Echo Word - Eye Dialect
A glossary of grammatical and rhetorical terms, from ECHO WORD to EYE DIALECT. Click on a term for definitions, examples, word history, pronunciation guide, and links to related articles.
echo word
See onomatopoeia.
See onomatopoeia.
ecphonesis
An exclamation expressing emotion.
An exclamation expressing emotion.
Edited American English
See "Standard American English."
See "Standard American English."
editing
A stage of the writing process in which a writer strives to improve a draft (and sometimes prepare it for publication) by correcting errors and by making words and sentences clearer, more precise, and more effective.
A stage of the writing process in which a writer strives to improve a draft (and sometimes prepare it for publication) by correcting errors and by making words and sentences clearer, more precise, and more effective.
effictio
Personal description; a head-to-toe inventory of a person's physical attributes or charms.
Personal description; a head-to-toe inventory of a person's physical attributes or charms.
eggcorn
A word or phrase that is used by mistake, usually because it is a homophone or sounds similar to the original word or phrase.
A word or phrase that is used by mistake, usually because it is a homophone or sounds similar to the original word or phrase.
elegant variation
A phrase coined by Henry W. Fowler to refer to the excessive use of synonyms to mean a single thing.
A phrase coined by Henry W. Fowler to refer to the excessive use of synonyms to mean a single thing.
elision
(1) The omission of a sound in pronunciation. (2) The omission (sometimes indicated in print by an apostrophe) of an unstressed vowel, consonant, or syllable.
(1) The omission of a sound in pronunciation. (2) The omission (sometimes indicated in print by an apostrophe) of an unstressed vowel, consonant, or syllable.
ellipsis
One of three equally spaced points ( . . . ) used in writing or printing to indicate the omission of words.
One of three equally spaced points ( . . . ) used in writing or printing to indicate the omission of words.
elocution
The art of effective public speaking. In classical rhetoric, one of the traditional rhetorical canons: "elocutio," or what is now called style.
The art of effective public speaking. In classical rhetoric, one of the traditional rhetorical canons: "elocutio," or what is now called style.
eloquence
The quality of forceful and persuasive discourse.
The quality of forceful and persuasive discourse.
embedding
In generative grammar, the process by which one clause is included (embedded) in another.
In generative grammar, the process by which one clause is included (embedded) in another.
embolalia
Hesitation forms in speech.
Hesitation forms in speech.
emoticon
ASCII character used in online writing to indicate a writer's mood or attitude.
ASCII character used in online writing to indicate a writer's mood or attitude.
emphasis
The placement of words and ideas in key positions to give them special weight and prominence.
The placement of words and ideas in key positions to give them special weight and prominence.
enallage
A figure of syntactic substitution in which one grammatical form (person, case, gender, number, tense) is replaced by another, usually ungrammatical form.
A figure of syntactic substitution in which one grammatical form (person, case, gender, number, tense) is replaced by another, usually ungrammatical form.
enargia
A visually powerful description that vividly recreates something or someone in words.
A visually powerful description that vividly recreates something or someone in words.
encomium
A tribute or eulogy in prose or verse honoring people, objects, ideas, or events.
A tribute or eulogy in prose or verse honoring people, objects, ideas, or events.
endonym
A name used by a group of people to refer to themselves or their language, as opposed to a name given to them by other groups.
A name used by a group of people to refer to themselves or their language, as opposed to a name given to them by other groups.
English language
The primary language of several countries (including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and a second language in a number of multilingual countries (including India, Singapore, and the Philippines)
The primary language of several countries (including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and a second language in a number of multilingual countries (including India, Singapore, and the Philippines)
entailment
In semantics, the principal that under certain conditions the truth of one statement ensures the truth of a second statement.
In semantics, the principal that under certain conditions the truth of one statement ensures the truth of a second statement.
enthymeme
An informally stated syllogism with an implied premise.
An informally stated syllogism with an implied premise.
epanalepsis
Repetition at the end of a clause or sentence of the word or phrase with which it began.
Repetition at the end of a clause or sentence of the word or phrase with which it began.
epexegesis
Adding words or phrases to further clarify a statement already made.
Adding words or phrases to further clarify a statement already made.
epicene
(1) In traditional grammar, a noun that can refer to either sex without changing its form. (2) A gender-neutral pronoun--also known as a generic pronoun.
(1) In traditional grammar, a noun that can refer to either sex without changing its form. (2) A gender-neutral pronoun--also known as a generic pronoun.
epicrisis
Circumstance in which a speaker quotes a passage and comments on it.
Circumstance in which a speaker quotes a passage and comments on it.
epideictic
Speech or writing that praises or blames.
Speech or writing that praises or blames.
epigram
A concise, clever, often paradoxical statement or poem.
A concise, clever, often paradoxical statement or poem.
epigraph
(1) A brief motto or quotation set at the beginning of a text to suggest its theme. (2) words inscribed on a wall, a building, or the base of a statue.
(1) A brief motto or quotation set at the beginning of a text to suggest its theme. (2) words inscribed on a wall, a building, or the base of a statue.
epimone
Frequent repetition of a phrase or question; dwelling on a point.
Frequent repetition of a phrase or question; dwelling on a point.
epiphora
Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of several clauses.
Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of several clauses.
epiplexis
Asking questions to reproach rather than to elicit answers.
Asking questions to reproach rather than to elicit answers.
epistrophe
See "epiphora."
See "epiphora."
epitaph
(1) A short inscription in prose or verse on a tombstone or monument. (2) A statement or speech commemorating someone who has died: a funeral oration.
(1) A short inscription in prose or verse on a tombstone or monument. (2) A statement or speech commemorating someone who has died: a funeral oration.
epithet
Using an appropriate adjective (often habitually) to characterize a person or thing.
Using an appropriate adjective (often habitually) to characterize a person or thing.
epitrope
An argumentative strategy (an ironic type of concession) by which a speaker either pretends to express agreement with an opponent or encourages an opponent to do something that the speaker actually objects to.
An argumentative strategy (an ironic type of concession) by which a speaker either pretends to express agreement with an opponent or encourages an opponent to do something that the speaker actually objects to.
epizeuxis
Repetition of a word for emphasis (usually with no words in between).
Repetition of a word for emphasis (usually with no words in between).
eponym
A word that is derived from the proper name of a real or mythical person or place.
A word that is derived from the proper name of a real or mythical person or place.
equivocation
A fallacy by which a key word or phrase in an argument is used with more than one meaning.
A fallacy by which a key word or phrase in an argument is used with more than one meaning.
erotesis
A rhetorical question implying strong affirmation or denial.
A rhetorical question implying strong affirmation or denial.
essay
A short work of nonfiction, often artfully disordered and highly polished, in which an authorial voice invites an implied reader to accept as authentic a certain textual mode of experience.
A short work of nonfiction, often artfully disordered and highly polished, in which an authorial voice invites an implied reader to accept as authentic a certain textual mode of experience.
Estuary English
A contemporary variety of British English: a mixture of non-regional and southeastern English pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
A contemporary variety of British English: a mixture of non-regional and southeastern English pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
ethopoeia
Putting oneself in place of another so as to both understand and express his or her feelings more vividly.
Putting oneself in place of another so as to both understand and express his or her feelings more vividly.
ethos
Persuasive appeal based on the projected character of the speaker or narrator.
Persuasive appeal based on the projected character of the speaker or narrator.
etymology
The origin or derivation of a word.
The origin or derivation of a word.
eulogy
A formal expression of praise for someone who has recently died.
A formal expression of praise for someone who has recently died.
euphemism
Substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.
Substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.
euphuism
Elaborately patterned prose style
Elaborately patterned prose style
evidence
Facts, documentation, or testimony used to strengthen a claim or reach a conclusion.
Facts, documentation, or testimony used to strengthen a claim or reach a conclusion.
example
A method of paragraph or essay development by which a writer clarifies, explains, or justifies a point through narrative or informative details.
A method of paragraph or essay development by which a writer clarifies, explains, or justifies a point through narrative or informative details.
exclamation
A sudden, forceful expression or cry.
A sudden, forceful expression or cry.
exclamation point
A punctuation mark (!) used after a sentence that expresses a strong emotion.
A punctuation mark (!) used after a sentence that expresses a strong emotion.
exclamatory sentence
A sentence that expresses strong feelings by making an exclamation.
A sentence that expresses strong feelings by making an exclamation.
exigence
In rhetoric, an issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak.
In rhetoric, an issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak.
existential sentence
A sentence that asserts the existence or nonexistence of something. For this purpose, English relies on constructions introduced by "There."
A sentence that asserts the existence or nonexistence of something. For this purpose, English relies on constructions introduced by "There."
existential "there"
See "existential sentence."
See "existential sentence."
exonym
A name used in a particular language for a geographical feature outside the area where that language is spoken, and differing in its form from the name used in an official language of that area where the feature is located.
A name used in a particular language for a geographical feature outside the area where that language is spoken, and differing in its form from the name used in an official language of that area where the feature is located.
exophora
The use of a pronoun or other word or phrase to refer to someone or something outside the text.
The use of a pronoun or other word or phrase to refer to someone or something outside the text.
exordium
The introductory part of an argument in which a speaker or writer establishes credibility (ethos) and announces the subject and purpose of the discourse.
The introductory part of an argument in which a speaker or writer establishes credibility (ethos) and announces the subject and purpose of the discourse.
expletive
A construction that begins with the word "here," "there," or "it" and is followed by a form of the verb "to be."
A construction that begins with the word "here," "there," or "it" and is followed by a form of the verb "to be."
exposition
A statement or type of composition intended to give information about (or an explanation of) an issue, subject, method, or idea.
A statement or type of composition intended to give information about (or an explanation of) an issue, subject, method, or idea.
extended definition
In a paragraph or essay, an explanation and/or illustration of a word, thing, or concept.
In a paragraph or essay, an explanation and/or illustration of a word, thing, or concept.
extended metaphor
A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem.
A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem.
extension
See "broadening."
See "broadening."
exuscitatio
Emotional utterance that seeks to move hearers to a like feeling.
Emotional utterance that seeks to move hearers to a like feeling.
eye dialect
The representation of regional or dialectal variations by spelling words in nonstandard ways.
The representation of regional or dialectal variations by spelling words in nonstandard ways.