Abbreviation - Buzzword

A shortened form of a word or phrase.

An adjective with a meaning that is generally not capable of being intensified or compared.

A metaphor (or figurative comparison) in which one of the terms (the tenor) can't be readily distinguished from the other (the vehicle).

A group of words (often consisting of a participle and its subject) that modifies an independent clause as a whole.

A brief overview of the key points of an article, report, or proposal.

A noun that names an idea, a quality, or a concept.

An informal, pejorative term for the specialized language (or jargon) used in some scholarly writing and speech.

The forms of expository prose used by university students and researchers to convey a body of information about a particular subject.

(1) In speaking, an identifiable style of pronunciation. (2) In traditional English metrics, the emphasis given a syllable by stress, pitch, and duration. (3) A diacritical mark.

The perception that certain accents are inferior to others.

Coyness: a form of irony in which a person feigns a lack of interest in something that he or she actually desires.

Accumulation is a figure of speech in which a speaker or writer gathers scattered points and lists them together.

See "objective case."

A creole variety that tends to command respect because its grammatical structures do not deviate significantly from those of the standard variety of the language.

An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of a name or by combining initial letters of a series of words.

An acrostic is a series of lines in which certain letters--usually the first in each line--form a name or message when read in sequence.

The words readily used by an individual when speaking and writing.

The verb form in which the subject of the sentence performs or causes the action expressed by the verb.

The principles that guide a speaker or writer's choice of rhetorical strategies for dealing effectively with an audience.

An argument based on the failings of an adversary rather than on the merits of the case; a logical fallacy that involves a personal attack.

In conversation analysis, a two-part exchange in which the second utterance is functionally dependent on the first.

An adjective is the part of speech that modifies a noun or a pronoun.

A dependent clause used as an adjective within a sentence.

A word group with an adjective as its head. This adjective may be accompanied by modifiers or qualifiers.

A word, phrase, or clause--usually an adverbial--that is integrated within the structure of a sentence and that can be omitted without making the sentence ungrammatical.

A written response by a representative of a business or agency to a customer's claim letter.

An argument based on an appeal to the emotions; a logical fallacy that involves an irrelevant or highly exaggerated appeal to pity or sympathy.

A university-level course in expository writing beyond the first-year level.

An adverb is the part of speech (or word class) primarily used to modify a verb, adjective, or other adverb.

A dependent clause used as an adverb within a sentence.

A phrase or clause that performs the function of an adverb.

An intensifier (such as "certainly," "obviously," "undoubtedly") used to give added force or a greater degree of certainty to another word in a sentence or to the sentence as a whole.

A word group with an adverb as its head. This adverb may be accompanied by modifiers or qualifiers.

A traditional grammatical term for any statement that is positive, not negative.

A word element (morpheme)--usually a prefix or suffix--that can be attached to a base, stem, or root to form a new word.

In linguistics, affixation is the process of forming a new word by the addition of a morpheme (or affix) to an already existing word.

An argument in which a rhetor reaches a conclusion by first setting up two possibilities, one of which is more probable than the other. Whatever can be affirmed about the less probable can be affirmed with even greater force about the more probable.

The art of persuasion and effective communication as practiced by African-Americans.

A variety of American English spoken by many African Americans.

The person or thing that performs an action in a sentence.

In rhetoric, a discussion, debate, or argument perceived as a competition or contest.

The correspondence of a verb with its subject in person and number, and of a pronoun with its antecedent in person, number, and gender.

The pathological inability to use words in grammatical sequence.

The condition of being able to read but being uninterested in doing so.

Extending a metaphor so that objects, persons, and actions in a text are equated with meanings that lie outside the text.

Repetition of initial consonant sound.

An allomorph is a variant form of a morpheme.

The name of a person (usually a historical person) assumed by a writer as a pen name or alias.

In linguistics, an audibly distinct variant of a phoneme.

The letters of a language, arranged in the order fixed by custom.

A brief, usually indirect reference to a person, place, or event--real or fictional.

A type of question that offers the listener a closed choice between two or more answers.

The presence of two or more possible meanings in any passage.

The upgrading or elevation of a word's meaning, as when a word with a negative sense develops a positive one.

Broadly, American English refers to the varieties of the English language spoken and written in the United States and Canada. More narrowly (and more commonly), it refers to the varieties of English used in the U.S.

An English word or phrase--or a feature of grammar, spelling, or pronunciation--that originated in the United States and/or is used primarily by Americans.

The character or sign (&) representing the word "and."

An ambiguous word or grammatical structure in a sentence.

A nonsensical piece of writing, especially one that parodies a serious piece of writing.

Amplification is a rhetorical term for all the ways that an argument, explanation, or description can be expanded and enriched.

An incoherent statement or deliberate rhetorical effect created by an abrupt change in a sentence to a second construction inconsistent with the first.

Repetition of the last word of one line or clause to begin the next.

An anagram is a type of word play in which a word or phrase is formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase.

A type of composition (or, more commonly, a part of a composition or speech) in which one idea, process, or thing is explained by comparing it to something else.

Reasoning or arguing from parallel cases.

A form of expository writing in which the writer separates a subject into its elements or parts.

A grammatical term for the use of a pronoun or other linguistic unit to refer back to another word or phrase.

Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses.

A rhetorical term for the inversion of conventional word order.

A short account of an interesting or humorous incident, intended to illustrate or support some point.

See Old English.

A semantic category of noun, referring to a person, animal, or other creature.

One word used in two contrasting (and often comic) senses.

The noun or noun phrase that a pronoun refers to.

The use of one part of speech for another.

A personal name.

General name for argumentative strategies whereby a speaker or writer foresees and replies to objections.

An abrupt shift from a noble tone to a less exalted one--often for comic effect.

A minority dialect or method of communicating within a minority speech community that excludes members of the main speech community.

A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the words reversed.

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used in a sense contrary to its conventional meaning for ironic or humorous effect; verbal irony.

Rejecting an argument because of its insignificance, error, or wickedness.

Antistasis is the repetition of a word in a different or a contrary sense.

Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases.

Substitution of a title, epithet, or descriptive phrase for a proper name (or of a personal name for a common name) to designate a member of a group or class.

A word having a meaning opposite to that of another word.

A rhetorical and phonological term for the omission of one or more sounds or syllables from the beginning of a word.

Partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or written language, resulting from damage to the brain caused by injury or disease.

The gradual and unintentional loss of a short unaccented vowel at the beginning of a word.

(1) A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion. (2) A brief statement of a principle.

A rhetorical term for the omission of one or more sounds or syllables from the end of a word.

Apodixis is a term in classical rhetoric for the confirmation of a statement by referring to a widely accepted principle grounded in common experience.

A speech that defends, justifies, and/or apologizes for an action or statement.

Apophasis is the mention of something in disclaiming intention of mentioning it--or pretending to deny what is really affirmed.

The expression of real or simulated doubt or perplexity.

An unfinished thought or broken sentence.

A rhetorical term for breaking off discourse to address some absent person or thing.

A mark of punctuation used to identify a noun in the possessive case or indicate the omission of one or more letters from a word.

In classical rhetoric, one of the three main persuasive strategies: the appeal to logic (logos), the appeal to the emotions (pathos), and the appeal to the character (or perceived character) of the speaker (ethos). More broadly, any persuasive strategy, especially one directed to the emotions, sense of humor, or cherished beliefs of an audience.

A fallacy in which a rhetor seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for the famous.

Appeal to force is a fallacy that relies on force or intimidation (scare tactics) to persuade an audience to accept a proposition or take a particular course of action.

The appeal to humor is a fallacy in which a rhetor uses humor to ridicule an opponent and/or direct attention away from the issue at hand.

A fallacy based on the assumption that a statement must be true if it cannot be proved false.

An argument (generally considered a logical fallacy) based on widespread opinions, values, or prejudices and often delivered in an emotionally charged way.

A collection of supplementary materials, usually appearing at the end of a report, proposal, or book.

The use of language-related research in a wide variety of fields.

Placing side-by-side two coordinate elements, the second of which serves as an explanation or modification of the first.

An appositive is a noun, noun phrase, or series of nouns placed next to another word or phrase to identify or rename it.

An aptronym is a name that matches the occupation or character of its owner, often in a humorous or ironic way.

A word or phrase that is considered extremely old fashioned and long out of common use.

A specialized vocabulary or set of idioms used by a particular social class or group, especially one that functions outside the law.

A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood.

The process of forming reasons, justifying beliefs, and drawing conclusions with the aim of influencing the thoughts and/or actions of others.

Arrangement refers to the parts of a speech or the structure of a text.

In medieval rhetoric, the art of letter writing.

In composition studies, a short work of nonfiction that typically appears in a magazine, newspaper, or book.

In grammar, an article is a type of determiner that precedes a noun: "a," "an," and "the."

In classical rhetoric, proofs (or means of persuasion) that are created or invented by a speaker.

A sentence, usually constructed with a copula, in which a quality is attributed to someone or something.

A prolix or highly ornamented style. Contrast with Attic.

In conversation or drama, an aside is a short passage spoken in an undertone or addressed to an audience.

Aspect is the verb form that indicates completion, duration, or repetition of an action. The two aspects in English are perfect and progressive.

A general term in phonetics for the process by which a speech sound becomes similar or identical to a neighboring sound.

The particular qualities or characteristics beyond denotative meaning that people commonly think of (correctly or incorrectly) in relation to a word or phrase.

Assonance is the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds in neighboring words.

A star-shaped figure (*) primarily used to indicate an omission or call attention to a footnote.

Omission of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses (opposite of "polysyndeton").

Brief, witty, sometimes epigrammatic style--opposite of the ornate Asiatic style.

An adjective that usually comes before the noun it modifies without a linking verb.

An attributive noun is a noun that modifies another noun and functions as an adjective.

The intended readership for a piece of writing.

In composing an essay, report, speech, or argument, the process of determining the values, interests, and attitudes of the intended audience.

Australian English is a variety of the English language that is used in Australia.

An English word or phrase--or a feature of grammar, spelling, or pronunciation--that originated in Australia and/or is used primarily by Australians.

An account of a person's life written or otherwise recorded by that person.

A gradual increase in intensity of meaning with words arranged in ascending order of force or importance.

A verb that determines the mood, tense, or aspect of another verb in a verb phrase.

A form of the verb (usually the present participle) in which the base is preceded by the prefix "a-."

A generally disparaging term for a variety of South Asian English marked in speech and writing by indirectness, stylistic ornamentation, and extreme formality and politeness.

The simple language forms used by young children, or the modified form of speech used by adults with children.

A noise, gesture, expression, or word used by a listener to indicate that he or she is paying attention to a speaker.

Back-formation is the process of forming a new word (a neologism) by extracting actual or supposed affixes from another word.

In the Toulmin model of argument, the support or explanation provided for the warrant.

A backronym is a reverse acronym: an expression that has been formed from the letters of an existing word or name.

A form of slang in which words are spoken or spelled backwards.

In business writing, a letter, memo, or email that conveys negative or unpleasant information--information that is likely to disappoint, upset, or even anger a reader.

See "gobbledygook"

A balanced sentence is made up of two parts that are roughly equal in length, importance, and grammatical structure.

A fallacy based on the assumption that the opinion of the majority is always valid: everyone believes it, so you should too.

Banglish is an informal term for a dialectal mix of Bengali (the official language of Bangladesh) and English.

Broadly, an incorrect use of language. More specifically, a word considered "improper" because it combines elements from different languages.

The form of a word to which prefixes and suffixes are added to create new words.

The first- and second-person singular, and the plural present-tense form of a verb. In grammar, the base form of a verb is the simplest form, without a special ending; it is the form listed in the dictionary.

A version of the English language "made simple by limiting the number of its words to 850, and by cutting down the rules for using them to the smallest number necessary for the clear statement of ideas" (I.A. Richards).

A pedagogical term for the writing of "high risk" students who are perceived to be unprepared for conventional college courses in freshman composition.

(1) An insincere and/or excessively sentimental demonstration of pathos. (2) An abrupt and often ludicrous transition in style from the elevated to the ordinary.

The observation that, when trying to remember a word or name, people find it easier to recall the beginning and end of a lost item than the middle.

A rhetorical term for needless and tiresome repetition in speaking or writing.

A litany of abuse--a series of critical epithets, descriptions, or attributes.

A fallacy in which the premise of an argument presupposes the truth of its conclusion; in other words, the argument takes for granted what it is supposed to prove.

Words and phrases that are considered prejudiced, offensive, and hurtful.

A list of works on a particular subject or by a particular author.

Bicapitalization is the use of a capital letter in the middle of a word or name-- usually a brand name or a company name.

The ability to use two languages effectively.

In language studies, a pair of words (for example, "loud and clear") conventionally linked by a conjunction, usually "and."

The story of a person's life, written by another.

In semantics and historical linguistics, the loss or reduction of meaning in a word as a result of semantic change.

A word formed by merging the sounds and meanings of two or more other words. See "portmanteau."

Language structures--typical of headlines, slogans, lists, and text messages (including Tweets)--made up only of words that are essential to convey a message.

A direct quotation that is not placed inside quotation marks but is instead set off from the rest of a text by starting it on a new line and indenting it from the left margin.

Bloviation is speech or writing that is wordy, lengthy, pompous, and generally empty of meaning

A term coined by lexicographer Stuart Flexner to characterize any imprecise expression "used quickly and without much thought, almost as [an] automatic response."

A type of nonverbal communication that relies on body movements (such as gestures, posture, and facial expressions) to convey messages.

The part of an essay or report that explains and develops a main idea (or thesis).

A pejorative term for pompous and inflated speech or writing.

Bomphiologia is a traditional rhetorical term for pompous or bombastic speech.

A written composition or oral presentation that describes and evaluates a work of fiction or nonfiction.

An adverbial construction used to support a claim or express a viewpoint more assertively and convincingly.

A borrowing is a word from one language that has been adapted for use in another.

A morpheme (or word element), such as a prefix or suffix, that cannot stand alone as a word.

A rhetorical term for a concise or condensed form of expression in speech or writing.

Marks of punctuation ([ ]) used to interject text within other text.

An invention and discovery strategy in which the writer collaborates with others to explore topics, develop ideas, or propose solutions to a problem.

A name applied by a manufacturer or organization to a particular product or service.

Shortness in duration and/or conciseness of expression in a speech or work of prose.

A word or phrase that is typical of English as it is used in Britain.

The varieties of the English language spoken and written in Great Britain (or, more narrowly defined, in England).

The process by which the meaning of a word becomes broader or more inclusive than its earlier meaning.

A pronoun that refers to a complete clause or sentence rather than a specific noun or noun phrase.

An informal term for a distinctive regional pronunciation, especially an Irish or Scottish accent.

A pejorative term for a limited register of English used by a non-native speaker.

A mark of punctuation (•) used to introduce items in a list.

Obscure speech or writing that is typically characterized by wordiness, euphemisms, and buzzwords.

The Burkean parlor is a metaphor introduced by Kenneth Burke for "the 'unending conversation' that is going on at the point in history when we are born."

A metaphor in which the figurative comparison is exceptionally comic, grotesque, or exaggerated.

Memorandums, reports, proposals, and other forms of writing used in organizations to communicate with internal or external audiences.

Buzzword is an informal term for a fashionable word or phrase (often a neologism) that is used more to impress than to inform.