Different types of writing
We come across different types of writing everyday. This can be at school or at work. This can be in real life or on the internet.
The lesson that you are reading was written on a computer and is transmitted to you electronically. Writing is thus very diverse.
What is writing?
It is defined as the skill or activity of producing words on a surface. It is also considered as the act or art of forming visible letters or characters.
Writing can be public or private i.e. we can write for other people or for ourselves only.
Formal and Informal Types of Writing
Below are the different types of writing that you can find in everyday life:
Here is a selection of concrete items that we can encounter:
#1: They are very popular nowadays:
You can send text messages to friends or colleagues. This type of writing is mostly informal. We do not really pay attention to grammar. Urgency is what characterises this form of communication. Abbreviations are thus common.
#2: You have probably done this today:
Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and other types of social media platforms have revolutionised the way we write today. People write posts and their friends or colleagues can comment on them. Even strangers are often allowed to give their opinions.
#3: A lovely companion:
It is easy to note down appointments or meetings with the help of a diary or planner. This type of writing is personal. We write for ourselves most of the times.
#4: What I am doing write now:
I am writing a blog post for your use. Blog subjects vary according to writers’ interests. When I write, I make sure to avoid making grammatical mistakes since this a public website and many people can read my articles.
#5: Did you send one today?
Emails can be official and official. You can conduct business using emails but you can also contact your friends using the same medium. Emails have gradually replaced physical letters.
#6: Reading about this will make you hungry:
The Internet is abundant with free recipes. When you want to cook a new type of dish, you hunt for these recipes. You can also write your own after you have experimented with a new type of dish. Mmmh, writing this makes me hungry, so let’s move on to the next type.
#7: You might be writing these while you are reading:
Writers often take notes when they have new ideas so that they will not forget them. Notebooks are therefore a valuable asset for these writers. Note-taking is not only for authors though. When we see something interesting, we also take notes in class or during meetings.
#8: We are now entering a serious field:
Exercises can be more or less demanding. What matters is if you are being marked or not. You can do exercises for training. In English, you often do grammatical exercises. Do you like exercises? Which type?
#9: These take longer to write:
Essays require a lot of careful thought and planning. You will be given a subject to deal with and you might have to do some research in order to answer the question with concrete examples. The essay needs to be well-written. Usually, you take the following aspects into consideration: presentation, spelling, punctuation, syntax, structure and content of course.
#10: You fill in these when you want to get a new passport:
Filling in official forms can be rather stressful because you cannot make any mistakes. The consequences for such errors can be big. We thus take our time when we are dealing with administrative documents.
#11: Have you ever written one?
To-do lists are practical for people who have multiple tasks and they would not like to forget to do something. These busy people will write lists of all the important things they have to do during the day, week, month or year. This type of writing can be done on a daily basis.
#12: You have probably written one before looking for a job:
This is often a compulsory document that you have to send to a company when you are applying for a job. When writing a CV, you pay a lot of attention of course because you are competing with other people. Employers are obviously on the lookout for mistakes. CVs are often typed.
#13: You have probably read many before:
Poem writing is mainly about conveying feelings. This is why we use a lot of imagery and a different type of vocabulary when we are writing poems. Some people might find it difficult to write and understand poems because they are not straightforward as a factual document. Poems can be written for oneself or they can be sent to someone. They can also be studied at school.
#14: They take longer to write and read:
Writing a book can be quite daunting. Several drafts and a lot of editing are often needed before the final product is published. A book usually contains several chapters that are carefully constructed. Nowadays, books are available in physical and electronic forms.
#15: You can read one of these in a single day:
Short stories are fiction. They are faster and a bit easier to write than a whole novel. Short stories can be published individually or they can be grouped with other stories to make a collection.
#16: You receive one of these every year:
We write cards during special occasions such as birthdays, weddings or births. We can invite someone to a party using a card. We can send someone a get-well-soon message during an illness. We can congratulate or console someone with a card as well. Therefore, cards accompany us during the good and bad times of our lives.
#17: It always feels nice to receive one of these:
As the name suggests, ‘thank you’ notes are written in order to thank someone for something that they have done for us. The notes are usually simple. People love this gesture because it is very thoughtful.
#18: They have been gradually replaced by emails:
Before the advent of the Internet, letters were very popular. They could be about love or business. Nowadays, it is becoming more and more rare to send some to friends. You still encounter a good number of letters in academic or official settings though.
Further Exploration (Types of Writing)
Download PDF File:
Watch: