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Literature vocabulary · Core Concepts

Diction

Meaning in literature, with examples

nounCommon term

In literature, diction means: A writer's or speaker's choice of words, especially as it shapes tone, style, formality, and meaning.

In Turkish: sözcük seçimi

How it is used

A basic term in close reading. It often appears with adjectives such as formal, plain, elevated, technical, or conversational.

Example sentences

  1. The reviewer praised the memoir's plain diction, saying the simple words made the courtroom scenes more credible and severe.

    Here diction means the level and type of vocabulary, which directly affects the text's authority and emotional pressure.

  2. In the workshop, we changed the manager's diction from casual slang to legal formality so the report matched its audience.

    In this example, diction refers to word choice adjusted for audience, register, and institutional purpose.

Common collocations

  • formal diction
  • plain diction
  • elevated diction
  • careful diction
  • toneThe attitude that a writer or narrator shows toward the subject and the reader, expressed through word choice and style, such as ironic, serious or playful.
  • moodThe general feeling or atmosphere that a text creates in the reader, such as tension, sadness, peace or fear.

More terms: Core Concepts

Practise with graded reading

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