English Language key terms

A written electronic message using respectful language and a clear structure for a professional or official audience.

A written message addressed to a particular recipient, using respectful language and conventions appropriate to a serious or professional purpose.

A category of writing with recognisable conventions, such as a ghost story.

The perspective from which someone writes: first person (‘I’, ‘we’), second person (‘you’) or third person (‘he’, ‘she’, ‘they’).

The title of an article, designed to attract attention and indicate its subject or angle.

A word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning, often with a different spelling, such as ‘their’ and ‘there’.

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis, not intended to be understood literally.

A thought or message communicated by a text, such as the idea that providing shelter does not necessarily mean treating people humanely.

Descriptive language that creates a sensory impression, such as something seen, heard or felt.

Writing that uses invented or real experiences creatively to engage a reader, through narrative, description or a sustained character voice.

A command or instruction, such as ‘Come here!’

A sentence that gives a command or instruction.

Information suggested rather than directly stated, which a reader can infer from evidence.

An opinion suggested through language or selected details rather than stated directly.

An understanding of what a character or place is like, created by details in a text.

A word such as ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’ that brings the speaker and audience together as a group.

A group of words containing a subject and a verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

A conclusion drawn from clues in a text and supported by evidence, rather than stated directly.

A judgement supported by reasons and specific details, rather than simply stated as a preference.

An explanation that connects two texts throughout a discussion, bringing together their ideas, evidence and methods rather than examining each text separately.

A presentation of a character's private thoughts rather than words spoken aloud.

An understanding or reading of a text’s meaning that can be tested against its details.

A sentence that asks a question.

A comparison that moves between texts as it develops shared points, rather than treating each text as a separate essay.

A contrast between an expectation or belief and the reality revealed by a text.

The placement of contrasting elements close together so that their differences become significant.

The writer’s choices of words, phrases and grammatical patterns to create meaning and effects.