English Glossary of Terms
English Glossary of Terms
Alliteration: The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
Example: Carrie's cat clawed her couch, creating chaos.
Assonance: In poetry, the repetition of the sound of a vowel or diphthong in non rhyming stressed syllables.
Example: I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and restless.
Anecdote: An account regarded as unreliable or hearsay.
Example: High school students go around the classroom telling their favourite memories from elementary school.
Simile: A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind.
Example: I am as strong as a lion.
Personification: The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality,
Example: The wind howled its mighty objection.
Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Example: He is the apple of my eye - There is, of course, no real apple in a person's eye. The "apple" is someone beloved and held dear.
Jargon: Special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.
Example: Gigabyte
Euphemism: A mild or indirect word or expression for one too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
Example: Letting someone go instead of firing someone.
Cliché: Platitude: a trite or obvious remark.
Example: Time will tell: This means that something will be revealed or become clear over time.
Hyperbole: Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Example: It was so cold, I saw polar bears wearing jackets.
Pun: A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.
Example: People are choosing cremation over traditional burial. It shows
Alliteration: The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
Example: Carrie's cat clawed her couch, creating chaos.
Assonance: In poetry, the repetition of the sound of a vowel or diphthong in non rhyming stressed syllables.
Example: I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and restless.
Anecdote: An account regarded as unreliable or hearsay.
Example: High school students go around the classroom telling their favourite memories from elementary school.
Simile: A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind.
Example: I am as strong as a lion.
Personification: The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality,
Example: The wind howled its mighty objection.
Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Example: He is the apple of my eye - There is, of course, no real apple in a person's eye. The "apple" is someone beloved and held dear.
Jargon: Special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.
Example: Gigabyte
Euphemism: A mild or indirect word or expression for one too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
Example: Letting someone go instead of firing someone.
Cliché: Platitude: a trite or obvious remark.
Example: Time will tell: This means that something will be revealed or become clear over time.
Hyperbole: Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Example: It was so cold, I saw polar bears wearing jackets.
Pun: A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.
Example: People are choosing cremation over traditional burial. It shows