Syntax

Simple sentence

a sentence consisting of one independent clause

Compound Sentence

a sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses, often joined by one or more conjunctions

Complex sentence

A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause

Compound-complex sentence

A sentence with at least one dependent clause and two or more independent clauses

loose or cumulative sentence

has independent clause first, followed by a series of phrases and clauses; this sentence makes complete sense if brought to a close before the actual ending.

periodic sentence

a complex sentence in which the main clause comes last and is preceded by the subordinate clause; only makes sense when the end is reached.

convoluted sentence

main clause is split in two; subordinate material is between. The pizza delivery boy, no matter how late, still expected a hefty tip.

balanced sentence

a sentence made up of two parts that are roughly equal in length, importance, and grammatical structure

Antithesis

Balanced phrases or clauses expressing opposed ideas.

parallelism/parallel structure

the repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures. Can create emphasis or rhythm.

inverted word order

when the order of words in a line do not occur in the usual pattern of subject, verb, object. Used to make the tone more formal or to create or disrupt rhythm or rhyme (Yoda speak)

Juxtaposition

poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, creating an effect of surprise and wit

rhetorical question

A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer

Repetition

Repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis

Anaphora

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines

Epistrophe

the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences

Anistrophe

repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses

Anadiplosis

repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause

Epanalepsis

repetition at the end of a clause of the word that occurred at the beginning of the clause

Polysyndeton

the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural.

Asyndeton

omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words

telegraphic sentence

A sentence shorter than five words in length.

medium sentence

Approximately 18 words in length

long sentence length

long and involved - 30 words or more length

Chiasmus/Antimetabole

a sentence strategy in which the arrangement of ideas in the second clause is a reversal of the first