Writing Styles

Your audience and writing purpose will determine your writing style. In English speaking and writing
contexts, styles can be categorized into two distinct groups: subjective and objective. A combination of
both styles, however, can be used. Skilled writers know how to distinguish the two. They also know
which style or which combination of styles is appropriate for which context. Likewise, careful readers can
detect which style(s) is (are) being used in a given text.

The four main types of writing styles are persuasive, narrative, expository, and descriptive.

Persuasive: For this writing style, the writer is trying to convince the reader of the validity of a certain
position or argument. Persuasive writing includes the writers’ opinions, and provides justifications and
evidence to support their claims.

Examples: Letters of recommendation; cover letters; Op-Eds and Editorial newspaper articles;
argumentative essays for academic papers

Narrative: Often seen in longer writing samples, the purpose of this writing style is to share information
in the context of a story. Narratives should include characters, conflicts, and settings.

Examples: Short stories; novels; poetry; historical accounts

Expository: This type of writing is used to explain a concept and share information to a broader
audience. Expository writing provides evidence, statistics, or results and focuses on the facts of a certain
topic. This type is not meant to express opinions.

Examples: How-to articles; textbooks; news stories (not editorials or Op-Eds); business, technical, or
scientific writing

Descriptive: This type of writing is used to depict imagery to create a clear picture in the mind of the
reader. This method helps the readers become more connected to the writing by appealing to their
senses. Descriptive writing employs literary techniques such as similes, metaphors, allegory, etc to
engage the audience.

Examples: Poetry; fictional novels or plays; memoirs or first-hand accounts of events

OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE WRITING

The term subjective is used to describe a writing style that is based on personal beliefs or preferences.
Subjective language often includes personal pronouns, is emotive, is exaggerated, and passes
Judgements.

The term objective is used to describe a writing style that focuses on facts and uses balanced,
disinterested language that leads readers to critically evaluate the content presented in the text.
Objective writing style does, in fact, include judgement. The judgements are supported by facts and are
presented in a distant way.
EXAMPLES:
She loves the snow. (opinion)

It is snowing heavily. (fact)

She loves the snow because she is a skier. (opinion with a fact)

Employees will probably be late to work today because it is snowing heavily. (prediction based on fact)

 The order picker messed up our order terribly. (opinion, emotive language)

The order picker neglected to include several items in our order. (vague fact, negative language)

The order picker messed up our order; he neglected to include several items. (vague fact, negative
language)

Two boxes of cleaning solution were not included in this morning’s order. (fact presented in an impartial
manner)

 In 2016, Zara launched its Join Life line as an initial step towards increasing product sustainability. (fact)

In 2016, Zara launched its Join Life line as an initial step towards supposedly increasing product
sustainability. (fact, emotive language challenging the fact)

The Join Life women’s collection consists of about 280 pieces. (fact)

Zara’s other collections include about 1,500 items in its women’s dress category. (fact)

While Zara purports to be interested in sustainability, its sustainability collection includes only 280
items. (fact, judgement)

Zara is simply trying to trick customers into believing that it is concerned about sustainability, for
a  mere 280 of its items are part of its Join Life line. Moreover, most of its products are manufactured by
underpaid labourers who live in some of the poorest countries in the world. (strong judgement
supported by some fact, strong emotive language)

Compared to its other collection of over 1,500 items, Zara’s sustainability collection includes only 280
items. It, therefore, appears that Zara’s is doing little to address sustainability issues. (judgement based
on fact, language is distanced)

Objective Style in Report Writing

A report is a document created to impart information to a specific audience for a specific purpose. In the
business world, reports can be informational or analytical. Whether informational or analytical, report
writers present their information using balanced, disinterested language so that report readers can
make their own conclusions once they have read the report. Therefore, it is critical for report writers to
use effective structure and appropriate language.
Well written reports are effectively structured, include critical analysis of research, provide various
perspectives if required, include evidence-based arguments, and maintain an objective tone.

Strategies for Achieving an Objective Tone

1. Use the Passive Voice (Sparingly)

Since the passive voice removes the actor from the sentence, using it is an effective way of establishing
an objective tone. While using the passive voice is effective, a report that relies heavily on it would be
cumbersome to read, so it should be used sparingly.

Examples of the Active and Passive voice

Active/subjective voice I consulted several studies as part of my research.I created a table to show the
fluctuations in engagement.

Passive/objective voice Several studies were consulted as part of the research. A table was created to
show the fluctuations in engagement.

3. Focus on the evidence.

Use introductory words or phrases that focus on the evidence.

The study highlights

The graph indicates

The report suggests

4. Use information from your sources.

Olive (2021) summarizes the Icelandic study. He notes….

In his article, Rodriguez (2021) comments on Canadian work culture.

5. Use “It and There” sentences.

These sentences are often used with hedges (to soften the information) and boosters (to strengthen
information). Such sentence constructions allow comments on something without using subjective
language.

Examples of “it and there” sentences

Subjective language
I think that gender stereotyping dissuades many women from pursuing skilled trades careers.

I have pinpointed four benefits to the proposed policy change.

I believe that this is a terrible solution.

Hedges and booster

It is clear/evident that gender stereotyping dissuades many women from pursuing skilled trades careers.

There are four benefits to the proposed policy change. or

The four benefits to the proposed policy change are worth consideration.

The solution has several disadvantages. or

Several disadvantages to the solution exist.

6. Personify the subject of the sentence.

Use phrases as indicated in the examples below.

This report explores some effective implementations of the four-day work week.

This report concludes that more research should be conducted before Company ABS considers
implementing a four-day work week.