ADJECTIVE A word that defines attributes of a noun. It can occur before the noun (the red tulip) or after (the tulip was red)

CONSONANCE The repetition of the same consonant sound e.g. The key clicked in the lock as the door creaked.

ANAPHORA Repeating the same word or phrase at the start of three or more clauses e.g. Your donation will stop cruelty. Your donation will change lives. Your donation will make a difference.

OXYMORON Where two opposite or contradictory words are sat next to each other e.g. bitter sweet.

JUXTAPOSITION Opposite ideas that are placed closely together, such as in a sentence or across a paragraph.

PATHETIC FALLACY Similar to personification, this is giving human attributes to objects, particularly using the weather to reflect the mood or tone.

ANIMAL IMAGERY Comparing an object or a person to an animal to present certain ideas about their personality.

A word that defines the action of a verb e.g. The rain fell heavily ADVERB A word that defines the action of a verb e.g. The rain fell heavily

A word with a naming function NOUN A word with a naming function

A word that can replace a noun phrase e.g. the boy > he PRONOUN A word that can replace a noun phrase e.g. the boy > he

PROPER NOUN A noun that refers to the names of specific people, places and occasions and which has an initial capital letter in written language

A word expressing states, processes and actions VERB A word expressing states, processes and actions

A grammatical mood expressing a directive using a verb. IMPERATIVE A grammatical mood expressing a directive using a verb.

SEMANTIC FIELD A theme or topic created by the use of words with associated meanings e.g. doctor, medicine, vaccinating, surgery

ALLITERATION A term used to describe the repetition of consonants or consonant clusters at the beginning of words in close proximity

ASSONANCE A term used to describe the repetition of vowel sounds e.g. Old age should burn and rave at the close of day

METAPHOR A figurative use of language in which one thing is seen in terms of something else e.g. He didn’t know which road to take (making choices in life)

ONOMATOPOEIA The term used to denote words that imitate sounds e.g. splash, murmur, buzz

PERSONIFICATION A device in which something non-human is given human attributes e.g. the blushing birds

A question that requires the reader to think about the answer. RHETORICAL QUESTION A question that requires the reader to think about the answer.

HYPERBOLE Exaggeration or overstatement used as a rhetorical device to heighten feelings

IDIOM A distinctive expression in which the meaning is not a literal interpretation of the individual words e.g. She jumped the gun.

IRONY A way of writing or speaking in which the intended meaning appears to be the opposite of what is actually said e.g. Thanks for taking the bins out (bins have not been taken out!)

SIBILANCE The repeated use of ‘s’ ‘z’ and soft ‘c’ sounds to create a hissing effect e.g. six snakes slithered.

SIMILE A device which makes a direct comparison between two things using the prepositions like or as e.g. Her heart was beating like the wings of a bird

TRIPLING (list of three) Using three words or phrases in a row e.g. There was no sound, no colour and no life at all.