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. 

Filter by

Intransitive verb
Verb that cannot take a direct object, such as abound, cling, hanker and skateboard.   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
 
ISBN
The International Standard Book Number is a 10 or 13 digit number which is assigned to books so that they can be uniquely identified internationally.
ISSN
International Standard Serial Number. An international system used on periodicals, magazines and journals. It is eight digits that refer to the country of publication and the title of the publication.
Juxtaposition
Where two things are placed together to create a contrast or invite comparison.   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
 
Kill fee
A fee paid to a freelance writer for material writers on assignment but not used, typically a percentage of the total payment.