Lexical Categories (LPI)

should / must / need to / ought to / it is essential / we have a responsibility → obligation language (1.5x weight)

Words and phrases that express obligation, duty, and moral necessity — the lexical backbone of sermonic writing. Target words include 'should,' 'must,' 'need to,' 'have to,' 'ought to,' 'it is essential,' 'it is crucial,' 'we must,' 'you must,' 'everyone should,' 'we have a responsibility,' and 'we owe it to.' Moral imperatives carry HIGH weight (1.5x multiplier) because they are the most direct lexical indicator of preachiness: a text dense with moral imperatives is literally prescribing behavior. Scoring is based on density relative to text length — one 'should' in 500 words is not the same as ten.

clearly / obviously / the truth is / make no mistake / undeniably → certainty assertion (1.5x weight)

Words and phrases that assert absolute confidence in a claim — linguistic signals that the speaker considers their position beyond debate. Target words include 'clearly,' 'obviously,' 'undeniably,' 'without question,' 'there is no doubt,' 'the truth is,' 'the fact is,' 'make no mistake,' 'let's be clear,' 'plain and simple,' 'beyond dispute,' and 'indisputably.' Certainty markers carry HIGH weight (1.5x multiplier) because they transform claims into declarations — they tell the reader not just what to believe but that questioning the belief is unreasonable.

how can we / silence is complicity / turn a blind eye / blood on our hands → guilt/shame appeal (1.5x weight)

Words and phrases designed to induce shame, guilt, or moral discomfort in the reader — the emotional weaponry of sermonic writing. Target phrases include 'how can we,' 'how dare,' 'turn a blind eye,' 'look the other way,' 'silence is complicity,' 'failure to act,' 'on your conscience,' 'blood on our hands,' 'we are complicit,' and 'if we truly.' Shame/guilt triggers carry HIGH weight (1.5x multiplier) because they bypass rational argument and appeal directly to the reader's moral self-image — making them feel that inaction or disagreement is a personal moral failing.

compassion / justice / integrity / duty / dignity / accountability → virtue vocabulary (1.0x weight)

Words that invoke moral and ethical values — the elevated vocabulary of virtuous intent. Target words include 'compassion,' 'empathy,' 'dignity,' 'justice,' 'integrity,' 'responsibility,' 'accountability,' 'courage,' 'wisdom,' 'humanity,' 'moral,' 'ethical,' 'conscience,' 'values,' 'principles,' 'character,' 'honor,' 'duty,' 'stewardship,' and 'solidarity.' Virtue signals carry MEDIUM weight (1.0x multiplier) because they elevate the moral register of a text without necessarily prescribing behavior — they create the ethical atmosphere in which sermons operate.

defining moment / crossroads / unprecedented / at stake / the very fabric → scale inflation (1.0x weight)

Words and phrases that inflate the scale, importance, or historical significance of the subject — language that makes everything feel like a defining moment. Target words include 'transform,' 'revolution,' 'fundamental,' 'paradigm,' 'unprecedented,' 'historic,' 'generation,' 'legacy,' 'destiny,' 'defining moment,' 'crossroads,' 'turning point,' 'at stake,' 'the very fabric,' 'the soul of,' and 'nothing less than.' Grandiose language carries MEDIUM weight (1.0x multiplier) because it amplifies the moral stakes — when everything is historic and unprecedented, inaction becomes unthinkable.

we all know / everyone agrees / any reasonable person / surely we can agree → manufactured consensus (1.0x weight)

Words and phrases that use the appearance of consensus to pressure agreement — linguistic constructions that claim everyone already agrees, making dissent feel like deviation from an obvious norm. Target phrases include 'we all know,' 'everyone agrees,' 'any reasonable person,' 'no one can deny,' 'together we,' 'our shared,' 'our collective,' 'surely we can agree,' and 'it goes without saying.' Inclusive coercion carries MEDIUM weight (1.0x multiplier) because it applies social pressure through the fiction of unanimity — if 'everyone knows,' then not knowing marks you as an outsider.

absence of: perhaps / maybe / it seems / arguably / on the other hand → zero hedging on bold claims (0.5x weight)

A measure of the absence of hedging language in a text that makes bold claims — scored inversely, meaning a text with zero hedging on assertive claims scores HIGH. Hedging words include 'perhaps,' 'maybe,' 'it seems,' 'some might argue,' 'on the other hand,' 'arguably,' and 'in some cases.' Hedging absence carries LOW weight (0.5x multiplier) because it is a supporting indicator rather than a primary marker: the absence of hedging amplifies the sermonic force of other features (absolute claims, certainty markers) but is not sermonic in itself. A well-hedged text with bold claims reads as academic; an unhedged text with bold claims reads as sermonic.

anaphora / tricolon / parallel repetition / three-beat build → sermonic rhythmic repetition (0.5x weight)

A measure of how much a text uses repetition to create sermonic rhythm — specifically, anaphora, repeated phrases for emphasis, tricolon, lists of three, and parallel constructions that build a preaching cadence. Not just any repetition counts; what matters is repetition that creates the characteristic rhythmic build of a sermon. Repetitive emphasis carries LOW weight (0.5x multiplier) because it is a stylistic amplifier: it makes existing sermonic content feel more sermonic without being sermonic in itself. A neutral text with repetitive emphasis reads as literary; a morally charged text with repetitive emphasis reads as a sermon.