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What is Equivocation Fallacy? (Definition, Examples, Structure) | GrammarBrain
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(Definition, Examples, Structure)</h1> <div bind="b4d36f25-3a5e-8c0b-ebc8-a80567a94714" class="featured-image-wrap"> <img src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/stock-13-6-1024x683.jpeg" height="auto" style="-moz-border-radius:10px;-webkit-border-radius:10px;border-radius:10px;margin-bottom:40px;" alt="equivocation fallacy" /> </div> </div> </div> <div bind="80e03a2d-a20f-6efc-c0d9-14bc49b22dd9" class="article-body wf-section"> <div bind="bc878838-ab40-9492-e3bd-2479e727ee0e" class="article-body"> <div bind="bc0209be-976e-1d43-38b0-3a9a8847699c" class="container w-container"> <div bind="085bf5dc-f87e-1752-2b64-0aa48fd35121" class="w-richtext"> <p><strong>What is equivocation fallacy?</strong> Equivocation is <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/a-vs-the/">the</a> purposeful <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/use-vs-utilize/">use</a> of ambiguous or vague vocabulary with the goal of misleading people or avoiding taking a stand. <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/a-or-an/">An</a> individual is equivocating when <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personal-pronouns/">they</a> respond evasively <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/to-vs-too/">to</a> a direct question with a general statement that does not address the query.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="800" height="441" src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/equivocation-fallacy.png" alt="Equivocation fallacy" class="wp-image-4855" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/equivocation-fallacy.png 800w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/equivocation-fallacy-300x165.png 300w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/equivocation-fallacy-768x423.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Equivocation fallacy</figcaption></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="what-is-the-equivocation-fallacy"></span>What is the equivocation fallacy?<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.grammarly.com/blog/equivocation-fallacy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">equivocation fallacy</a> can be defined as a logical fallacy in <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/comma-before-which/">which</a> a term or phrase is used multiple times to convey different meanings, making the argument it is used illogically. The equivocation fallacy happens in two ways:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>When words or phrases are used in ambiguous ways</li><li>When the word used means more than one thing in the <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/what-is-a-sentence/">sentence</a></li></ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="consider-the-following-sentence"></span>Consider the following sentence:<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>All trees <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/has-vs-have/">have</a> bark, and every dog barks. <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/how-to-use-therefore-correctly/">Therefore</a>, every dog is a tree.</li></ul> <p>This statement is fundamentally wrong <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/because-vs-since/">since</a> the words “bark” used in the first and second parts of the sentence mean entirely different things. This fallacy in the argument is the <a href="https://www.txst.edu/philosophy/resources/fallacy-definitions/Equivocation.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">equivocation fallacy</a>.</p> <p>In many cases, authors <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/may-vs-can/">may</a> use the equivocation fallacy to create a humorous situation or to discuss an important argument laced with humor. </p> <p>But in many cases, the equivocation fallacy may be <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/used-to/">used to</a> support a claim of <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/bad-vs-badly/">bad</a> faith. “Bad faith argument” refers to a stance that the person making the claim knows their claim is false or not fair. </p> <p>People usually use these in an effort to avoid being forced to take the problems at hand seriously and to circumvent admitting that their adversaries’ viewpoints are reasonable, as well as substantiated. </p> <p><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/there-their-theyre/">There</a> are other fallacies in the English language similar to the equivocation fallacy that can be used to support a claim of bad faith. These include the red herring and straw man fallacies.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="800" height="441" src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/equivocation-fallacy-2.png" alt="Equivocation fallacy" class="wp-image-4856" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/equivocation-fallacy-2.png 800w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/equivocation-fallacy-2-300x165.png 300w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/equivocation-fallacy-2-768x423.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Equivocation fallacy</figcaption></figure></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="structure-of-the-equivocation-fallacy"></span>Structure of the equivocation fallacy<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>Since the equivocation fallacy is informal in nature, more importance is given to the application of the argument than its structure.</p> <p>The general format of an equivocation fallacy is “If A is B and B is C, <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/then-vs-than/">then</a> C must be A.”</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="examples"></span><strong>Examples:</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Mushrooms have many health benefits, and autumn skullcap is a mushroom. Therefore, <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-tense-of-eat/">eating</a> autumn skullcaps is beneficial for human health.</li><li>Harry Styles is a star, and the sun is also a star. Therefore, Harry Styles and the sun are the same as each other.</li><li>Loud horns in the traffic give <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/me-vs-myself/">me</a> a headache. Ibuprofen is good for reducing headaches. So, ibuprofen can help me get rid of loud horns in traffic.</li><li>Cats are good pets. Tigers are huge cats. Therefore, tigers are good pets.</li></ul> <p>In the sentences given above, it is easier to spot the equivocation since the logical absurdity is clearly <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/seen-vs-saw/">seen</a>.</p> <p>But in some cases, the fallacy may not be in a format similar to the above sentences. It is also used for <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/laying-vs-lying/">lying</a> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/bye-vs-by/">by</a> omission. </p> <p>Consider a situation <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/where-vs-were/">where</a> a cosmetic company is advertising a new moisturizing face cream they have introduced into the market. The company may only enumerate the positive features or effects of the cream. </p> <p>They may hide the fact that prolonged use of the cream may lead to skin cancer, even if they are aware of it. </p> <p>This “lying by omission” can also be considered a subset of the equivocation fallacy.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="some-concepts-relevant-to-equivocation"></span>Some concepts relevant to equivocation<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivocation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Equivocation</a> is an obfuscation technique that’s quite common. There are certain concepts associated with equivocation that help a reader form a better understanding of the technique. Some of them include:</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="doublespeak"></span><a href="https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-doublespeak.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Doublespeak</strong></a><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/doublespeak/">Doublespeak</a> can be defined as communicating something in a manner that distorts or conceals the truth. This is done with the intention of hiding the real message behind the words and confusing the reader or listener. </p> <p>Doublespeak is occasionally used to reduce the <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/affect-vs-effect/">effect</a> of the message on the audience, especially when the message is conveying a negative event. But it is more frequently employed to hide the truth.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Examples:</strong></h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>using<strong> </strong>“collateral damage” rather than “multiple fatalities”</li><li>using “reducing costs” rather than “cutting jobs”</li><li>using “ethnic cleansing” rather than “genocide”</li><li>using “alternative facts” rather than “misinformation” or “lies”</li></ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="circumlocution"></span><strong>Circumlocution</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>Circumlocution can be defined as the process of using words more than required to convey a message with the intention of being ambiguous, evasive, or deceptive. For instance, a politician may employ circumlocution by providing a lengthy and ambiguous answer to an <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/enquire-vs-inquire/">inquiry</a> in an effort to conceal the fact that they did not actually address the topic.</p> <p>Circumlocution can be considered a kind of equivocation. Thus, circumlocution might be seen as a particular kind of equivocation. But keep in mind that, like equivocation, this type of communication is not always motivated by bad intentions. People often mistakenly use too many words when they are forced to <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/brung-or-brought/">bring</a> up a <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subject-of-a-sentence/">subject</a> that makes them uncomfortable.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="humor-and-equivocation-fallacy"></span><strong>Humor and equivocation fallacy</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>An equivocation fallacy can be frequently employed in a comedic context. Puns, for instance, are hilarious methods that occasionally depend on the premise that a single word can have multiple meanings. Consider the following joke:</p> <p>“Donald Duck walked into a bar and ordered a whisky neat. The bartender said,” $5.” Donald Duck replied, “Put it on my bill.”</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Here, the bill can be interpreted in two ways:</h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>the printed statement of the money owed for the whisky</li><li>the beak of the bird.</li></ul> <p>This ambiguity gives it a comedic quality.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="quibbling"></span><strong>Quibbling</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>Quibbling is when someone makes a flawed attempt to refute an argument by interpreting one of its terms differently than it <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/was-vs-were/">was</a> intended to be understood.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="literature-and-equivocation-fallacy"></span><strong>Literature and equivocation fallacy</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>There is an abundance of <a href="https://examples.yourdictionary.com/equivocation-fallacy-examples.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">equivocation fallacy</a> examples in literature. The famous Shakespearean <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/tragedy-vs-travesty/">tragedy</a> Macbeth is an example of how a skilled writer can use the equivocation fallacy to create suspense and twists in the story. </p> <p>The phrase “none of woman born” is used in the play to denote the way Macbeth <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/would-vs-will/">will</a> die. </p> <p>The reader draws the inference that no individual born of a woman will be able to kill Macbeth. But <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/words-shakespeare-invented/">Shakespeare</a> used this term to simply mean that a person who was born naturally will not be able to kill Macbeth. </p> <p>The author here is quiet about a person who was born <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/threw-vs-through/">through</a> a Caesarean procedure. This is lying by omission or an equivocal fallacy. This is proven when Macbeth is killed by Macduff, a man born by Caesarean birth (“from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripped”) or as the author said, “none of woman born.”</p> <div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/FAQPage"> <h2 class="wp-block-coblocks-faq__title wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="faqs"></span>FAQs<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <details class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item" itemprop="mainEntity" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Question"><summary class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question" itemprop="name"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__content"><strong>How can a reader identify the equivocation fallacy?</strong></div><svg width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__icon" aria-hidden="true"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M19.39 14.99l-1.41 1.41L12 10.43 6.02 16.4l-1.41-1.41L12 7.6l7.39 7.39z"></path></svg></summary><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__answer" itemprop="acceptedAnswer" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Answer"><div itemprop="text"> <p>Critical <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-tense-of-think/">thinking</a> is necessary to identify the equivocation fallacy and to separate fact from the author’s opinion. A reader should carefully consider both the starting argument and the ending opinions of the author to identify the discrepancy between them. The reader should not be focusing on the correctness of the two facts presented but rather on the logical connection shown between them.</p> </div></div></details> <details class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item" itemprop="mainEntity" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Question"><summary class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question" itemprop="name"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__content"><strong>Can authors use the equivocation fallacy in any form of writing?</strong></div><svg width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__icon" aria-hidden="true"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M19.39 14.99l-1.41 1.41L12 10.43 6.02 16.4l-1.41-1.41L12 7.6l7.39 7.39z"></path></svg></summary><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__answer" itemprop="acceptedAnswer" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Answer"><div itemprop="text"> <p>Many authors use the equivocation fallacy to create funny situations, especially in fiction. It may also be used by authors when writing suspenseful fiction to deliberately mislead the reader.</p> </div></div></details> <details class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item" itemprop="mainEntity" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Question"><summary class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question" itemprop="name"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__content"><strong>How can the equivocation fallacy be avoided when writing?</strong></div><svg width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__icon" aria-hidden="true"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M19.39 14.99l-1.41 1.41L12 10.43 6.02 16.4l-1.41-1.41L12 7.6l7.39 7.39z"></path></svg></summary><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__answer" itemprop="acceptedAnswer" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Answer"><div itemprop="text"> <p>Authors can avoid the equivocation fallacy by giving a clear and <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conciseness/">concise</a> explanation of the topics they are discussing. Avoiding synonyms alone to maintain uniform terminology and then continuing with conceptual consistency can also be helpful.</p> </div></div></details> </div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="sources"></span>Sources:<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <ol class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equivocation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Merriam Webster – equivocation – Definition</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivocation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wikipedia – Equivocation</a></li><li><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/fallacy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Britannica – equivocation</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grammarly.com/blog/equivocation-fallacy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grammarly – Equivocation Fallacy Explained, with Examples</a></li></ol> <div id="ez-toc-container" class="ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction"> <div class="ez-toc-title-container"> <p class="ez-toc-title" style="cursor:inherit">Inside this article</p> <span class="ez-toc-title-toggle"></span></div> <nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1" href="#what-is-the-equivocation-fallacy" title="What is the equivocation fallacy?">What is the equivocation fallacy?</a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2" href="#consider-the-following-sentence" title="Consider the following sentence">Consider the following sentence</a></li></ul></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3" href="#structure-of-the-equivocation-fallacy" title="Structure of the equivocation fallacy">Structure of the equivocation fallacy</a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4" href="#examples" title="Examples">Examples</a></li></ul></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5" href="#some-concepts-relevant-to-equivocation" title="Some concepts relevant to equivocation">Some concepts relevant to equivocation</a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6" href="#doublespeak" title="Doublespeak">Doublespeak</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7" href="#circumlocution" title="Circumlocution">Circumlocution</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8" href="#humor-and-equivocation-fallacy" title="Humor and equivocation fallacy">Humor and equivocation fallacy</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9" href="#quibbling" title="Quibbling">Quibbling</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10" href="#literature-and-equivocation-fallacy" title="Literature and equivocation fallacy">Literature and equivocation fallacy</a></li></ul></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11" href="#faqs" title="FAQs">FAQs</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12" href="#sources" title="Sources">Sources</a></li></ul></nav></div> </div> <div bind="a45688e5-b9eb-987e-b87a-877b363b714a" class="tags w-clearfix"> <div bind="3c46d1e8-cfca-93f8-1f0b-132651db81b5"><span bind="e3af2ae6-d86a-f810-ba70-8a062949eb9d" class="text-span-3">Tags:</span></div> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/tag/fallacy/" class="bold-text-4"><strong bind="9bd9671a-c4c5-f296-a149-d2e552ddbe4f" class="bold-text-5">Fallacy</strong></a> </div> <!-- FACT CHECK NOTICE --> <div class="fact-checked w-clearfix"><img src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/correct.png" loading="lazy" width="35" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/correct-p-500.png 500w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/correct.png 512w" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 27vw, 35px" alt="" class="image-6" style="margin-right:20px;"> <p bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e6e" class="fact"><strong bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e6f">Fact checked:</strong><br>Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. <a href="/editorial-policy/" bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e73"><strong bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e74">Learn more.</strong></a> </p> </div> <!-- FACT CHECK NOTICE --> <!-- ABOUT THE AUTHOR --> <div bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e64" class="author"> <div bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e65" class="author-image w-row"> <div bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e66" class="column-3 w-col w-col-3"><img src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/Screen-Shot-2022-09-10-at-4.07.48-PM.png" loading="lazy" bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e67" alt="" class="image-3" style="-webkit-border-radius:200px;border-radius:200px;-moz-border-radius:200px;"></div> <div bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e68" class="column-2 w-col w-col-9"> <p bind="3eab4726-5f41-ff61-2881-dd7370ae1a47" class="author-p"><strong>About the author</strong> <a href="#" bind="3eab4726-5f41-ff61-2881-dd7370ae1a4c"><strong bind="3eab4726-5f41-ff61-2881-dd7370ae1a4d"></strong></a> </p> <p bind="3eab4726-5f41-ff61-2881-dd7370ae1a47" class="author-p"> <a href="/about/" bind="a4a5a123-eef4-a277-5d08-7dfd48482052"><strong bind="16ba8aa2-6a9a-8a55-c24f-7e0b2e7391c4">Dalia Y.:</strong></a> Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain. </p> </div> </div> </div> <!-- ABOUT THE AUTHOR --> <div class="other-articles"> <h3 class="abbv-h3">Core lessons</h3> <div class="w-row"> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/apostrophe/">Apostrophe</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/ellipsis/">Ellipsis</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/semicolon/">Semicolon</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/hyphen/">Hyphen</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/et-al/">Et. Al.</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/exclamation-mark/">Exclamation Mark</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/capitalization-rules/">Capitalization Rules</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/oxford-comma-serial-comma/">Comma</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/parts-of-speech/">Parts of Speech</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subjunctive/">Subjunctive</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjectives/">Adjectives</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjectives-describing-personality/">Personality Adjectives</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-words/">Compound Words</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subordinating-conjunction/">Subordinating Conjunction</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adverbs/">Adverbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adverbial-clause/">Adverbial Clause</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/irregular-verbs/">Irregular Verbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/common-verbs/">Common Verbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/intransitive-verbs/">Intransitive Verbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/phrasal-verbs/">Phrasal Verbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prepositions/">Prepositions</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/gerund/">Gerund</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/active-voice/">Active Voice</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/passive-voice/">Passive Voice</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conjunctions/">Conjunctions</a> </div> <!-- <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Verbs </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Conjunctions </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Nouns </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Adjectives </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Determiners </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Interjections </div> --> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-perfect-tense/">Present Perfect</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-perfect-simple/">Present Perfect Simple</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-simple-tense/">Present Simple</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-continuous/">Present Continuous</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-perfect-continuous/">Present Perfect Continuous</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/simple-future-tense/">Simple Future</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-continuous-tense/">Past Continuous</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-simple-tense/">Past Simple</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/clauses/">Clauses</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/object-pronouns/">Object Pronouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personal-pronouns/">Personal Pronouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-pronouns/">Possessive Pronouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/common-noun/">Common Noun</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/concrete-nouns/">Concrete Noun</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-noun/">Possessive Noun</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/proper-noun/">Proper Noun</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/irregular-plural-nouns/">Irregular Plural Nouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prepositional-phrases/">Prepositional Phrases</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/introductory-phrases/">Introductory Phrases</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/declarative-statement/">Declarative Statement</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/sentence-diagramming/">Sentence Diagramming</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/complete-subjects/">Complete Subjects</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/sentence-starters/">Sentence Starters</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/metaphor/">Metaphor</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personification/">Personification</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/allegory/">Allegory</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/collective-noun/">Collective Nouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/tones-in-writing/">Tones in Writing</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/homophones/">Homophones</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/declarative-sentences/">Declarative Sentences</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/syntax/">Syntax</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="other-articles"> <h3 class="abbv-h3">Glossary</h3> <div class="w-row"> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <strong>A:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/abstract-noun/">Abstract Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/accusative-case/">Accusative Case</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/anecdote/">Anecdote</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/antonym/">Antonym</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/active-sentence/">Active Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adverbs/">Adverb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjective/">Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/allegory/">Allegory</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/alliteration/">Alliteration</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjective-clause/">Adjective Clause</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjective-phrase/">Adjective Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/ampersand/">Ampersand</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/anastrophe/">Anastrophe</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adverbial-clause/">Adverbial Clause</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/appositive-phrase/">Appositive Phrase</a></li> </ul> <strong>B:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/base-form/">Base Form</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/body-paragraph/">Body Paragraph</a></li> </ul> <strong>C:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/clauses/">Clause</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-adjective/">Compound Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/complex-sentence/">Complex Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-words/">Compound Words</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-predicate/">Compound Predicate</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/common-noun/">Common Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/comparative-adjective/">Comparative Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/superlatives-and-comparatives/">Comparative and Superlative</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-noun/">Compound Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-subject/">Compound Subject</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-sentence/">Compound Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/copular-verb/">Copular Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/collective-noun/">Collective Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/colloquialism/">Colloquialism</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conciseness/">Conciseness</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/consonance/">Consonance</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conditionals/">Conditional</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/concrete-nouns/">Concrete Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conjunctions/">Conjunction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conjugation/">Conjugation</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conditional-sentence-if-clause/">Conditional Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/comma-splice/">Comma Splice</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/correlative-conjunction/">Correlative Conjunction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/coordinating-conjunction/">Coordinating Conjunction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/coordinating-adjectives/">Coordinate Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/cumulative-adjective/">Cumulative Adjective</a></li> </ul> <strong>D:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/dative-case/">Dative Case</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/determiners/">Determiner</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/declarative-sentences/">Declarative Sentence</a> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/declarative-statement/">Declarative Statement</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/direct-object-pronouns/">Direct Object Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/direct-object/">Direct Object</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/types-of-diction/">Diction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/diphthong/">Diphthong</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/dangling-modifier/">Dangling Modifier</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/demonstrative-pronouns/">Demonstrative Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/demonstrative-adjective/">Demonstrative Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/direct-characterization/">Direct Characterization</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/definite-article/">Definite Article</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/doublespeak/">Doublespeak</a></li> </ul> <strong>E:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/equivocation-fallacy/">Equivocation Fallacy</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/en-dash/">En Dash</a></li> </ul> <strong>F:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/false-dilemma-fallacy/">False Dilemma Fallacy</a> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/future-perfect-progressive/">Future Perfect Progressive</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/future-simple/">Future Simple</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/future-perfect-continuous/">Future Perfect Continuous</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/future-perfect/">Future Perfect</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/first-conditional/">First Conditional</a></li> </ul> <strong>G:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/gerund/">Gerund</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/gerund-phrase/">Gerund Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/genitive-case/">Genitive Case</a></li> </ul> <strong>H:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/homophones/">Homophone</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/homonym/">Homonym</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/helping-verbs/">Helping Verb</a></li> </ul> <strong>I:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/irregular-adjectives/">Irregular Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/irregular-verbs/">Irregular Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/imperative-sentence/">Imperative Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indefinite-article/">Indefinite Article</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/intransitive-verbs/">Intransitive Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/introductory-phrases/">Introductory Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indefinite-pronouns/">Indefinite Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indirect-characterization/">Indirect Characterization</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/interrogative-sentence/">Interrogative Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/intensive-pronoun/">Intensive Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/inanimate-object/">Inanimate Object</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indefinite-tense/">Indefinite Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/infinitive-phrase/">Infinitive Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/interjection/">Interjection</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/intensifier/">Intensifier</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/inifitives/">Infinitive</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indicative-mood/">Indicative Mood</a></li> </ul> <strong>J:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/juxtaposition/">Juxtaposition</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <strong>L:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/linking-verbs/">Linking Verb</a></li> </ul> <strong>M:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/modal-verb/">Modal Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/modifier/">Modifier</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/misplaced-modifier/">Misplaced Modifier</a></li> </ul> <strong>N:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/nominative-case/">Nominative Case</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/noun/">Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjective-as-noun/">Noun Adjective</a></li> </ul> <strong>O:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/oxymoron/">Oxymoron</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/object-pronouns/">Object Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/object-complement/">Object Complement</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/order-of-adjectives/">Order of Adjectives</a></li> </ul> <strong>P:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/participle/">Participle</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/parallelism/">Parallelism</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prepositional-phrases/">Prepositional Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-simple-tense/">Past Simple Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-continuous-tense/">Past Continuous Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-perfect-tense/">Past Perfect Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-progressive-tense/">Past Progressive Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-simple-tense/">Present Simple Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-perfect-tense/">Present Perfect Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personal-pronouns/">Personal Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personification/">Personification</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/persuasive-writing/">Persuasive Writing</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/parallel-structure/">Parallel Structure</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/phrasal-verbs/">Phrasal Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/predicate-adjective/">Predicate Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/predicate-nominative/">Predicate Nominative</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/phonetic-language/">Phonetic Language</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/plural-noun/">Plural Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/punctuation/">Punctuation</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/punctuation-marks/">Punctuation Marks</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prepositions/">Preposition</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/preposition-of-place/">Preposition of Place</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/parts-of-speech/">Parts of Speech</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-adjective/">Possessive Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-determiner/">Possessive Determiner</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-case/">Possessive Case</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-noun/">Possessive Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/proper-adjective/">Proper Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/proper-noun/">Proper Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-participle/">Present Participle</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prefix/">Prefix</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/predicate/">Predicate</a></li> </ul> <strong>Q:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/quotation-marks/">Quotation Marks</a></li> </ul> <strong>R:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/relative-pronouns/">Relative Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/reflexive-pronouns/">Reflexive Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/reciprocal-pronouns/">Reciprocal Pronoun</a></li> </ul> <strong>S:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subordinating-conjunction/">Subordinating Conjunction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/simple-future-tense/">Simple Future Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/syntax/">Syntax</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/stative-verbs/">Stative Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subjunctive/">Subjunctive</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subject-complement/">Subject Complement</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subject-of-a-sentence/">Subject of a Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/sentence-variety/">Sentence Variety</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/second-conditional/">Second Conditional</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/suffix/">Suffix</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/superlative-adjective/">Superlative Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/slash-symbol/">Slash Symbol</a></li> </ul> <strong>T:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/topic-sentence/">Topic Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/types-of-nouns/">Types of Nouns</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/types-of-sentences/">Types of Sentences</a></li> </ul> <strong>U:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/uncountable-noun/">Uncountable Noun</a></li> </ul> <strong>V:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/common-verbs/">Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/verb-tenses/">Verb Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/vowels-and-consonants/">Vowels and Consonants</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="other-articles"> <h3 class="abbv-h3">Popular lessons</h3> <div class="w-row"> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/bare-with-me-or-bear-with-me/">Bare With Me</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/bosss-bosses-bosses/">Boss's, Bosses, or Bosses'</a> 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