a well worn or stereotyped expression
cliché
using more words than necessary
circumlocution
a word or phrase used in speech but not dignified by formal writing or speech
colloquialism
two words joined together, often to make up a name
compound words
the emotional association which many words have; they mean different things to different people
connotation
the object or concept a word stand for, used for defining/ giving proof
denotation
the omission from a sentence of words and phrases necessary for grammatical completeness, but not for meaning
ellipsis
repetition of vowel sounds within words
assonance
in descending order, to spoil the effect of climax
anticlimax
shortening of words in informal speech and writing eg can’t
contractions
a brief description of worthwhile thought; proverbs are usually these
epigram
expressions or words which are a ‘nicer’ way of saying something
euphemism
a deliberate exaggeration for effect
hyperbole
a special use of a word or expression
idiom
a change in the natural order of words of a sentence, usually to emphasis the first word
inversion
intended meaning is the opposite of that expressed
irony
the use of understatement for effect
litotes
this makes comparisons but these are direct eg ‘the moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas’
metaphor
the mentioning of one or two things so closely associated that the mention of the first suggests the second
metonymy
newly coined words eg. internet
neologism
words which recreate the sound they describe
onomatopoeia
a rhetorical figure in which the effect is produced by apparent self-contradiction
oxymoron
a statement that apparently contradicts accepted facts but holds some truth
paradox
imitation of another person’s style or work, used to make fun of that word
parody
