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

Main clause
Clause in a sentence containing a finite verb form and capable of standing alone as a complete sentence.   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
 
Malapropism
The misuse of words for humorous effect, named after Mrs Malaprop in R. B. Sheridan’s The Rivals (1775).   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
 
Manuscript
The original typed or handwritten text of the author's work that is submitted to the publisher.
Metadata
Data that describes the content of a book to aid online discoverability - typically title, author, ISBN, key terms, description and other bibliographic information.
Metanoia
An exaggerated or extreme statement lessened or undermined by a successive statement which suggests a changed mind or a calmed emotion.   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