Cacography - Crot
A glossary of grammatical and rhetorical terms, from CACOGRAPHY to CROT. Click on a term for definitions, examples, word history, pronunciation guide, and links to related articles.
cacography
1. Bad handwriting. 2. Bad spelling.
1. Bad handwriting. 2. Bad spelling.
cacophemism
See dysphemism.
See dysphemism.
canons of rhetoric
See rhetorical canons.
See rhetorical canons.
case
A characteristic of nouns and certain pronouns that expresses their relationship to other words in a sentence.
A characteristic of nouns and certain pronouns that expresses their relationship to other words in a sentence.
catachresis
An extreme, far-fetched, or mixed metaphor; strained or deliberately paradoxical figure of speech; substitution of an inexact word in place of the correct one.
An extreme, far-fetched, or mixed metaphor; strained or deliberately paradoxical figure of speech; substitution of an inexact word in place of the correct one.
categoria
Direct exposure of an adversary's faults.
Direct exposure of an adversary's faults.
cause and effect
A method of paragraph or essay development in which a writer analyzes the reasons for (and/or the consequences of) an action, event or decision.
A method of paragraph or essay development in which a writer analyzes the reasons for (and/or the consequences of) an action, event or decision.
chiasmus
A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed.
A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed.
chleuasmos
A sarcastic reply that mocks an opponent, leaving him or her without an answer.
A sarcastic reply that mocks an opponent, leaving him or her without an answer.
chreia
An elementary exercise, or progymnasmata, in which the speaker or writer comments briefly on a famous event or saying.
An elementary exercise, or progymnasmata, in which the speaker or writer comments briefly on a famous event or saying.
circumlocution
The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language to avoid getting to the point.
The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language to avoid getting to the point.
classsification
A method of paragraph or essay development in which a writer arranges people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into classes or groups.
A method of paragraph or essay development in which a writer arranges people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into classes or groups.
clause
A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate.
A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate.
cliche
A trite expression--often a figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity.
A trite expression--often a figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity.
climax
Mounting by degrees through words or sentences of increasing weight and in parallel construction with an emphasis on the high point or culmination of a series of events.
Mounting by degrees through words or sentences of increasing weight and in parallel construction with an emphasis on the high point or culmination of a series of events.
cognate
A word that is related in origin to another word.
A word that is related in origin to another word.
coherence
A quality of sentences, paragraphs, and essays when all parts are clearly connected.
A quality of sentences, paragraphs, and essays when all parts are clearly connected.
collective noun
A noun (such as "team" or "family") that refers to a collection of individuals.
A noun (such as "team" or "family") that refers to a collection of individuals.
colon
Mark of punctuation ( : ) used after a statement that introduces a quotation, an explanation, an example, or a series.
Mark of punctuation ( : ) used after a statement that introduces a quotation, an explanation, an example, or a series.
comma
A punctuation mark ( , ) used to indicate a separation of ideas or of elements within a sentence.
A punctuation mark ( , ) used to indicate a separation of ideas or of elements within a sentence.
comma splice
Two independent clauses separated by a comma instead of a period or semicolon. Usually considered an error.
Two independent clauses separated by a comma instead of a period or semicolon. Usually considered an error.
common noun
A noun that can be preceded by the definite article and that represents one or all of the members of a class.
A noun that can be preceded by the definite article and that represents one or all of the members of a class.
commonplace
Any statement or bit of knowledge that is commonly shared among a given audience or a community.
Any statement or bit of knowledge that is commonly shared among a given audience or a community.
commoratio
Repetition of a point several times in different words.
Repetition of a point several times in different words.
comparative
The form of an adjective or adverb involving a comparison of more or less, greater or lesser.
The form of an adjective or adverb involving a comparison of more or less, greater or lesser.
comparison
A rhetorical strategy in which a writer examines similarities and/or differences between two people, places, ideas, or objects.
A rhetorical strategy in which a writer examines similarities and/or differences between two people, places, ideas, or objects.
complement
A word or word group that completes the predicate in a sentence.
A word or word group that completes the predicate in a sentence.
complex preposition
A word group (such as "on account of") that functions like a single preposition.
A word group (such as "on account of") that functions like a single preposition.
complex sentence
A sentence that contains at least one independent clause and one dependent clause.
A sentence that contains at least one independent clause and one dependent clause.
composition
The process of putting words and sentences together according to the traditional rules of grammar, style, and rhetoric.
The process of putting words and sentences together according to the traditional rules of grammar, style, and rhetoric.
compound noun
Two or more nouns combined to form a single noun.
Two or more nouns combined to form a single noun.
compound sentence
A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses.
A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses.
compound-complex sentence
A sentence with two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
A sentence with two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
concession
Argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer concedes a disputed point or leaves a disputed point to the audience or reader to decide.
Argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer concedes a disputed point or leaves a disputed point to the audience or reader to decide.
concrete noun
A noun (such as chicken or egg) that names a material or tangible object or phenomenon--something recognizable through the senses.
A noun (such as chicken or egg) that names a material or tangible object or phenomenon--something recognizable through the senses.
confirmation
The main part of a speech or text in which logical arguments in support of a position are elaborated.
The main part of a speech or text in which logical arguments in support of a position are elaborated.
conjunction
The part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
The part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
conjunctive adverb
An adverb that indicates the relationship in meaning between two independent clauses.
An adverb that indicates the relationship in meaning between two independent clauses.
connotation
The emotional implications and associations that a word may carry.
The emotional implications and associations that a word may carry.
contraction
A shortened form of a word or group of words.
A shortened form of a word or group of words.
coordinating conjunction
A conjunction that joins two similarly constructed and/or syntactically equal words or phrases or clauses.
A conjunction that joins two similarly constructed and/or syntactically equal words or phrases or clauses.
coordination
The grammatical connection of two or more ideas to give them equal emphasis and importance.
The grammatical connection of two or more ideas to give them equal emphasis and importance.
coordinator
See: coordinating conjunction
See: coordinating conjunction
copia
Expansive richness as a stylistic goal.
Expansive richness as a stylistic goal.
copula
A verb that joins the subject of a sentence to a subject complement. See "linking verb."
A verb that joins the subject of a sentence to a subject complement. See "linking verb."
correlative conjunction
A paired conjunction that links balanced words, phrases, and clauses.
A paired conjunction that links balanced words, phrases, and clauses.
count noun
A noun that refers to an object or idea that can form a plural or occur in a noun phrase with an indefinite article or with numerals.
A noun that refers to an object or idea that can form a plural or occur in a noun phrase with an indefinite article or with numerals.
crot
Verbal bit or fragment used as an autonomous unit without transitional devices.
Verbal bit or fragment used as an autonomous unit without transitional devices.