English Style Elements

Tone

Author's attitude toward the topic; guides how the reader interprets the text.

Mood

Emotional atmosphere felt by the reader; immerses the reader in a specific feeling.

Alliteration

Repetition of starting consonant sounds; creates rhythm and makes phrases memorable.

Onomatopoeia

Words that mimic real sounds; makes descriptions vivid and sound real.

Allusion

Reference to famous history, pop culture, or literature; adds depth using shared knowledge.

Symbolism

Object or person representing a bigger idea; reveals themes without explicit explanation.

Repetition

Reusing words or phrases; emphasizes key ideas and makes them stick.

Anaphora

Repetition at the start of back-to-back lines; builds intensity and emotional rhythm.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration; highlights a point or adds comedic effect.

Irony

Contrast between expectation and reality; creates humor, suspense, or highlights hypocrisy.

Diction

Author's specific word choices; sets the tone, formality, and voice.

Connotation

Emotional feeling attached to a word; subtly sways the reader's opinion.

Personification

Giving human traits to non-human things; makes objects relatable and active.

Imagery

Descriptive words targeting the 5 senses; creates clear mental pictures.

Simile

Comparing two things using "like" or "as"; makes complex traits easy to picture.

Metaphor

Direct comparison stating one thing is another; creates strong symbolic links.

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting things side-by-side; sharpens differences to highlight meaning.

Paradox

Statement that sounds contradictory but hides a truth; forces deeper critical thinking.