Anomaly - something that is out of place and unexplained. In paranormal studies, it refers to any phenomena that we cannot explain. 

Apparition - a mysterious image of a disembodied spirit that can be recognized as a human, animal or object. They are the most rare type of ghost to capture on film. Ghostly human forms are the easiest to fake, especially with the advanced technology of computers. This makes it even more difficult to prove apparitions when using photos. Ghostly apparitions of ships trains, cars and other inanimate objects have also been seen. Since the early 17th century, this refers to any ghost that seems to have material substance. If it appears in any physical form, including a vapor-like image, it may be called an apparition.

Automatic Writing - happens when a ghost or spirit takes control of the writer's hand and writes out a message.

Cold Spot - an area where the temperature drops by several degrees. The temperature can also rise in heat by several degrees.

Dowsing - the ability to seek answers and interpret them by using rods or a pendulum. Dowsing is widely used as a simple, but effective, way of searching for anything from lost coins, water, and geophysical surveys to ghosts.

EMF - Electro Magnetic Field, or Electro Magnetic Frequency. As the name suggests, it's a combination of electrical and magnetic fields. You'll find high EMF levels around power sources, fuse boxes, electrical outlets, computer monitors, microwave ovens, etc. Unexplained EMF fields often indicate something paranormal. EMF fields can be measured with various tools, including an EMF meter or a hiking compass.

ESP - Extrasensory perception. The ability to gain knowledge through means other than the five physical senses or logical inference.

EVP - Electronic Voice Phenomena, or the recording of unexplained voices, usually in haunted settings.

Evidence - tangible material collected during an ivestigation used to prove or disprove claims of haunting.

Exorcism - a method used by priests or other qualified individuals to withdraw offending spirits from people and places to which the spirits have attached themselves.

Ghost - a sentient entity or spirit that visits or lingers in our world, after he or she lived among us as a human being. There has also been evidence of ghostly animals and pets.

Ghost Hunt / Ghost Investigation - a ghost hunt is an informal attempt to simply sight or record a ‘ghost’ in a location similar to others known to be haunted. A ghost investigation, on the other hand, is a carefully controlled research project, set up to record paranormal activity, usually at a location known, or presumed to be haunted.

Ghost Hunter - a person who seeks to find ghosts or haunted places to figure out why, or what type of spirit activity is occuring. 

Haunted - describes a setting where ghosts, poltergeists, and/or residual energy seem to produce significant paranormal activity. The word "haunt" originally meant to frequent.

Haunting - the repeated display of paranormal activity in a designated area. Some hauntings are thought to be poltergeist energy from a disembodied entity trapped in a certain location or by the energy left behind from a very strong tragic event or accident. Occasionally, hauntings appear to be an intelligent ghost trying to make a connection with someone on the earth plane to give a message.

Inhuman Spirit - demonic or negative entity inclined to cause harm to human beings.

Intelligent Haunting - a ghost who is able to interact with the living through various ways of communication.

Malevolent Entities - spirits that are very angry or seeking revenge. They sometimes attach themselves to someone causing them discomfort and distress. It is easy for them to harass human beings with the same angry or depressed personality.

Materialization - the process of a ghost becoming visible.

Matrixing - the mind's natural ability to find order out of chaos, resulting in seeing pictures, faces, and shapes where they do not exist.

Medium - someone who can communicate between our world and the other side.

Mist - A photographed anomaly (not seen at time of photo) that appears as a 'blanket' of light. Theory suggests that this is the appearance of a 'ghost' or 'spirit' of the dead. As with other photographed anomalies there is environmental issues that are of concern to the validity of their existence (moisture, reflection, dirty lens, etc.).

Occult - from the Latin, meaning something that is concealed or covered. Since the 16th century, it has meant anything that is mysterious. Today in America, it generally refers to magical, mystical and experimental studies.

Orb - A round, whitish or pastel-colored translucent area in photos. Rarely seen in real life. Generally, these are perfectly circular, not oval. Many researchers believe that they represent spirits or ghosts, but one must be careful of dust particles and bugs which create a similar effect in photos.

Paranormal - the prefix, "para" indicates something that is irregular, faulty, or operating outside the usual boundaries. So, "paranormal" refers to anything outside the realm and experiences that we consider normal.

Pendulum - A small weight at the end of a cord or chain that is usually about six to ten inches long. The movement of the weight, when uninfluenced by other factors, can be used to detect areas of paranormal energy.

Poltergeist - from the German meaning "noisy ghost," this term has been in use since the early 19th century to mean a spirit that makes noise, or otherwise plays pranks… often annoying. Unlike other ghosts, poltergeists can move from one location to another, following the person they've chosen to torment. Many psychologists believe that poltergeists are not ghosts at all, but some form of psychokinesis or remote activity.

Portal - literally, a doorway or gate, this term suggests a specific location through which spirits enter and leave our world. When there are multiple phenomena in a confined area, such as an abundance of unexplained orbs, some people call this a "ghost portal." 

Possession - when an evil entity takes over a human body and forces the soul out. This allows the spirit to use the host by alternating his own will. This may totally adjust the host's current personality. The people most commonly attacked by this force are women under twenty who show signs of emotional distress. The disincarnate spirit seeks out humans with their own emotions of anger, revenge, and resentment.

Precognition - the foreknowing of future events.

Protection - objects, rituals, routines, tactics, prayers, or processes through which you guard yourself against psychic, demonic or paranormal intrusions and effects.

Psychic - from the Greek word meaning of the soul, or of life, this word usually refers to the world outside the domain of physical law. "Psychic" can relate to the spirit or the mind, depending upon the context. When someone is described as a psychic, it usually means that he or she is able to perceive things that are outside traditional physical laws and perceptions.

Residual Haunting - many ghost hunters believe that emotionally charged events leave an imprint or energy residue on the physical objects nearby.  What distinguishes residual energy from an active (intelligent) haunting is that the energy/impressions repeat consistently, as if on a video tape loop. The energy levels may increase or decrease, but the content remains the same with each manifestation. By contrast, in what we term an intelligent haunting, the ghost may respond to environmental stimuli and direct contact.

Sensitive - a person who can detect paranormal events beyond the range of his five senses.

Shadow Person - shadow people are somewhat different than ghost phenomena. Whereas ghost apparitions are almost always a misty white, vaporish or have a decidedly human form and appearance (very often with discernable "clothing"), shadow beings are much darker and more shadow-like. In general, although the shadow people often do have a human outline or shape, because they are dark, the details of their appearance is lacking.

Sixth Sense - to have the power of perception in addition to the five senses. It is also a popular term for extrasensory perception (ESP).

Smudging - Smudging is a form of cleansing or the clearing of a spirit from an area by using incense or sage to purify the area.

Sparkles - a visual effect described as the sparkle of embers falling immediately after a fireworks display. These small, sparkling lights usually occur no closer to the camera than ten feet. They are often 20 to 50 feet away, or more. Sparkles are seen during and especially immediately after the flash on a camera is used. Even the most vivid sparkles will not show up on film. (If they do, check for dust or insects.) Sparkles are paranormal phenomena.

Spirit - This word comes from the Latin, meaning that which breathes. It means that which animates life, or the soul of the being.

Spirit Guide - a heavenly spirit or guardian angel that is present and offers help to the person to whom it is attached. This help may be a simple hunch or a certain feeling that comes over the person who needs guidance for a problem or situation. Some people claim that they can communicate with their guides at all times.

Spirit Photography - a photo that contains a face or form believed to be that of a deceased person.

Vortex - a small tornado-shape image that shows up on pictures when there is a spirit present. You can see the orbs rotating inside the shaft. Sometimes the vortex is so dense that it will cast a shadow. It is believed that the vortex is a means of travel for the spirits in orb form.

White noise - a hiss-like sound, formed by compiling all audible frequencies.