Crafting Language Flashcards
All 13 cards in this deck
Why shouldn't you memorise a list of "ambitious" words to use in your writing?
Examiners criticise pre-learned vocabulary forced in where it doesn't fit ("a plethora of trees"). They reward words used judiciously: a simple word in exactly the right place can show more skill than a rare one used for show.
Why choose precise verbs and nouns rather than piling up adjectives?
One precise word does the work of several weak ones. "The old, tired, slow man walked" becomes "The man shuffled". Precision creates a clearer image and keeps the rhythm tight.
What is wrong with a clichéd image like "as cold as ice", and what should you do instead?
It is so familiar that the reader doesn't picture anything. Create a fresh image linked to your scene: "The air in the stairwell was cold enough to make the handrail ache."
What is an extended metaphor, and what is its effect in your own writing?
A metaphor developed across several sentences, such as treating fog as a slow tide washing over a town. It sustains one mood and ties the piece together, which shows conscious crafting.
What is the effect of a short simple sentence after longer ones?
It jolts the reader: emphasising a key moment, creating tension or marking a sudden change. "…the hallway, the stairs and the landing were all exactly as she'd left them. Except the door."
What is a minor sentence, and when is it effective?
A sentence without a main verb, such as "Silence." or "Rain, again." It creates a snapshot or a sharp pause. Use it sparingly: two or three in a piece have impact, but a dozen look like a trick.
How can a complex sentence that delays its main clause build suspense?
By making the reader wait for the key information: "Just as the queue began to move, and before anyone had noticed the smoke, the alarm began to scream." The delay mirrors the tension of waiting.
What is the effect of a list without conjunctions (an asyndetic list) in description?
It creates a sense of abundance, speed or being overwhelmed: "Horns, shouts, brakes, a dropped tray." Dropping "and" makes the items crowd in on the reader.
How can a semantic field build atmosphere in your writing?
Choosing words from one area of meaning creates a mood without stating it. Words like "rusted", "peeling", "sagging" build a feeling of neglect across a paragraph.
How many language devices should you try to fit into an imaginative writing answer?
There is no target. Examiners reward devices that are deliberate and effective, not a checklist. Forcing alliteration or a rule of three into every sentence makes writing feel artificial.
In "The streetlights came on one by one, like people reluctantly getting out of bed.", what technique is used and what is its effect?
A simile. It makes the lights seem sluggish and human, giving the evening a weary, unwilling mood and suggesting a tired town.
In "Her smile arrived a second after the rest of her face.", what technique is used and what is its effect?
Personification of the smile as something that "arrived" late. It suggests the smile is forced or insincere, letting the reader infer her real feelings without being told.
How can sound devices like sibilance or onomatopoeia help your own description?
They let the reader hear the scene. Sibilance (repeated s sounds) can feel soft or sinister: "the sea's slow hiss across the stones". Onomatopoeia like "clatter" or "drip" gives sharp, immediate sounds.