elements of style

Character Development

How a character changes throughout the story.

Characterization

The qualities or characteristics of a character.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces, which can be person vs. person, nature, society, or self.

Dialogue

Lines spoken by characters or internal thoughts.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.

Form

The type of text, such as poetry, prose, drama, short story, sonnet, etc.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

Descriptive language that creates visual representations of ideas in our minds.

Irony

A situation that is the opposite of what is expected.

Juxtaposition

The placement of two elements close together to compare or contrast them.

Mood

The atmosphere of a work; the emotional setting created by the author.

Pacing

The speed at which the narrative unfolds.

Point of View

The perspective from which the story is narrated; may be first person or third person.

Structure

The arrangement of the story, including its beginning, action, climax, and resolution.

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent larger concepts or ideas.

Theme

The central topic, message, or big idea conveyed in a work.

Tone

The writer's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through style and word choice.

Ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation.

Alliteration

Repetitive consonant sounds used at the beginning of words specifically for effect.

Assonance

Repetitive vowel sounds employed to create a rhythmic effect.

Allusion

A reference to another work, character, or idea.

Colloquialisms

Informal words or phrases, including slang and regionalisms.

Diction

Choice of words and the accuracy of overall grammar used in writing.

Jargon

Specialized terms specific to a particular field or profession.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that compares two different elements by stating one is the other.

Repetition

The repeated use of the same words or phrases for emphasis.

Rhetorical Question

A question posed for effect, not requiring an answer.

Rhyme

The similarity of sounds in two or more words, often used in poetry. cat rat

Rhythm

The pattern of sounds and silences in writing, creating musicality.

Sentence Variety

The use of different sentence structures and lengths to create interest.

Syntax

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

Elements of Style

The characteristics of language that contribute to an author's unique writing voice.