Four Different Types of Writing Styles: Expository, Descriptive, Persuasive, and Narrative Four Types of Writing A writer’s style is a reflection of his or her personality, unique voice, and way of approaching the audience and readers. However, every piece writers write is for a specific purpose—for example, writers may want to explain how something works or persuade people to agree with their point of view. While there are as many writer's styles as there are writers, there are only four general purposes that lead someone to write a piece, and these are known as the four styles, or types, of writing. Knowing all four different types and their usages is important for any writer. Here are the categories and their definitions: 1. Expository Expository writing explains or informs. It talks about a subject without giving opinions. Expository writing's main purpose is to explain. It is a subject-oriented writing style, in which authors focus on telling you about a ...