abbreviation
shortening something by omitting parts of it
actor
a performer in theater, television, or film
adjective
the word class that qualifies nouns
adverb
a word that modifies something other than a noun
advertisement
a public promotion of some product or service
affix
attach to
alphabet
a character set of letters and is used to write a language
animation
quality of being active or spirited or alive and vigorous
antonym
a word that expresses an opposite meaning
apology
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
apostrophe
a mark used to indicate the omission of one or more letters
appendix
a small sac attached to the large intestines of some animals
audience
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a performance
author
a person who writes professionally
auxiliary verb
a verb that combines with another verb in a verb phrase to help form tense, mood, voice, or condition of the verb it combines with
blend
mix together different elements
book
an object consisting of a number of pages bound together
brainstorm
try to solve a problem by thinking intensely about it
capitalization
writing in uppercase letters
card catalog
a library catalog in which each publication is described on a separate file card
cartoon
a humorous or satirical drawing in a newspaper or magazine
chapter
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
character
a property that defines the individual nature of something
chart
a visual display of information
checklist
a list of items to be checked or consulted
citation
an official award usually given as formal public statement
colon
the part of the large intestine between the cecum and rectum
comma
a punctuation mark (,) indicating the separation of elements
command
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
commercial
connected with or engaged in the exchange of goods
common noun
a noun that denotes any or all members of a class
complex sentence
a sentence composed of at least one main clause and one subordinate clause
composition
the way in which someone or something is put together
comprehension
an ability to understand the meaning of something
conclusion
a position or opinion reached after consideration
contraction
the act of decreasing in size or volume or quantity or scope
contrast
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
conversation
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas
cue
a reminder for some action or speech
cursive
handwriting in which letters are connected within words
custom
accepted or habitual practice
declarative sentence
a sentence (in the indicative mood) that makes a declaration
decode
convert code into ordinary language
definition
a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase
detail
a small part considered separately from the whole
diary
a daily written record of experiences and observations
dictionary
a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words
director
someone who controls resources and expenditures
discussion
an extended communication dealing with a particular topic
double negative
an affirmative constructed from two negatives
draft
a current of air
drama
a work intended for performance by actors on a stage
drawing
a representation of forms or objects on a surface by means of lines
e-mail
(computer science) a system of world-wide electronic communication in which a computer user can compose a message at one terminal that can be regenerated at the recipient’s terminal when the recipient logs in
edit
prepare for publication or presentation by revising
encyclopedia
a reference work containing articles on various topics
ending
the act of ending something
essay
an analytic or interpretive literary composition
example
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
explanation
making something plain or intelligible
expression
the communication of your beliefs or opinions
fable
a short moral story
facial expression
a gesture executed with the facial muscles
fairy tale
a story about fairies; told to amuse children
fantasy
imagination unrestricted by reality
fiction
a literary work based on the imagination
first name
the name that precedes the surname
first person
pronouns and verbs used to refer to the speaker or writer of the language in which they occur
folktale
a tale circulated by word of mouth among the common folk
genre
a kind of literary or artistic work
gesture
motion of hands or body to emphasize a thought or feeling
glossary
an alphabetical list of technical terms in a field
grammar
the branch of linguistics that deals with sentence structure
graphic artist
an artist who designs and makes prints
graphics
photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication
greeting
an acknowledgment or expression of good will
group discussion
a discussion among participants who have an agreed topic
heading
a line of text indicating what the passage below it is about
headline
the heading or caption of a newspaper article
humor
a message that has the power to evoke laughter
illustration
a visual representation to make a subject easy to understand
imagery
the ability to form mental pictures of things or events
indentation
the space left between the margin and a line set in
index
alphabetical listing of names and topics with page numbers
inference
drawing a conclusion on the basis of circumstantial evidence
internet
a worldwide network of computer networks
interrogative sentence
a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply
introduction
the act of beginning something new
investigate
conduct an inquiry of
invitation
a request to be present or take part in something
journal
a daily written record of experiences and observations
key word
a significant word used in indexing or cataloging
language
a means of communicating by the use of sounds or symbols
last name
the name used to identify the members of a family
legend
a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
letter
a written message addressed to a person or organization
linking verb
an equating verb (such as `be’ or `become’) that links the subject with the complement of a sentence
list
a database containing an ordered array of items
literature
writings in a particular style on a particular subject
lowercase
relating to small (not capitalized) letters that were kept in the lower half of a compositor’s type case
magazine
a periodic publication containing articles and pictures
margin
the boundary line or area immediately inside the boundary
mental image
an iconic mental representation
message
a communication that is written or spoken or signaled
miscue
a faulty shot in billiards
mood
a characteristic state of feeling
motive
the reason that arouses action toward a desired goal
mystery
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
myth
a traditional story serving to explain a world view
negative
characterized by denial or opposition or resistance
news
information about recent and important events
newspaper
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets
nonfiction
prose writing that is not formed by the imagination
noun
a content word referring to a person, place, thing or action
novel
an extended fictional work in prose
object
a tangible and visible entity
opinion
a personal belief or judgment
oral presentation
delivering an address to a public audience
organization
a methodical and orderly manner or approach
outline
the line that appears to bound an object
pamphlet
a small book usually having a paper cover
paragraph
one of several distinct subdivisions of a text
passage
the act of moving from one state or place to the next
past tense
a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the past
peer review
evaluate professionally a colleague’s work
pen pal
a person you come to know by frequent friendly correspondence
period
an amount of time
personal letter
a letter dealing with personal affairs
personal pronoun
a pronoun expressing a distinction of person
photographer
someone who takes photographs professionally
phrase
an expression consisting of one or more words
picture book
a book consisting chiefly of pictures
pitch
the high or low quality of a sound
plot
a small area of ground covered by specific vegetation
poem
a composition in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
point of view
a mental position from which things are perceived
posture
the arrangement of the body and its limbs
preface
a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
prefix
an affix that is added in front of the word
preposition
a word before a noun or pronoun connecting to another word
prepositional phrase
a phrase beginning with a preposition
presentation
the activity of formally giving something, as a prize
preview
an advertisement with short scenes from a motion picture
print
the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
pronoun
a function word that is used in place of a noun
pronunciation
the manner in which someone utters a word
proofread
read for errors
proper noun
a noun that denotes a particular thing; usually capitalized
publish
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
punctuation
the use of marks to clarify meaning of written material
purpose
what something is used for
question
a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply
question mark
a punctuation mark (?) placed at the end of a sentence to indicate a question
quotation
a passage or expression that is cited
rating
standing or position on a scale
request
express the need or desire for; ask for
reread
read anew; read again
retell
to say, state, or perform again
revise
make changes to
rhyme
correspondence in the final sounds of two or more lines
root word
the form of a word after all affixes are removed
scan
examine minutely or intensely
science fiction
literary fantasy involving the impact of science on society
second person
pronouns and verbs used to refer to the person addressed by the language in which they occur
sentence
a string of words satisfying grammatical rules of a language
sentence structure
the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences
setting
the physical position of something
short story
a prose narrative shorter than a novel
sign
a visible clue that something has happened or is present
signature
your name written in your own handwriting
skim
remove from the surface
sound effect
an effect that imitates a sound called for in the script of a play
source
the place where something begins
special effect
an effect used to produce scenes that cannot be achieved by normal techniques (especially on film)
speech
communication by word of mouth
spelling
forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage
subject
some situation or event that is thought about
suffix
an affix that is added at the end of the word
summarize
present the main points in a concise form
summary
a brief statement that presents the main points
suspense
an uncertain cognitive state
syllabication
forming or dividing words into syllables
syllable
a unit of spoken language larger than a phoneme
symbol
something visible that represents something invisible
symbolism
the practice of investing things with arbitrary meaning
synonym
a word that expresses the same or similar meaning
table
furniture having a smooth flat top supported by legs
table of contents
a list of divisions and the pages on which they start
take turns
do something in turns
tall tale
an improbable (unusual or incredible or fanciful) story
target language
the language into which a text written in another language is to be translated
television program
a program broadcast by television
tense
taut or rigid; stretched tight
text
the words of something written
textbook
a book prepared for use in schools or colleges
theater
a building where performances can be presented
theme
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
thesaurus
a book containing a classified list of synonyms
third person
pronouns and verbs that are used to refer to something other than the speaker or addressee of the language in which they occur
title
the name of a work of art or literary composition
title page
a page of a book displaying the title and author and publisher
tone
the distinctive property of a complex sound
topic sentence
a sentence that states the topic of its paragraph
typeface
a specific size and style of type within a type family
typing
writing done with a typewriter
uppercase
relating to capital letters which were kept in the top half of a compositor’s type case
usage
the act of employing
verb
a word denoting an action, occurrence, or state of existence
videotape
a relatively wide magnetic tape for use in recording visual images and associated sound
villain
someone who does evil deliberately
vocabulary
a language user’s knowledge of words
voice
the sound made by the vibration of vocal folds
volume
the property of something that is great in magnitude
vowel sound
a speech sound made with the vocal tract open
website
a computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web
