AP English Language Vocabulary

Abstract Language

exists in thought or idea without physical existence; does not refer to real life objects.

Ad hominem

criticizing a person in an argument instead of their ideas.

Allegory

used by an author to showcase their commentary on a larger concept through characters, events, or actions.

Allusion

indirect reference without mentioning something explicitly.

Analogy

comparison between two similar things often used to explain ideas.

Anaphora

repetition of words/phrases at the beginning of several sentences.

Anecdote

short interesting/amusing story about a real incident/person.

Annotation

explanation.

Antecedent

thing/event that existed before; the noun to which a pronoun refers.

Antithesis

the exact opposite of something/someone.

Aphorism

observation that contains a general truth.

Apostrophe

a figure of speech that addresses an imaginary person or personified abstraction.

Assonance

repetition of identical/similar phonemes in words/syllables that occur close together.

Cacophony

harsh sound.

Citation

official documentation.

Claim

opinion, fact, or right that persuades, proves, or suggests something to a reader.

Colloquialism

everyday language; informal.

Common Knowledge

knowledge known to everyone which is not often made known officially.

Connotation

something suggested by a word or a thing.

Consonance

repetition of similar sounds (consonants) in language.

Cumulative Sentence

independent clause followed by one or more modifiers.

Deductive Reasoning

general argument leading to a specific conclusion, always true.

Denotation

the literal meaning of a word.

Diction

specific vocabulary choices of the author.

Either - Or Reasoning

presenting only two possible options in an argument when more exist.

Ellipsis

punctuation mark of three dots (. . .) representing a pause or something not said.

Ethical Appeal (Ethos)

establishing credibility through experiences and knowledge.

Euphemism

substitution for an offensive expression.

Exigence

prompts a person to speak or write, creating a sense of urgency.

False/Faulty Analogy

comparing something familiar to something unfamiliar and forming a conclusion.

Figurative Language

writing or speech that does not carry the literal meaning.

Hyperbole

exaggeration.

Imagery

using words to create an image that appeals to the senses.

Inductive Reasoning

logically true but may not be realistic.

Line of Reasoning

logical claims supporting the author’s thesis.

Logical Appeal (Logos)

appeal to reason and logic, using facts and evidence.

Logical Fallacy

an argument that appears true but is flawed.

Metaphor

comparing two unrelated things to create imagery or express complex ideas.

Mood

atmosphere created through word choice.

Narrative

written form that tells a story in an orderly sequence.

Non-Sequitur

a conclusion that does not follow the previously stated argument.

Oversimplification

simplifying to the extent that it causes misunderstanding.

Oxymoron

combining contradictory words with opposite meanings.

Paradox

statement contradictory to common sense but still makes sense.

Parallelism

repetition of words and phrases that agree in grammar and meaning.

Parody

imitation of an author’s style for comedic purposes.

Pathos (Emotional Appeal)

appeal to emotion.

Personification

attributing human characteristics to non-human things.

Persuasion

the act of convincing the audience.

Point of View

position from which something is considered.

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

assuming one thing caused another because it preceded it.

Red Herring

misleading clue used to distract from the main issue.

Refutation

proving a theory or opinion wrong.

Repetition

repeating words/phrases to create rhythm and emphasize a point.

Rhetoric

the art of persuasion.

Rhetorical Modes

ways to effectively communicate through language.

Rhetorical Triangle

how persuasive the author is using ethos, pathos, and logos.

Satire

using irony or sarcasm to ridicule or humiliate a target.

Sarcasm

saying the opposite of what one means, often to insult or be funny.

Sentence Structure

the arrangement of words in a sentence.

Simile

comparing different things using "like" or "as."

Straw Man

distorting or exaggerating another person’s argument to attack it.

Stream of Consciousness

continuous flow of a character’s thoughts and