ry them out for yourself, you’ll naturally begin to develop a writing style that you feel comfortable with.
Summary: The 4 Different Styles of Writing
There are four main writing styles, and each has a different purpose:
- Descriptive: to describe things
- Expository: to give facts
- Narrative: to tell a story
- Persuasive: to convince the reader of something
If you’re struggling to figure out the writing style of a piece, ask yourself what its purpose is and why the author wants you to read it.
To develop your own writing style, you should:
- Read widely
- Consider mixing styles
- Balance writing what you know and trying new things
Literary devices are also an important part of understanding writing styles. Learn the 24 literary devices you must know by reading our guide on literary devices.
Writing a research paper for school but not sure what to write about? Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you.
Are you reading The Great Gatsby for class or even just for fun? Then you'll definitely want to check out our expert guides on the biggest themes in this classic book, from love and relationships to money and materialism.
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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.