A
reference to something commonly known, such as an event from history or a work of art
allusion
paradox
leaving out he conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses
asyndeton
something which is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish
pedantic
comparison in which one idea/thing is compared to another which is quite different
analogy
use of slang or informal speech
colloquial
sentence structure or word order
syntax
a sermon or serious talk, speech, or lecture which often seeks to inspire
homily
regular writing made up of paragraphs and sentences
prose (opposite of poetry)
a polite, indirect expression which replaces something more harsh, impolite, or unpleasant
euphemism
associated meaning with a word
connotation
understatement
ironic minimalizating of fact (the opposite of hyperbole)
strongly pleading, urging, or encouraging
hortatory
a form of deductive reasoning (a=b, b=c, therefore a=c)
syllogism (a=b, b=c, therefore a=c)
phrase which means something different from what the words imply
idiom
literal, dictionary definition of a word
denotation
using extreme exaggeration to prove a point
hyperbole (the opposite of understatement)
figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated
metonymy
artful diction, a figure of speech
trope
figure of speech in which two opposite words/ideas are joined together to create an effect
oxymoron
an emotionally violent, verbal attack using abusive language
invective
using the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences
anaphora
turning a verb into an adjective or noun
nominalization
idea, character, or place that appeals to more than one of the senses
synesthesia
understatement using double negatives
litotes