Being strong in vocabulary doesn't mean that your English writing will be good. You must grasp a good writing style to make your writing more readable and understandable. A good writing style can also attract more readers. You can have a good writing style by incorporating simple words and small sentences. The writing style is the tone that a writer uses to express an idea. Everyone has a unique writing style, which is reflected in their choice of words, sentence structure, and overall structure.

You must learn several different writing styles to accommodate different audiences. You cannot write a business proposal the same way you write a personal blog. If you don't adopt different writing styles then you will be limiting your ability to only specific types of writing. Therefore, the best suggestion is to learn the most common writing styles so that you can write any type of writing in the best way possible.

Types of Writing Styles

The most common types of writing styles include expository, descriptive, narrative, and persuasive writing. If you want to share facts and information regarding a topic then you use the expository writing style. News articles, nonfiction books, and technical writing use this style. Descriptive writing provides a lot of sensory details so that the readers can picture what the author is saying. Poets and sometimes novelists use this style of writing. When you want to write something creative or from your own experience, you write in narrative style. In resumes and letters of recommendation, you must use persuasive writing styles. When you write sales copies, this style is appropriate.

Tips for improving writing style

There are many ways to improve your current writing style. Along with knowing the techniques, you must practice them to get a hold of them. Here are some tips you can follow.

Be straightforward

You must write in a clear and concise form so that the readers can understand your thoughts easily. Refrain from using unnecessary filler words like adverbial phrases. Don't use these to make your writing long. Remember that a long piece of content is not necessarily the best one.

Choose words carefully

A word often has different meanings in different contexts. Choose words that express exactly what you want to communicate. It is better to choose a simple word rather than a complex one as your reader may not understand its meaning. You can look up online for synonyms that may go with your sentence.

Use short sentences and paragraphs

Try to use short sentences which are easy to read. A reader won't be able to retain too much information in a single line. So, split a long sentence, instead for clarity. As a rule of thumb, use one sentence to convey one thought only. The same thing is true in the case of paragraphs. Short paragraphs are easy to conceive. They also look visually appealing as they create white spaces.

Use active voice

You must always try to use an active voice. It is the direct way to express your point. It is better to write that the subject is doing something rather than something is being done to the subject. Active voice also creates a simpler and shorter sentence than a passive voice.

Use conversational tone

You must write in your unique voice. So, it's good to have a conversational tone that is actually your comfort zone. Try to avoid using cliches and instead use your own voice. Your writing must be a reflection of your personality.

Avoid redundancies

Many writers find it difficult to avoid redundancies. We often use redundancies without realizing when we speak and so we put those in our writing too. For example, 'beginners lack experience', 'near future', 'don't repeat again', and more. Redundancies make your writing poor.

Use parallelism

Parallelism develops clarity. It allows the reader to read a sentence smoothly and understand it well. It also helps to link relevant ideas and show clearly the relationships among them.

Avoid using masculine generics

Masculine generic means using 'he' or 'him' in situations that involve both genders. Instead, write 'he' or 'she', 'him' or 'her'. This reflects that you are not biased towards males and also you consider both genders to play equal roles in society.

You must review and edit your writing. You will surely find some mistakes. At the same time, you may think of better words or structures to modify your writing. You must read books of great authors to see their writing style and learn from them.