Ap Style Words

articulate

able to express thoughts clearly and effectively

chatty

friendly and informal style

circuitous

taking a long time to say what is meant

clean

language or humor that does NOT offend, especially because it does not mention sex

conversational

very informal writing, like a private conversation

crisp

clear and effective writing

declamatory

expressing feelings or opinions with great force

diffuse

using too many words; not easy to understand

discursive

information that is NOT relevant to the main subject

economical

does not use more words than necessary

elliptical

suggesting what is meant rather than writing it

eloquent

expressed using effective and clear language

emphatic

strong opinions or feelings are clearly expressed

emphatically

very firmly and clearly

epigrammatic

expressed in a short and clever or funny way

epistolary

letter writing

euphemistic

writing about unpleasant or embarrassing subjects indirectly

flowery

uses many complicated words, trying to make it more attractive

fluent

writing in a clear and confident manner; seems effortless

formal

conservative or correct; suiting an official occasion

gossipy

lively and full of news

grandiloquent

extremely formal, trying to impress; often sounds silly

idiomatic

expressed in a natural way

inarticulate

not pronounced clearly;NOT able to express clearly

incoherent

confusing; unable to express clearly

informal

language suitable with or for friends

journalistic

similar in style to journalism

learned

showing great knowledge about an academic subject

literary

involving books or the study of books

lyric

words used in a song to express feeling

lyrical

having musical qualities

ornate

using unusual words and complex syntax

orotund

using very formal and complex language; wanting to impress others

parenthetical

NOT directly connected to the main message

pejorative

expressing a bad opinion or criticism

picturesque

language that is unusual, vivid, and interesting

poetic

sensitive and beautiful expression

pithy

brief, full of meaning, and effective

rhetorically

wants or expects NO answer

rough

not smooth; unpolished

roundly

strongly and clearly

sententious

self-righteous; judgmental

sesquipedalian

using many unusually long words

Shakespearean

typical of Shakespeare's writing; ornate and poetic

polemical

argumentative; controversial

ponderous

weighty; serious and boring

portentous

ominous; very serious and important sounding

prolix

long winded and boring

punchy

has a strong effect because it uses clear simple language and not many words

rambling

long and confusing

readable

clear; easy to read

rhetorical

speech used to persuade; insincere in expression

stylistic

ways of creating effects

succinct

short but very clear; concise

turgid

complicated or difficult language

unprintable

offensive

vague

unclear

verbose

wordy; long and boring

well-turned

expressed well

wordy

using more words than necessary