AP English Language & Composition Secondary Terms

Abstract

Ideas or concepts that are not physical or concrete (e.g., love, freedom).

Ad hominem

Attacking the person instead of addressing their argument.

Allegory

A story with a deeper meaning, often moral or political.

Allusion

A reference to another text, event, or figure.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.

Apostrophe

Directly addressing someone absent or an inanimate object.

Aphorism

A short, wise saying or truth.

Analogy

A comparison to explain an idea or concept.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of clauses.

Anastrophe

Inverted word order for effect (e.g., 'Yoda speak').

Anecdote

A short story used to illustrate a point.

Antithesis

Contrasting ideas placed together for effect.

Argument

A writer's main point or claim supported by reasoning and evidence.

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions for speed or emphasis.

Cacophony

Harsh, jarring sounds in language.

Chiasmus

Reversal of word order in two parallel phrases (e.g., 'Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you').

Colloquialism

Informal or conversational language.

Conceit

An extended, creative metaphor.

Concession

Acknowledging an opposing point in an argument.

Concrete

Specific and tangible, rather than abstract.

Cumulative sentence

A sentence that starts with the main idea and adds details.

Didactic

Writing intended to teach or instruct.

Digression

A temporary departure from the main topic.

Ellipsis

Omission of words for conciseness or effect (...).

Epiphany

A sudden realization or insight.

Ethos

Appeals to credibility or ethics.

Euphemism

A polite way to say something harsh or unpleasant.

Euphony

Pleasant, harmonious sounds in language.

Fallacies

Faulty reasoning or misleading arguments.

Flashback

A scene set in a past time to add context.

Foreshadowing

Hints about what will happen later.

Genre

A category of writing (e.g., fiction, poetry).

Homily

A sermon or moral lesson.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration for effect.

Invective

Insulting or abusive language.

Inversion

Reversal of normal word order.

Irony

Saying one thing but meaning the opposite, or a contrast between expectation and reality.

Litotes

Understatement by negating the opposite (e.g., 'not bad').

Logos

Appeals to logic and reasoning.

Metaphor

A direct comparison without 'like' or 'as.'

Metonymy

Using a related object to represent something (e.g., 'The crown' for monarchy).

Motif

A recurring idea, symbol, or element.

Non sequitur

A statement that doesn't logically follow.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds (e.g., 'buzz,' 'clang').

Oxymoron

Two contradictory words paired together (e.g., 'jumbo shrimp').

Parallelism/Parallel Structure

Similar structure in multiple parts of a sentence.

Parody

Imitation for humor or criticism.

Paradox

A contradictory statement that reveals a truth.

Pathos

Appeals to emotion.

Pedantic

Overly focused on minor details or formal rules.

Periodic sentence

A sentence where the main idea comes at the end.

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Persuasion

Convincing someone to adopt a viewpoint.

Polysyndeton

Use of many conjunctions for emphasis.

Repetition

Reusing words or phrases for emphasis.

Sarcasm

Mocking language, often ironic.

Satire

Using humor or criticism to expose flaws.

Simile

A comparison using 'like' or 'as.'

Speculation

Guessing or theorizing about something.

Syllepsis

A word used differently in relation to two others (e.g., 'He stole my heart and my wallet').

Syllogism

A logical argument with a major premise, minor premise, and conclusion.

Symbol

An object or image that represents something deeper.

Synecdoche

A part representing the whole (e.g., 'wheels' for a car).

Style

The way an author writes, including word choice and sentence structure.

Tautology

Redundant repetition of ideas.

Understatement

Downplaying something for effect.