5 Different Types of Writing Styles You Should Know

We see writing wherever we go, but is all writing the same? Of course not. There are different types of writing styles for different situations, and knowing how and where to best use them is an important step in becoming a better writer. 

But what are the most common types of writing, and how are they different from each other? In this article, we’ll go through different types of writing, how they’re used, and why writers use one writing style over another. We’ll also go through different types of literature examples to give you some ideas on how to put together your next writing masterpiece, whether you’re learning how to write a short story or your first speech.

Poetry vs. prose

When it comes to writing, one big dividing line is poetry and prose. Poetry is a type of writing that expresses ideas through the sounds and rhythms of words. Poems are divided into verses and, sometimes, groups of verses called stanzas.

What is poetry?

Early poetry was quite formulaic. That meant that poets needed to follow very clear rules about how a poem should look and read. Epic poetry, narrative poetry, limericks, and haikus are examples of poetic forms that follow strict rules. And if you’ve ever read a sonnet by Shakespeare, you know that learning to write sonnet poetry is its own special skill. 

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