Metadiscourse

Metadiscourse is a term that is used in philosophy to denote a discussion about a discussion, as opposed to a simple discussion about a given topic. Metadiscourse is a term that is used in philosophy to denote a discussion about a discussion, as opposed to a simple discussion about a given topic. The term metadiscourse is also used in writing to describe a word or phrase that comments on what is in the sentence, usually as an introductory adverbial clause. It is any phrase that is included within a clause or sentence that goes beyond the subject itself, often to examine the purpose of the sentence or a response from the author. Metadiscourse includes phrases such as 'frankly,' 'after all,' 'on the other hand,' 'to our surprise,' and so on.