How to Define Style in Writing

style

What separates Hemingway from Steinbeck, Keats from Wordsworth, and other professional authors is their unique writing style. Style can be defined as an author’s distinct voice expressed through a combination of writing techniques, including narrative structure, word choice, and sentence length. Unlike fashion, which changes in each new season, style can be more long-lasting and enduring.

A writer’s style is an important aspect of his work because it gives the text a specific identity. It allows a reader to recognize a particular piece of literature as originating from a certain author, even when the topic is the same. For example, the film version of Romeo and Juliet tells the same story as the Shakespeare play but has a very different style. The movie uses flashy, modern language and includes references to guns and tattoos. This new style gives the story a more unique identity and makes it easier for viewers to recognize the film as belonging to a particular genre.

The way in which a person dresses is another element of his personal style. This can be as simple as choosing a favorite color or as complex as developing a signature beauty look or hairstyle like Alexa Chung’s tousled locks and bang fringe or Cara Delvigne’s strong eyebrows. The fashion choices a person makes and the style in which he expresses himself can make him memorable, set him apart from other people, and reflect his personality or attitude.

When a person is applying for a job, the way he dresses can reflect his style and influence his chances of getting the job. This is especially true if the employer is looking for someone who will fit well within the company culture and work well with the other employees. A potential employee’s style can also be an indicator of his ability to do the job effectively.

Defining a style is not an easy task. It involves a lot of self-reflection and experimentation with the way in which a person wants to be perceived. It can be helpful to start by thinking about the qualities you would like to be known for and how others have described you. Then, choose adjectives that best describe those qualities. These become your’style descriptors.’

Style can also be defined more technically as the standardized rules that dictate how to format written words and sentences, such as punctuation and grammar. This definition of style is more relevant to editors, but it’s not as much fun for a writer to explore.

A person can experiment with his writing style by focusing on various elements of narrative structure, word choice, and sentence length. This can be done by reading a lot of different types of literature and analyzing how the author communicates a theme through the use of these structural components. It’s also helpful to try out a variety of writing formats, such as short stories, essays, and persuasive essays, in order to experience how an author’s style is affected by the type of genre or subject matter.