english terms 2

Allusion

a brief or indirect reference to a person, place, event, or passage in a work of literature assumed to be sufficiently well known to be recognized by the reader. Allusions add depth and universal significance to a passage

Expert testimony

citation of information from people recognized for their special knowledge of a subject for the purpose of strengthening an author's arguments

Bandwagon

either saying that supporting a specific cause/stance would result in the rejection of peers or using the popular support of a cause/stance to persuade others to support it as well; a logical fallacy

Colloquial language

words or phrases (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing which is usually inappropriate in formal writing; a type of diction

Connotation

implied or suggested meaning of a word because of its association in the reader's mind; these are often classified as negative, neutral, or positive

Euphemism

the use of a word or phrase that is less direct, but that is also less distasteful or less offensive than another

Idiom

an expression in the usage of a language that has a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined literal meanings of its elements; it takes on a meaning beyond itself that is known to members of the culture which uses them

Verbal irony

a method of expression, often humorous or sarcastic, in which the intended meaning of the words is the opposite of their usual meaning

Situational irony

what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate

Dramatic irony

occurs when the reader or the audience knows something important that a character does not know

Narrative

the telling of a story in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama

Oxymoron

a figure of speech in which contradictory terms or ideas are combined

Pacing

where a passage speeds up or slows down; this is achieved through sentence structure (syntax), repetition, and punctuation

Pairing

using two loaded or emotionally charged words together for increased emphasis on each and a stronger effect; an effect of diction

Pedantic

a term used to describe writing that borders on lecturing; it is scholarly and academic and often overly difficult and distant; a type of diction

Satire

use of ridicule, sarcasm, irony, etc. to expose vices, abuses, etc

Complex sentences

a sentence containing one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses

Compound sentences

two or more independent clauses (simple sentences) joined by a coordinating conjunction

Simple sentence

a single, independent clause

Voice

refers to the total "sound" of an author's style; the author's unique way of expressing himself or herself