Ultimate Writer's Dictionary: Grow Your Vocabulary, #4

By Blake Pieck

 

3rd Edition - We explore 1000+ Words / Phrases that focus on Writers / Writing and it has been split into categories: Writers Glossary, Grammar Topics.

This serves as a Monolingual and Learner dictionary and serves as a writing, and research guide.  It would provide guidance for learners as well. Grow your Vocabulary.

An Ultimate Writer's Dictionary is a comprehensive reference tool that provides writers with a wealth of information about language, grammar, and writing. This type of dictionary typically includes a glossary of terms related to writing, as well as detailed explanations of grammar rules and conventions.

In addition to definitions and explanations, an Ultimate Writer's Dictionary may also include examples, exercises, and other resources to help writers improve their skills and refine their writing. This can include tips on developing a writing style, crafting effective sentences and paragraphs, and using punctuation and grammar correctly.

An Ultimate Writer's Dictionary can be a valuable resource for writers of all levels, from beginners to experienced professionals. By providing clear and concise explanations of key concepts and rules, this type of dictionary can help writers to communicate more effectively, avoid common mistakes, and improve the overall quality of their writing.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blake Pieck
• Release date: May 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223724384

Book preview

Glossary

A

A Posteriori  -  Can only be determined through observation (observation first, and the argument follows).

A posteriori is a term commonly used in philosophy and epistemology to describe knowledge that is gained through experience or empirical observation. It is derived from Latin and means from the latter. An a posteriori argument or reasoning relies on facts, evidence, or observations to support its conclusions.

A Priori  -  Relies upon deductive reasoning by first making a general statement that should logically be true, and then applying the argument to a specific instance.

A Priori refers to knowledge that is independent of any empirical evidence, but is based solely on reason, logic, or intuition. In other words, it’s knowledge that can be deduced without the need for any prior observation or experience.

A Psychological Trick  -  Scriptwriting  -  Structure  -  Suspense  -  Filmmakers use this technique frequently. It is when the scene lingers on an entrance before the protagonist comes in. This you will mostly find in genres such as thriller, cop dramas, and horror movies. See our Scriptwriting and Filming Dictionary.

Abolitionist Literature  -  Propaganda wrote in the nineteenth century to condemn slaveholders and promote the release of slaves and the abolishment of slavery.

Abolitionist literature is a type of literature that aims to end the practice of slavery and promote the equality of all people regardless of race. It was most popular in the United States during the mid-19th century and was an important part of the Abolitionist Movement. Abolitionist literature includes novels, poetry, essays, and speeches, and is characterized by its passionate denunciation of slavery, its depictions of the horrors of slavery, and its emphasis on the humanity and dignity of enslaved people. Some of the most famous examples of abolitionist literature include Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Frederick Douglass’s autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.

Abstract Diction  -  Used to describe qualities of something that cannot be acknowledged with the five senses; describing something as pleasant instead of yellow.

Abstract diction refers to language that describes concepts and ideas rather than concrete objects or specific actions. It typically involves the use of general or broad terms, as opposed to specific or detailed ones. Abstract diction is often used in poetry and philosophical writing, and can be contrasted with concrete diction, which uses specific words and details to paint a vivid and tangible picture for the reader.

Acatalecti  -  Poetry  -  A normal line of poetry, displaying the expected number of syllables in each line.

Acatalectic refers to a line of poetry that has the expected number of syllables and a complete metrical pattern. In other words, it is a complete line of verse without any missing syllables at the end. The term is often used in contrast to catalectic, which describes a line with a missing syllable or syllables at the end.

Acronym  -  A word formed from the first letter of each word in a phrase, i.e., USA (United States of America).

An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a phrase or series of words and pronounced as a separate word. For example, NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Acrostic  -  Poetry  -  A saying or sentence in which the first letter of each word will help you remember the order of things or how to spell a word. Never eat sour watermelons = north, east, south, west.

Acrostic is a type of poem in which the first letter of each line (or sometimes the last letter or other letters) spells out a word or phrase. It’s a fun and creative way to play with language and add an extra layer of meaning to a poem. Acrostics can be serious or silly, short or long, and can be written in any poetic form.

Act  -  Screenwriting  -  The division of a play; acts are then divided into scenes. In a play, an act is a major division within the structure of the story. It usually represents a significant part of the plot and includes multiple scenes. A play can have multiple acts, depending on the length and complexity of the story. Typically, the end of an act is marked by a change in location, time, or mood. See our Screenwriting and Filming Dictionary.

Adrenaline Rush  -  Manuscript  -  Focusses  -  Allure  -  In dangerous situations, the brain releases a cocktail of adrenaline and other chemicals into the bloodstream to give us the stamina and courage needed to face the threat. These chemicals induce a high - a mild one for some people, a powerful surge for others.

An adrenaline rush in a manuscript can create a thrilling and exciting experience for readers, particularly in scenes with dangerous or high-stakes situations. This can be a powerful tool for building tension and increasing reader engagement. However, it’s important to balance the use of adrenaline with other emotional and sensory experiences to avoid overwhelming the reader or making the story feel one-dimensional.

Advance  -  The money that a publisher pays an author to publish their book. Compensation paid to an author once the author’s book is contracted but before it is published. Typically, one-half of the advance is paid upon signing of the contract, the remaining half upon delivery of the final manuscript. Advances are paid against future earnings (royalties), which mean the author doesn’t receive royalty payments until the advance has been earned out.

An advance is a sum of money paid to an author by a publisher before the book is published. The amount of the advance is negotiated between the author and publisher and is typically based on the expected sales of the book. The author will receive additional royalties from book sales once the advance has been earned back.

Adventure  -  Manuscript  -  Genre  -  Fiction  -  Any novel that prioritizes exciting events and fast-paced actions over character development or theme.

Adventure is a genre of fiction that typically involves an exciting, daring or risky journey or quest, usually by the protagonist, through unknown or dangerous territory, often involving physical action and suspenseful plot twists. Adventure stories can take place in a variety of settings, such as the jungle, the ocean, or outer space, and often feature themes of heroism, exploration, and overcoming obstacles.

Afterword  -  Part of a book’s back matter detailing how the book came to be and how ideas for the book were developed.

An afterword is a section that comes after the main text of a book, typically written by the author or editor. It provides additional commentary, context, or reflection on the book, and may also include acknowledgements, citations, or other supplementary material. The afterword is distinct from the foreword, which is an introductory section that comes before the main text and is typically written by someone other than the author.

Agent  -  A professional representative who markets creative works to publishing houses. A commission – a collected fee when creative work has been sold, is charged by reputable agents. This is done, rather than charging up-front representation fees.

An agent is a professional who represents an author and their work to publishers, helps negotiate publishing deals, and often provides guidance and advice throughout the publishing process. Agents typically earn a percentage of the author’s earnings from book sales as their fee for their services. Many publishers prefer to work with agents rather than directly with authors, so having an agent can be a valuable asset for authors looking to get their work published.

Agreement  -  When grammatical number, gender, case, mood, or tense agree in separate parts of a sentence.

Agreement refers to a mutual understanding, arrangement, or contract between two or more parties. In the publishing industry, an author signs a publishing agreement with a publisher that outlines the terms and conditions of publishing the author’s work. The agreement may cover areas such as the scope of rights, royalties, marketing, distribution, and other relevant details.

All Rights  -  When a publication owns the worldwide rights to all media types of work. All rights refers to the complete ownership and control of a piece of creative work. An author or creator who sells all rights to their work typically forfeits any further control over the work and can no longer earn money from it. This can be contrasted with other types of agreements, such as licensing agreements, where the author or creator retains some control and the ability to earn income from their work.

Allegory  -  A narrative technique in which characters represent things or abstract concepts to convey a message or to teach a lesson. Teachings ethical, religious, or moral lessons, is usually done through Allegory. This can also be used for political or satiric purposes. It is an expression, or symbolic representation by means of symbolic actions and fictional figures, of generalizations or truths about human existence. In fiction, an allegory is often a symbolic narrative in which the surface details imply a secondary meaning and in which the characters represent moral qualities. 

Allegory is a literary device in which characters, events, and settings are used to represent abstract ideas or concepts, often with the aim of teaching or explaining a moral or political lesson. Unlike symbolism, which uses one-to-one correspondences between objects and meanings, allegory employs a more extended metaphorical system in which the entire story or narrative is a symbolic representation of a larger idea or theme. Examples of famous allegories include George Orwell’s Animal Farm, which uses a group of farm animals to represent the Soviet Union, and John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, which uses a journey to represent the Christian life.

Alley  -  Design Terms  -  The space between columns within a page. Not to be confused with the gutter, which is the combination of the inside margins of two facing pages.

Alliteration  -  Literary Device  -  The repetition of the same consonant sound in a sentence.   A series of words in a sentence all beginning with the same sound.  Mary casually caressed the carefree puppy.

Alliteration is a literary device that involves the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. The repeated sound can be a consonant or a vowel sound. Alliteration is often used in poetry, speeches, and other types of writing to create a musical or rhythmic effect and to emphasize certain words or phrases. For example, Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers is a well-known alliterative phrase.

Allure  -  Manuscript  -  Focusses  -  Noun  -  The quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating.  -  Verb  -  Powerfully attract or charm; tempt.

Allure typically refers to the power or quality of something to attract or entice someone. In the context of writing or literature, it may refer to the elements or aspects of a work that make it captivating or appealing to readers. These could include interesting characters, engaging plot twists, evocative language, unique settings, or any other elements that make the work stand out and draw readers in.

Allusion  -  Literary Device  -  References other characters, places, and events throughout history; these are taken from other pieces of writing in order to clarify or summarize ideas. 

Allusion is a literary device that refers to a person, place, thing, or event in history or another literary work. It can be a direct or indirect reference and often adds a layer of meaning or depth to a text. Allusions can be made to famous works of literature, historical events, famous people, mythology, and religion, among other things.

Alter Ego  -  When a character is used as a thinly disguised representation of the creator of the work.

Alter Ego refers to a second self or a persona within a person. In literature, an alter ego is often used as a tool for character development, allowing the author to explore different aspects of a character’s personality through an imaginary or secondary character. The alter ego can also be used to convey the character’s inner thoughts, emotions, and desires, which may not be revealed in the main plot. An example of an alter ego in literature is Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, where the character of Mr. Hyde is the alter ego of Dr. Jekyll.

Ambiance  -  The feelings/mood derived from a scene. Ambiance refers to the overall mood, atmosphere, or tone of a place, setting, or situation. It encompasses the sensory experiences that contribute to the emotional or psychological feeling of a particular environment, such as the lighting, sounds, smells, and physical surroundings. In literature, ambiance is often created through the use of descriptive language and vivid imagery to evoke a particular emotional response from the reader.

Ambiguity  -  When more than one interpretation can be drawn from a word, sentence, or action. Ambiguity refers to the quality of being open to more than one interpretation or meaning. It can be intentional or unintentional, and is often used in literature to create layers of meaning or to add complexity to a work. Ambiguity can also be used to explore the uncertainties and contradictions of the human experience. However, it can also lead to confusion or misunderstanding if not used effectively.

Americanism  -  A phrase/saying that is characteristic of people from the United States. Americanism is a term used to describe words, expressions, or habits that are peculiar to the United States of America or its people. It can also refer to attitudes or behaviors that are considered typical of Americans. The term can have both positive and negative connotations, depending on the context in which it is used. In literature, Americanism can be used as a stylistic choice to create a particular mood or tone, or to reflect a specific cultural or historical context.

Analogue  -  Manuscript  -  Genre  -  A story that contains characters, situations, or settings that are similar to those in a different story, perhaps inspired by the other story.

Analogue refers to a comparison between two things that have similar features or functions, but that are not identical. In literature, analogies are often used to create a deeper understanding of a concept or idea by comparing it to something else that is more familiar to the reader. For example, life is like a box of chocolates is an analogy that compares the unpredictability of life to the surprise and variety of a box of chocolates.

Analogy  -  A comparison showing like parts of two contrasting things that is used to explain or illustrate a concept.

An analogy is a comparison between two things that are similar in some way, but different in others. Analogies are often used to help explain complex concepts or ideas by comparing them to something more familiar or easily understood. Here are a few examples of analogies:

Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. - This analogy compares life to a box of chocolates, suggesting that just as you never know what flavor you’ll get when you bite into a chocolate, you never know what life will bring you.

Writing a book is like building a house. - This analogy compares the process of writing a book to the process of building a house, suggesting that just as a house requires a solid foundation and careful planning, so too does a book.

The brain is like a computer. - This analogy compares the brain to a computer, suggesting that just as a computer processes information, so too does the brain process information.

Love is like a rose. - This analogy compares love to a rose, suggesting that just as a rose is beautiful but also has thorns, love can be beautiful but also has its challenges.

Analogies can be a useful tool for making complex ideas more understandable and relatable to people.

Anaphora  -  Several consecutive sentences starting with the same group of words. I will not give up. I will not fail. I will prevail..

Anaphora is a rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It is often used in literature, poetry, and speeches to create emphasis and rhythm, and to draw attention to a particular idea or theme.

For Example:

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. - Winston Churchill, We Shall Fight on the Beaches speech, 1940.

In this example, the phrase we shall fight is repeated at the beginning of each clause, creating a powerful sense of determination and resolve.

Anaphora can be a powerful tool for creating rhythm and emphasis in writing and speech, and can help to reinforce important ideas or themes.

Anecdote  -  A short account of an amusing or interesting event used to clarify abstract points; it’s usually combined with other material, such as an essay or argument. 

An anecdote is a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person. Anecdotes are often used in conversation, speeches, and writing to add color and humor, or to illustrate a point. They are usually based on personal experiences or observations and can be a powerful tool for engaging an audience and making a point more memorable.

Here is an example of an anecdote:

When I was a kid, my dad used to take me fishing every weekend. We would wake up early, pack up the car, and head to the lake. One day, I caught a huge bass that was almost as big as I was. I was so proud of myself, but my dad just smiled and said, ‘That’s great, son. Now let’s throw it back and catch another one.’

In this example, the anecdote is used to illustrate the idea that success is not just about achieving one goal, but about the journey of constant improvement and striving for more.

Anecdotes can be a powerful tool for engaging an audience and making a point more memorable. They can help to illustrate complex ideas and make them more relatable to people by putting them in a familiar and entertaining context.

Antagonist  -  Character  -  The main force that comes into conflict with the main character. This could be a person, animal, thing, or situation.   The main character in a work of fiction comes into conflict with the protagonist (hero or heroine). Note that the antagonist does not always have to be a character; it could be a thing or a situation (a monster, a storm, a flood, etc.).  Bob Ewell, in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, is a malevolent antagonist. See our Character Building Dictionary.

Anthology  -  Form  -  When a book combines stories by several various authors - usually of the same genre or about the same theme. Anthologies are Collections, but not all Collections are Anthologies. A book with stories written by the same author is a Collection.

Antonyms  -  Opposites. Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings.

Here are some examples:

hot/cold

happy/sad

fast/slow

light/dark

young/old

big/small

love/hate

positive/negative

success/failure

up/down

Autobiography  -  Manuscript  -  Genre  -  Non-Fiction  -  An account / history of a person’s life written by that person.

An autobiography is a literary work that tells the story of a person’s life, as written by themselves. Autobiographies can be written in a variety of styles and formats, but typically include a narrative of the author’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings, as well as their reflections on their life and the events that have shaped it.

Autobiographies can provide valuable insights into the lives and perspectives of the authors, and can offer readers a glimpse into the historical and cultural contexts in which they lived. Autobiographies can also serve as a means of self-expression and self-exploration, as the authors reflect on their own experiences and seek to make sense of them.

Some famous examples of autobiographies include The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, which tells the story of Franklin’s life as a statesman, inventor, and thinker, and The Diary of Anne Frank, which recounts the experiences of a young Jewish girl living in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Other notable autobiographies include I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, and Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela.

Autobiographies can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and self-expression, as well as a means of preserving and sharing important historical and cultural perspectives.  See Biography.

Articles  -  Determiners that indicate the specificity of a noun phrase. English language articles are a, an, and the. Articles are written pieces of text that are published in newspapers, magazines, academic journals, or on websites. Articles can cover a wide range of topics, including news, opinion, analysis, research, and entertainment.

Articles are often written by journalists, experts in a particular field, or freelance writers. They typically follow a specific format and structure, with an introduction that hooks the reader, a body that provides information or analysis, and a conclusion that summarizes the key points and offers a final perspective.

Articles can serve a variety of purposes, such as informing readers about current events, sharing opinions and perspectives on a topic, or presenting research findings or other forms of scholarly analysis. Articles can also be used as a means of entertainment, providing readers with engaging stories, reviews of movies, books or music, or other forms of cultural commentary.

Some popular examples of articles include news articles, opinion pieces, feature stories, academic research papers, and blog posts. Articles can be published in print or online, and can be accessed by a wide range of readers around the world.

Overall, articles play an important role in shaping public discourse and providing readers with valuable information, insights, and perspectives on a wide range of topics.

Aside  -  Literary Device  -  A speech/monologue meant for the audience to hear but not the other characters in the story; increases the audience’s awareness of what is happening in the plot.

An aside is a literary device used in plays, films, or television shows, where a character speaks directly to the audience or to another character, but is not heard by the other characters on stage. Asides are typically brief and often humorous, and are used to provide insight into a character’s thoughts, motivations, or intentions.

In theater, an aside is usually spoken quietly or with a lowered voice, and is directed towards the audience. The purpose of an aside is to break the fourth wall, or the imaginary barrier between the actors on stage and the audience, and to create a sense of intimacy and connection between the character and the audience.

Here’s an example of an aside:

Character 1: I can’t believe she said that to me.

Character 2: What did she say?

Character 1 (aside to audience): I can’t tell him the truth. He’ll never understand.

In this example, Character 1 speaks to the audience, revealing their true thoughts and motivations, while also maintaining a facade of politeness with Character 2.

Asides can be a useful tool for writers and actors to provide additional insight into a character’s inner thoughts and feelings, and to create a deeper connection between the audience and the characters on stage.

Assignment  -  An article an editor or publisher has commissioned a writer to create. Assignments refer to a piece of writing that an editor or publisher has commissioned a writer to create. In this context, an assignment is a specific topic or subject that the writer is asked to write about, often with specific