Functional Skills Glossary L1 & 2

A word that's been shortened (e.g. ltd (limited), etc (etcetera)

• abbreviation

• idiom

• direct address

• metaphor

Comparing something with something else by saying it is something else, e.g. it's raining cats and dogs

An abbreviation consisting of the first letter of each word in the name of something, often pronounced as a word, e.g. OFSTED

• alliteration

• caption

• exclamation

• acronym

A phrase explaining what an image is depicting, often in a magazine or news article

• hyperbole

• idiom

• metaphor

• caption

An overused word or phrase, e.g. sweet dreams

• direct address

• metaphor

• cliche

• exclamation

The use of informal words or phrases in writing or speech, e.g. spot on, whinge, one-off

• colloquial expression

• command

• idiom

• metaphor

When the text speaks directly to the reader by using second-person narrative 'you', e.g. great prices to suit you

An emphasised phrase/point with the use of an exclamation mark, e.g. Stop that!

Something that is overemphasised or exaggerated for effect, e.g. it must be about a million degrees in here

A common expression that has a different meaning from the individual words on their own, e.g. over the moon, the best of both worlds