English Terms

Abstract: Theoretical writing that relies on generalization rather than fact. Can lack interest as it’s
sometimes hard to understand.

Allegory: Passage or entire work that has two levels of meaning (literal and symbolic).Leads the reader to
perceive moral or philosophical truth b/c of the intensity of the parallels.

Allusion: Indirect reference in a passage to an event, person, or something familiar. Compression device.

Anecdote: Used within an essay. Short account of an interesting incident. Can be joke or true story.

Audience: the reader. Crucial task of an essay is to match their writing style with the readers ability.

Bias Words: Terms that suggest strong judgements. Vital in most writing but important not to overuse it.
Many bias words are also slang.

Cliché: Worn-out expression. ‘bite the bullet’. All were once new, but have lost popularity.

Climax: Point where the argument reaches its greatest intensity/importance. Usually at the end of an
essay.

Colloquial: Speech-like. Often used in conversation but avoided in essays.

Conciseness: Conveying the most meaning in the fewest words. Concise essays succeed in saying the
same amount of information as wordy ones, but with fewer words. Don’t repeat themselves. Concrete
examples rather than abstract ones.

Concrete: Factual and specific. Relies on examples rather than generalization. Makes writing forceful,
interesting, convincing (sense images, anecdotes, figures of speech, conciseness). Opposite of abstract.

Deduction: Logic that accepts a general principle as true and uses it to explain different things.

Dialogue: quoted conversation of two or more people. A bit of dialogue is good for an essay but too
much is avoided.

Economy: same as conciseness

Epigram: short clever and often wise saying.

Essay: short composition in which a point is made through analysis and example (formal essay/familiar
essay)

Euphemism: Polite expression that softens or hides the truth. Used in kindness/advertising/political
repression.

Fable: tale involving animals that teaches a moral/lesson meant for humans.

Fiction: Imaginative lit written in prose. Invented characters and plats to create dramatic story.

Figures of Speech: poetic devices where meaning is heightened through comparisons.

Simile: one thing is like another

 Metaphor: literally false but poetically true. One is said to be another.

Hyperbole: exaggeration.

Personification: non-human object is described as human.

Formal: Writing is deliberate and dignified. Vocab is standard and sentences are long. Follows rules of
grammar and principles of style.

Generalization: broad statement of principle instead of using examples. Important in essays but do not
overuse it.

Image: mental picture triggered by words. strongly stimulate thought and feeling. Vital in concrete and
concise writing.

Induction: logic that derives a general principle from examples.

Informal: resembles speech. Partial sentences, short sentences, contractions, colloquial and slang.
Opposite of formal.

Irony: Statement that means one thing actually means the opposite in certain circumstances. Irony of
situation is contrast between what is expected to happen and what does happen. Tool of argumenta and
satire.

Jargon: Uses long and difficult language to appear important. Often seem unnecessary and ugly.

Juxtaposition: two or more thoughts, images that emphasize each other by using contrast.

Neologism: Newly invented words. Some are needed while others do not and mean nothing important.

Objective: opposite of subjective. Author relies on evidence and proof rather than intuition.

Onomatopoeia: language that sounds like what it means. Can be achieved through word choice and
style. Series of short sentences give an impression of rapidity.

Paradox: statement that seems illogical but unexpectedly may be true.

Prose: spoken/written language without structure that characterizes poetry. Conversations, letters, etc.

Pun: play on words. Either two meanings of one word or two words that sound alike with different
meanings. Lowest form of humour, basis of many jokes.

Quotation: words of someone used exactly in the writing of another. Add force to an argument.

Reduction to Absurdity: technique of satire where a subject is belittled by being portrayed as absurd.

Sarcasm: scornful criticism

Satire: humorous criticism meant to improve something by exposing abuses. Can range from light to
bitter criticism. Tools are irony, exaggeration, sarcasm, ridicule.

Sense Images: appeals to one or more of the five senses. Vital in helping the reader experience what the
writer has in person. Concrete has many. Abstract does not.
Slang: unconventional language. Extreme of colloquial language. Never used in an essay, as many people
may not understand the meaning.

Stereotype: mental image of something. Based on sex, race, colour, etc. are not to be used lightly as they
are harmful and prevent people from doing things they may want to do.

Style: the way something is written. Light/serious, informal/formal, etc. matter of technique as well. You
cannot copy style, you have to let your own develop overtime.

Subjective: opposite of objective. Author relies on intuitions and interpretations than on hard fact.

Symbol: one thing that stands for another. Flag represeinting a country. Appear in poetry, drama, fiction

Thesis Statement: usually in introduction, first state main point and restrict the focus of an essay.

Tone: manner of a writer. Determined by subject matter. Can be ironic.identiyt of the reader influences
tone. Main point is to choose the appropriate tone to fit the story.

Transition: Word or phrase that moves the reader from one part of the essay to the next. Eg. “as a
result”, “finally”, etc. Crucial part of moving the essay along and pointing out it’s logic.