Language, Style, Technique & Rhetoric

Glossary: Language, Style, Technique & Rhetoric

Term	Meaning
Style	An author’s distinctive use of language and form.
Diction	An author’s choice of words and phrasing.
Syntax	The coherent arrangement of words and sentences.
Tone	The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience.
Voice	The distinctive personality or sensibility of the writing conveyed through the text.
Register	The level of formality or informality in language.
Imagery	Language that appeals to the senses.
Figurative Language	Non-literal expression to convey meaning.
Metaphor	An implicit comparison between unlike things to reveal similarity.
Simile	A comparison using “like” or “as.”
Symbol	An object, idea, action, or image representing a deeper meaning.
Motif	A recurring element that reinforces a theme.
Irony	A contrast between expectation and reality.
Allusion	An indirect reference to another work, event, or idea.
Satire	The use of humor or exaggeration to expose folly or vice.