paratext
/ˈpær.ə.tɛkst/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Material that comes with a text but is not the main text itself. It includes things like the title, preface, notes, and cover blurbs.
- The foreword is part of the book's paratext.
- The cover design is paratext, not the main story.
- Scholars study how paratext shapes readers' expectations.
Adinary Nuance
Paratext is more specific than text or content. It means the extra material around a work, not the work itself. It is also more academic than everyday words like introduction or cover text. Writers use it when they want a precise term for the outer parts of a book or article.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ngoại văn bản
- Spanish
- paratexto
- Chinese
- 副文本
- Japanese
- パラテクスト
- Korean
- 주변 텍스트
Etymology
The word comes from French paratexte, built from Greek para- meaning “beside” and text. It became common in literary studies in the late 20th century.
Common phrases
book paratextparatextual featuresthe paratext of a novelstudy of paratext
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is paratext a common word in everyday English?
- No. It is mostly used in academic writing, especially in literature and media studies.
- What is the difference between paratext and text?
- Text is the main content. Paratext is the extra material around it, like titles and notes.
- Can I use paratext in business writing?
- Usually not. It sounds academic, so simpler words are better in most business contexts.
- What are examples of paratext?
- Examples include a title, foreword, table of contents, footnotes, and cover copy.