Words To Know Flashcards
Abbreviation
a shortened version of a word (e.g., prof (professor); doc (doctor))
acronym
a word made up from the first letters of the name of something (e.g., SARS (South African Revenue Service))
active voice
the subject of the sentence does the action (e.g., Sipho threw the ball)
adjective
the part of speech used to describe a person, place or thing (e.g., The old, gray cat slept in a warm basket.)
adverb
the part of speech which describes a verb (e.g., The old man walked slowly.)
alliteration
the use of several words that begin with the same sound or letter in succession (e.g., silvery snakes slide swiftly)
allusion
writing or speaking that mentions a subject, person, etc. indirectly (e.g., Some members of the class seem to think rules don’t apply to them.)
Ambiguity
a possible double meaning which may make a message unclear when used by mistake (e.g., The lady hit the man with the umbrella.)
analyse
to look closely at a text so that you notice everything about the way in which it has been written
anecdote
a short story based on personal experience
antonym
a word that is opposite in meaning to another word in the same language (e.g., tall is an antonym of short)
appreciation
an understanding of the importance or meaning of something, such as a piece of writing
appropriate
correct or suitable for a particular time, situation, or purpose
assonance
repetition of vowel sounds in two or more words to create effect (e.g., slow boats float on the ocean)
assumptions
something that you think is true although you have no definite proof