Grammar & Jargon Flashcards

to include information that is not essential to the main point.

add extra (usually non-essential) information to a sentence

used to set apart certain words and sentences

used to give emphasis
present dialogue
introduce lists or text
used to divide a sentence
introduce a quote

Jargon is the complex language used by experts in a certain discipline or field

often helps experts communicate with clarity and precision.

Due diligence
A business term, “due diligence” refers to the research that should be done before making an important business decision.

AWOL
Short for “absent without leave,” AWOL is military jargon used to describe a person whose whereabouts are unknown.

Hard copy
A common term in business, academia, and other fields, a “hard copy” is a physical printout of a document (as opposed to an electronic copy).

Cache
In computing, “cache” refers to a place for short-term memory storage.

Dek
A journalism term for a subheading, usually one or two sentences long, that provides a brief summary of the article that follows.

Stat
This is a term, usually used in a medical context, that means “immediately.” (As in, “Call the doctor, stat!”)

Phospholipid bilayer
This is a complex term for a layer of fat molecules surrounding a cell. A simpler term is “cell membrane.”

Detritivore
A detritivore is an organism that feeds on detritus or dead matter. Examples of detritivores include earthworms, sea cucumbers, and millipedes.

Holistic
Another word for “comprehensive” or “complete,” “holistic” is often used by educational professionals in reference to curriculum that focuses on social and emotional learning in addition to traditional lessons.

Magic bullet
This is a term for a simple solution that solves a complex problem. (It is usually used derisively, as in “I don’t think this plan you’ve come up with is a magic bullet.”)

Best practice
In business, a “best practice” is one that should be adopted because it has proven effectiveness.

A rhetorical question is a figure of speech which comes in the form of a question that makes a point instead of seeking an answer.

Who cares?’

‘Who wouldn’t want to be a millionaire?’

‘Do we really want our planet to survive?’

‘Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?’

‘Are you serious?’

‘Do you just think money grows on trees?’

‘Wouldn’t you feel happier if you could wear what you wanted to school?’

to form possessive nouns

to indicate plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols.

transform various words into plurals, contractions, and possessive forms

NOUN
A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea.

PRONOUN
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun.

VERB
A verb expresses action or being.

ADJECTIVE
An adjective modifies or describes a noun or pronoun.

ADVERB
An adverb modifies or describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

PREPOSITION
A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to form a phrase modifying another word in the sentence.

CONJUNCTION
A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses.

INTERJECTION
An interjection is a word used to express emotion.

A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and/or spelling.

Flower and flour
write and right,
meet and meat,
peace and piece.
jeans and genes