English Language Feature

once there was a way

anecdote

short story of an amusing or interesting event

metaphor

comparison not using like or as

neoligism

new word or expression. A word used with new meaning

alliteration

the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

onomatopaeia

a word that spells a sound

acronym

word formed from initials

synonym

Words that have similar or the same meaning

pun

a play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings

repetition

Repeating a word or phrase, or rewording the same idea

simile

Comparison using like or as

statistics

the collection and classification of data that are in the form of numbers

cliche

an overused saying or idea

colloquialism

informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

emotive language

the delierate use of strong emotive words to play on readers' feelings. Language that carries strong emotion

hyperbole

a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor

imperative

A command

inclusive language

Includes reader/audience by assuming 'we all agree or disagree.'

listing

A list of associated ideas or things

antonym

Words with opposite meanings

simple sentence

a sentence with one independent clause

compound sentence

a sentence with two or more independent clauses

complex sentence

a sentence that includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause

incomplete sentence

an unfinished sentence.

minor sentence

a group of words that do not make sense on their own. needs a simple sentence to complete it.

noun

person, place, thing, or idea

pronoun

replaces a noun, Eg. I, she, he etc.

abstract noun

names an idea, quality, action, or feeling

verb

an action word

adjective

describes a noun

adverb

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

personification

giving human qualities to animals or objects

assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds

conjunction

a word that joins two phrases or sentences

preposition

shows a relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentences eg. to, by, over

interjection

expresses emotion eg. ah, whoops, ouch

balance

repeated pattern in the wording

contraction

Shortened form of a word

direct speech

The actual spoken words are written down

innuendo

A statement that hints at something bad about another person

literal imagery

The things and actions that are literally (really) there in the scene being described.

literal language

Words which are used in their simplest, most basic meaning eg. The literal meaning of "over the moon" is "above the moon". The non-literal meaning is "really happy"

paradox

A statement that puts together two ideas that seem to be opposite in meaning, but which makes sense if you think about it

personal pronouns

Words used to name the writer and reader eg. I, we, you

proverb

A wise old saying