Rhetorical terms · AP English Language, SAT Reading and Writing, ACT Reading
Syntax
Syntax: The arrangement of words, phrases and clauses in sentences, including sentence length, order and structure.
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What it means
Syntax is how sentences are built. Writers vary sentence length for rhythm and emphasis, invert normal word order to highlight an idea, use fragments for punch, or build long periodic sentences that delay the main clause until the end. Each choice affects pacing and what the reader notices.
Analyzing syntax means explaining the effect of a structure. 'Short sentences' is a description; 'short sentences after a long one slow the reader to a halt at the moment of loss' is analysis.
Example
'We had a plan. We had a budget. We had a team. What we did not have was time.' The repeated short sentences build confidence that the last sentence suddenly undercuts.
On the exam
AP Lang multiple-choice questions ask about the function of sentence structures; in essays, syntax is a strong choice to analyze when it clearly shapes emphasis.
Lessons and practice questions
Related terms
- DictionA writer's word choice, including the level of formality, connotation and specificity of the words used.
- ParallelismUsing the same grammatical structure for related ideas in a sentence or series, for balance and clarity.
- AnaphoraThe repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences or lines.
- ToneThe writer's or speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through diction, syntax and detail.