TCE Everyday Adult Standard Reading & Writing key terms

The most important point that a whole paragraph, passage or talk is making about its topic. Everything else in the text should support or explain it.

A sentence, usually near the start of a paragraph, that states what the paragraph is about. The remaining sentences develop or illustrate that statement.

A fact, example, reason or statistic that explains or proves the main idea. Details answer questions such as who, what, when, why and how.

A conclusion a reader draws from clues in the text plus their own knowledge, even though the writer never states it directly.

A message the writer suggests rather than says outright. Readers work it out from word choice, tone and details the text includes or leaves out.

Details that are stated clearly and directly in a text, so a reader can point to the exact words that give the answer.

Reading quickly to get the general sense of a text, such as its topic and main idea, without pausing on every word or detail.

Moving the eyes quickly over a text looking for one specific item, such as a date, name, number or keyword, while ignoring everything else.

A word, phrase or sentence near an unfamiliar word that helps a reader guess its meaning without reaching for a dictionary.

Working out what a word means from the sentence and situation in which it appears, since many words carry more than one meaning.

A statement that can be checked and shown to be true or false by evidence, such as a date, a measurement or a recorded event.

A statement of someone's belief, judgement or feeling. It cannot be proven true or false in the way a fact can, though it may be supported by reasons.

Information used to support a claim, such as examples, statistics, expert views or the results of a study. Strong evidence is relevant and reliable.

A statement that a writer or speaker puts forward as true and then tries to back up with reasons and evidence.

A set of connected reasons and evidence offered to persuade a reader to accept a particular point of view.

Writing or speaking that aims to change what an audience thinks or does, often by appealing to reason, emotion or the speaker's authority.

An unfair leaning towards or against an idea or group, which can make a text one-sided by selecting, omitting or slanting information.

The attitude a writer shows towards the subject or the reader, for example humorous, serious, angry or sympathetic, revealed through word choice.

The reason a writer produced a text, such as to inform, to persuade, to entertain or to instruct. Purpose shapes the content and the style.

The people a text is written for. Knowing the audience helps a writer choose the right vocabulary, level of detail, format and tone.

A short account of a text's main points in the reader's own words, leaving out minor details and examples.

Restating someone's idea in your own words and sentence structure while keeping the original meaning, usually to show understanding.

The feelings or associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning, such as the difference between 'thrifty' and 'stingy'.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, separate from any emotional associations it may also carry.

The order in which events or steps happen in a text. Words such as 'first', 'then', 'after' and 'finally' signal this order.

A relationship in which one event or action makes another happen. Signal words include 'because', 'therefore', 'as a result' and 'leads to'.

Showing how two or more things are alike, often using signal words such as 'similarly', 'both', 'like' and 'in the same way'.

Showing how two or more things differ, often using signal words such as 'however', 'although', 'whereas' and 'on the other hand'.

A word or phrase that links ideas and shows how they relate, for example 'however', 'therefore', 'for example' or 'in addition'.

A sentence, usually near the start of a paragraph, that states what the paragraph is about. The remaining sentences develop or illustrate that statement.

A group of sentences about one idea, starting on a new line. A clear paragraph usually has a topic sentence, supporting details and a closing sentence.

The way sentences and paragraphs in a text are tied together so it reads as one whole, using linking words, pronouns and repeated key terms.

A word that joins words, phrases or clauses, such as 'and', 'but', 'because', 'although' and 'while'.

A group of words containing a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence; a dependent clause cannot.

A group of words written as a sentence but missing a subject, a verb or a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone.

Two or more independent clauses joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction, making the sentence hard to follow.

Marks such as full stops, commas, question marks, apostrophes and colons that show where sentences and ideas begin and end.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number, so a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

A word such as 'he', 'she', 'it', 'they' or 'them' used in place of a noun so the writer does not have to repeat it.

The level of formality in language, ranging from casual talk with friends to formal writing such as reports and official letters.

Writing that follows standard grammar and avoids slang and contractions, used for reports, applications, official letters and academic work.

Checking a draft for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and word choice, and correcting them before the text is finished.

The final careful read of a text to catch small remaining mistakes such as typos, missing words or misplaced punctuation.

An early version of a piece of writing, produced before the final copy so ideas can be added, cut, reordered and improved.

Presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own without crediting the source. It is treated as a serious breach of academic honesty.

Words copied exactly from a source and placed inside quotation marks, with the source credited.

A short note showing where information came from, such as the author, title and year, so readers can find the original source.

The conventions of polite, clear email, such as a meaningful subject line, a suitable greeting, a brief message and a courteous sign-off.

Giving full attention to a speaker, showing you are following, and checking your understanding by asking questions or summarising what was said.