OCR GCSE English Language key terms

A group of words containing a verb that can stand on its own as a complete sentence.

A description that presents one thing as another to suggest a resemblance or association.

Using evidence in a misleading way, for example by treating an assumption as a proven fact or drawing a conclusion that the evidence cannot support.

A memory aid, such as a phrase that helps you remember the letters in a difficult spelling.

An emotional atmosphere created by a text, such as unease or excitement.

The viewpoint through which a story is presented, affecting what readers know and how they understand events.

The selection and arrangement of events and details in a story or recount to guide the reader’s response.

The perspective from which a story is told, controlling whose experiences, thoughts and knowledge the reader can access.

The distinctive personality of a narrator conveyed through their language, observations and attitudes.

The person or voice that tells a story; the narrator is not necessarily the author.

Writing that communicates ideas, information or views rather than telling a fictional story; examples include articles, letters and speeches.

An understanding of the overall effect of an extract, connecting its details and developments rather than treating each quotation separately.

The speed at which a narrative appears to move, shaped by choices such as how much detail is given and how sentences are arranged.

A group of related sentences that develops a main idea or a distinct stage of a piece of writing.

An accurate restatement of a text’s meaning in your own words.

Additional information inserted into a sentence and set off with commas, brackets or dashes.

Giving a non-human thing a human action or quality.

A view or attitude towards an experience or idea, communicated through a text.

An apostrophe showing that something belongs to, or is associated with, a person or thing.

Letters added to the beginning of a root word to change its meaning, such as ‘dis–’ in ‘disagree’.

A word that can stand in place of a noun or noun phrase, such as ‘she’, ‘it’ or ‘they’.

Reading a finished piece carefully to identify and correct errors.

Writing organised in sentences and paragraphs rather than verse. Prose fiction tells invented stories, including novels and short stories.

What a writer aims to achieve, such as explaining an idea, informing readers or persuading them to act.

Words copied directly from a text.

Thoughtful consideration of an experience, including what it meant and how the writer’s understanding or feelings have changed.

The level and type of language chosen to suit an audience, purpose and situation, such as formal or conversational language.

The deliberate use of a word, phrase or pattern more than once.