Cacography - Cut Spelling
A glossary of grammatical and rhetorical terms, from CACOGRAPHY to CUT SPELLING. 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
A word or expression that is generally perceived as harsh, impolite, or offensive.
A word or expression that is generally perceived as harsh, impolite, or offensive.
canons of rhetoric
See "rhetorical canons."
See "rhetorical canons."
cant
See "argot."
See "argot."
capital letter
The form of an alphabetical letter used to begin a sentence or proper noun; an uppercase letter.
The form of an alphabetical letter used to begin a sentence or proper noun; an uppercase letter.
cardinal number
A number (such as 1, 2, or 3) used in counting to indicate quantity but not order.
A number (such as 1, 2, or 3) used in counting to indicate quantity but not order.
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.
catalog
See "series."
See "series."
cataphora
The use of a pronoun or other linguistic unit to refer ahead to another word in a sentence.
The use of a pronoun or other linguistic unit to refer ahead to another word in a sentence.
catchphrase
A vogue expression, often media-inspired and usually short-lived.
A vogue expression, often media-inspired and usually short-lived.
categoria
Direct exposure of an adversary's faults.
Direct exposure of an adversary's faults.
catenative verb
A verb that can link with other verbs to form a chain or series.
A verb that can link with other verbs to form a chain or series.
causative verb
A verb used to indicate that some person or thing helps to make something happen.
A verb used to indicate that some person or thing helps to make something happen.
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.
charactonym
A name that suggests the personality traits of a fictional character.
A name that suggests the personality traits of a fictional character.
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.
Chinese rhetoric
The practice and study of persuasive discourse in China.
The practice and study of persuasive discourse in China.
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.
circular argument
An argument that commits the logical fallacy of assuming what it is attempting to prove.
An argument that commits the logical fallacy of assuming what it is attempting to prove.
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.
citation
A source quoted in an essay, report, or book to clarify, illustrate, or substantiate a point.
A source quoted in an essay, report, or book to clarify, illustrate, or substantiate a point.
claim
An arguable statement.
An arguable statement.
clang association
A word evoked not by logic or meaning but by its similarity in sound to another word.
A word evoked not by logic or meaning but by its similarity in sound to another word.
clarity
A characteristic of any prose composition that communicates effectively with its intended audience.
A characteristic of any prose composition that communicates effectively with its intended audience.
classical rhetoric
The practice and teaching of rhetoric in ancient Greece and Rome from roughly the fifth century B.C. to the early Middle Ages.
The practice and teaching of rhetoric in ancient Greece and Rome from roughly the fifth century B.C. to the early Middle Ages.
classification
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.
cleft
A construction in which some element in a sentence is moved from its normal position into a separate clause to give it greater emphasis.
A construction in which some element in a sentence is moved from its normal position into a separate clause to give it greater emphasis.
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.
clipped form
See "clipping."
See "clipping."
clipping
A word formed by dropping one or more syllables from a polysyllabic word, such as "cell" from "cellular phone."
A word formed by dropping one or more syllables from a polysyllabic word, such as "cell" from "cellular phone."
closed class
The category of function words--that is, parts of speech (or word classes) that do not readily accept new members.
The category of function words--that is, parts of speech (or word classes) that do not readily accept new members.
cognate
A word that is related in origin to another word.
A word that is related in origin to another word.
cognitive linguistics
A cluster of overlapping approaches to the study of language as a mental phenomenon.
A cluster of overlapping approaches to the study of language as a mental phenomenon.
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.
cohesion
The use of transitional expressions and other stylistic devices to guide readers and show how the parts of a composition relate to one other.
The use of transitional expressions and other stylistic devices to guide readers and show how the parts of a composition relate to one other.
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.
collocation
A familiar grouping of words, especially words that habitually appear together and thereby convey meaning by association.
A familiar grouping of words, especially words that habitually appear together and thereby convey meaning by association.
colloquial
Characteristic of writing that seeks the effect of informal spoken language as distinct from formal or literary English.
Characteristic of writing that seeks the effect of informal spoken language as distinct from formal or literary English.
colloquialism
An informal expression that is more often used in casual conversation than in formal speech or writing.
An informal expression that is more often used in casual conversation than in formal speech or writing.
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.
comment clause
A commonly occurring word group that adds a parenthetical remark to another word group.
A commonly occurring word group that adds a parenthetical remark to another word group.
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.
communication
The process of sending and receiving messages through verbal or nonverbal means--speech (oral communication), writing (written communication), signs, signals, or behavior.
The process of sending and receiving messages through verbal or nonverbal means--speech (oral communication), writing (written communication), signs, signals, or behavior.
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.
comparative grammar
The analysis and comparison of the grammatical structures of related languages.
The analysis and comparison of the grammatical structures of related languages.
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.
competence grammar
See "mental grammar."
See "mental grammar."
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 metaphor
A metaphor (or figurative comparison) in which the literal meaning is expressed through more than one figurative term. Similar to a "telescoped metaphor."
A metaphor (or figurative comparison) in which the literal meaning is expressed through more than one figurative term. Similar to a "telescoped metaphor."
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 question
A fallacy in which the answer to a given question presupposes a prior answer to a prior question.
A fallacy in which the answer to a given question presupposes a prior answer to a prior question.
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
(1) The process of putting words and sentences together in conventional patterns. (2) An essay, usually brief and written for training purposes. (3) A college writing course (also called freshman composition), often required of first-year students.
(1) The process of putting words and sentences together in conventional patterns. (2) An essay, usually brief and written for training purposes. (3) A college writing course (also called freshman composition), often required of first-year students.
compound adjective
A combination of words that serves as a single adjective.
A combination of words that serves as a single adjective.
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.
compounding
The process of combining two words to create a new word (commonly a noun, verb, or adjective).
The process of combining two words to create a new word (commonly a noun, verb, or adjective).
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 subject
A subject that consists of two or more simple subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction and that have the same predicate.
A subject that consists of two or more simple subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction and that have the same predicate.
conceptual domain
In studies of metaphor, the representation of any coherent segment of experience, such as the concepts of love or journeys.
In studies of metaphor, the representation of any coherent segment of experience, such as the concepts of love or journeys.
conceptual metaphor
The understanding of one idea (or conceptual domain) in terms of another.
The understanding of one idea (or conceptual domain) in terms of another.
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.
conciseness
A characteristic of a speech or prose composition in which a great deal is conveyed in just a few words.
A characteristic of a speech or prose composition in which a great deal is conveyed in just a few words.
conclusion
The sentences or paragraphs that bring an essay to a satisfying and logical end.
The sentences or paragraphs that bring an essay to a satisfying and logical end.
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.
conjunct
See "conjunctive adverb."
See "conjunctive adverb."
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.
consonance
Broadly, the repetition of consonant sounds; more specifically, the repetition of the final consonant sounds of accented syllables or important words.
Broadly, the repetition of consonant sounds; more specifically, the repetition of the final consonant sounds of accented syllables or important words.
consonant
A letter of the alphabet that represents a speech sound produced by a partial or complete obstruction of the air stream by a constriction of the speech organs.
A letter of the alphabet that represents a speech sound produced by a partial or complete obstruction of the air stream by a constriction of the speech organs.
constraints
In rhetoric, those factors that restrict the persuasive strategies or opportunities available to a speaker or writer.
In rhetoric, those factors that restrict the persuasive strategies or opportunities available to a speaker or writer.
contact language
A marginal language (a type of lingua franca) used for purposes of basic communication by people with no common language.
A marginal language (a type of lingua franca) used for purposes of basic communication by people with no common language.
content word
A word that conveys information in a text or speech act.
A word that conveys information in a text or speech act.
context
The words and sentences that surround any part of a discourse and that help to determine its meaning.
The words and sentences that surround any part of a discourse and that help to determine its meaning.
contraction
A shortened form of a word or group of words.
A shortened form of a word or group of words.
controlled English
One of the simplified versions of English, characterized by a restricted core vocabulary and a limited range of simple sentence structures, developed to communicate with an international audience.
One of the simplified versions of English, characterized by a restricted core vocabulary and a limited range of simple sentence structures, developed to communicate with an international audience.
conventional metaphor
A familiar comparison between two unlike things that does not call attention to itself as a figure of speech.
A familiar comparison between two unlike things that does not call attention to itself as a figure of speech.
conversion
A linguistic process that assigns an already existing word to a new word class or syntactic category.
A linguistic process that assigns an already existing word to a new word class or syntactic category.
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."
copular verb
See "copula."
See "copula."
copyediting
The process of correcting errors in a text and making it conform to an editorial style.
The process of correcting errors in a text and making it conform to an editorial style.
corpus linguistics
The study of language based on examples of "real life" language use stored in corpora (or corpuses)--computerized databases created for linguistic research.
The study of language based on examples of "real life" language use stored in corpora (or corpuses)--computerized databases created for linguistic research.
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.
creative metaphor
An original comparison between two unlike things that calls attention to itself as a figure of speech.
An original comparison between two unlike things that calls attention to itself as a figure of speech.
creative nonfiction
A branch of writing that employs the literary techniques usually associated with fiction or poetry to report on actual persons, places, or events.
A branch of writing that employs the literary techniques usually associated with fiction or poetry to report on actual persons, places, or events.
creole
A language that developed historically from a pidgin at a fairly precise point in time.
A language that developed historically from a pidgin at a fairly precise point in time.
critical essay
A composition that offers an analysis, interpretation, and/or evaluation of a text.
A composition that offers an analysis, interpretation, and/or evaluation of a text.
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.
cryptonym
A word or name that is secretly used to refer to a particular person, place, activity, or thing; a code word or name.
A word or name that is secretly used to refer to a particular person, place, activity, or thing; a code word or name.
cumulative sentence
An independent clause followed by a series of subordinate constructions that gather details about the person, place, event, or idea.
An independent clause followed by a series of subordinate constructions that gather details about the person, place, event, or idea.
Cupertino effect
The tendency of spellcheckers to replace a word that it considers incorrect with a wholly inappropriate word.
The tendency of spellcheckers to replace a word that it considers incorrect with a wholly inappropriate word.
current-traditional rhetoric
A disapproving term for the textbook-based methods of composition instruction popular in the U.S. during the first two-thirds of the 20th century.
A disapproving term for the textbook-based methods of composition instruction popular in the U.S. during the first two-thirds of the 20th century.
Cut Spelling
A simplified version of English spelling that omits letters not needed to represent pronunciation.
A simplified version of English spelling that omits letters not needed to represent pronunciation.