| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | accessible | easy for many readers |
| 2. | acerbic | sharp and biting |
| 3. | alliterative | marked by repeated initial sounds |
| 4. | allusive | rich in indirect references |
| 5. | analytical | focused on examination and logic |
| 6. | assertive | confidently forceful |
| 7. | authoritative | confident and commanding |
| 8. | awkward | clumsy or hard to read |
| 9. | biting | sharply critical |
| 10. | blunt | direct to the point of harshness |
| 11. | brisk | quick and energetic |
| 12. | brooding | darkly thoughtful |
| 13. | clear | easy to understand |
| 14. | clinical | coldly precise and impersonal |
| 15. | clunky | heavy and inelegant |
| 16. | colloquial | using everyday spoken language |
| 17. | complex | having many interwoven parts |
| 18. | concise | brief and to the point |
| 19. | conversational | like natural spoken language |
| 20. | crisp | sharp, clear, and brisk |
| 21. | dense | packed with information |
| 22. | descriptive | rich in sensory detail |
| 23. | detached | emotionally uninvolved |
| 24. | didactic | intended to teach |
| 25. | direct | straightforward and frank |
| 26. | discursive | wandering through related ideas |
| 27. | dramatic | striking and emotionally intense |
| 28. | dry | plain or understatedly humorous |
| 29. | earthy | plain, vivid, and robust |
| 30. | editorial | expressing opinions authoritatively |
| 31. | elegant | graceful and polished |
| 32. | elevated | lofty and refined |
| 33. | elliptical | leaving things implied |
| 34. | emotive | arousing strong feeling |
| 35. | evocative | bringing images or feelings |
| 36. | expansive | broad and wide-ranging |
| 37. | expository | explaining or informing clearly |
| 38. | figurative | using nonliteral language |
| 39. | flowery | overly ornate and decorative |
| 40. | fluid | flowing easily and naturally |
| 41. | folksy | warmly informal and homely |
| 42. | forceful | strong and emphatic |
| 43. | formal | following conventional standards |
| 44. | formulaic | following a set pattern |
| 45. | fragmentary | made of incomplete pieces |
| 46. | hedged | qualified to avoid certainty |
| 47. | humorous | intended to amuse |
| 48. | idiomatic | natural to native usage |
| 49. | impressionistic | suggestive rather than detailed |
| 50. | incisive | keen and sharply analytical |
| 51. | informal | casual and conversational |
| 52. | ironic | expressing meaning through contrast |
| 53. | journalistic | like news reporting |
| 54. | layered | containing multiple levels |
| 55. | lean | trim and economical |
| 56. | leisurely | unhurried and relaxed |
| 57. | matter-of-fact | practical and unemotional |
| 58. | measured | careful and controlled |
| 59. | melancholic | sadly reflective |
| 60. | metaphorical | full of metaphor |
| 61. | minimalist | using very few words |
| 62. | muscular | strong and forceful |
| 63. | narrative | telling a story |
| 64. | nuanced | showing subtle distinctions |
| 65. | objective | unbiased and factual |
| 66. | old-fashioned | characteristic of an earlier time |
| 67. | opaque | hard to understand |
| 68. | original | fresh and distinctive |
| 69. | ornate | highly decorated in language |
| 70. | passionate | full of strong feeling |
| 71. | persuasive | convincing and influential |
| 72. | plain | simple and unadorned |
| 73. | poetic | lyrical and expressive |
| 74. | polished | carefully refined |
| 75. | precise | exact and specific |
| 76. | probing | deeply investigative |
| 77. | punchy | forceful and lively |
| 78. | rambling | wandering without clear focus |
| 79. | reflective | thoughtful and introspective |
| 80. | restrained | controlled and not excessive |
| 81. | rhythmic | having a strong cadence |
| 82. | rigorous | strict and thorough |
| 83. | satirical | using ridicule to criticize |
| 84. | scholarly | learned and academic |
| 85. | sensational | designed to provoke excitement |
| 86. | slangy | using a lot of slang |
| 87. | spare | lean and economical |
| 88. | stilted | stiff and unnatural |
| 89. | subjective | based on personal viewpoint |
| 90. | subtle | delicate and understated |
| 91. | succinct | brief yet meaningful |
| 92. | systematic | orderly and methodical |
| 93. | taut | tight and controlled |
| 94. | tentative | cautious and uncertain |
| 95. | terse | brief and abrupt |
| 96. | understated | deliberately low-key |
| 97. | uplifting | inspiring and positive |
| 98. | verbose | using too many words |
| 99. | vivid | full of lively detail |
| 100. | witty | clever and amusing |