Elements of Style

Question 1

The repetition of similar sounds, usually consonants, at the beginning of words

Answer 1

Alliteration

Question 2

A breaking-off of speech, usually because of rising emotion or excitement.

Answer 2

Aposiopesis

Question 3

A direct address to an absent or dead person, or an object, quality, or idea.

Answer 3

Apostrophe

Question 4

The repetition of similar vowel sounds in a sequence of nearby words.

Answer 4

Assonance

Question 5

An informal expression or slang, especially in the context of formal writing.

Answer 5

Colloquialism

Question 6

An elaborate parallel between two seemingly dissimilar things.

Answer 6

Conceit

Question 7

An adjective or phrase that describes a prominent feature of a person or thing

Answer 7

Epithet

Question 8

The use of decorous language to express vulgar or unpleasant ideas, events, or actions

Answer 8

Euphemism

Question 9

An excessive overstatement or conscious exaggeration of a fact

Answer 9

Hyperbole

Question 10

The substitution of one term for another that generally is associated with it. “Suits” for “businessmen”

Answer 10

Metonymy

Question 11

The use of words to describe sounds, “Hiss”, “pop”

Answer 11

Onomatopeia

Question 12

The association of two contrary terms

Answer 12

Oxymoron

Question 13

A statement that seems absurd or even contradictory but often expresses a deeper truth

Answer 13

Paradox

Question 14

The use of similar grammatical structures or word order in two sentences or phrases to suggest a comparison or contrast between them.

Answer 14

Parallelism

Question 15

The use of one kind sensory experience to describe another.

Answer 15

Synaesthesia

Question 16

A form of metonymy in which a part of an entity is used to refer to the whole. “my wheels” for “my car”

Answer 16

Synecdoche

Question 17

occurs when there is an (intentional) error in the chronology or timeline of a text. This could be a character who appears in a different time period than when he actually lived, or a technology that appears before it was invented. are often used for comedic effect.

Answer 17

Anachronism

Question 18

is when a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of multiple sentences throughout a piece of writing. It’s used to emphasize the repeated phrase and evoke strong feelings in the audience.

Answer 18

Anaphora

Question 19

is when the writer leaves out conjunctions (such as “and,” “or,” “but,” and “for”) in a group of words or phrases so that the meaning of the phrase or sentence is emphasized. It is often used for speeches since sentences containing; can have a powerful, memorable rhythm

Answer 19

Asyndeton

Question 20

A kind of hero found in several of the works of Lord Byron. Like Byron himself, a Byronic hero is a melancholy and rebellious young man, distressed by a terrible wrong he committed in the past.

Answer 20

Byronic hero

Question 21

is when an author inserts a famous quotation, poem, song, or other short passage or text at the beginning of a larger text (e.g., a book, chapter, etc.)

Answer 21

Epigraph

Question 22

is similar to anaphora, but in this case, the repeated word or phrase appears at the end of successive statements. Like anaphora, it is used to evoke an emotional response from the audience.

Answer 22

Epistrophe

Question 23

a word humorously misused

Answer 23

Malapropism

Question 24

A long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage

Answer 24

Soliloquy