nonchronological
Out of order
Nonchronological describes an arrangement that doesn't follow time order.
A nonchronological narrative might jump between past and present, or present events thematically rather than sequentially.
Nonchronological reports in British primary education teach children to organize information by topic rather than timeline: The class wrote nonchronological reports about ancient Egypt.
Not in sequence
- fragmentedBroken into pieces
- disjointedLacking orderly sequence
- episodicOccurring in distinct segments
- vignetteBrief evocative description
flashback · flash-forward · stream-of-consciousness · retrospective · elliptical · discontinuous · interwoven · braided
Involuntary past memory
- reminiscenceRecalling past experiences
- recollectionRecalled mental image
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- retrospectionContemplating past events
trauma · repression · recall · reverie · regression · associative · triggered
Mixed into disorder
- shuffledMixed into disorder
- rearrangedAltered the arrangement
- out-of-orderNonfunctional or misordered
- jumbledDisordered, lacking arrangement
achronological · disordered · non-sequential · atemporal · discontinuous · fractured · segmented · modular
Abrupt sequential edit
- cross-cuttingEditing between parallel actions
- montageAssembled sequence of images
- intercuttingAlternating between parallel scenes
- cutawayView with exterior removed
dissolve · fade · L-cut · J-cut · ellipsis · juxtaposition · splicing
Year-by-year historical account
- oral-historyRecorded firsthand accounts
- palimpsestReused writing surface, traces remain
- revisionistOne who alters accepted narratives
- counter-narrativeStory opposing mainstream version
microhistory · comparative · archaeological · genealogical · archival · layered · reconstructed
nonlinear
Not in sequence
- fragmentedBroken into pieces
- disjointedLacking orderly sequence
- episodicOccurring in distinct segments
vignette · flashback · flash-forward · stream-of-consciousness · retrospective · elliptical · discontinuous · interwoven · braided · modular
flashback
Involuntary past memory
- reminiscenceRecalling past experiences
- recollectionRecalled mental image
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
retrospection · trauma · repression · recall · reverie · regression · associative · triggered
scrambled
Mixed into disorder
- shuffledMixed into disorder
- rearrangedAltered the arrangement
- out-of-orderNonfunctional or misordered
jumbled · achronological · disordered · non-sequential · atemporal · discontinuous · fractured · segmented · modular · aleatory
jump-cut
Abrupt sequential edit
- cross-cuttingEditing between parallel actions
- montageAssembled sequence of images
- intercuttingAlternating between parallel scenes
cutaway · dissolve · fade · L-cut · J-cut · ellipsis · juxtaposition · splicing
annals
Year-by-year historical account
- oral-historyRecorded firsthand accounts
- palimpsestReused writing surface, traces remain
- revisionistOne who alters accepted narratives
counter-narrative · microhistory · comparative · archaeological · genealogical · archival · layered · reconstructed
nonchronologicalchronological
Ordered by time
sequential · linear · in order · consecutive · diachronic
chronological, chronologically, chronology, chronologies, chronic, chronically, chronicle, chronicles, chronicler