A rich vocabulary has been developed for identifying stylistic faults. The terms for stylistic vices do not strictly denote changes of meaning or arrangement as do most terms for rhetorical figures; rather, these are qualitative labels whose accuracy will always be relative to the context and purpose.
Every dimension or aspect of style has vices associated with it, and every vice has a corresponding virtue. Indeed, the very same locution may in one sense be regarded as exemplifying a stylistic virtue, and in another, a vice.
It is helpful to understand that all figurative language alters the normal meaning or arrangement of words to some degree. When figurative language is apt for a given context and purpose, it is eloquent and effective (and thus exemplifies one or more of the virtues of style); when figurative language is not apt for a given context and purpose, it is ineloquent and ineffective (and thus exemplifies one or more of the vices of style).
solecismus (An element of speech or writing that is incorrect grammatically.)
barbarismus (The use of nonstandard or foreign speech (= cacozelia); the use of a word awkwardly forced into a poem's meter; or unconventional pronunciation.)
soraismus (To mingle different languages affectedly or without skill.)
heterogenium (Avoiding an issue by changing the subject to something different.)
amphibologia (Ambiguity of grammatical structure, often occasioned by mispunctuation.)
cacemphaton (=aischrologia) (An expression that is deliberately either foul (such as crude language) or ill-sounding (such as from excessive alliteration).)
cacosyntheton (The ill placing of words, as when an adjective improperly follows a noun or when there is any other unpleasing order of words.)
bomphiologia (Exaggeration done in a self-aggrandizing manner, as a braggart.)
cacozelia (A stylistic affectation of diction, such as throwing in foreign words to appear learned. Bad taste in words or selection of metaphor, either to make the facts appear worse or to disgust the auditors.)
acyron (The use of a word repugnant or contrary to what is meant.)
aschematiston (The use of plain, unadorned or unornamented language. Or, the unskilled use of figurative language.)
hypallage (Shifting the application of words. Mixing the order of which words should correspond with which others.)
parrhesia (Either to speak candidly or to ask forgiveness for so speaking. Sometimes considered a vice.)
graecismus (Using Greek words, examples, or grammatical structures. Sometimes considered an affectation of erudition.)