Which term refers to the principles that dictate how words are organized into phrases?

The term that refers to the principles dictating how words are organized into phrases is syntax. Syntax encompasses the rules and structures that govern the arrangement of words to create meaningful sentences. It defines how different elements of a sentence, such as subjects, verbs, and objects, relate to one another and how they combine to convey specific ideas.

In contrast, lexicon relates to the vocabulary of a language, including the words and their meanings but not their arrangement. Dialect refers to a particular form of a language specific to a region or social group, which can include variations in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary but does not focus directly on the structural rules of word arrangement. Phonology is the study of the sound systems of languages, concentrating on how sounds function and are organized in speech rather than the order of words within phrases. Thus, syntax is the most fitting term for the organization of words into phrases.