* Sensory details: Sensory language uses words that appeal to the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. These words create a mental picture for the reader.
* Imagination: When you read descriptive language that engages your senses, you instinctively create a mental picture in your mind based on the words used. This is the essence of imagery.
For example, instead of saying "The day was hot," a writer might say: "The sun beat down relentlessly, its heat shimmering off the asphalt like a mirage." This creates a much more vivid image in the reader's mind, making them feel the heat and see the shimmering air.
So, sensory language and imagery are essentially synonymous because both rely on creating mental images through vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses.