Glossary of Important Terms

Abstract: A brief summary of a research article, thesis, review, or other scientific document that highlights the main points and findings.

Active Voice: A sentence structure where the subject performs the action stated by the verb (e.g., “The researcher conducted the experiment”).

Adjective: A word that describes or modifies a noun (e.g., “blue sky”).

Adverb: A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb, often ending in -ly (e.g., “quickly ran”).

Alliteration: The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a series of words (e.g., “She sells seashells by the seashore”).

Analogy: A comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification (e.g., “Life is like a box of chocolates”).

Analyze: To examine and break down information, ideas, or texts into parts in order to understand their meaning, structure, and significance, and to explain how they contribute to a larger argument or purpose.

Antithesis: A rhetorical device that contrasts two opposing ideas in a parallel structure (e.g., “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”).

APA Citation: A style of citation used primarily in the sciences, focusing on the author’s name and the date of publication. It includes in-text citations and a reference list at the end of the document.

Audience: The group of people who will read or listen to your writing. Understanding your audience helps tailor your message to their needs and interests.

Bibliography: A list of the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing a work, typically found at the end of a research paper.

Brainstorming: A method of generating ideas by writing down everything that comes to mind without judgment.

Citation: A reference to the source of information or ideas used in your writing. Common styles include MLA and APA.

Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. It can be independent (a complete sentence) or dependent (cannot stand alone).

Cliché: An overused expression or idea that has lost its originality and impact (e.g., “Time heals all wounds”).

Conclusion: The final section of a paper that summarizes the main points, reinforces the thesis, and provides a sense of closure or insight for the reader.

Conjunction: A word used to connect clauses or sentences (e.g., “and,” “but,” “or”).

Connotation: The implied or emotional meaning associated with a word, beyond its literal definition, which can influence tone and reader interpretation.

Denotation: The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.

Dependent Clause: A group of words with a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence (e.g., “Although she was tired”).

Diction: The choice and use of words and phrases in writing or speech.

Drafting: The process of creating a preliminary version of a paper where ideas are developed and organized into a coherent structure, often with the understanding that it will be revised and refined.

Ethos: A rhetorical strategy that appeals to the credibility or character of the speaker or writer.

Euphemism: A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt (e.g., “passed away” instead of “died”).

Explain: To make an idea, situation, or problem clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts.

Figurative Language: Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning different from the literal interpretation (e.g., metaphors, similes).

Freewriting: A technique where you write continuously for a set period without worrying about grammar or structure to generate ideas.

Generative AI: Artificial intelligence that can create content, such as text, based on prompts given by users.

Genre: A specific type or category of writing—such as essays, research papers, reports, or literature reviews—each with its own conventions, structure, and purpose tailored to academic communication.

Hyperbole: Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally (e.g., “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse”).

Independent Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought (e.g., “She went to the store”).

Introduction: The opening section of a paper that presents the topic, provides background information, and states the thesis or main argument to guide the reader.

Irony: The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

Logos: A rhetorical strategy that uses logic and reason to persuade an audience.

Metaphor: A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as” (e.g., “Time is a thief”).

Mind Mapping: A visual brainstorming tool that helps organize ideas and show connections between them.

MLA Citation: A style of citation used primarily in the humanities, focusing on the author’s name and the page number.

Narrative: A spoken or written account of connected events; a story.

Onomatopoeia: A word that phonetically imitates the sound it describes (e.g., “buzz,” “whisper”).

Outline: A structured plan that organizes main ideas and supporting details in a logical order to guide the development of a paper.

Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g., “deafening silence”).

Paradox: A statement that contradicts itself but might contain a truth (e.g., “Less is more”).

Paragraphs: Groups of related sentences that each develop a single main idea, helping to organize and support the overall argument or purpose of the paper.

Paraphrasing: Restating information from a source in your own words while maintaining the original meaning.

Passive voice: A sentence construction in which the subject receives the action rather than performing it, often using a form of “to be” plus a past participle (e.g., “The experiment was conducted by the researchers”).

Pathos: A rhetorical strategy that appeals to the audience’s emotions.

Peer Review: The process of having others read and provide feedback on your writing to improve its quality.

Personification: The attribution of human characteristics to something nonhuman (e.g., “The wind whispered through the trees”).

Plagiarism: The practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.

Predicate: The part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject (e.g., “went home” in “She went home”).

Prepositional phrase: A group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun, functioning to provide additional information about time, location, direction, cause, or manner within a sentence.

Pronoun: A word that takes the place of a noun (e.g., “he,” “she,” “it”).

Purpose: The reason for writing, which guides the content and style of your work.

Redundancy: The use of words or phrases that are unnecessary and repetitive (e.g., “free gift”).

Revising: The process of reviewing and making changes to your writing to improve clarity, organization, and overall quality. Also called rethinking.

Sentence: A complete thought expressed through a group of words that includes at least a subject and a verb, and it contributes to the development of the paper’s argument or purpose.

Simile: A figure of speech that compares two different things using “like” or “as” (e.g., “as brave as a lion”).

Sources: Texts, documents, or materials—such as books, articles, websites, or interviews—that provide information, evidence, or ideas used to support and develop your own arguments.

The subject of a sentence in academic writing is the person, place, thing, or idea that performs the action or is described by the verb, serving as the main focus of the sentence.

Summarizing: Condensing the main ideas of a source into a brief overview.

Style: The distinctive way a writer uses language to communicate ideas effectively and appropriately for an academic audience.

Syntax: The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

Thesis Statement: A sentence that states the main point or argument of your essay.

Title: A concise phrase or sentence that clearly reflects the main topic or focus of the paper and captures the reader’s interest.

Tone: The general character or attitude of a piece of writing.

Topic: The specific subject or issue that a writer focuses on and explores in an academic paper.

Transition: Words or phrases that provide a connection between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs (e.g., “however,” “therefore”).

Verb: A word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being, and it is essential for forming the predicate of a sentence.

Voice: The distinctive tone or style of a writer or speaker.

Writing Process: The steps involved in creating a piece of writing, including brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing.

This glossary was created with the help of Microsoft Copilot.

Copilot. “Glossary of Important Terms for You, Writing! 3rd Edition.” Microsoft, 2025.