words. The parts

are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of
Asyndeton
commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence. X,
Y, Z as opposed to X, Y, and Z.

the relationship an author has toward his or her subject, and/or his or her
Attitude/Tone
audience, revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization.

Arguments that draw on recognized experts or persons with highly relevant

Authority
experience.

Backing Support or evidence for a claim in an argument

a situation in which all parts of the presentation are equal, whether in

Balance
sentences or paragraphs or sections of a longer work.

One in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal
Balanced sentence
weights on a scale.

Bathos a ludicrous descent from the exalted or lofty to the commonplace; anticlimax.

Often called circular reasoning; occurs when the believability of the evidence
Begging the Question
depends on the believability of the claim.

Cacophony Harsh and discordant sounds in a line or passage in a literary word.

Writer asserts that one thing results from another. To show how one thing
Causal Relationship produces or brings about another is often relevant in establishing a logical
argument.

those who carry out the action of the plot in literature. Major, minor, static, and
Character
dynamic are the types.

Arrangement of repeated thoughts in the pattern of X Y Y X. It is often short

Chiasmus
and summarizes a main idea.

Art or literature characterized by a realistic view of people and the world; sticks
Classicism
to traditional themes and structures.

Clause A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.

a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a

Cliché popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and
impact by long overuse

characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than

Colloquial
formal speech or writing; informal.

Slang in writing, used often to create local color and to provide an informal
Colloquialism
tone.
 The inclusion of a humorous character or scene to contrast with the tragic
Comic Relief
elements of a work, thereby intensifying the next tragic event.

Complex sentence Contains only one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Compound sentence Contains at least two independent clauses but no dependent clauses.

Compound-complex Contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
sentence

Conceit the use of such metaphors as a literary characteristic, esp. in poetry.

Language that describes specific, observable things, peoples or places, rather

Concrete Language
than ideas or qualities.

a clash between opposing forces in a literary work, such as man vs. man; man
Conflict
vs. nature; man vs. God; man vs. self

the interpretive level or a word based on its associated images rather than its
Connotation
literal meaning.

Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity,

Consonance
especially at the end of words

Sentence which begins with the main idea and then expands on that idea with
Cumulative
a series of details or other particulars

Declarative sentence States an idea

A critical approach that debunks single definitions of meaning based on the

Deconstruction instability of language. It "is not a dismantling of a structure of a text, but a
demonstration that it has already dismantled itself."

Deduction The process of moving from a general rule to a specific example.

Denotation the literal, explicit meaning of a word, without its connotations.

an idea cannot stand alone in a sentence even though it has a subject and a
Dependent clause
verb

The purpose of this rhetorical mode is to re- create, invent, or visually present
Description a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture that being
described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses.

a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same

Dialect language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, and by its use
by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.

the author's choice of words that creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as
Diction
meaning

A term used to describe fiction, nonfiction or poetry that teaches a specific

Didactic
lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.

Direct Object the object that receives the direct action of the verb

Dramatic Irony Facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or a piece of fiction but
 known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work

When the writer reduces an argument or issue to two polar opposites and
Either- or reasoning
ignores any alternatives.

The deliberate omission of a word or phrase from prose done for effect by the
Ellipsis
author. Indicated by a series of three periods (…)

Epigram A short poem with a clever twist at the end, or a concise and witty statement.

A motto or quotation, as at the beginning of a literary composition, setting forth

Epigraph
a theme.

Epitaph A brief poem or other writing in praise of a deceased person.

Equivocation When a writer uses the same term in two different senses in an argument.

When a writer tries to persuade the audience to respect and believe him or her
Ethical Appeal
based on a presentation of image of self through the text.

Ethos An appeal based on the character/reputation/ credibility of the speaker.

A speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, esp. a set oration in honor of

Eulogy
a deceased person.

A more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that
Euphemism might be inappropriate or uncomfortable; used to obscure the reality of the
situation.

Euphony The pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds in a literary work.

Example An individual instance taken to be representative of a general pattern

The act of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a text. Usually involves

Explication
close reading and special attention to figurative language.

The purpose of this rhetorical mode is to explain and analyze information by

Exposition
presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion.

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a

Extended Metaphor
work.

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually
Figurative Language
meant to be imaginative and vivid.

A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar

Figure of Speech things. Examples are apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy,
oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.

The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of
Genre
literature are prose, poetry, and drama.

Gothic Writing characterized by gloom, mystery, fear and/or death.

This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any
Homily
serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.
Hyperbole A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement

A common, often used expression that doesn't make sense if you take it
Idiom
literally.

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion,

Imagery or represent abstractions; uses terms related to the five senses; we refer to
visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory.

Imperative sentence Issues a command.

Independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence

Indirect Object the object that is the recipient of the action of the verb

Infer To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

Interrogative sentence Sentences incorporating interrogative pronouns.

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive

Invective
language.

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The
Irony
difference between what appears to be and what actually is true.

Jargon The diction used by a group which practices a similar profession or activity.

Juxtaposition Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison.

A particular form of understatement, generated by denying the opposite of the

Litotes
statement which otherwise would be used.

Logos an appeal based on logic or reason

A complex sentence in which the main clause comes first and the subordinate
Loose sentence
clause follows.

A figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which

Metaphor
it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance

a term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name;” a figure
Metonymy of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another
closely associated with it.

This term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first
meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speaker's attitude.
Mood
The second meaning is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or
emotional aura of a work.

Motif A recurring subject, theme, idea, etc.

The purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an
Narration
event or series of events.

Narrative Device This term describes the tools of the storyteller, such as ordering events to that
they build to climatic movement or withholding information until a crucial or
 appropriate moment when revealing in creates a desired effect.

Objectivity An author's stance that distances himself from personal involvement.

a figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.
Onomatopoeia
Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, and hum.

Oratory The art of public speaking, esp. in a formal and eloquent manner.

From the Greek for "pointedly foolish;” a figure of speech wherein the author
Oxymoron
groups apparently contradictory terms.

Paradox A seemingly contradictory statement which is actually true, to some degree.

refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences,

Parallelism
or paragraphs to give structural similarity.

Parenthetical idea An idea that is set off from the rest of the sentence.

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific
Parody
aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.

Parody An exaggerated imitation of a serious work for humorous purposes.

Passive voice The subject of the sentence receives the action.

The attribution of human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or to

Pathetic fallacy
nature

an appeal based on emotion; the quality or power in an actual life experience

Pathos or in literature, music, speech, or other forms of expression, of evoking a
feeling of pity or compassion.

Observing strict adherence to formal rules or literal meaning at the expense of

Pedantic
a wider view.

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. The
Periodic Sentence independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone.
The effect is to add emphasis and structural variety.

Persona The fictional mask or narrator that tells a story.

Personification The attribution of a personal nature or character to inanimate objects

In literature, the perspective from which a story is told. (1st, 2nd, 3rd limited,
Point of View
3rd omniscient)

Predicate Tells what the subject is or does

Predicate adjective follows a linking verb and describes the subject

Predicate noun Follows a linking verb and defines or renames the subject

Pronoun/ antecedent The antecedent is the word the pronoun replaces

Prose One of the major divisions of genre that refers to fiction and nonfiction,
including all its forms, because they are written in ordinary language and most
 closely resemble everyday speech.

The duplication, either exact or approximate, or any element of language,

Repetition
such as sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.

from the Greek for "orator;” describes the principle governing the art of writing
Rhetoric
effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

The flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of
Rhetorical Modes
the major kinds of writing.

Rhetorical question A question not asked for information but for effect.

Art or literature characterized by an idealistic, perhaps unrealistic view of

Romanticism
people and the world, and an emphasis on nature.

From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh;” involves bitter, caustic language that
Sarcasm is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a
device.

A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and
convention for reform or ridicule; regardless of whether or not the work aims to
Satire reform humans or their society, best seen as a style of writing rather than a
purpose for writing; often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about
the human condition.

The branch of linguistics that studies that meaning of words, their historical
Semantics and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one
another.

A group of words (including subject and verb) that expresses a complete

Sentence
thought.

Using words such as "like" or "as" to make a direct comparison between two
Simile
very different things.

Simple sentence Contains one independent clause.

Situational Irony a type of irony in which events turn out the opposite of what was expected.

Stream-of- A narrative technique that places the reader in the mind and thought process of
consciousness the narrator, no matter how random and spontaneous that may be.

An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction,

Style
syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices.

Subject Who or what the sentence is about

Subtext The hidden or underlying meaning of something

From the Greek for "reckoning together;” a deductive system of formal logic
Syllogism
that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.

Anything that represents, stands for, something else. Usually concrete—such

Symbol as an object, action, character, or scene—that represents something more
abstract.
Synecdoche a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part

Syntax/sentence variety The grammatical structure of prose and poetry.

The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually
Theme unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction may be directly stated, especially in
expository or argumentative writing.

The sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's

Thesis
opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition.

Third Person Limited Point of view presents the feelings and thoughts of only one character,
Omniscient presenting only the actions of all remaining characters

Third Person Point of view in which an omniscient narrator, with a godlike knowledge,
Omniscient presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters.

Similar to mood, describes the author's attitude toward his or her material, the
Tone
audience, or both.

A word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from
Transition
sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.

A statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said,
Understatement
the opposite of hyperbole.

Verbal Irony Words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning

Language or dialect of a particular country, language or dialect of a regional

Vernacular
clan or group, plain everyday speech.

the relationship between a sentence's subject and verb (active and passive);
Voice
the total "sound" of the writer's style.

In modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.

Wit
Usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement.