What Is Your Writing Style?

is a general category that includes all types of essays (with the exception of persuasive essays). The main purpose of expository writing is to explain a concept or idea while including details for support. Such writing is usually based on a subject and therefore requires facts, not opinions, for examples and supportive detail. This type of writing is generally used in textbooks or 'how to' articles and essays. As such, these essays and articles follow an organized and logical sequence. An expository style of writing is more formal and straightforward, so the casual language or slang that you would use with friends is not acceptable. Unlike jeans and a T-shirt, this writing is more dressed up.

usually found in article and essay form. It also relies on specific details and examples for support; however, persuasive writing does not rely heavily on facts. In a persuasive piece, the writer is often expressing an opinion and trying to persuade the audience to do something or to agree with the writer's point of view. It must be clear and concise, but it can also be a bit more forceful and dramatic to help convince the reader. For example, sometimes writers will exaggerate their details to affect the reader in a more emotional way than in an expository essay.

Fiction and poetry are filled with descriptive language, since the purpose is not to inform but to entertain. Someone may read this type of writing to enjoy the beauty of the language and writing itself. Therefore, this style tends to use more adjectives and adverbs, as well as figurative language and imagery, to create detail that allows the reader to envision the scenery and events in their minds.

narrative writing aims to entertain the reader; however, instead of trying to entertain the reader with beauty of its language, the writer is trying to tell a story. If an author adopts an expository writing style to tell a story, the author can quickly bore the reader. Narrative writing will use more descriptive language and imagery, because the author wants the reader to imagine the characters, scenes, and setting in order to become part of the story's world and to connect to its plot. Narrative writers can also change their style depending on the type of story. For example, if a writer wants to create a suspenseful story, they might use short, choppy sentences to build up to the most exciting moment. Therefore, the genre or category of the narrative can influence the style of writing as well.