RLA glossary
144 RLA words · English + Español
Most used on the test
A
agreementagreement (concordancia)
matching words that go together in number: a singular subject with a singular verb, and a pronoun with the noun it replaces.
Example: The buses are late, and they need repairs. (Plural subject, plural verb, plural pronoun.)
agreement (concordancia) — la correspondencia en número entre palabras relacionadas: sujeto singular con verbo singular, y pronombre con el sustantivo que reemplaza.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
ambiguous pronounambiguous pronoun (pronombre ambiguo)
a pronoun that could refer to more than one noun, so the reader cannot tell who or what it means.
Example: Ana told Rosa that she had won. (Who won, Ana or Rosa?)
ambiguous pronoun (pronombre ambiguo) — un pronombre que podría referirse a más de un sustantivo, así que el lector no sabe a quién o a qué se refiere.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
analyzeanalyze (analizar)
to look closely at the parts of a text, such as its claims and evidence, and explain how they work.
Example: Analyze both positions. (Explain how each author argues and how well; do not just give your own opinion.)
analyze (analizar) — examinar con cuidado las partes de un texto, como sus afirmaciones y su evidencia, y explicar cómo funcionan.
anecdoteanecdote (anécdota)
a short story about a real person or event, used to make a point feel personal.
Example: My neighbor waited two hours for a bus that never came. (One person's story, not data.)
anecdote (anécdota) — una historia corta sobre una persona o un suceso real que se usa para que una idea se sienta más personal.
Learn it: Analyze arguments and use evidence (Trait 1)Full page
antecedentantecedent (antecedente)
the earlier noun that a pronoun refers back to and stands in for in a sentence.
Example: Maria lost her badge. (Maria is the antecedent of her.)
antecedent (antecedente) — el sustantivo anterior al que se refiere un pronombre y al que reemplaza en la oración.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
antonymantonym (antónimo)
a word that means the opposite of another word, often used as a contrast clue.
Example: Unlike his generous brother, Paul was stingy. (Generous and stingy are antonyms.)
antonym (antónimo) — una palabra que significa lo contrario de otra; a menudo sirve como pista de contraste.
appeal to emotionappeal to emotion (apelación a las emociones)
an attempt to persuade by stirring up feelings such as fear, pity or pride instead of giving evidence.
Example: Picture your own child alone on a dark street; can you really vote no? (An appeal to emotion, not data.)
appeal to emotion (apelación a las emociones) — un intento de convencer despertando sentimientos como miedo, lástima u orgullo, en lugar de dar evidencia.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
applyapply (aplicar)
to use a rule or idea from a text to answer a question about a new situation.
Example: The policy gives paid leave after 90 days, and Kim started 120 days ago. (Applying the rule: Kim qualifies.)
apply (aplicar) — usar una regla o una idea de un texto para responder una pregunta sobre una situación nueva.
appositiveappositive (aposición)
a noun or noun phrase placed next to another noun to rename it, usually set off by commas.
Example: Ms. Lee, the new director, spoke first. (The new director renames Ms. Lee.)
appositive (aposición) — un sustantivo o una frase sustantiva que va junto a otro sustantivo para nombrarlo de otra manera; casi siempre va entre comas.
argumentargument (argumento)
a claim together with the reasons and evidence an author gives to convince readers that it is true.
Example: The town needs a pool because children need a safe place to swim, and drownings fell in towns that built one. (Claim, reason and evidence.)
argument (argumento) — una afirmación junto con las razones y la evidencia que da un autor para convencer a los lectores de que es verdadera.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
audienceaudience (público)
the people a text is written for, which shapes the author's words, details and tone.
Example: Dear parents, please sign the field trip form by Friday. (The audience is parents.)
audience (público) — las personas a quienes va dirigido un texto, lo que influye en las palabras, los detalles y el tono del autor.
author's purposeauthor's purpose (propósito del autor)
the main reason an author wrote a text, such as to inform, to persuade, to give instructions or to entertain.
Example: Please vote yes on the new park this Tuesday. (The author's purpose is to persuade.)
author's purpose (propósito del autor) — la razón principal por la que un autor escribió un texto, como informar, convencer, dar instrucciones o entretener.
axisaxis (eje)
the line along the side or bottom of a graph that shows what is measured and in what units.
Example: The bottom axis shows years, and the side axis shows the number of riders. (Read both axes before the bars.)
axis (eje) — la línea al lado o en la parte de abajo de una gráfica que muestra qué se mide y en qué unidades.
B
better supportedbetter supported (mejor fundamentado)
backed by stronger, more relevant and more reliable evidence, not simply the side you agree with.
Example: Text 1 cites a study of 2,000 riders; Text 2 quotes one angry rider. (Text 1 is better supported.)
better supported (mejor fundamentado) — respaldado por evidencia más fuerte, más pertinente y más confiable; no es simplemente el lado con el que estás de acuerdo.
Learn it: Analyze arguments and use evidence (Trait 1)Full page
biasbias (sesgo)
a leaning toward one side that can make a writer or a source unfair or one-sided.
Example: A study praising a soda was paid for by the soda company. (The source may be biased.)
bias (sesgo) — una inclinación hacia un lado que puede hacer que un escritor o una fuente sea injusto o parcial.
Learn it: Analyze arguments and use evidence (Trait 1)Full page
body paragraphbody paragraph (párrafo de desarrollo)
a middle paragraph of an essay that supports one part of the thesis with evidence and explanation.
Example: First, the author of Text 1 uses data from a two-year study. (A sentence that opens a body paragraph.)
body paragraph (párrafo de desarrollo) — un párrafo del medio de un ensayo que apoya una parte de la tesis con evidencia y explicación.
C
causecause (causa)
the event or reason that makes something else happen; it answers the question why?
Example: Because the road flooded, the school closed. (The flooded road is the cause.)
cause (causa) — el suceso o la razón que hace que ocurra otra cosa; responde a la pregunta ¿por qué?
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
cause-and-effect chaincause-and-effect chain (cadena de causa y efecto)
a series of events in which each effect becomes the cause of the next event.
Example: The storm cut the power, so the freezer stopped, so the food spoiled. (Each result causes the next one.)
cause-and-effect chain (cadena de causa y efecto) — una serie de sucesos en la que cada efecto se convierte en la causa del suceso siguiente.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
cause-effectcause-effect (causa y efecto)
a text structure that explains why something happens and what happens as a result.
Example: Heavy rain fell for three days; as a result, the river flooded. (As a result signals cause and effect.)
cause-effect (causa y efecto) — una estructura de texto que explica por qué pasa algo y qué pasa como resultado.
character traitcharacter trait (rasgo de carácter)
a lasting quality of a character's personality, such as honest, stubborn, generous or shy.
Example: Even when no one was watching, Tom returned the extra change. (Trait: honest.)
character trait (rasgo de carácter) — una cualidad duradera de la personalidad de un personaje, como honesto, terco, generoso o tímido.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
claimclaim (afirmación)
the main point an author wants readers to accept as true, which needs reasons and evidence to back it up.
Example: The city should ban phones in schools. (A claim that someone could argue against.)
claim (afirmación) — la idea principal que un autor quiere que los lectores acepten como verdadera; necesita razones y evidencia que la respalden.
Learn it: Analyze arguments and use evidence (Trait 1)Full page
clauseclause (cláusula)
a group of words that has both a subject and a verb; it may or may not be a complete sentence.
Example: When the bus arrived, we got on. (Two clauses: when the bus arrived and we got on.)
clause (cláusula) — un grupo de palabras que tiene sujeto y verbo; puede ser o no una oración completa.
Learn it: Sentence structure: run-ons, fragments, modifiers, transitionsFull page
climax / turning pointclimax / turning point (clímax / punto de giro)
the moment of greatest tension in a story, when the main conflict peaks and things begin to change.
Example: At last, Rosa stood up at the meeting and told her boss the truth. (The turning point of the story.)
climax / turning point (clímax / punto de giro) — el momento de mayor tensión de un cuento, cuando el conflicto principal llega a su punto más alto y las cosas empiezan a cambiar.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
coherencecoherence (coherencia)
the quality of writing whose ideas connect clearly and follow a logical order from one to the next.
Example: The plan saves money. For example, it cuts printing costs. (For example links the ideas, so the paragraph is coherent.)
coherence (coherencia) — la cualidad de un texto cuyas ideas se conectan con claridad y siguen un orden lógico de una a otra.
comma splicecomma splice (empalme con coma)
an error in which two complete sentences are joined with only a comma between them.
Example: The bus was late, I walked to work. (Fix: The bus was late, so I walked to work.)
comma splice (empalme con coma) — un error en el que dos oraciones completas se unen solo con una coma.
compare-contrastcompare-contrast (comparación y contraste)
a text structure that shows how two or more things are alike and how they are different.
Example: Both plans cover doctor visits, but only Plan B covers dental care. (Both and but only signal compare-contrast.)
compare-contrast (comparación y contraste) — una estructura de texto que muestra en qué se parecen y en qué se diferencian dos o más cosas.
complementcomplement (complementar)
to add different but matching information, so that two texts together give a fuller picture.
Example: Text 1 tells one worker's story; Text 2 gives statistics on the same problem. (The texts complement each other.)
complement (complementar) — agregar información diferente pero compatible, de modo que dos textos juntos den una imagen más completa.
complex sentencecomplex sentence (oración compleja)
a sentence made of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, often joined by because, although or when.
Example: Although the plan is costly, it will save lives. (Although the plan is costly cannot stand alone.)
complex sentence (oración compleja) — una oración formada por una cláusula independiente y al menos una cláusula dependiente, a menudo unidas con because, although o when.
Learn it: Clarity and command of standard English (Trait 3)Full page
compound sentencecompound sentence (oración compuesta)
a sentence made of two independent clauses joined by a comma and a joining word, or by a semicolon.
Example: The bus was late, so I walked. (Two complete thoughts joined by , so.)
compound sentence (oración compuesta) — una oración formada por dos cláusulas independientes unidas con una coma y una conjunción, o con punto y coma.
concessionconcession (concesión)
admitting that part of the other side's argument is fair or true before answering it.
Example: To be fair, the new lanes will cost money, but they will save time for thousands. (To be fair signals a concession.)
concession (concesión) — admitir que una parte del argumento del otro lado es justa o cierta antes de responderle.
Learn it: Analyze arguments and use evidence (Trait 1)Full page
conclusionconclusion (conclusión)
a judgment you reach by putting the facts together; in an essay, it is also the last paragraph, which sums up the thesis.
Example: Sales fell every month after prices rose. (A supported conclusion: the higher prices probably hurt sales.)
conclusion (conclusión) — un juicio al que llegas al juntar los datos; en un ensayo, también es el último párrafo, que resume la tesis.
conflictconflict (conflicto)
the problem or struggle at the center of a story: between people, inside one person, or against nature or society.
Example: Jada wants the promotion, but taking it means leaving her sick father. (A conflict inside one person.)
conflict (conflicto) — el problema o la lucha en el centro de un cuento: entre personas, dentro de una persona, o contra la naturaleza o la sociedad.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
conjunctive adverbconjunctive adverb (adverbio conjuntivo)
a linking word such as however or therefore that shows how two ideas relate but cannot join two sentences with only a comma.
Example: The plan is cheap; however, it is slow. (Use a semicolon or a period before however, not just a comma.)
conjunctive adverb (adverbio conjuntivo) — una palabra de enlace como however o therefore que muestra cómo se relacionan dos ideas, pero no puede unir dos oraciones solo con una coma.
Learn it: Sentence structure: run-ons, fragments, modifiers, transitionsFull page
connotationconnotation (connotación)
the positive, negative or neutral feeling a word carries beyond its dictionary meaning.
Example: He is thrifty sounds like praise, but He is cheap sounds like an insult. (Same meaning, different connotation.)
connotation (connotación) — el sentimiento positivo, negativo o neutral que lleva una palabra, además de su significado de diccionario.
contextcontext (contexto)
the words and sentences around a word or passage that help show what it means.
Example: The hike was arduous; we were exhausted by noon. (The context shows that arduous means very hard.)
context (contexto) — las palabras y oraciones que rodean una palabra o un pasaje y que ayudan a mostrar qué significa.
context cluecontext clue (pista de contexto)
a hint near an unknown word, such as a definition, synonym, contrast or example, that helps you work out its meaning.
Example: Unlike his timid brother, Leo was bold. (The contrast clue unlike shows that timid means shy.)
context clue (pista de contexto) — una pista cerca de una palabra desconocida, como una definición, un sinónimo, un contraste o un ejemplo, que te ayuda a descubrir su significado.
contractioncontraction (contracción)
a short form of two words joined into one, with an apostrophe in place of the missing letters.
Example: It's raining, so don't forget your coat. (It's = it is; don't = do not.)
contraction (contracción) — una forma corta de dos palabras unidas en una, con un apóstrofo en lugar de las letras que faltan.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
contradictcontradict (contradecir)
to say the opposite of another statement, so that both cannot be true at the same time.
Example: Text 1 says costs rose; Text 2 says costs fell. (The texts contradict each other.)
contradict (contradecir) — decir lo contrario de otra afirmación, de modo que las dos no pueden ser verdad al mismo tiempo.
contribute / function / rolecontribute / function / role (contribuir / función / papel)
what a sentence, paragraph or detail does for the text as a whole, such as giving an example or stating a claim.
Example: Paragraph 3 tells the story of one family whose home flooded. (Its role: to give a real example of the problem.)
contribute / function / role (contribuir / función / papel) — lo que una oración, un párrafo o un detalle hace por el texto completo, como dar un ejemplo o presentar una afirmación.
coordinating conjunctioncoordinating conjunction (conjunción coordinante)
one of seven short joining words (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that link equal parts of a sentence.
Example: I wanted to go, but I had to work. (But joins two complete thoughts; remember FANBOYS.)
coordinating conjunction (conjunción coordinante) — una de las siete palabras cortas de enlace (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) que unen partes iguales de una oración.
corroboratecorroborate (corroborar)
to support or confirm a statement with more evidence, often from another source.
Example: The graph shows the same rise in rent that the article describes. (The graph corroborates the article.)
corroborate (corroborar) — apoyar o confirmar una afirmación con más evidencia, a menudo de otra fuente.
counterargument / opposing viewcounterargument / opposing view (contraargumento / punto de vista opuesto)
the other side's point in an argument, also called a counterclaim, which a strong writer admits and then answers.
Example: Some people say bike lanes slow down traffic. (A counterargument the author will answer.)
counterargument / opposing view (contraargumento / punto de vista opuesto) — el punto del otro lado en un argumento, también llamado counterclaim, que un buen escritor reconoce y luego responde.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
credibilitycredibility (credibilidad)
the quality that makes an author or a source believable, such as real expertise and no strong reason to mislead.
Example: A nurse with 20 years in the emergency room writes about hospital wait times. (Her experience gives her credibility.)
credibility (credibilidad) — la cualidad que hace creíble a un autor o a una fuente, como tener conocimientos reales y no tener una razón fuerte para engañar.
D
dangling modifierdangling modifier (modificador sin referente)
a describing phrase that has no word in the sentence it can logically describe.
Example: Walking to work, the rain soaked me. (Who was walking? Not the rain. Fix: Walking to work, I got soaked.)
dangling modifier (modificador sin referente) — una frase descriptiva que no tiene en la oración ninguna palabra a la que pueda describir de forma lógica.
Learn it: Sentence structure: run-ons, fragments, modifiers, transitionsFull page
denotationdenotation (denotación)
the literal, dictionary meaning of a word, without the feelings it may carry.
Example: Thrifty and cheap share one denotation: spending little money. (Same dictionary meaning, different feeling.)
denotation (denotación) — el significado literal, de diccionario, de una palabra, sin los sentimientos que pueda llevar.
dependent clausedependent clause (cláusula dependiente)
a clause with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not finish the thought.
Example: When the store opens, we will go in. (When the store opens is the dependent clause.)
dependent clause (cláusula dependiente) — una cláusula con sujeto y verbo que no puede estar sola como oración porque no completa la idea.
developmentdevelopment (desarrollo)
fully explaining each idea with evidence and reasoning, instead of just listing points.
Example: Injuries fell 28 percent, which shows the program works. (The part after which develops the evidence.)
development (desarrollo) — explicar cada idea por completo con evidencia y razonamiento, en lugar de solo enumerar puntos.
draftdraft (borrador)
an early, unfinished version of a piece of writing that you will review and improve.
Example: Write your draft in about 25 minutes, then save time to revise it. (Draft first, then fix.)
draft (borrador) — una versión temprana y sin terminar de un escrito, que luego vas a revisar y mejorar.
dynamic characterdynamic character (personaje dinámico)
a character who changes in an important way during a story; a static character stays the same.
Example: At first Lena hides from her neighbors; by the end, she leads the block meeting. (Lena is a dynamic character.)
dynamic character (personaje dinámico) — un personaje que cambia de manera importante durante el cuento; un personaje estático (static) sigue igual.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
E
effecteffect (efecto)
what happens as a result of a cause; it answers the question what happened?
Example: Because the printer broke, the orders could not ship. (The effect: the orders could not ship.)
effect (efecto) — lo que ocurre como resultado de una causa; responde a la pregunta ¿qué pasó?
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
essayessay (ensayo)
a piece of writing of several paragraphs that explains and supports one main idea or thesis.
Example: Her essay had an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. (The usual parts of an essay.)
essay (ensayo) — un escrito de varios párrafos que explica y apoya una idea principal o tesis.
essential elementessential element (elemento esencial)
words needed to tell which person or thing is meant, so they are not set off by commas.
Example: Workers who finish early may leave. (Only those workers may leave, so there are no commas.)
essential element (elemento esencial) — palabras necesarias para saber de qué persona o cosa se habla; por eso no van entre comas.
evidenceevidence (evidencia)
facts, numbers, studies, quotes or examples that an author uses to show a claim is true.
Example: After the program began, school referrals fell 28 percent. (Evidence for the claim that the program works.)
evidence (evidencia) — hechos, números, estudios, citas o ejemplos que un autor usa para mostrar que una afirmación es verdadera.
Learn it: Analyze arguments and use evidence (Trait 1)Full page
excerptexcerpt (extracto)
a short part taken from a longer text, such as a few paragraphs from a book, a speech or a report.
Example: This excerpt is from a 1963 speech about civil rights. (Only part of the speech is shown.)
excerpt (extracto) — una parte corta tomada de un texto más largo, como unos párrafos de un libro, un discurso o un informe.
explicitexplicit (explícito)
stated directly and clearly in the text, so the reader does not have to figure it out.
Example: The meeting starts at 3:00 in Room 12. (The time and place are explicit.)
explicit (explícito) — dicho de forma directa y clara en el texto, así que el lector no tiene que deducirlo.
extended responseextended response (respuesta extendida)
the essay task on the GED reading and writing test, in which you explain which of two arguments is better supported.
Example: In your response, analyze both positions to determine which one is better supported. (A typical extended response prompt.)
extended response (respuesta extendida) — la tarea de ensayo de la prueba de lectura y escritura del GED, en la que explicas cuál de dos argumentos está mejor fundamentado.
F
factfact (hecho)
a statement that can be checked with records or observation and proven true or false.
Example: The bridge opened in 1998. (A fact: city records can prove it.)
fact (hecho) — una afirmación que se puede comprobar con registros u observación y demostrar si es verdadera o falsa.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
fallacyfallacy (falacia)
a mistake in reasoning that makes an argument seem stronger than it really is.
Example: Don't listen to her plan; she can't even keep her car clean. (A fallacy: it attacks the person, not the plan.)
fallacy (falacia) — un error de razonamiento que hace que un argumento parezca más fuerte de lo que realmente es.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
figurative languagefigurative language (lenguaje figurado)
words used in a non-literal way to create a picture or a feeling, as in similes, metaphors and personification.
Example: The office was a zoo on Monday morning. (Not a real zoo: it was loud and wild.)
figurative language (lenguaje figurado) — palabras usadas de forma no literal para crear una imagen o un sentimiento, como en los símiles, las metáforas y la personificación.
flashbackflashback (retrospectiva)
a scene from an earlier time placed in the middle of a story, often to explain the present.
Example: Two years earlier, she had been laid off from the plant. (The story jumps back in time.)
flashback (retrospectiva) — una escena de un tiempo anterior que se coloca en medio de un cuento, a menudo para explicar el presente.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
formal styleformal style (estilo formal)
careful, serious language used in essays and reports, with no slang, jokes or texting shortcuts.
Example: The data show a clear decline is formal; The numbers totally tanked is not. (Formal versus informal.)
formal style (estilo formal) — lenguaje cuidadoso y serio que se usa en ensayos e informes, sin jerga, chistes ni abreviaturas de mensajes de texto.
Learn it: Clarity and command of standard English (Trait 3)Full page
fragmentfragment (fragmento de oración)
a group of words written as a sentence but missing a subject, a verb or a complete thought.
Example: Because the bus was late. (A fragment: what happened because the bus was late?)
fragment (fragmento de oración) — un grupo de palabras escrito como oración, pero al que le falta el sujeto, el verbo o una idea completa.
Learn it: Sentence structure: run-ons, fragments, modifiers, transitionsFull page
fused sentencefused sentence (oración fusionada)
a run-on sentence with no punctuation at all between two independent clauses.
Example: The bus was late I walked. (Fix: The bus was late. I walked.)
fused sentence (oración fusionada) — una oración corrida sin ninguna puntuación entre dos cláusulas independientes.
Learn it: Sentence structure: run-ons, fragments, modifiers, transitionsFull page
G
graphicgraphic (gráfico)
a visual way of showing information, such as a chart, graph, table, map or diagram, that goes with a text.
Example: A bar graph next to the article shows the number of bus riders each year. (The graphic adds data to the text.)
graphic (gráfico) — una forma visual de mostrar información, como una gráfica, una tabla, un mapa o un diagrama, que acompaña a un texto.
H
homophoneshomophones (homófonos)
words that sound the same but have different spellings and different meanings.
Example: They're hanging their coats over there. (They're, their and there sound alike.)
homophones (homófonos) — palabras que suenan igual, pero se escriben distinto y tienen significados diferentes.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
hyperbolehyperbole (hipérbole)
deliberate, extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or humor, not meant to be taken literally.
Example: I've told you a million times to lock the door. (Not really a million: it means very often.)
hyperbole (hipérbole) — una exageración extrema e intencional que se usa para dar énfasis o hacer reír; no se debe tomar al pie de la letra.
I
idiomidiom (modismo)
a common phrase whose meaning is different from the meanings of its separate words.
Example: The trainer told a joke to break the ice. (Break the ice means to help people relax, not to crack ice.)
idiom (modismo) — una expresión común cuyo significado es distinto del significado de sus palabras por separado.
immediate causeimmediate cause (causa inmediata)
the event that happens right before an effect and directly sets it off.
Example: Months of dry weather left the forest ready to burn, and then lightning struck. (The lightning is the immediate cause of the fire.)
immediate cause (causa inmediata) — el suceso que ocurre justo antes de un efecto y lo provoca directamente.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
implicitimplicit (implícito)
suggested by the text but not stated directly, so the reader must figure it out.
Example: Don't forget your umbrella today. (The implicit message: rain is expected.)
implicit (implícito) — sugerido por el texto, pero no dicho directamente, así que el lector tiene que deducirlo.
implied main ideaimplied main idea (idea principal implícita)
a main idea the author never states, which you find by asking what all the details have in common.
Example: The roof leaks, the heat fails, and the rent went up again. (Implied main idea: the apartment is a bad deal.)
implied main idea (idea principal implícita) — una idea principal que el autor nunca dice; la encuentras al preguntarte qué tienen en común todos los detalles.
independent clauseindependent clause (cláusula independiente)
a clause with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
Example: The store opens at nine. (A complete sentence by itself.)
independent clause (cláusula independiente) — una cláusula con sujeto y verbo que expresa una idea completa y puede estar sola como oración.
inference / inferinference / infer (inferencia / inferir)
a logical conclusion you reach by combining clues in the text with what you already know.
Example: Marcus came in shaking his umbrella and wiping his wet face. (You can infer that it is raining.)
inference / infer (inferencia / inferir) — una conclusión lógica a la que llegas al combinar pistas del texto con lo que ya sabes.
introductionintroduction (introducción)
the first paragraph of an essay, which presents the issue, the two positions and the thesis.
Example: Millbrook is debating a ban on gas leaf blowers, and the author who supports the ban makes the stronger case. (An introduction that names the issue and gives the thesis.)
introduction (introducción) — el primer párrafo de un ensayo, que presenta el tema, las dos posiciones y la tesis.
introductory elementintroductory element (elemento introductorio)
a word, phrase or clause that comes before the main clause and is usually followed by a comma.
Example: After lunch, the team went back to work. (After lunch is the introductory element.)
introductory element (elemento introductorio) — una palabra, una frase o una cláusula que va antes de la cláusula principal y que casi siempre lleva una coma después.
L
legend / keylegend / key (leyenda / clave)
the box on a graph or map that tells what each color, line or symbol stands for.
Example: The key shows that blue bars are 2023 and gray bars are 2024. (Read the key before comparing the bars.)
legend / key (leyenda / clave) — el recuadro de una gráfica o un mapa que indica qué representa cada color, línea o símbolo.
M
main idea / central ideamain idea / central idea (idea principal / idea central)
the most important point the author makes about the topic, stated as a complete sentence.
Example: City trees cool streets and clean the air, but only if they are watered and protected. (A main idea: a full sentence about the topic.)
main idea / central idea (idea principal / idea central) — el punto más importante que el autor presenta sobre el tema, expresado en una oración completa.
memomemo (memorando)
a short message written inside a workplace to share news, rules or instructions with the staff.
Example: To: All staff. Subject: New parking rules starting Monday. (The first lines of a memo.)
memo (memorando) — un mensaje corto que se escribe dentro de un lugar de trabajo para dar noticias, reglas o instrucciones al personal.
metaphormetaphor (metáfora)
a comparison that says one thing is another, without using like or as.
Example: For many families, the Sunday bus is a lifeline. (The bus is compared to a rescue rope: families depend on it.)
metaphor (metáfora) — una comparación que dice que una cosa es otra, sin usar like ni as.
misplaced modifiermisplaced modifier (modificador mal colocado)
a describing word or phrase placed next to the wrong word, so the sentence says something the writer did not mean.
Example: She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates. (The children were not on the plates. Fix: She served the children sandwiches on paper plates.)
misplaced modifier (modificador mal colocado) — una palabra o frase descriptiva colocada junto a la palabra equivocada, de modo que la oración dice algo que el escritor no quería decir.
Learn it: Sentence structure: run-ons, fragments, modifiers, transitionsFull page
modifiermodifier (modificador)
a word or phrase that describes another word in the sentence or gives more information about it.
Example: Covered in snow, the old car would not start. (Covered in snow and old modify car.)
modifier (modificador) — una palabra o frase que describe otra palabra de la oración o da más información sobre ella.
Learn it: Sentence structure: run-ons, fragments, modifiers, transitionsFull page
moodmood (ambiente)
the feeling a passage creates in the reader, such as calm, tense, joyful or gloomy.
Example: The hallway was dark, and somewhere a door creaked slowly open. (The mood is tense and scary.)
mood (ambiente) — el sentimiento que un pasaje crea en el lector, como calma, tensión, alegría o tristeza.
motivationmotivation (motivación)
the reason a character acts or feels a certain way, which the text may state or only suggest.
Example: He came in an hour early so no one would see him limp. (His motivation: to hide his injury.)
motivation (motivación) — la razón por la que un personaje actúa o se siente de cierta manera; el texto puede decirla o solo sugerirla.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
multiple-meaning wordmultiple-meaning word (palabra con varios significados)
a word with more than one meaning, whose correct meaning depends on the context.
Example: She will run the new store. (Here run means manage, not move fast.)
multiple-meaning word (palabra con varios significados) — una palabra con más de un significado; el significado correcto depende del contexto.
N
narratornarrator (narrador)
the voice that tells a story, either a character in it who says I or an outside voice that says he or she.
Example: I never told my mother about the letter. (The narrator is a character who says I.)
narrator (narrador) — la voz que cuenta un cuento: un personaje de la historia que dice I o una voz de afuera que dice he o she.
nonessential elementnonessential element (elemento no esencial)
extra information that can be removed without changing who or what is meant, so it is set off by commas.
Example: My boss, who is from Ohio, is very kind. (Remove the middle part and the sentence still works.)
nonessential element (elemento no esencial) — información adicional que se puede quitar sin cambiar de quién o de qué se habla; por eso va entre comas.
O
opinionopinion (opinión)
a belief or judgment that cannot be proven and that reasonable people could disagree with.
Example: The new bridge is ugly. (An opinion: others may think it looks fine.)
opinion (opinión) — una creencia o un juicio que no se puede probar y con el que personas razonables podrían no estar de acuerdo.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
outlineoutline (esquema)
a quick plan that lists an essay's thesis and main points in order before you start writing.
Example: Thesis: Text 1 is stronger. Point 1: study data. Point 2: expert source. (A short outline.)
outline (esquema) — un plan rápido que enumera en orden la tesis y los puntos principales del ensayo antes de empezar a escribir.
P
paired passagespaired passages (pasajes emparejados)
two texts on the same topic, often with different views, that you read and compare together.
Example: Text 1, by a nurse, supports a later school start; Text 2, by a bus manager, opposes it. (Paired passages on one issue.)
paired passages (pasajes emparejados) — dos textos sobre el mismo tema, a menudo con puntos de vista distintos, que se leen y se comparan juntos.
parallelismparallelism (paralelismo)
using the same grammatical form for each item in a list or a pair.
Example: The job requires typing, filing and answering calls. (Not typing, filing and to answer calls.)
parallelism (paralelismo) — usar la misma forma gramatical para cada elemento de una lista o de un par.
Learn it: Sentence structure: run-ons, fragments, modifiers, transitionsFull page
personificationpersonification (personificación)
giving human actions or feelings to animals, objects or ideas.
Example: The old engine groaned up the hill. (An engine cannot really groan like a person.)
personification (personificación) — darles acciones o sentimientos humanos a animales, objetos o ideas.
plotplot (trama)
the series of events in a story, usually moving from the setup through a climax to a resolution.
Example: A woman loses her job, struggles for months, then opens her own bakery. (The plot in one sentence.)
plot (trama) — la serie de sucesos de un cuento, que suele ir del planteamiento al clímax y luego al desenlace.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
point of view / perspectivepoint of view / perspective (punto de vista / perspectiva)
the angle from which something is seen or told: an author's view of a topic or, in a story, who tells it.
Example: I never thought I would miss that noisy kitchen. (First-person point of view: the narrator says I.)
point of view / perspective (punto de vista / perspectiva) — el ángulo desde el que se ve o se cuenta algo: la visión del autor sobre un tema o, en un cuento, quién lo narra.
positionposition (postura)
the side an author takes on an issue, such as for or against a plan.
Example: Schools should start at 8:30 so teens can sleep more. (The author's position: for a later start.)
position (postura) — el lado que toma un autor sobre un asunto, por ejemplo a favor o en contra de un plan.
possessivepossessive (posesivo)
a word form that shows ownership, usually made with an apostrophe and an s.
Example: The nurse's badge and the workers' lockers were cleaned. (One nurse: nurse's; many workers: workers'.)
possessive (posesivo) — una forma de la palabra que indica pertenencia; casi siempre se forma con apóstrofo y s.
predictionprediction (predicción)
a logical guess about what will happen next, based on clues in the text.
Example: Rosa set her alarm and laid out her best clothes for the interview. (Prediction: she will go to a job interview tomorrow.)
prediction (predicción) — una suposición lógica sobre lo que pasará después, basada en pistas del texto.
prefixprefix (prefijo)
a word part added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning.
Example: The answer was unclear, so she reread the memo. (Un- means not; re- means again.)
prefix (prefijo) — una parte de palabra que se añade al comienzo de una palabra y cambia su significado.
prepositional phraseprepositional phrase (frase preposicional)
a group of words that starts with a preposition such as of, in or with and ends with a noun.
Example: The box of tools is heavy. (The verb agrees with box, not with tools.)
prepositional phrase (frase preposicional) — un grupo de palabras que empieza con una preposición, como of, in o with, y termina con un sustantivo.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
problem-solutionproblem-solution (problema y solución)
a text structure that describes a problem and then explains one or more ways to fix it.
Example: Traffic downtown keeps getting worse; adding bus lanes could move more people. (A problem, then a solution.)
problem-solution (problema y solución) — una estructura de texto que describe un problema y luego explica una o más maneras de resolverlo.
pronounpronoun (pronombre)
a word such as she, it or they that takes the place of a noun.
Example: The manager called, and she left a message. (She replaces the manager.)
pronoun (pronombre) — una palabra como she, it o they que ocupa el lugar de un sustantivo.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
pronoun casepronoun case (caso del pronombre)
the form a pronoun takes for its job in the sentence: subject form (I, he, we) or object form (me, him, us).
Example: The manager gave the keys to Sam and me. (Not Sam and I: me is the object form.)
pronoun case (caso del pronombre) — la forma que toma un pronombre según su función en la oración: forma de sujeto (I, he, we) o forma de objeto (me, him, us).
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
proofreadingproofreading (corrección final)
reading a finished draft slowly to find and fix errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Example: Before submitting, Dana proofread her essay and fixed two spelling errors. (Proofreading catches small mistakes.)
proofreading (corrección final) — leer despacio un borrador terminado para encontrar y corregir errores de ortografía, puntuación y gramática.
Learn it: Clarity and command of standard English (Trait 3)Full page
proper nounproper noun (nombre propio)
the name of a specific person, place, group or thing, which always starts with a capital letter.
Example: The parade on Lake Street is on Labor Day. (Lake Street and Labor Day are proper nouns.)
proper noun (nombre propio) — el nombre de una persona, un lugar, un grupo o una cosa específicos, que siempre empieza con mayúscula.
Q
qualifyqualify (matizar)
to agree with an idea only in part, by adding limits or conditions to it.
Example: The program worked in Denver, but it may not work in a small town. (The writer qualifies the claim.)
qualify (matizar) — estar de acuerdo con una idea solo en parte, añadiéndole límites o condiciones.
R
reasonreason (razón)
a statement that explains why a claim should be accepted; evidence then backs up the reason.
Example: The city should add bus lanes because they would cut commute times. (The reason comes after because.)
reason (razón) — una idea que explica por qué se debe aceptar una afirmación; luego la evidencia respalda esa razón.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
reasoningreasoning (razonamiento)
the logic that connects an author's evidence to the claim, showing why the evidence proves the point.
Example: Everyone I know likes the plan, so it must be good. (Weak reasoning: a few friends do not prove a plan works.)
reasoning (razonamiento) — la lógica que conecta la evidencia del autor con la afirmación y muestra por qué la evidencia prueba el punto.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
rebuttalrebuttal (refutación)
the author's answer to an opposing view, showing why that view is wrong or weaker.
Example: Some say bike lanes slow traffic, but city data show travel times did not change. (The part after but is the rebuttal.)
rebuttal (refutación) — la respuesta del autor a un punto de vista opuesto, que muestra por qué ese punto es incorrecto o más débil.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
reflexive pronounreflexive pronoun (pronombre reflexivo)
a pronoun ending in -self or -selves that refers back to the subject of the sentence.
Example: I taught myself to type. (Myself points back to I.)
reflexive pronoun (pronombre reflexivo) — un pronombre que termina en -self o -selves y que se refiere de vuelta al sujeto de la oración.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
registerregister (registro)
the level of formality in writing or speech, chosen to fit the audience and the purpose.
Example: Please submit the form by Friday fits a work email; Send it by Fri, ok? does not. (Formal versus casual register.)
register (registro) — el nivel de formalidad de un texto o de una forma de hablar, elegido según el público y el propósito.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
relevantrelevant (pertinente)
directly connected to the claim or question, so it actually helps prove the point.
Example: To argue for more buses, the author cites rider counts, not the mayor's hobbies. (Rider counts are relevant.)
relevant (pertinente) — directamente relacionado con la afirmación o la pregunta, de modo que de verdad ayuda a probar el punto.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
revisionrevision (revisión)
a changed version of a sentence or text that fixes an error or makes the writing clearer.
Example: Me and him fixed the sign becomes He and I fixed the sign. (The second sentence is the correct revision.)
revision (revisión) — una versión cambiada de una oración o de un texto que corrige un error o hace la escritura más clara.
root causeroot cause (causa raíz)
the first, deepest cause that starts a chain of events; fixing it keeps the problem from coming back.
Example: The shop kept running out of labels because no one was in charge of ordering supplies. (Root cause: no one was in charge of ordering.)
root cause (causa raíz) — la primera causa, la más profunda, que inicia una cadena de sucesos; si se resuelve, el problema no vuelve.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
root wordroot word (raíz)
the main part of a word that carries its basic meaning, to which prefixes and suffixes are added.
Example: The clerk was unhelpful. (Unhelpful = un- + help + -ful; help is the root word.)
root word (raíz) — la parte principal de una palabra, que lleva su significado básico y a la que se añaden prefijos y sufijos.
run-on sentencerun-on sentence (oración corrida)
an error in which two complete sentences are run together with no punctuation or with only a comma.
Example: The store closed early we went home. (Fix: The store closed early, so we went home.)
run-on sentence (oración corrida) — un error en el que dos oraciones completas se juntan sin puntuación o solo con una coma.
Learn it: Clarity and command of standard English (Trait 3)Full page
S
sentence varietysentence variety (variedad de oraciones)
mixing short and long sentences of different types and openings so that writing reads smoothly.
Example: The plan failed. Although it had wide support, it ran out of money in its first year. (A short sentence, then a longer complex one.)
sentence variety (variedad de oraciones) — mezclar oraciones cortas y largas, de distintos tipos y con distintos comienzos, para que el texto se lea con fluidez.
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sequence / chronological ordersequence / chronological order (secuencia / orden cronológico)
a text structure that tells events or steps in the order in which they happen.
Example: First, fill out the form. Next, sign it. Finally, hand it to the clerk. (First, next and finally show the order.)
sequence / chronological order (secuencia / orden cronológico) — una estructura de texto que cuenta sucesos o pasos en el orden en que ocurren.
settingsetting (escenario)
the time and place in which a story happens, which can shape its mood and its events.
Example: On a freezing night in 1932, the mill town was dark and silent. (Setting: a mill town on a winter night in 1932.)
setting (escenario) — el tiempo y el lugar en que ocurre un cuento, que pueden influir en el ambiente y en los sucesos.
Learn it: How events, people and ideas develop and interactFull page
signal words / transitionssignal words / transitions (palabras señal / de transición)
words and phrases such as however or for example that show how one idea connects to the next.
Example: The plan is cheap. However, it will take ten years. (However signals a contrast.)
signal words / transitions (palabras señal / de transición) — palabras y frases como however o for example que muestran cómo una idea se conecta con la siguiente.
similesimile (símil)
a comparison of two unlike things that uses the word like or as.
Example: The trucks lined up like soldiers. (The trucks are compared to soldiers with like.)
simile (símil) — una comparación entre dos cosas distintas que usa la palabra like o as.
simple sentencesimple sentence (oración simple)
a sentence with only one independent clause: one subject, one verb and one complete thought.
Example: The author cites a study. (One subject, one verb, one complete thought.)
simple sentence (oración simple) — una oración con una sola cláusula independiente: un sujeto, un verbo y una idea completa.
Learn it: Clarity and command of standard English (Trait 3)Full page
sourcesource (fuente)
the person, group, document or study that information or evidence comes from.
Example: According to the state health department, flu cases doubled. (The source is the health department.)
source (fuente) — la persona, el grupo, el documento o el estudio de donde viene la información o la evidencia.
Learn it: Analyze arguments and use evidence (Trait 1)Full page
stated / unstated assumptionstated / unstated assumption (suposición explícita / implícita)
a belief an argument depends on, which the author either says outright (stated) or leaves unsaid (unstated).
Example: Join our gym and get the body you want. (Unstated assumption: you want to change your body.)
stated / unstated assumption (suposición explícita / implícita) — una creencia de la que depende un argumento, que el autor dice abiertamente (explícita) o no dice (implícita).
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
stated main ideastated main idea (idea principal explícita)
a main idea the author writes out directly, often in the first or last sentence of a paragraph.
Example: Regular exercise helps workers in three ways. (A stated main idea that opens a paragraph.)
stated main idea (idea principal explícita) — una idea principal que el autor escribe directamente, a menudo en la primera o la última oración de un párrafo.
statisticstatistic (dato estadístico)
a number that comes from counting or measuring many cases, often given as a percent.
Example: In the survey, 41 percent of parents said they work at night. (A statistic.)
statistic (dato estadístico) — un número que viene de contar o medir muchos casos; a menudo se da como porcentaje.
Learn it: Analyze arguments and use evidence (Trait 1)Full page
subjectsubject (sujeto)
the person or thing that a sentence is about, which usually does the action of the verb.
Example: The manager called the staff. (Manager is the subject.)
subject (sujeto) — la persona o cosa de la que trata la oración y que casi siempre realiza la acción del verbo.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
subject-verb agreementsubject-verb agreement (concordancia entre sujeto y verbo)
the rule that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Example: The results of the study are clear. (The subject is results, so the verb is are, not is.)
subject-verb agreement (concordancia entre sujeto y verbo) — la regla de que un sujeto singular lleva un verbo singular y un sujeto plural lleva un verbo plural.
Learn it: Clarity and command of standard English (Trait 3)Full page
subordinating conjunctionsubordinating conjunction (conjunción subordinante)
a joining word such as because, although or when that begins a dependent clause.
Example: We stayed inside because it was raining. (Because makes it was raining depend on the main clause.)
subordinating conjunction (conjunción subordinante) — una palabra de enlace como because, although o when que inicia una cláusula dependiente.
Learn it: Sentence structure: run-ons, fragments, modifiers, transitionsFull page
sufficientsufficient (suficiente)
enough evidence, and good enough evidence, to prove a claim instead of only hinting at it.
Example: The author surveyed 2,000 riders, not just two friends. (The evidence is sufficient.)
sufficient (suficiente) — evidencia suficiente en cantidad y en calidad para probar una afirmación, y no solo sugerirla.
Learn it: Evaluating arguments, claims and evidenceFull page
suffixsuffix (sufijo)
a word part added to the end of a word that changes its meaning or its part of speech.
Example: The helpless puppy needed a careful owner. (-less means without; -ful means full of.)
suffix (sufijo) — una parte de palabra que se añade al final de una palabra y cambia su significado o su categoría gramatical.
suggest / implysuggest / imply (sugerir / dar a entender)
to hint at an idea without stating it directly, leaving the reader to figure it out.
Example: She checked her watch for the third time during his story. (This suggests she is bored or in a hurry.)
suggest / imply (sugerir / dar a entender) — dar a entender una idea sin decirla directamente, para que el lector la descubra.
summarysummary (resumen)
a short retelling of a text's main idea and key points in your own words, without opinions or minor details.
Example: The article says city trees cool streets but need years of care before they help. (A one-sentence summary.)
summary (resumen) — una versión corta de la idea principal y los puntos clave de un texto, con tus propias palabras, sin opiniones ni detalles menores.
supporting detailsupporting detail (detalle de apoyo)
a fact, example, reason or quote that explains or proves the main idea.
Example: A daily 30-minute walk can lower blood pressure. (A detail that supports the main idea that walking is good for your health.)
supporting detail (detalle de apoyo) — un dato, un ejemplo, una razón o una cita que explica o prueba la idea principal.
synonymsynonym (sinónimo)
a word that means the same or nearly the same as another word.
Example: The task was difficult, or hard, even for experts. (Difficult and hard are synonyms.)
synonym (sinónimo) — una palabra que significa lo mismo o casi lo mismo que otra.
synthesissynthesis (síntesis)
combining information from two or more sources to reach a new understanding or conclusion.
Example: The article says crime fell sharply, but the graph shows only a small drop. (Synthesis: the article exaggerates.)
synthesis (síntesis) — combinar información de dos o más fuentes para llegar a una nueva comprensión o conclusión.
T
tensetense (tiempo verbal)
the form of a verb that shows when an action happens: in the past, present or future.
Example: Yesterday she worked; today she works; tomorrow she will work. (Past, present and future.)
tense (tiempo verbal) — la forma de un verbo que muestra cuándo ocurre una acción: en el pasado, el presente o el futuro.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
text structuretext structure (estructura del texto)
the way a text is organized, such as sequence, cause and effect, compare-contrast or problem-solution.
Example: A memo that lists Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3 uses a sequence structure. (The steps show the order.)
text structure (estructura del texto) — la forma en que se organiza un texto, como secuencia, causa y efecto, comparación y contraste, o problema y solución.
themetheme (tema)
a story's message about life or people, a lesson the reader can apply beyond the story itself.
Example: After losing the race, Mia helps the winner train for the next one. (A possible theme: kindness matters more than winning.)
theme (tema) — el mensaje de un cuento sobre la vida o las personas; una lección que el lector puede aplicar fuera del cuento.
thesisthesis (tesis)
the one-sentence main claim of an essay, which the rest of the essay explains and supports.
Example: The author who supports the four-day week makes the stronger case because she uses data from real companies. (A clear thesis for a GED essay.)
thesis (tesis) — la afirmación principal de un ensayo, en una oración, que el resto del ensayo explica y apoya.
Learn it: Analyze arguments and use evidence (Trait 1)Full page
tonetone (tono)
the author's attitude toward the subject or the reader, shown through word choice.
Example: We deeply regret the delay and thank you for your patience. (The tone is apologetic.)
tone (tono) — la actitud del autor hacia el tema o el lector, que se nota en las palabras que elige.
topictopic (asunto)
what a text is about, named in a word or a short phrase rather than a full sentence.
Example: City trees is a topic; City trees cool our streets is a main idea. (A topic is not a sentence.)
topic (asunto) — de qué trata un texto, dicho en una palabra o una frase corta, no en una oración completa.
topic sentencetopic sentence (oración temática)
the sentence, usually the first one in a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main idea.
Example: Our town needs more bike lanes. (A topic sentence; the rest of the paragraph gives reasons.)
topic sentence (oración temática) — la oración, casi siempre la primera del párrafo, que dice la idea principal del párrafo.
U
unsupportedunsupported (sin fundamento)
not backed by the text, even if it might be true in real life.
Example: The passage says the plant closed but never says how workers felt. (Saying they were angry is unsupported.)
unsupported (sin fundamento) — que el texto no respalda, aunque pueda ser cierto en la vida real.
V
verbverb (verbo)
a word that shows an action or a state of being in a sentence.
Example: The manager called and was upset. (Called is an action; was is a state.)
verb (verbo) — una palabra que muestra una acción o un estado en la oración.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page
W
word choice / dictionword choice / diction (elección de palabras / dicción)
the specific words a writer selects to create meaning and tone.
Example: The workers stormed out feels stronger than The workers left. (Word choice changes the feeling.)
word choice / diction (elección de palabras / dicción) — las palabras específicas que elige un escritor para crear significado y tono.
wordinesswordiness (exceso de palabras)
using more words than needed to say something, which makes writing slow and unclear.
Example: Due to the fact that it rained can be cut to Because it rained. (Same meaning, fewer words.)
wordiness (exceso de palabras) — usar más palabras de las necesarias para decir algo, lo que hace el texto lento y poco claro.
Learn it: Grammar and usage: agreement, pronouns, verb tense, frequently confused wordsFull page