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The Writer's Craft

Grammar, style, sentence construction, and the art of revision

10 categories84 words

All 10 Categories

Commonly Confused Words

Word pairs that trip up even careful writers

Punctuation & Its Powers

The subtle art of punctuation

Sentence Structures

Types of sentences and their effects

Style & Voice

Terms for describing and analyzing prose style

Grammar Pitfalls

Common errors that undermine credibility

The Art of Concision

Techniques for tighter, more powerful prose

Paragraph Architecture

Building blocks of longer prose

Transitions & Flow

Connecting ideas smoothly

Openings & Closings

Beginning and ending with power

Revision & Editing

The vocabulary of rewriting

All 84 Words in The Writer's Craft

Complete vocabulary list for easy reference and copy-paste.

🔀Commonly Confused Words10

Term	Definition	Example
affect vs. effect	affect is usually a verb (to influence); effect is usually a noun (the result)	"The rain will affect the game. The effect was dramatic."
lie vs. lay	lie means to recline (no object); lay means to place something (requires object)	"I lie down. I lay the book on the table. Yesterday I lay down (past of lie)."
who vs. whom	who is a subject pronoun; whom is an object pronoun	"Who called? To whom should I address this? (Try: he called / give it to him)"
fewer vs. less	fewer for countable items; less for uncountable quantities	"Fewer people, less water. Fewer mistakes, less confusion."
farther vs. further	farther for physical distance; further for metaphorical or additional	"Walk farther down the road. Let's discuss this further."
imply vs. infer	speakers/writers imply; listeners/readers infer	"She implied I was wrong. I inferred from her tone that she was upset."
compliment vs. complement	compliment is praise; complement is something that completes	"She paid me a compliment. The wine complements the meal."
disinterested vs. uninterested	disinterested means impartial; uninterested means not interested	"A judge should be disinterested. He was uninterested in the topic."
compose vs. comprise	parts compose the whole; the whole comprises its parts	"Fifty states compose the union. The union comprises fifty states."
continual vs. continuous	continual means recurring with breaks; continuous means without interruption	"Continual interruptions vs. the continuous flow of the river."

✏️Punctuation & Its Powers8

Term	Definition	Example
semicolon	joins independent clauses without a conjunction; signals close relationship	"I came; I saw; I conquered. Use it when a period is too strong, a comma too weak."
em dash	sets off parenthetical content with emphasis—like this—or signals a break	"He was going to win—or so he thought. The em dash adds drama."
en dash	indicates ranges or connections between items	"Pages 10–15. The London–Paris train. The Clinton–Gore campaign."
Oxford comma	the comma before 'and' in a list of three or more	"I love my parents, Batman, and Wonder Woman. (Without it: my parents are superheroes.)"
colon	introduces what follows—a list, explanation, or elaboration	"She had one goal: victory. A colon says 'namely' or 'as follows.'"
ellipsis	indicates omission, trailing off, or suspense	"She opened the door and saw... nothing. The ellipsis creates pause."
parenthetical	an inserted phrase that adds information without changing the main sentence	"The CEO (who had just arrived) immediately took charge."
appositive	a noun phrase that renames or explains another noun	"My brother, a doctor, lives in Boston. Set off by commas if non-essential."

📝Sentence Structures8

Term	Definition	Example
simple sentence	one independent clause with subject and predicate	"She ran. Direct. Powerful. Often underused."
compound sentence	two independent clauses joined by a conjunction	"She ran, and he followed. Equal weight to both ideas."
complex sentence	one independent clause with one or more dependent clauses	"Although she ran, she couldn't escape. Subordination creates hierarchy."
periodic sentence	builds to the main point at the end	"Despite the rain, the cold, and his exhaustion, he finished the race."
cumulative sentence	states the main point first, then adds modifying details	"He finished the race, legs burning, lungs screaming, heart pounding."
loose sentence	main clause first, followed by subordinate elements	"She won the prize, which surprised everyone, especially her critics."
balanced sentence	parallel structures of equal weight	"Easy to read, hard to write. Ask not what your country can do for you..."
inverted sentence	places the verb before the subject for emphasis	"Never have I seen such courage. Gone are the days of simple solutions."

🎨Style & Voice8

Term	Definition	Example
voice	the distinctive personality and style of a writer	"Hemingway's voice is spare and muscular. Didion's is precise and melancholic."
tone	the author's attitude toward subject or audience	"The tone was ironic, understated, almost mocking."
register	the level of formality in language	"Academic register vs. casual register. Know when to switch."
diction	word choice and vocabulary level	"Elevated diction: 'commence.' Plain diction: 'start.'"
syntax	the arrangement of words and phrases	"Short syntax punches. Longer, more elaborate syntax unfolds with deliberate patience."
cadence	the rhythm and flow of prose	"The cadence of his sentences rose and fell like breathing."
parataxis	placing clauses side by side without subordination	"I came. I saw. I conquered. Each clause independent, equal."
hypotaxis	using subordinate clauses to show hierarchy	"Because he saw the opportunity, and although he was afraid, he acted."

⚠️Grammar Pitfalls8

Term	Definition	Example
dangling modifier	a modifier that doesn't logically attach to anything in the sentence	"Walking to school, the sun shone brightly. (The sun wasn't walking.)"
misplaced modifier	a modifier too far from the word it modifies	"She almost drove her car into every mailbox. (She didn't almost—she almost hit them.)"
split infinitive	placing an adverb between 'to' and the verb	"To boldly go where no one has gone before. Once forbidden, now often acceptable."
comma splice	joining independent clauses with only a comma	"He ran fast, he still lost. (Use semicolon, period, or conjunction.)"
fused sentence	joining independent clauses with no punctuation	"He ran fast he still lost. (Missing punctuation between clauses.)"
pronoun ambiguity	unclear antecedent for a pronoun	"John told Mike he was wrong. (Who was wrong—John or Mike?)"
subject-verb disagreement	mismatch between subject and verb number	"The list of items are long. (Should be 'is'—list is singular.)"
parallel structure error	breaking parallelism in a series	"She likes hiking, to swim, and runs. (Should be: hiking, swimming, and running.)"

✂️The Art of Concision8

Term	Definition	Example
active voice	the subject performs the action, creating direct and vigorous prose	"The committee approved the plan. (Not: The plan was approved by the committee.)"
strong verbs	specific, vivid verbs that replace weak verb + adverb combinations	"She sprinted. (Not: She ran quickly.) He muttered. (Not: He said quietly.)"
nominalization	turning verbs into nouns, often weakening prose	"We made a decision. (Weak.) We decided. (Strong.) Avoid unnecessary nominalizations."
expletive construction	'there is' or 'it is' constructions that delay the real subject	"There are many reasons to act. (Weak.) Many reasons compel us to act. (Strong.)"
redundancy	unnecessary repetition of meaning	"Free gift, past history, advance planning. Just: gift, history, planning."
verbosity	using more words than necessary	"At this point in time → now. In the event that → if. Due to the fact that → because."
hedging	qualifiers that weaken certainty unnecessarily	"I sort of think we should maybe consider... Just say: We should consider."
throat-clearing	unnecessary preamble before the main point	"I'd like to take this opportunity to say that I believe... Just say what you believe."

🏗️Paragraph Architecture8

Term	Definition	Example
topic sentence	the sentence that states the paragraph's main idea	"Usually first, but can be delayed for effect or placed at the end for emphasis."
supporting sentences	sentences that develop, explain, or prove the topic sentence	"Evidence, examples, analysis—the meat of the paragraph."
clincher sentence	the final sentence that reinforces the point or transitions	"A strong ending that echoes the opening or points forward."
unity	each paragraph focusing on a single main idea	"One paragraph, one point. New idea? New paragraph."
coherence	logical flow between sentences within a paragraph	"Ideas connect through transitions, pronouns, repetition of key terms."
paragraph break	a strategic decision about where to end one paragraph and begin another	"Short paragraphs quicken pace. Long ones slow readers down for complex ideas."
one-sentence paragraph	a paragraph of single sentence for dramatic emphasis	"Used sparingly, it commands attention. Like this."
transitional paragraph	a paragraph that bridges major sections	"So we've established the problem. Now let's consider solutions."

🌊Transitions & Flow10

Term	Definition	Example
moreover	adds information that strengthens the previous point	"The plan is affordable. Moreover, it's sustainable."
nevertheless	introduces a contrasting point despite what came before	"The risks are real. Nevertheless, we must proceed."
notwithstanding	despite the preceding point	"His objections notwithstanding, the motion passed."
accordingly	as a logical result of what was stated	"Resources are limited. Accordingly, we must prioritize."
conversely	introduces the opposite perspective	"Success brings visibility. Conversely, failure often goes unnoticed."
hence	therefore, as a consequence	"The bridge collapsed; hence, traffic was rerouted."
insofar as	to the extent that	"The policy works insofar as people comply."
in light of	considering, taking into account	"In light of new evidence, we revised our conclusions."
by the same token	for the same reason; similarly	"Hard work builds skill. By the same token, practice builds confidence."
that said	introduces a contrasting or qualifying point	"The book is brilliant. That said, it's not for everyone."

🚪Openings & Closings8

Term	Definition	Example
hook	an opening that immediately captures attention	"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."
in medias res	beginning in the middle of the action	"The gun went off. Starting with action, explaining later."
cold open	beginning without preamble or context	"Dropping readers directly into scene without setup."
thesis statement	a clear statement of the main argument or point	"This essay argues that... The central claim, stated plainly."
lede	the opening sentence or paragraph of a news story	"Burying the lede means hiding the main point too deep."
call to action	an ending that urges the reader to do something	"The time to act is now. Start today."
circular ending	returning to the opening image or idea	"Beginning and ending with the same image creates closure."
resonant ending	a conclusion that lingers in the reader's mind	"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

🔧Revision & Editing8

Term	Definition	Example
kill your darlings	be willing to cut even your favorite passages if they don't serve the work	"That beautiful sentence? If it doesn't fit, delete it."
show, don't tell	convey through concrete detail rather than abstract statement	"Not 'she was sad' but 'her hands trembled as she set down the photograph.'"
read aloud	testing prose by speaking it to catch awkward rhythms	"If you stumble reading it aloud, readers will stumble reading silently."
tighten	remove unnecessary words while preserving meaning	"First draft: 100 words. Tightened: 60 words. Same meaning, more power."
expand	add detail, examples, or explanation where needed	"This point needs expansion—show me what you mean."
cut	remove words, sentences, or sections that don't contribute	"When in doubt, cut it out."
line edit	editing at the sentence level for clarity and style	"Examining each sentence for wordiness, ambiguity, awkwardness."
developmental edit	editing for structure, argument, and overall organization	"Does the piece make sense as a whole? Are sections in the right order?"

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