anacoluthic

9.9

Having a sudden break in sentence structure like natural speech

adjective
/ˌænəˈkəluːθɪk/

Specialized

: anacolútico

An anacoluthic sentence can confuse readers when the grammatical flow is suddenly interrupted.

Examples

An anacoluthic sentence often mirrors spontaneous spoken language.
Her speech was filled with anacoluthic constructions that left listeners puzzled.
The author's anacoluthic style made the novel challenging but intriguing to read.
The professor explained the anacoluthic structure in his lecture.
An example of an anacoluthic sentence is difficult to find.
Writers who employ anacoluthic structures often aim to convey a sense of realism in dialogue.
In her essay, she used an anacoluthic approach to reflect the chaotic thoughts of her characters.

Antonyms

consistent

265 3.1

Not changing in quality or form over time

coherent

74 7.2

Clear and logical speaking or writing that is easy to understand

Surface Forms

anacoluthic positive

Morphology

anacoluthic = anacoluthon (opaque) = anacoluthon + ic

Formation from the noun 'anacoluthon' to the adjective with the productive suffix '-ic' is a standard and predictable derivation.

Etymology

Anacoluthic comes from the Greek parts an- meaning 'not' and akolouthos meaning 'following', and you can think of the English verb 'follow' to remember it, so it literally means 'not following'. That's why an anacoluthic sentence suddenly breaks its grammar and stops 'following' the start of the sentence.