Glossary Terms

Figures of Speech

Figures of Speech

Analogy

Comparing two things to see what is similar between them

Metaphor/Extended Metaphor

A word or phrase that is applied to an object or action that is literally not applicable.

Simile

Comparing two unlike things

Conceit

An elaborate comparison between two things

Apostrophe

Used to address someone or something that isn’t present or cannot respond.

Cliché

Phrase or opinion that is overused and is not an original thought.

Epithet

An adjective or descriptive phrase used in place of a name or used with a name.

Euphemism

A mild word being substituted for a more harsh or rude word.

Hyperbole

The use of obvious exaggerated statements or claims.

Imagery

Usage of a noun to portray how things look in your mind, in art, or literature.

Verbal Irony

When someone intentionally says something opposite or much different than the current situation.

Situational Irony

When the outcome of a situation is different from the expected outcome.

Dramatic Irony

a literary technique by which the full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech which has contradictory terms.

Paradox

An absurd, self-contradictory statement or proposition that is true.

Personification

A human characteristic given to something non-human.

Pun

A play of words that have more than one meaning.

Synesthesia

Rhetorical device that describes one sense in terms of another (usually a simile). Usually uses the 5 senses, touch, hear, see, smell, and taste.

Metonymy

Replacing an actual word or idea with a concept or related word.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent a whole or vice versa.

Understatement (Litotes)

A figure of speech in which exaggerated language is used to to understate something and limit its importance.

Diction

Diction

Connotation

An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word.

Pedantic

Difficult, scholarly, and academic sounds language.

Simple

Easy to understand.

Monosyllabic

Consisting of one syllable.

Polysyllabic

Consisting of more than one syllable.

Euphonious

Pleasing to the ear.

Cacophonic

Harsh and awkward sounds used deliberately.

Literal

The words used in a sentence mean exactly what they are meant to mean. There is no overstatement or understatement.

Figurative

Using similes, hyperboles, personification, or metaphors in order to convey a message that is usually exaggerated.

Active

What someone or something does.

Passive

What is happening to a person or thing.

Overstated

Representing something as more than it actually is.

Understated

Representing something as less than it actually is.

Colloquial

Using informal language or tone, usually used in a casual context.

Formal

Using standard English with complex sentence structures. There is a lack of slang or jargon terms used.

Slang

A type of language using words or phrases in an informal way.

Jargon

A type of language for a particular group of people. It is usually hard for others outside the group to understand.

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Allusion

An implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text (Must be indirect and not further explained.)

Ambiguity

Instances where a sentence, literary work, or piece of media can have multiple possible interpretations (Left vague intentionally in order to be open to interpretation).

Lexical Ambiguity

Two or more possible meanings of a word.

Syntactic Ambiguity

Two or more possible meanings of a sentence.

Anachronism

An element of a story which is in conflict with the story's time period. (Can be used to add humor, create suspense, and make a point about the present).

Aphorism

A pithy (concise) observation that contains a general truth. (They are often handed down by tradition from generation to generation).

Invective

Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language (Used to express blame or censure, Intended to offend or hurt).

Juxtaposition

An act or instance of placing two elements close together or side by side. (This is often done in order to compare/contrast the two objects, to show similarities and differences).

Malapropism

• The (usually) unintentional humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase.

• The use of a word sounding like the one intended but incredibly wrong in the context.

Epigraph

A short quote included at the beginning of a text/piece of writing. (Used to introduce the theme, context, or reference to a reader).

Noun

A word that names a person, place, or thing (concept/object).

Pronoun

A word that you substitute for specific nouns, as long as it is clear what noun the pronouns refer to.

Adjective

A word that describes a noun.

Verb

A word that describes a specific action.

Action Verbs

Verbs that refer to a specific action

Non Action Verbs

Verbs that do not refer to literal actions. Instead, they refer to feelings or states of being.

Adverb

A word that describes an adjective, a verb, or another adverb.

Preposition

A word or phrase that tells you the relationship between other words in a sentence; can refer to the position of an object and/or the timing of something.

Interjection

A word or expression that stands on its own and expresses a spontaneous feeling or reaction.

Definite Articles

Describes one specific noun.

Indefinite Articles

Refers to something general.

Argument/Persuasion Terms

Argument/Persuasion Terms

deductive reasoning (+ syllogism)

A logical conclusion drawn from facts.

inductive reasoning

A generalization made from personal observations.

Warrant

An underlying assumption that helps your evidence to support your claim.

Polemic

A polemic is primarily used to invoke controversy within a group or audience by introducing a negative opinion in hopes to either defend or support an opinion.

Rogerian argument

A rhetorical conflict strategy based on seeking common ground and mutual understanding with others, while avoiding the negative effects of extreme attitude polarization. The Rogerian Argument encourages open dialogue, empathy, and the identification of shared values.

Toulmin argument

The Toulmin Argument is a model of argumentation developed by British philosopher Stephen Toulmin. It consists of six elements: claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and rebuttal.

Ad hominem argument

A way of arguing that is directed towards the person and not the larger topic at hand.

Begging the question

An informal fallacy that occurs when an argument's premises assume the truth of the conclusion.

Doubtful authority

Refers to using a source or reference that lacks credibility or expertise in the subject matter being involved.

Either/or reasoning

When someone claims that there are only two sides of an argument, even if there can be multiple more.

False analogy

Assuming that two things are alike in some other way simply because they are alike in one way or more ways.

Hasty generalization

Making a hasty conclusion about a large population based on a small, unrepresenting sample size.

Non-sequitur

A conclusion that does not logically follow preceding statements.

Oversimplification

Assuming that an outcome is due to only a single or reduced amount of factors, causing other complex or supplementary factors to be ignored.

Slippery slope

When an action is rejected because an individual believes that it will lead to a chain of events, generally ending undesirably.

Straw Man

When an individual refutes an exaggerated or distorted version of another person’s argument.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Assuming that an event was caused by another event, simply because the event came after the other event.

Syntax/Sentence structure

Syntax/Sentence structure

Basic

A sentence that follows subject-verb-object order.

Interrupted

When a separate clause, phrase, or word is put in between a sentence to give it more depth.

Inverted

A sentence that switches the placement of the verb to go before the noun.

Listing

A sentence that divides related points to address them individually.

Cumulative/loose

A sentence that begins with an independent clause and ends with a dependent clause.

Parallelism

Balancing two or more ideas or arguments that are considered equally important.

Balanced (Parallelism)

When ideas are arranged to correspond one element with another of equal importance and similar wording.

Antithesis (Parallelism)

The use of contrasting words, phrases, clauses, or sentences to highlight a contrast or opposition between 2 ideas.

Chiasmus (Parallelism)

The reversing of the order of words in the second of two parallel phrases or sentences.

Periodic

A sentence with completion of the main clause left at the end, with side points leading up to it, usually to create suspense.

Declarative Sentence

A sentence that states a fact, describing any act of speech that DECLARES a statement.

Imperative Sentence

A sentence that gives suggestions, advice, or commands to the audience. The sentence does not have a subject as the author speaks to the receiving audience directly.

Exclamatory Sentence

A sentence that expresses strong sudden emotions. These sentences usually end with exclamation marks to show strong emphasis on a feeling.

Interrogative Sentence

A sentence that is asked to an audience to convey a point, the author does not intend or want to get an answer from the audience. (common phrase: rhetorical question)

Simple Sentence

A sentence with a single independent clause.

Compound Sentence

A sentence that joins together two independent clauses.

Complex Sentence

A sentence containing at least one dependent clause and one independent clause.