The 5 Major Types of Writing Styles with Examples

Writing is a mode of expression with which one can share his thoughts and feelings. It is the only medium of communication through which we can express ourselves without having to rely on any other person's help. Writing styles evolve over time as human beings try to put forth ideas in the most effective way possible, that would leave a lasting impact on those who read their work.

The writing styles are of varied kinds, with each one serving a specific purpose or conveying a certain message. They can be judged based on their content and linguistic features. The context in which they are used is also an important factor that determines for how long will they remain popular and commonly used. Thus, it becomes essential for us to know the different types of writing styles that exist, as well as those which are currently popular.

Why it is Important to Understand the 5 Different Types of Writing Styles

As a writer, it is important for you to be aware of the different types of writing styles and choose one that suits your purpose and audience. This will help you convey your ideas effectively and leave an impact on the reader. It is also important to be well-versed with different writing styles, as it improves your knowledge of language, making you more efficient in what you choose to express.

The 5 Different Types of Writing Styles

There are five different types of writing styles that can be used by writers to express their ideas: informal, formal, technical, creative and rhetorical.

1. Informal Writing Style:

This is a style of writing that is free from rigid or complex grammatical rules and gives freedom to the writer in terms of expressing his thoughts and feelings. It involves simple language with which the writer can easily intimate the reader by talking directly to him.

Grammatical Rules for Informal Writing:

· Personalized Use of Language.

· The use of "I" or "we" instead of mentioning the source.

· Using contractions like, don’t, won’t, etc.

· The absence of third-person pronouns like he, she, it etc.

· Using words like buddy, mate and pal for addressing your audience directly.

An example of Informal Writing Style:

Hi, how are you doing? I hope you're fine! Now that we've become Facebook friends, I thought of taking this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is John and I'm from New York. I work as a content writer for the marketing division of Global Incorporate inc. You can check out my work at www.marketing101.social. I love playing football with friends during my free time, and you can find me holding a guitar whenever I have the chance to spend some time alone with myself.

How about creating an account on Facebook and becoming one of our friends? It would be fun to stay connected. We can have a little chat about anything under the sun.

2. Formal Writing Style:

This is a more complex style of writing, which involves more complicated grammatical rules and conventions to give an official feel to it; thus, making it suitable for academic writing only. It is commonly used in affidavits, contracts, etc., that require detailed language to explain the writer's ideas or thoughts.

Grammatical Rules for Formal Writing:

· More complicated verb tenses are used to explain the writer's thoughts.

· Third-person pronouns are used to mention the source of information, instead of 'I' or 'we'.

· The use of various formal words like it is, in order that, etc., for introducing an idea.

An example of Formal Writing Style:

I, (name), do hereby swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to India; that I will observe the Constitution of India as by law established; and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.

3. Technical Writing Style:

This is a style of writing which directly addresses the reader as an expert in his field and informs him about the processes involved to reach a particular end. It involves plenty of heavy terminology that may be hard to understand for those who are not well-versed with that subject or branch. It is generally used in scientific, legal and technical writing.

Grammatical Rules for Technical Writing:

· Only those who are familiar with the topic will be able to comprehend it fully.

· Dense vocabulary is used extensively, along with plenty of technical jargons and abbreviations.

· Sentences are written in an organized manner, starting with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea, followed by sentences that support it.

An example of Technical Writing Style:

In today's world of technology, one cannot imagine living without their mobile phones. This is why I am presenting a review on the Samsung Galaxy S9+, which has been applauded for its outstanding features and screen resolution by consumers worldwide. The phone runs on Android's latest software with a powerful octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM, which makes it perform twice as fast as last year's model. In addition, the battery life has been improved drastically by 30 minutes with a power-efficient 3,500mAh capacity. The camera is one of its most striking features, being able to capture high-resolution, wide-angle images with minimal noise.

4. Creative Writing Style:

This is a style of writing that allows the writer to express his thoughts freely in an imaginative manner without being restricted by any complex grammatical rules or conventional expressions. The main purpose of this style of writing is just to let out your innermost feelings and create a world of your own. It is mostly used in the field of literature and poetry.

Grammatical Rules for Creative Writing:

· Each sentence given is a complete thought, unlike technical or formal writing styles which may have one or two embedded thoughts within a single sentence.

· The vocabulary used is not very complicated – it's usually common words and phrases rearranged in a different way to convey the writer's feelings.

· No complex punctuation marks are used, but lots of exclamation points and question marks to emphasize the writer's feelings.

An example of Creative Writing Style:

The branches of a tree, bended under the weight of snow, broke one by one; their cracking sounds echoed through the night like gunfire… The wintry winds were merciless, to the point of being heartless. I wrapped my scarf around my neck and pulled it up to cover my nose, while running towards the shelter of a wall to hide from their attacks.

5. Idiomatic Writing Style:

Idioms are phrases that have different meanings apart from their literal ones; these are usually conventional in nature and can be used alone or in combination with words or sentences to make them more expressive. They are common in speech, but not so much in written language; thus, making this style of writing comparatively harder than the others mentioned above.

Grammatical Rules for Idiomatic Writing:

· Avoid using complex language and grammatical rules that are not commonly used in everyday conversations.

· Use only the most common words in the English language instead of more sophisticated ones.

· Ensure that the ideas presented in a paragraph are well connected to one another, though there's no need to start a new sentence with each one.

An example of Idiomatic Writing Style:

A stitch in time saves nine: This is an English proverb which means that timely action will prevent or reduce the damage later. It can also be used as a warning against procrastination.

Frequently Asked Questions

1: What is technical writing?

Technical writing refers to the process of communication between experts or people who have a thorough understanding about a particular subject, using the medium of words to convey what needs to be known by others. It's an important communication form that plays a major role in society by helping scientists and engineers communicate their research findings, discoveries, and inventions.

2: What is creative writing?

It's a form of writing which does not adhere to rules or patterns of language structure such as meter, rhyme or stanzaic forms. It involves the practice of artfully constructing an expressive piece using words especially in the field of literature and poetry. The main purpose of creative writing is to allow the writer to freely express his thoughts, feelings and emotions without being held back by any formal rules of language.

3: What is idiomatic writing?

Idioms are conventional phrases which have different meanings apart from their literal ones; these are usually used alone or in combination with words or sentences to make them more expressive. They are common in speech, but not so much in written language; thus, making this style of writing comparatively harder than the others mentioned above.

4: What is formal writing?

Formal writing, as the name suggests, involves the use of words that convey a sense of formality. It focuses on written language used in all kinds of writing; however, it's mainly focused towards academic and scientific prose which must be clear and accurate. It also refers to text or discourse that has a polite, official tone.

5: What is the difference between technical and formal writing?

Technical writing refers to the process of communication between experts or people who have a thorough understanding about a particular subject, using the medium of words to convey what needs to be known by others. It's an important form of writing that plays a major role in society by helping scientists and engineers communicate their research findings, discoveries and inventions.

Formal writing, on the other hand, refers to written language used in all kinds of writing but it's mainly focused towards academic and scientific prose which must be clear and accurate. It also has a formal tone that is polite. So, the main difference between technical and formal writing is that one is more of a communication form and the other is an important tool for communicating information.

6: What is persuasive writing?

Persuasive writing involves the use of language to convince someone to buy a certain product, accept or believe in an idea, behavior, etc. It's not just about making your opinion known but also about carrying conviction so that readers will accept your views. Persuasive writing is a form of communication but unlike technical writing it requires the use of language to convince someone with facts and evidence rather than scientific principles or knowledge.

7: What is narrative writing?

It's a technique used in fiction prose which involves telling a story from an author's perspective. It's the opposite of journalistic writing which is factual and talks about an event or happening without taking any side. Narrative writing can be either short story, novel or even a play.