SEARCH UNSPINNING THE SPIN: THE WOMEN'S MEDIA CENTER GUIDE TO FAIR AND ACCURATE LANGUAGE

To determine if a word or phrase is fair or accurate, type it into the search box. Or return to the Unspinning the Spin home page.



WMC Unspinning the Spin

feminine/masculine (poetry, music)

in poetry, rhyme with a stressed or strong final syllable is called masculine rhyme; rhyme with an unstressed or weak final syllable is feminine rhyme. In music, a masculine beginning (or ending) is a phrase that starts (or ends) on a strong beat; a feminine beginning (or ending) is a phrase that starts (or ends) on a weak beat. It would seem clearer to refer to stressed and unstressed rhymes and to strong and weak beats without bringing the sexes into it in this highly sexist manner.


SHARE

[SHARE]

Article.DirectLink

ABOUT

Unspinning the Spin: The Women's Media Center Guide to Fair and Accurate Language

By Rosalie Maggio


 

ALPHABETICAL ENTRIES:
A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z

INTRODUCTION by Robin Morgan and Gloria Steinem

WRITING GUIDELINES