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. 

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Determiner
Word that precedes a noun or adjective to limit or determine its reference. For example, this, each, some or either.   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
 
Diacope
The repetition of a word or words in a sentence, with other words dropped in between; used for emphasis or to enhance a description.   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
 
Direct obejct
Noun or pronoun in the predicate of a sentence that receives the action of the verb, such as the ball in She hit the ball.   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
 
Dissonance
An arrangement of cacophonous or discordant sounds to create a harsh and jarring effect.   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
 
Emotional beat
An emotional beat is when the action of a story creates an emotional reaction in your character. The emotional beat is there to show us what will motivate our character's next action. The emotional beats of a story help to outline the arc of a character. For example, in the film Babyteeth, the inciting incident is the very first meeting between Milla and Moses. Milla falls in love very quickly with Moses. When we find Moses robbing her house in the middle of the night, her parents are angry. However, the emotional beat for her parents is seeing Milla happy and giddy with her first love. As Milla has just been diagnosed with cancer, we know that her parent's emotional beat - prioritising their daughter's happiness over their own concerns about Moses - will influence the rest of the film.