| Ellipsis | | a figure of speech in which a representative term is used for a larger idea (The pen is mightier than the sword). |
| Parataxis | | two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels (a-b-a-b) but in inverted order (a-b-b-a) |
| Simile | | placing a good point or benefit next to a fault criticism, or problem in order to reduce the impact or significance of the negative point. |
| Aposiopesis | | the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines. |
| Anecdote | | the process that moves from a given series of specifics to a generalization. |
| Epizeuxis | | a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A conceit displays intellectual cleverness due to the unusual comparison being made. |
| Imagery | | the repetition of initial consonant sounds, such as “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” |
| Litotes | | a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author’s point. |
| Irony | | an overused common expression. |
| Polysyndeton | | use of superfluous or redundant words, often enriching the thought. |
| Antistrophe | | the use of slang in writing, often to create local color and to provide an informal tone. |
| Asyndeton | | a reference contained in a work. |
| Deduction | | development of evidence that the speaker or writer is ethical |
| Antanagoge | | consists of raising one or more questions and then proceeding to answer them, usually at some length. |
| pathos | | an unexpected twist or contrast between what happens and what was intended or expected to happen |
| Diction | | repetition of one word (for emphasis). |
| Hypophora | | the literal or dictionary meaning of a word. |
| Allusion | | lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. |
| Diacope | | a story or brief episode told by the writer or a character to illustrate to a point. |
| Hyperbole | | repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses. |
| Conceit | | is an informally-stated syllogism which omits either one of the premises or the conclusion. The omitted part must be clearly understood by the reader. |
| Euphemism | | the choice of words used in speaking or writing. |
| Connotation | | indicated by a series of three periods, the ellipsis indicates that some material has been omitted from a given text. It could be a word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph, or a whole section. Be wary of the ellipsis; it could obscure the real meaning of the piece of writing. |
| Parallelism | | is an adjective or adjective phrase appropriately qualifying a subject (noun) by naming a key or important characteristic of the subject. |
| Synecdoche | | a form of ellipse by which a speaker comes to an abrupt halt, seemingly overcome by passion (fear, excitement, etc.) or modesty. |
| Metaphor | | understatement, for intensification, by denying the contrary of the thing being affirmed. |
| Antiphrasis | | extreme exaggeration, often humorous, it can also be ironic; the opposite of understatement. |
| Syntax | | an indirect comparison that uses the words like or as to link the differing items in the comparison. (“Your eyes are like the stars.”) |
| Motif | | writing successive independent clauses, with coordinating conjunctions, or no conjunctions. |
| Hendiadys | | the duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern. |
| Alliteration | | use of two words connected by a conjunction, instead of subordinating one to the other, to express a single complex idea. |
| Anaphora | | a direct comparison between dissimilar things. “Your eyes are stars” is an example. |
| Chiasmus | | this term literally means “sermon,” but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. |
| Amplification | | repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase. |
| Archaism | | use of logical proof of the creation of a logical appeal |
| ethos | | one word irony, established by context. |
| Repetition | | use of an older or obsolete form. |
| logos | | the interpretive level of a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning. |
| Colloquial | | the repetition or variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters. |
| Metonymy | | the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity. |
| Enthymeme | | repeats the beginning word of a clause or sentence at the end. |
| Eponym | | the format of a formal argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. |
| Epanalepsis | | the process of moving from a general rule to a specific example. |
| Cliché | | involves repeating a word or expression while adding more detail to it, in order to emphasize what otherwise might be passed over. |
| Aphorism | | development of evidence that arouses the emotions of the audience |
| Syllogism | | the repetition of conjunctions in a series of coordinate words, phrases, or clauses. |
| Induction | | the grammatical structure of prose and poetry. |
| Pleonasm | | in logic is a proposition-a statement of a truth-that is used to support or help support a conclusion. |
| Homily | | a more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. |
| Premise | | a figure of speech that utilizes a part as representative of the whole. (“All hands on deck” is an example.) |
| Denotation | | the total effect of related sensory images in a work of literature. |
| Epithet | | substitutes for a particular attribute the name of a famous person recognized for that attribute. |
