Glossary

We’ve curated a glossary of terms regarding all things writing and publishing related. From commonly-used terms to abbreviations, our glossary will guide writers and people starting out in publishing, to cut through the jargon and gain a better understanding. 

Genre
Different styles or categories of literature.
Gerund
Noun ending in -ing that is formed from a verb, for example, smoking.   A more extensive list of grammatical terms is included in The Right Word: A Writer’s Toolkit of Grammar, Vocabulary and Literary Terms (Bloomsbury 2021)  © Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2021
 
Hamartia
A flaw or failure in a character, that they themselves are not usually able to see, that leads to his or her downfall.   A more extensive list of literary terms, with quotations from fiction and non-fiction sources showing the terms in use, is included in The Right Word: A Writer’s Toolkit of Grammar, Vocabulary and Literary Terms (Bloomsbury 2021)  © Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2021
 
Hardback
A book bound with rigid protective covers, often made of cardboard with cloth or paper coverings.
Homophone
Two or more words which sound the same but are spelt differently and have different meanings, for example ‘would’ and ‘wood’, ‘flower’ and ‘flour’.   A more extensive list of literary terms, with quotations from fiction and non-fiction sources showing the terms in use, is included in The Right Word: A Writer’s Toolkit of Grammar, Vocabulary and Literary Terms (Bloomsbury 2021)  © Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2021