| anacoluthon |
| Definition: A change in grammatical structure within the same sentence. Grammar-wise, it's a mistake. Rhetoric-wise, it's a type of emphasis. Note: In texts, the change is often signalled with a dash. |
| Example: I warned him that if he didn't stop living in the past — what would the future be? |
| Etymology: It derives from the Greek anakolouthos, does not follow (from an, not + akolouthos, following). Note: the equivalent Latin term is non sequitur. |
| OED: The word's first OED citation is from 1706: "Anacolython, a Rhetorical Figure, when a Word that is to answer another is not express'd." (Phillips) |