Stylistic Choices (non-literary)
Analogy | a logical comparison of one relationship to another
a sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer
orbits of electrons in an atom to the orbits of planets |
Anecdote | a brief personal experience that a writer recounts to demonstrate knowledge or that a reader can relate to |
Colloquialism | any use of language, word choice or sentence structure, that belongs to a casual environment and not to a formal one; slang
“go for it,” “a big deal,” “props,” “lit,” “high,” “wasted” |
Contrast | the use of two opposing ideas or images for easier understanding or for emphasis
the darkest hour is just before the dawn |
Diction | a particular choice of words to convey a positive or negative connotation—a certain emotion or image that a word implies
“vintage” vs. “old,” “clique” vs. “group” |
Ethos | an appeal to the writer’s credibility, either through a sense of ethics or through a sense of authority from expert knowledge, including the use of statistics and citations
Doctors all over the world recommend this treatment. |
Euphemism | an innocuous expression that replaces an unpleasant idea or image
dead → “passed away,” fired → “downsizing” |
Figurative language | any use of language to represent another meaning that is different from the literal definition
“the world is your oyster”
“the writing is on the wall”
note: common types of figurative language include metaphor, simile, hyperbole, and personification |
Humour | the use of a joke or funny statement to alleviate the seriousness of the subject or to facilitate understanding |
Jargon | vocabulary used in a specific field or by a specific group; technical terms
“matter” in chemistry, “demand” in economics |
Logos | an appeal to logic, including inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning
All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal. |
Pathos | an appeal to emotion, such as sorrow, fear, and sympathy
the expression “the motherland” appeals to a sense of patriotism |
Proverb | a well-known saying that expresses an idea about life, often clichéd
“slow and steady wins the race”
“haste makes waste” |
Repetition | repeating certain words, ideas, or images for emphasis
“that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” (“Gettysburg Address”)
note: there are more specific terms for different types of repetition, such as anaphora and polysyndeton, but for the most part, repetition should be sufficient |
Rhetorical question | a question that is not intended to be answered but to make a point
“What’s in a name?” (Romeo and Juliet)
the title of the TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? |
Sarcasm | the use of language for its opposite meaning in order to criticize or to mock
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“Good job, Sherlock.” |
Structure | a particular choice in the organization and development of a text for dramatic effect or for easier understanding
the short story “Indian Camp” begins and ends on a lake |
Syntax | a particular choice in sentence structure to create emphasis, rhythm, or emotion
“There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung” (“All You Need Is Love”) |