Language of Editing - Basic Cuts

This video has a great way of explaining types of cuts in editing.

There are two basic categories of cuts:

1) Mechanical: How the film is assembled. Form. 

2) Narrative: What the cut says (i.e. what meaning lies behind the cut). Function. Intent. 

Mechanical:

• The straight cut. Just a simple cut from one viewpoint to another. 
• The split cut. There are two types: The L-cut and J-cut. With this cut, the audio of the next scene either leads or trails the previous clip. This usually works best in scene transitions.
• The jump cut. A clip cuts into itself or a cut into two very similar clips. YouTubers use it all the time. 
• Transitions. Fades, wipes, dissolve, cross zoom, etc.

Narrative: 

• Match cut. Some visual element is present that makes two clips looks continuous. ex. the arm raises in a long cut and continues to raise in a tight cut. 
• Graphic match cut: A similar visual element is present as you transitions from one shot to another. ex. someone gets up from the couch and the shot transitions to someone getting out of their chair at work. Bone/space station in 2001. Lost World Jurrasic Park has a scream on the beach that transitions another character yawning (audio match cuts as well).
• Contrast cut: Two completely different feelings are juxtaposed, ex. Jurassic Park cut above with terrified woman to bored man. For example, flock of sheep compared to crowd of people. 
• The cross cut. Also parallel cutting. Not a single cut, but a series of cuts between two actions to indicate they are happening simultaneously. For example, Hannibal lecture when SWAT team is heading towards the house with the killer as we see the killer getting ready for someone to arrive (used misleadingly in the movie). In Bruges where three actions are happening at the same time in three places. In can also be used in the same setting where there is not necessarily continuity in action, like fight scenes for example. 
• The insert. A cut from the main action to a detail of interest. For example, in movies when anyone does something with their hands, like look at their phone. In documentaries they are used to add interest or illustrate a point. Also referred to as B-roll.