language features

Simile

A comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between unlike things.

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

Symbolism

Using an object, image or action to represent a deeper meaning.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds, such as ‘buzz’ or ‘crash’.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

Oxymoron

Combining contradictory terms, such as ‘deafening silence’.

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting ideas or images together to highlight differences.

Irony

A contrast between expectations and reality, or words and intended meaning.

Satire

Using humour, irony or exaggeration to criticise flaws in society.

Sarcasm

Mocking or cutting language, often expressing the opposite of its literal meaning.

Rhetorical question

A question posed to provoke thought rather than obtain an answer.

Emotive language

Words chosen to evoke particular emotions in an audience.

Inclusive language

Language that creates belonging or shared identity, such as ‘we’ and ‘our’.

Modality

Language expressing certainty, obligation or possibility, such as ‘must’ or ‘might’.

Connotation

The implied or associated meaning of a word beyond its literal definition.

Denotation

The literal or dictionary meaning of a word.

Diction

A writer’s or speaker’s deliberate choice of words.

Register

The level of formality used in a particular context.

Tone

The attitude conveyed towards a subject or audience.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere created for the audience.

Semantic field

A group of words linked by a common subject or concept.

Repetition

Repeating words, phrases or ideas to reinforce meaning or emphasis.

Anaphora

Repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

Listing

Presenting several items or ideas consecutively for emphasis or effect.

Tricolon

A sequence of three parallel words, phrases or clauses.

Parallelism

Using similar grammatical structures to create balance and emphasis.

Antithesis

Placing contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel structures.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect expression replacing one considered harsh or unpleasant.

Dysphemism

A deliberately harsh or offensive expression replacing a neutral one.

Pun

Wordplay exploiting multiple meanings or similar-sounding words.

Idiom

An established expression whose meaning differs from its literal words.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a recognisable person, text, event or idea.

Ethos

Persuasion through credibility, authority or trustworthiness.

Pathos

Persuasion through the audience’s emotions.

Logos

Persuasion through logic, evidence or reasoning.

Imperative

A command or instruction intended to direct an audience.

Declarative sentence

A sentence that makes a statement or expresses an idea.

Interrogative sentence

A sentence that asks a question.

Exclamative sentence

A sentence expressing strong emotion or emphasis.

Short sentence

A sentence used to create emphasis, urgency, tension or impact.

Periodic sentence

A sentence that delays its main clause or key idea until the end.

Cumulative sentence

A sentence that states its main idea early, then adds descriptive details.

Sentence fragment

An incomplete sentence used deliberately for emphasis, tension or realism.

Anecdote

A brief story used to illustrate a point or create a personal connection.

Personal pronouns

Pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘you’ or ‘they’ that establish perspective or relationships.

First-person perspective

Narration using ‘I’ or ‘we’, presenting an individual’s viewpoint.

Second-person perspective

Addressing the audience as ‘you’ to involve or position them.

Third-person perspective

Narration using ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’, with varying access to characters’ thoughts.

Unreliable narrator

A narrator whose account may be incomplete, biased or misleading.

Rhetorical shift

A change in tone, perspective, argument or style that redirects meaning.

Appeal to authority

Using an expert or respected figure to strengthen credibility.

Appeal to fear

Emphasising threats or dangers to influence audience attitudes or behaviour.

Appeal to popularity

Suggesting a belief is valid because many people accept it.

Straw man

Misrepresenting an opposing position to make it easier to attack.

False dilemma

Presenting only two choices when other possibilities exist.

Generalisation

A broad claim about a group or situation, sometimes based on insufficient evidence.

Stereotype

An oversimplified, fixed belief about a particular group.

Cliché

An overused expression or idea that has lost originality.

Analogy

A comparison used to explain an idea through a familiar parallel.

Extended metaphor

A metaphor developed across multiple lines, sentences or sections.

Motif

A recurring image, symbol or idea that develops a text’s meaning.

Paradox

A seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth.

Metonymy

Replacing something with a closely associated term, such as ‘the Crown’ for the monarchy.

Synecdoche

Using a part to represent a whole, or a whole to represent a part.

Ellipsis

Omission of words or use of dots to suggest hesitation, incompleteness or a pause.

Rhetorical pause

A deliberate pause that builds suspense, emphasises an idea or gives it weight.

Contrast

Highlighting differences between ideas, characters or situations.

Lexical choice

A specific word choice that shapes meaning, tone or audience response.

Loaded word

A word carrying strong positive or negative associations.

Neologism

A newly coined word or a new use of an existing word.

Colloquial language

Informal, everyday language associated with ordinary conversation.

Slang

Informal vocabulary associated with particular groups or communities.

Jargon

Specialised terminology used by a particular profession or group.

Rhetorical exclamation

An emphatic expression used to communicate strong feeling or urgency.

Imperative verb

A verb used to issue a command, request or instruction.

Nominalisation

Turning a verb or adjective into a noun, often making writing more abstract or formal.

Active voice

A grammatical structure where the subject performs the action.

Passive voice

A grammatical structure where the subject receives the action, often shifting emphasis or responsibility.

Cohesive device

A word or phrase linking ideas, such as ‘however’, ‘therefore’ or ‘furthermore’.

Transition

A word or phrase guiding the audience between ideas or sections.

Rhetorical strategy

A deliberate technique used to persuade, influence or engage an audience.

Audience positioning

Shaping how an audience is encouraged to think, feel or respond.

Appeal to shared values

Connecting an argument to beliefs or principles the audience is likely to hold.

Framing

Presenting information from a particular angle to influence its interpretation.

Selective evidence

Choosing particular information while omitting other evidence to support a viewpoint.

Call to action

Language urging an audience to take a specific action.

Register shift

A change in formality or language style to suit a new purpose or audience.

Anaphoric reference

A word or phrase referring back to something mentioned earlier.

Rhetorical concession

Acknowledging an opposing point before qualifying or challenging it.

Counterargument

An opposing argument presented to challenge a claim or viewpoint.

Concession and rebuttal

Acknowledging an opposing view, then responding to weaken or refute it.

Semantic contrast

Contrasting words or concepts to highlight opposing meanings.

Cumulative list

A growing sequence of details that builds emphasis, intensity or significance.