Words on Writing: L


Go to the A-Z page | Get the book: Word Up!

linguistics

The scientific study of human language.

For more, see the chapter “A Modern Take (Is Take a Noun?) on Parts of Speech” in Word Up!

linking verb (equational verb, copular verb)

A be‑verb or other verb—seem, become, remain, grow, get—that equates two elements in a clause. In The icicles are slippery, the linking verb are equates icicles and slippery. When a word acts as a linking verb, it is (like the is you just read) a form-class word.

Compare auxiliary.

For more, see the chapter “A Modern Take (Is Take a Noun?) on Parts of Speech” in Word Up!

ly word

See adverb.

A-Z page

This is not a list of all words about writing—you’d be scrolling all day. These definitions evolved while I was writing  Word Up! I enjoyed what I learned and wanted to share it.

Get the full glossary and more in the book: Word Up! How to Write Powerful Sentences and Paragraphs (And Everything You Build from Them)

Last modified: December 14, 2012

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