This document classifies and defines different types of words. It discusses words that are specific to a local region (localisms), used in casual conversation (colloquialisms), shortened forms (contractions), informal/non-standard (slang), abstract vs concrete, specific vs general, formal, synonymous, homonymous, general/vague (omnibus), technical/occupational (jargon), archaic, obsolete, overused (hackneyed), and antonyms. Examples are provided for many of the classifications. The purpose is to explain how words can be divided into different classes or categories.

1. CLASSIFICATION
OF WORDS
Manaba, Peter Paul R.
Perater, Jenelyn Z.

2. Classification means either explaining which class a thing
belongs to or dividing a group of things into classes.

3. LOCALISM1
COLLOQUIALISM
WORD CONTRACTION
SLANG
ABSTRACT WORDS
CONCRETE WORDS
2
3
4
5
6
SPECIFIC WORDS
7 GENERAL WORDS
FORMAL WORDS
SYNONYMOUS WORDS
HOMONYMOUS WORDS
OMNIBUS WORDS
8
9
10
11
12

4. JARGON OR TECHNICAL WORDS13
ARCHAIC WORDS
OBSOLETE WORDS
HACKNEYED OR TRITE WORDS
ANTONYMS
14
15
16
17

5. Refers to the word used and understood
in a particular region or section. It can
also be called recognition or
pronunciation.

6. Ø nose bleed - can't understand
Ø ref - fridge/refridgerator
Ø high blood - getting really angry
Ø CR - comfort room/rest room/wash
room

7. Ø rustler - cattle thief
Ø doggie/doggy - motherless calf
Ø flat - apartment

8. • It is a conversational word or phrase
permissible and often indespensable to an
easy informal style of speaking and writing.
• It is not standard or illiterate.
• It is an expression more often used in
speech rather than in writing and more
appropriate in informal than formal speech.

9. wise, agree, help, prone, break, clear,
beggar, end surrender, secret, mad,
mean, fuss, sure swap etc.

10. • Words made by shortening and
combining two words.
• This classification also falls under
colloquial words.
I'm, won't, we're, haven't, don't, doesn't

11. • Slang is a label for highly colloquial words.
• It is defined as a language comprising recently
coined and frequently short-lived terms which are
unacceptable in formal English usage and are
often fanciful, bizarre, odd or exhibiting fancy
humor.
• It is also defined as a result from an intentional
mispronunciation of words.

12. Øhass - house
Øheppy - happy
Øwee wee - urinate
Øclassy - fine or excellent
Øwheels - car/motorbike/bike
Øhooked - addicted
Øepic fail - big failure

13. Ødoug - dog
Øbum - vagabond
Øbroke - without money

14. These are those words that cannot be
seen but can be felt. They do not express
concrete ideas.
Love, fear, pain, hunger, dream

15. These are words that employ the use
of the five senses to identify them.
Table, people, house, building, pencil

16. These are words that refer to a general referent
or class or referents. These words convey a less
clear meaning to readers than specific words do.
Plants, people, animals, flowers, teachers

17. Words that point to a particular class or
referents.
• girl - Andrea
• insect - mosquito
• flower - gumamela
• university - West Visayas State University

18. • Words that used in formal writing.
• Words used in writing essays for school,
cover letters to apply for jobs, or emails and
letters at work.

19. Ø erudite which means wise
Ø concur which means agree
Ø esoteric which means secret
Ø friend which means chum

20. Ø apologize - say sorry
Ø request - ask for
Ø adress - speak to
Ø gratitude - thanks
Ø discover - find out
Ø increase - go up
Ø decrease - go down

21. These are words having the same
meaning.
• pretty - beautiful
• little - small
• huge - big

22. These are words having the same
sound but different in meaning.
• fare - fair
• rice - rise
• right - write
• nose - knows
• coarse - course
• flour - flower

23. These are words whose meanings are general
or inclusive. These words are impediments to
precise writing because they do the work of what
other words do. They can mean many things.
thing, cute, nice, fine

24. Refer to words or specific language of a
particular occupation or group.
• Engineering - slide rule, plate, T-square
• Accounting - ledger, debit, credit
• medical Surgery - appendectomy, ligation, hydraulic pressure
• Law - suspect, criminal, appeal, Supreme Court, case, culprit,
balance, Bill of Rights

25. Old words rarely used except as preserved in religious
and legal purposes.
Ø Thou - you
Ø Amongst - among
Ø Thee - you
Ø Thy - your
Ø Hearken - hear

26. Words which are no longer in use.
• by and by - later
• whilom - for a while in a minute
• beef-witted - slow-witted; stupid

27. Words that are no longer fresh. They are worn
out or old fashioned and have been overused
for years. These words no longer attract
attention nor incite interest. They do not suggest
originality.

28. Ødrastic step
Øgo down in history
Øbrilliant performance
Øround of applause
ØI hope you are well

29. Words with opposite meanings.
Ø big - small
Ø ugly - beautiful
Ø stout - tall
Ø fat - slim
Ø dull - bright

30. MANABA, PETER PAUL R.
PERATER, JENELYN Z.