7 Types Of Writing To Improve Your Communication Skills
Discover 7 types of writing to enhance your communication skills. See how different styles can help you share ideas clearly and effectively.
Around 72% of people say they feel more confident in their communication when they can write well
Ever you thought about how your writing can help you communicate better?
Writing is a skill we use every day, whether we're texting a friend, writing an email for work, creating a blog, or working on a school assignment.
We write in many different ways, but did you know that writing in different styles can make you a better communicator overall?
Well! Good communication is essential in both our personal and professional lives.
Improving our writing skills helps us share our ideas more clearly. It also helps us connect better with others.
However, in this article, we’ll explore seven different types of writing genres and show you how they can help you improve your communication.
Each type of writing technique has its own purpose and style. If you understand them, you can communicate more clearly and effectively in any situation.
Why does writing matter for improvement?
Writing!
It may seem like a very simple word but communication skills depend on it.
The way we write impacts how our message is received.
Writing helps you think clearly. It gives you time to figure out what you want to say and make sure your ideas are clear.
If you write better, it helps engage your audience.
Good writing keeps readers interested and makes them want to keep reading.
So, you should always check the readability of your text to find if your text is easy to read.
Whereas, well-written content also helps build trust and shows you reliable and knowledgeable.
Ultimately, improving your writing helps you achieve your goals, whether you need to convince, explain, or tell a story. It can truly make a difference.
Here are the 7 types of writing styles
Now that we know why writing matters, right?
So, let’s explore the seven types of writing that can help you improve your communication skills.
1. Descriptive writing
Once I was writing about a peaceful beach at sunset.
Instead of simply saying, “The beach was nice,” I described it in more detail:
“The sun set behind the horizon, painting the soft sand in golden light. Gentle waves kissed the shore, creating a soothing sound. A cool breeze carried the fresh ocean scent. Seagulls flew above, their cries filling the calm evening air.”
So, this sort of writing is descriptive writing!
It’s used to describe a person, place, thing, or event. It makes the reader feel like they are experiencing it themselves.
When done well, descriptive writing helps create a clear picture in the reader’s mind.
Where is it useful?
- Creative storytelling
- Travel writing
- Product descriptions
- Event descriptions
- Poetry
- Art and museum guides
- Food reviews
2. Narrative writing
Ever thought about what writing style you use when telling a story?
Well! That’s narrative writing!
It’s used to share an experience, explain a series of events, or even create a fictional story.
Therefore, narrative writing can be both personal and imaginative. You can easily connect with your readers using this mode of writing.
Let’s understand narrative writing with an example. Here I create a story to share my personal experience:
“Last summer, I went on a road trip with my best friend. We started early in the morning with our car packed full of snacks and music. We drove through the mountains, winding around curves and stopping to enjoy the amazing views. When we finally reached our destination, we felt tired but happy. It was an adventure we would never forget.”
Narrative writing helps your audience connect with you emotionally. It also helps keep your audience engaged.
Where narrative writing is used?
- Novels and short stories
- Personal essays
- Scripts for movies and TV shows
- Biographies and autobiographies
- Children's books
- Speeches and presentations
3. Persuasive writing
When you need to convince your reader, you should use persuasive writing!
But when should you use it?
In persuasive writing, you try to get your reader to agree with your point of view or to take a specific action.
This type of writing skill uses logic, reason, and emotion to encourage the reader.
Let’s assume that you’re writing a persuasive letter to encourage people to recycle more. This will be your writing structure:
"Recycling is one of the simplest ways we can protect our planet. By recycling paper, plastic, and glass, we reduce waste and save valuable resources. Did you know that recycling just one ton of paper can save up to 17 trees? It’s time to take action and make a difference for future generations."
Where should you apply persuasive writing?
- Advertising
- Political speeches
- Argumentative essays
- Legal documents
- Editorials
- Social media posts
- Product reviews
- Public campaigns
- Business proposals
- Persuasive letters
4. Expository writing
Expository writing informs or explains something!
It’s often used in how-to guides, articles, and reports.
Using this mode of writing, you can present information in a clear and organized way.
If you succeed in doing so, your audience will easily understand the complex ideas.
Let’s say you’re writing an article explaining how to make a cup of tea. You can write it like this:
"To make a perfect cup of tea, first boil some water. While the water heats up, put a tea bag in your mug. When the water starts to boil, carefully pour it over the tea bag. Let it steep for 3-5 minutes. After that, remove the tea bag. Add sugar or milk if you like. Now, enjoy your tea!"
Where should you use expository writing?
- News articles
- Research papers
- Instruction manuals
- How-to guides
- Encyclopedias
- Online tutorials
- Reports
- Brochures
- Explanatory essays
5. Academic writing
In your schools or universities, do you know which writing style that was?
It is academic writing!
Well! It’s formal, clear, and focused on presenting information or arguments in an objective way.
In academic writing, you use evidence to support your claims and ideas.
If you’re writing an academic essay on the benefits of exercise, you might write:
“Regular exercise improves both physical and mental health. A study by the American Heart Association shows that people who exercise for at least 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and anxiety. This study emphasizes how important it is to make exercise a daily habit.”
Where academic writing is used?
It’s used when writing a:
- Conferences paper
- Books and textbooks
- Government and policy reports
- Essays
- Research paper
- Dissertation
6. Creative writing
When you take your paper and pencil and start writing whatever comes to your mind, that is creative writing.
It includes writing poetry, fiction, and any other form of writing where you explore ideas in a creative way.
This type of writing genre is all about expression and originality.
Let’s take an example here of a short creative text:
“The forest was full of rustling leaves. In the distance, a soft light shines. Soon, a small girl appeared. She wore a dress made of flowers. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. She skipped through the trees, laughing loudly.”
Although, creative writing helps you think outside the box. So, you can create a poem or story to express your ideas in new and interesting ways.
After creating text, you should polish and improve it. But how can you do that?
Well! You can also edit it by yourself but the most preferable option is to use an AI tool. Here you should try our AI sentence rewriter to do this job for you. This tool will reword your draft and enhance it to make it a perfect written piece.
When should you use creative writing?
It helps is writing:
- A novel
- Short stories
- A poem
- Scripts
- Blog posts
- Journals or diaries
7. Technical writing
What do you know about technical writing?
Well! Technical writing is used to explain complex concepts, processes, or instructions in an easy way.
It’s commonly used in manuals, user guides, and technical documents. The key to good technical writing is clarity and precision.
Here’s a snippet of technical writing explaining how to reset a router:
"To reset your router, locate the small reset button on the back of the device. Using a paperclip, press and hold the button for 10 seconds until the router’s lights flash. Once the router restarts, your settings will be restored to factory defaults."
Where can you apply technical writing?
- User manuals
- Instructional guides
- Reports
- Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- Technical documentation
- API documentation
- Process descriptions
- Research papers in scientific and technical fields
Conclusion
Each type of writing style we’ve discussed has its own unique strengths.
If you practice these different writing styles, you can improve your communication skills in many ways.
You’ll become a more skilled writer. You’ll be capable of expressing yourself clearly and persuasively in any situation.
So, whether you're writing a story, a report, or an email, try to use the right writing style for the work.
And remember, the more you write, the better you’ll get at it.
Frequently asked questions
What type of writing technique explains?
Explanatory writing clearly shares information or ideas. It helps readers understand something by using facts, examples, and details.
Which mode of writing is best?
The best writing mode depends on your goal. For explaining, choose an expository; for storytelling, pick a narrative.
What is style in text?
Style is how a writer expresses ideas. It includes word choice, tone, and sentence structure to create a unique feel.