Word Choice & Lexical Features:

Connotation

Emotional/cultural associations of a certain word

Denotation

Literal dictionary definition. "Snake" = a legless reptile

Abstract diction

Concepts without physical form. "Love," "freedom," "justice"

Concrete diction

Tangible, sensory specifics. "Red rose," "cold steel"

Formal register

Elevated, proper language. "It is my profound honor to address this distinguished assembly"

Informal register

Casual, conversational. "Hey guys, what's up?"

Colloquialisms

Regional/informal expressions. "Gonna," "y'all," "bloke," "knackered"

Slang

Very informal, often youth-associated. "Slay," "dope," "lit," "rizz"

Jargon

Specialized vocabulary of a field. Medical

Technical language

Precise terminology. Scientific

Archaism

Old-fashioned/outdated words. "Thou," "hither," "forsooth," "alas"

Neologism

Newly coined words. "Selfie," "unfriend," "doomscrolling"

Loanwords

Borrowed from other languages. "Café" (French), "Schadenfreude" (German), "Tsunami" (Japanese)

Sensory words

Appeal to five senses. Visual

Emotive language

Designed to provoke emotional response. "Cruel tyrant," "innocent victims," "heartless policy"

Euphemism

Mild substitute for harsh reality. "Passed away" (died), "downsizing" (firing), "sanitation engineer" (garbage collector)

Dysphemism

Deliberately harsh substitute. "Kicked the bucket" (died), "pig" (police officer)

Oxymoron

Contradictory terms combined. "Bittersweet," "deafening silence," "living dead," "jumbo shrimp"

Portmanteau

Blending two words. "Brunch" (breakfast+lunch), "smog" (smoke+fog), "spork" (spoon+fork)

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting elements side by side. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"