AP English Language Vocabulary Study Cards

Parenthetical

A phrase or clause that is inserted into a sentence as an explanation or afterthought.

Passive voice

A grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is acted upon rather than performing the action.

Pathos

A rhetorical appeal to emotion.

Pedantic

Excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overly academic.

Personification

Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities.

Philippic

A bitter attack or denunciation, especially a verbal one.

Phrase

A group of words that work together but do not form a complete sentence.

Polysyndeton

The use of several conjunctions in close succession, often slowing the rhythm of prose.

Premise

A statement or proposition that forms the basis for a logical argument.

Rebuttal

A response to a counterargument, presenting evidence or reasoning to refute it.

Refutation

The act of disproving an argument or assertion.

Repetition

The action of repeating something that has already been said or written.

Rhetoric

The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.

Rhetorical question

A question asked for effect or to make a point rather than to elicit an answer.

Rhetorical device

A technique used in writing or speaking to persuade or convey meaning.

Sarcasm

The use of irony to mock or convey contempt.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock.

Scheme

A pattern of words or sentence construction used for rhetorical effect.

Simile

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

Simple sentence

A sentence consisting of only one independent clause.

Solecism

A grammatical mistake or nonstandard usage.

Sound argument

An argument that is both valid and has true premises.

Structure

The arrangement of and relations between the parts of a work.

Style

The distinctive way in which a writer expresses their thoughts.

Syllogism

A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions.

Symbol

An object, character, figure, or color used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

Synecdoche

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

Synesthesia

A condition in which one sense is simultaneously perceived as if by one or more additional senses.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

Thesis

A statement or theory put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved.

Tone

The general character or attitude of a piece of writing.

Trope

A figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression.

Understatement

The presentation of something as being smaller or less important than it actually is.

Unstated premise

An assumption that is not explicitly stated but is necessary for the argument to hold.

Valid argument

An argument where if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true.

Verbal irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant.

Vernacular

The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.

Zeugma

A figure of speech in which a word applies to multiple parts of the sentence.

Absolute words

Words that imply totality or completeness, such as 'always' or 'never'.

Active voice

A sentence structure where the subject performs the action of the verb.

Adage

A proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Allusion

An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly.

Anadiplosis

The repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause.

Analogy

A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Anastrophe

The inversion of the usual order of words or phrases.

Anecdote

A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

Antecedent

A thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another.

Antimetabole

The repetition of words in successive clauses, but in transposed order.

Antithesis

A contrast or opposition between two things.

Aphorism

A pithy observation that contains a general truth.

Appositive

A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence.

Chiasmus

A rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order.

Clause

A group of words containing a subject and a predicate.

Cliche

An overused expression or idea that has lost its originality.

Complex sentence

A sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Compound sentence

A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses.

Compound-complex sentence

A sentence that has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Concession

A literary device used in argumentative writing where one acknowledges a point made by the opposing side.

Conditional sentence/statement

A sentence expressing a condition, typically using 'if'.

Connotation

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

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity.

Colloquial

The use of informal or everyday language in writing or speech.

Counterargument

An argument that opposes another argument.

Counterclaim

A claim made to rebut a previous claim.

Declarative sentence

A sentence that makes a statement or expresses an opinion.

Deductive reasoning

A logical process in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word.

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Didactic

Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

Ellipsis

The omission of a word or series of words.

Epigram

A pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way.

Epistrophe

The repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses.

Ethos

A rhetorical appeal to credibility or character.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh.

Exclamatory sentence

A sentence expressing strong emotion.

Figurative language

Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Hypophora

A figure of speech in which the speaker poses a question and then answers it.

Idiom

A phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning.

Imagery

Visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.

Imperative sentence

A sentence that gives a command or instruction.

Implication

A conclusion that can be drawn from something, although it is not explicitly stated.

Inductive reasoning

A logical process in which multiple premises, all believed true, are combined to obtain a specific conclusion.

Inference

A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.

Interrogative sentence

A sentence that asks a question.

Invective

Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.

Inverted syntax

A reversal of the normal word order in a sentence.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality.

Jargon

Special words or expressions used by a particular profession or group.

Juxtaposition

The fact of two things being seen or placed close together for contrasting effect.

Kairos

The opportune moment for action or persuasion.

Litotes

A figure of speech that employs an understatement by using double negatives.

Logos

A rhetorical appeal to logic and reason.

Malapropism

The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one.

Maxim

A short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.