Full Rhetorical & Literary Terms Glossary

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis or rhythm.

Antithesis

Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel structure.

Aphorism

A brief, witty statement that expresses a general truth or observation about life.

Asyndeton

Deliberate omission of conjunctions between related clauses or phrases.

Chiasmus

A rhetorical device in which the order of words in one clause is reversed in the next.

Didactic

Writing intended to teach, often carrying a moral lesson.

Equivocation

Use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or avoid commitment.

Euphony

Pleasing, melodious combinations of sounds in words or phrases.

False Analogy

A fallacy that assumes two things alike in one respect are alike in other respects.

Homily

A sermon or morally instructive lecture, especially in a religious context.

Induction

Reasoning that moves from specific observations to a general conclusion.

Invective

Harsh, abusive, or insulting language.

Inverted Sentence

Sentence in which the verb precedes the subject for emphasis or style.

Litotes

Understatement that affirms by negating the contrary (e.g., “not bad”).

Metonymy

Referring to something by naming an associated object (e.g., “the crown” for royalty).

Non-Sequitur

A conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument.

Parable

A short story illustrating a moral or spiritual lesson.

Parody

A humorous or satirical imitation of a serious work.

Persona

The voice or character adopted by an author to tell a story.

Polysyndeton

Deliberate use of many conjunctions for emphasis.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

Fallacy assuming that because one event follows another, the first caused the second.

Syllogism

Deductive reasoning with a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

Synecdoche

Figure of speech in which a part represents the whole or vice versa.

Tricolon

Series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses.

Abstract Language

Language expressing ideas or concepts rather than concrete objects.

Ad Hominem

Fallacy that attacks the person rather than the argument.

Allegory

Narrative in which characters and events symbolize broader ideas or morals.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.

Allusion

Brief reference to a person, event, or work without explicit identification.

Ambiguity

Statement or phrase with multiple possible meanings.

Analogy

Comparison highlighting similarity between two different things.

Anecdote

Short personal story used to illustrate a point.

Annotation

Explanatory note or comment added to a text.

Antecedent

The noun to which a pronoun refers.

Apostrophe

Addressing an absent, imaginary, or abstract entity as if present.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Balance (Balanced Sentence)

Sentence with two grammatically and thematically equal parts.

Begging the Question

Fallacy in which the conclusion is assumed within the premise.

Cacophony

Harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

Causal Relationships

Expressions of cause-and-effect connections in writing.

Citation / Documentation

Crediting sources used in a piece of writing.

Clause

Group of words containing a subject and a verb.

Colloquialism

Informal word or phrase used in everyday conversation.

Common Knowledge

Information widely accepted as fact without need for citation.

Conceit

Elaborate or extended metaphor with a surprising comparison.

Concrete Language

Words that describe tangible, sensory details.

Connotation

Emotional or cultural association attached to a word.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the ends of words.

Cumulative Sentence

Begins with a main clause followed by modifiers or subordinate details.