100 Terms Every Writer Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	Abstract noun	Noun naming an idea, quality, or state.
2.	Active voice	Subject performs action; clearer, often more direct.
3.	Adage	Old saying expressing a general truth.
4.	Adjective	Word modifying a noun or pronoun.
5.	Adverb	Word modifying verb, adjective, or adverb.
6.	Alliteration	Repeated initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
7.	Allusion	Brief reference to a known person, place, or text.
8.	Ambiguity	Multiple plausible meanings; can confuse or enrich.
9.	Analogy	Comparison showing similarity between different things.
10.	Anaphora	Repetition at beginnings of successive clauses.
11.	Anecdote	Short, illustrative story, often personal.
12.	Antagonist	Character opposing the protagonist.
13.	Antithesis	Balanced contrast of opposing ideas.
14.	Aphorism	Concise statement of a general truth.
15.	Apostrophe	Direct address to absent person or idea.
16.	Arc (character arc)	Character’s internal change across a narrative.
17.	Archetype	Recurring, recognizable character or story pattern.
18.	Argument	Claim supported by reasons and evidence.
19.	Assonance	Repeated vowel sounds in nearby words.
20.	Audience	Intended readers or listeners for a text.
21.	Backstory	Earlier events shaping characters and situation.
22.	Bias	Prejudice affecting selection or interpretation of information.
23.	Bildungsroman	Coming-of-age story of personal development.
24.	Blocking	Placing characters in space for clear action.
25.	Bombast	Pompous, inflated language lacking substance.
26.	Cadence	Rhythmic flow of language in sentences.
27.	Canon	Works widely accepted as authoritative in a tradition.
28.	Catharsis	Emotional release experienced by the audience.
29.	Characterization	Methods used to reveal a character’s traits.
30.	Chronology	Order of events in time.
31.	Cliché	Overused expression that shows little originality.
32.	Climax	Highest tension point where conflict peaks.
33.	Closure	Satisfying resolution of major story questions.
34.	Coherence	Logical, consistent connection among ideas.
35.	Colloquialism	Informal word or phrase used in conversation.
36.	Conflict	Central struggle driving plot and character choices.
37.	Connotation	Emotional or cultural associations beyond literal meaning.
38.	Consonance	Repeated consonant sounds within or at ends.
39.	Context	Surrounding information shaping meaning and interpretation.
40.	Copyediting	Editing for grammar, consistency, and clarity.
41.	Counterargument	Opposing viewpoint addressed within an argument.
42.	Crescendo	Gradual increase in intensity or emphasis.
43.	Denotation	Literal, dictionary meaning of a word.
44.	Denouement	Final unraveling after climax; loose ends tied.
45.	Description	Sensory detail creating vivid mental images.
46.	Dialect	Regional or social language variety in speech.
47.	Dialogue	Spoken exchange between characters in a narrative.
48.	Diction	Word choice and its effect on tone.
49.	Dramatic irony	Audience knows more than characters do.
50.	Earnestness	Sincere tone without irony or detachment.
51.	Editing	Revising content, structure, and language for improvement.
52.	Elegy	Poem mourning the dead or loss.
53.	Ellipsis	Omission of words; also the punctuation mark.
54.	Enjambment	Poetic line break without ending punctuation.
55.	Epigraph	Quoted passage at a work’s beginning.
56.	Epiphany	Sudden realization that changes understanding.
57.	Epithet	Descriptive phrase expressing a characteristic of someone.
58.	Ethos	Appeal to credibility or character of speaker.
59.	Euphemism	Milder term substituting for harsh one.
60.	Exposition	Background information needed to understand the story.
61.	Fable	Brief tale with moral, often with animals.
62.	Falling action	Events after climax leading toward resolution.
63.	Figurative language	Nonliteral expression: metaphor, simile, and more.
64.	Flashback	Scene set earlier than the current narrative time.
65.	Foil	Character contrasting another to highlight traits.
66.	Foreshadowing	Hints that suggest future events.
67.	Free indirect style	Third-person narration colored by character’s thoughts.
68.	Genre	Category defined by conventions and reader expectations.
69.	Hook	Opening element that grabs reader attention.
70.	Hubris	Excessive pride leading to downfall.
71.	Hyperbole	Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
72.	Imagery	Language appealing to senses to create pictures.
73.	In medias res	Story begins in the middle of action.
74.	Inference	Conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning.
75.	Irony	Meaning contrasts with expectation or stated words.
76.	Jargon	Specialized vocabulary of a group or field.
77.	Juxtaposition	Placing elements side-by-side for contrast.
78.	Line edit	Editing for style, flow, and readability.
79.	Logos	Appeal to logic, reason, and evidence.
80.	Metaphor	Implied comparison stating one thing is another.
81.	Meter	Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
82.	Metonymy	Substitution using a related name or attribute.
83.	Mood	Emotional atmosphere created for the reader.
84.	Motif	Recurring element reinforcing a theme.
85.	Narrative	Account of events arranged to tell a story.
86.	Narrator	Voice telling the story; not always the author.
87.	Onomatopoeia	Word imitating a sound it represents.
88.	Oxymoron	Paired contradictory terms creating new meaning.
89.	Pacing	Speed and rhythm of narrative progression.
90.	Paradox	Seeming contradiction revealing a deeper truth.
91.	Parallelism	Balanced grammatical structure across phrases or clauses.
92.	Pathos	Appeal to emotion to persuade or move.
93.	Persona	Adopted voice or character of the speaker.
94.	Personification	Attributing human qualities to nonhuman things.
95.	Plot	Sequence of events linked by cause and effect.
96.	Point of view	Perspective from which the story is told.
97.	Prose	Ordinary writing without metrical structure.
98.	Protagonist	Main character pursuing goals through conflict.
99.	Pun	Wordplay exploiting multiple meanings or similar sounds.
100.	Red herring	Misleading clue diverting attention from truth.