English Language terminology
Every key term, with its definition and a picture where one helps. Tap a bold word in the notes to see it there too.
75 terms
A
AO1
Finding and interpreting information and ideas, and choosing and combining evidence.
Notes: Question 1: list four things · Question 1: true statements · Question 2: summary
AO2
Explaining, commenting on and analysing how writers use language and structure, using subject terms.
Notes: Question 2: language · Question 3: structure · Question 3: language
AO3
Comparing writers' ideas and perspectives, and how they are conveyed, across two texts.
AO4
Evaluating texts critically, and supporting your judgement with references to the text.
Notes: Question 4: evaluation
AO5
Writing clearly, effectively and imaginatively, organised for its purpose and audience.
Notes: Descriptive writing · Planning and crafting your writing · Vocabulary for description and stories · Forms: articles, letters, speeches and more
AO6
Using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures, with accurate spelling and punctuation.
Notes: Spelling and vocabulary · Descriptive writing · Planning and crafting your writing · Vocabulary for description and stories · Forms: articles, letters, speeches and more · Vocabulary for viewpoint writing
Assumption
A belief a writer takes for granted, without questioning it.
Notes: Reading 19th-century texts
C
Clause
A group of words with a verb. A main clause can stand alone as a sentence.
Notes: Sentences and punctuation
Cliché
A phrase used so often it has lost its effect, such as ‘as cold as ice’.
Comma splice
Two complete sentences wrongly joined with only a comma.
Notes: Sentences and punctuation · Planning and crafting your writing
Conclusion
The final paragraph, which sums up your argument and leaves a lasting impression.
Connotation
An idea or feeling a word suggests, beyond its dictionary meaning.
Notes: Language terminology · Question 2: language · Vocabulary for description and stories · Question 3: language
Context
The time, place and society a text was written in, which shapes its ideas.
Notes: Reading 19th-century texts
Conventions
The usual features of a type of text, such as a headline for an article.
Counter-argument
The opposing view, which you raise and then argue against.
Notes: Rhetoric and argument · Planning and structuring an argument
Cyclical structure
When a story ends where it began, often with something changed.
Notes: Narrative writing
D
Discourse marker
A word or phrase that links ideas and guides the reader, such as ‘furthermore’ or ‘nevertheless’.
Notes: Planning and structuring an argument · Vocabulary for viewpoint writing
Discourse markers
Words and phrases that link paragraphs and guide the reader, such as ‘however’ and ‘furthermore’.
E
Effect
The impact a writer's choice has on the reader, such as building tension or making them feel sympathy.
Notes: Language terminology · Question 2: language · Question 3: language
Emotive language
Words chosen to make the reader feel strong emotions, such as pity or anger.
Explicit
Stated directly in the text.
Notes: Question 1: list four things · Question 1: true statements
F
Foreshadowing
A hint early in a text about what will happen later.
Form
The type of text, such as an article, letter, speech or essay.
Notes: Planning and crafting your writing · Forms: articles, letters, speeches and more
Formal register
Language suited to a serious audience or purpose, without slang.
H
Homophones
Words that sound the same but are spelt differently and mean different things, such as there and their.
Notes: Spelling and vocabulary
Hook
An opening that grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read on.
Notes: Narrative writing
I
Implicit
Suggested rather than stated, so the reader has to work it out.
Notes: Question 1: list four things · Question 1: true statements
Inference
Something you work out from clues in the text, rather than being told directly.
Notes: Question 2: summary
J
Judicious
Well chosen and sensible: short quotations that really support your point.
Notes: Question 2: language · Question 4: evaluation · Question 2: summary · Question 3: language · Question 4: comparing perspectives
L
Line of argument
A clear viewpoint developed step by step through the whole piece.
Notes: Rhetoric and argument · Planning and structuring an argument
Long sentence
A sentence with several clauses, which can build up detail, slow the pace or create a breathless rush.
Notes: Planning and crafting your writing · Reading 19th-century texts
M
Main clause
The part of a sentence that makes sense on its own, carrying the main idea.
Notes: Reading 19th-century texts
Method
A technique or choice a writer uses, such as a simile, a short sentence or a particular word class.
Notes: Question 2: language · Question 3: language · Question 4: comparing perspectives
Minor sentence
A sentence without a main verb, such as ‘Silence.’, used for effect.
Mood
The feeling or atmosphere a piece of writing creates, such as tense, calm or eerie.
Notes: Descriptive writing
N
Narrative arc
The shape of a story: how it builds up to a turning point and then resolves.
Notes: Narrative writing
O
One-line paragraph
A paragraph of a single line, used at a key moment to make it stand out.
Notes: Narrative writing
P
Perceptive
Showing deep, sharp understanding: noticing things that aren't obvious.
Notes: Question 2: language · Question 3: structure · Question 4: evaluation · Question 2: summary · Question 3: language · Question 4: comparing perspectives
Perspective
A writer's point of view: their attitudes, feelings and ideas about a topic.
Plan
A short list of ideas and the order of your paragraphs, written before you start.
Precise vocabulary
Words chosen to say exactly what you mean, rather than general words like ‘nice’ or ‘big’.
Notes: Spelling and vocabulary · Vocabulary for description and stories
Proofreading
Reading your work back carefully to find and correct mistakes.
Purpose
Why you are writing, such as to argue, persuade or advise.
Q
Quotation
Words copied exactly from a text, in quotation marks, used as evidence.
Notes: Question 2: language · Question 3: language
R
S
Section B
The writing section of each Language paper: Question 5.
Notes: Timing and approach · Descriptive writing
Semantic field
A group of words linked by meaning, such as words to do with decay.
Notes: Language terminology
Sensory language
Description that appeals to the senses: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.
Notes: Descriptive writing · Vocabulary for description and stories
Shift in focus
When a writer moves the reader's attention to a new person, place, time or idea.
Short sentence
A sentence of only a few words, often used to create shock, tension or emphasis.
Show, don't tell
Letting the reader work out a feeling from actions and details, instead of stating it.
Source
A text printed in the exam insert, which the reading questions are about. Paper 2 has two: Source A and Source B.
Notes: Question 3: structure · Timing and approach · Question 1: true statements · Question 2: summary · Question 4: comparing perspectives
Speech marks
The marks “ ” (or ‘ ’) that go around the words someone says.
Notes: Sentences and punctuation
Structure
The order and organisation of a text: its beginning, how the focus moves, and its ending.
Notes: Structure terminology
Subordinate clause
A clause that can't stand alone, often starting with although, because or when.
Notes: Sentences and punctuation
Superlative
The form of an adjective meaning ‘the most’, such as ‘bitterest’ or ‘worst’.
Notes: Question 3: language
T
Tone
The attitude or feeling in a piece of writing, such as serious, angry or humorous.
Notes: Language terminology · Forms: articles, letters, speeches and more
W
Word class
The type of word: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun and so on.
Notes: Language terminology
Z
Zooming in
Moving the reader's focus from a wide view to a small detail, like a camera.
Notes: Structure terminology · Question 3: structure · Descriptive writing