Table of Contents

What Is Writing? 1
Frequently Asked Questions 1
What is the definition of writing? 1
What at the six steps of the writing process? 1
Why is good writing important? 1
What are some common grammar mistakes in English? 1
How can I improve my writing? 1
How to Strengthen Your Writing Skills 2
Writing styles 2
The Ultimate Guide to Writing Styles, With Examples 2
What is writing style? 2
The components of writing style 3
Word choice 3
Structure (sentence and paragraph) 4
Punctuation 4
Examples of writing styles from famous authors 4
Mark Twain 5
T.S. Eliot 5
William S. Burroughs 5
Charles Bukowski 5
3 ways to develop your own writing style 6
Read more 6
Play to your strengths 6
Do what comes naturally 6
Types of writing 7
Learn the Types of Writing: Expository, Descriptive, Persuasive, and Narrative 7
Expository Writing 7
Descriptive Writing 8
 Persuasive Writing 8
Narrative Writing 8
Understanding Your Purpose Empowers Your Writing 9
Expository writing s 9
Descriptive writing 9
Persuasive writing 9
Narrative writing 9
Expository Writing 10
Expository Writing: Everything You Need to Know 10
What is expository writing? 10
Expository writing is: 10
Expository writing is not: 11
Expository writing can still be fun and engaging 11
Types of expository writing 11
Compare and contrast. 11
Definition 12
Classification 12
Problem and solution.12
Process 12
How to do expository writing effectively 12
Work through the entire writing process 12
Be creative, but constrained 13
Always check the facts 13
Share the facts with style 13
Descriptive Writing 14
How to Take Descriptive Writing to the Next Level 14
When to use descriptive writing 14
Descriptive writing techniques 15
Metaphors 15
Similes 15
Sensory writing 16
 Freewriting 16
Hyperbole 16
Personification 17
Onomatopoeia 17
What is a descriptive essay? 17
Give your writing extra polish18
Persuasive Writing 19
6 Successful Persuasive Writing Strategies 19
What is persuasive writing? 19
Why is persuasive writing important? 19
Ethos, logos, and pathos in persuasive writing 20
Ethos 20
Logos 20
Pathos 21
Persuasive writing tips and strategies 21
Choose wording carefully 21
Ask questions 21
Write a clear thesis statement 22
Draw a persuasion map 22
Speak directly to the reader 22
Repeat your main arguments 22
Examples of persuasive writing 23
Common Sense 23
Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States 23
Letter from Birmingham Jai 23
Persuasive writing FAQs 24
What is persuasive writing? 24
What is an example of persuasive writing? 24
What are different types of persuasive writing? 24
Narrative Writing 25
What Is Narrative Writing? 25
 Types of narrative writing 25
Linear narrative 25
Nonlinear narrative 25
Viewpoint narrative 26
Descriptive narrative 26
Characteristics of narrative writing 27
Descriptive language 27
Characters 27
Plot 27
Narrative structure 27
The beginning 27
The middle 27
The end 27
Tips for awesome narrative writing 28
Use your narrative to build characters 28
Listen to how people tell stories 28
Mix and match narrative styles 28
Play! 28
Make your writing shine 29
Creative Writing 30
Creative Writing 101: Everything You Need to Get Started 30
What is creative writing? 30
What isn’t creative writing? 31
Types of creative writing 31
Novels 31
Short stories 31
Poetry 32
Plays, TV scripts, and screenplays 32
Creative nonfiction 32
Personal essays 32
Literary journalism 32
 Memoirs 32
Autobiographies 33
Humor writing 33
Lyric essays 33
Tips for writing creatively 33
Give yourself time and space for creative writing 33
Get to know yourself as a writer 33
Challenge yourself 33
Learn from other writers 34
I wrote something. Where do I go from here? 34
Write with originality 34
Academic Writing 35
What Is Academic Writing? 35
Characteristics of academic writing 35
Academic writing should be formal, clear, and concise 35
Academic writing uses prescriptive grammar 36
Formatting will depend on your style guide 36
Types of academic writing 37
Essays 37
Theses and dissertations 37
Research proposals 37
Research papers 37
Literature reviews 38
Academic writing structure 38
Academic writing tips 39
Writing Activities 42
Writing Prompts 42
15 Writing Prompts to Calm Your Mind 42
Writing Books 45
How to Write a Book: The Ultimate Guide 45
Pre-writing: What are you writing and why? 45
 What kind of book are you writing? 45
Fiction books 45
Nonfiction books 46
Ebooks, technical manuals, etc. 47
What’s your end goal? 48
How to write a book in 13 steps 48
Recommended book-writing tools: 54
Story Writing 55
How to Write a Great Story in 5 Steps 55
What is a story? 55
Different types of stories 56
Is an anecdote the same as a story? 57
How to write a story in 5 steps 58
3 examples of stories 59
Writing a story FAQs 60
What is a story? 60
How does a story work? 60
What are the different types of stories? 60
Writing Dialogue 61
A Guide to Writing Dialogue, With Examples 61
What is dialogue, and what is its purpose? 61
Monologues 62
Types of dialogue 62
How to structure dialogue 63
Things to avoid when writing dialogue 63
How to write dialogue 64
Dialogue examples 66
Dialogue FAQs 67
What is dialogue? 67
How does dialogue work? 67
What are different kinds of dialogue? 67
 How is dialogue formatted? 67
Blog Writing68
Our 8-Step Guide for How to Write a Pro Blog Post 68
What is a blog post? 68
Types of blog posts 69
How-to 69
List-based 69
News article 69
Interview 69
Review69
Personal 70
Explainer 70
Image-based 70
How to write a blog post 70
Tips for writing a great blog post 74
Whatever you write, do it with confidence 76
Essay Writing 77
The Only Guide to Essay Writing You’ll Ever Need 77
How to write an essay77
Your essay needs a thesis statement 77
6 types of essays 78
Argumentative essay 78
Admissions essay 78
Persuasive essay 78
Compare-and-contrast essay 79
Personal essay79
Expository essay 79
Know your essay’s audience 79
The essay writing process 79
Essay structure 81
Five-paragraph essay 82
 Essay writing tips 82
Essay Outlines 84
How to Write an Essay Outline in 4 Steps 84
What is an essay outline? 84
Basic parts of an essay 84
4 steps for writing an essay outline 85
Essay outline examples 87
Outlining is just one step to great writing 90
Essay Introductions 91
How to Start an Essay: 7 Tips for a Knockout Essay Introduction 91
Intriguing ways to start an essay 91
How to write an essay introduction 94
Polish your essays until they shine 94
Body Paragraphs 95
How to Write the Perfect Body Paragraph 95
Structure of a body paragraph 95
How to start a body paragraph 97
How to end a body paragraph 97
How to write a body paragraph 98
Essay Conclusions 99
How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay 99
How to write a conclusion 99
5 key details for writing a conclusion 100
What your conclusion should not include 101
Thesis Statement 102
The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Thesis Statement 102
What is a thesis statement? 102
How to write a thesis statement: Basics 102
What to include in a thesis statement (with examples) 103
How to write a thesis statement in 3 steps 104
Topic Sentences 106
 How to Write Masterful Topic Sentences for Essays 106
Purpose of a topic sentence 106
How to write a good topic sentence 109
Persuasive Essays 111
How to Write a Persuasive Essay 111
Choose a position you’re passionate about 111
Thoroughly research both sides 111
Draft your thesis statement 112
Create a working structure or outline 112
Write with integrity and empathy 112
Compare-and-Contrast Essays 113
How to Write a Compare-and-Contrast Essay 113
Purpose of a compare-and-contrast essay 113
How to write a compare-and-contrast essay 114
How to structure a compare-and-contrast essay 116
The writing process for compare-and-contrast essays 117
Tips for writing compare-and-contrast essays 118
Expository Essays 119
Expository Essays: A Complete Guide119
What is an expository essay? 119
The purpose of expository writing 119
5 types of expository essays 120
Classification essays 120
Definition essays 120
Process essays121
Compare-and-contrast essays 121
Cause-and-effect essays 121
How to structure an expository essay 121
How do you write an expository essay? 122
You write the essay, Grammarly gives it extra polish124
Argumentative Essays 125
 How to Write a Standout Argumentative Essay 125
What is an argumentative essay? 125
Basic argumentative essay structure 126
Advanced argumentative essay structure 127
How to write a good thesis 128
How to write an argumentative essay: the writing process 129
Argumentative essay writing tips 130
How to Generate Strong Essay Topics, With 30 Topic Examples 131
What is an essay topic? 131
How to come up with an essay topic 132
Essay topic vs. thesis statement 133
30 essay topic examples 134
Essay topics FAQs 136
What is an essay topic? 136
What’s the purpose of an essay topic? 136
What’s the difference between an essay topic and a thesis statement? 136
What are examples of strong essay topics? 136
How to Write a Great Essay Hook, With Examples 137
What is an essay hook? 137
6 types of essay hooks 137
Rhetorical questions 137
Fact/statistic 137
Quote 138
Anecdote 138
Description 138
Common misconception 138
Creating a hook for different writing prompts 138
Essay hook examples 139
Essay hook FAQs 139
What is an essay hook? 139
What are the different types of essay hooks? 139
 Why is it important to have a good essay hook? 140
How to Write Better Essays: 5 Concepts to Know 141
Develop your thesis 141
Strong form 141
Style 141
Conventions 142
Supporting documents and references 142
Make Your Essay Structure Rock-Solid with These Tips 143
Basic essay structure: the 3 main parts of an essay 143
How many paragraphs are in an essay? 144
Essay structure examples 145
With the basic essay structure down, you can get to writing 146
7 Writing Tips From Professors to Help You Crush Your First Essays 147
Make sure you understand the assignment early. 147
Your first draft won’t be perfect. Stick with it. 147
Be deliberate about how you budget your time 148
Writing doesn’t happen in the background while you’re distracted. 148
Plagiarism will not endear you to your professor. 148
Take pride in your work. 149
Grammarly can help you spot errors. 149
Concept Paper 150
How to Write a Concept Paper in 7 Steps 150
What is a concept paper? 150
7 steps for writing a concept paper 151
Tips for writing a concept paper 152
How is a concept paper different from a research paper? 153
Concept paper FAQs 154
What is a concept paper? 154
When do you need a concept paper?154
What are the main steps of writing a concept paper? 154
How is a concept paper different from a research paper? 154
Research Paper 155
Research Paper Resources to Improve Your Writing 155
The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Research Paper 155
What is a research paper? 155
How long should a research paper be? 156
How to write a research paper in 9 steps 156
Tools and resources 162
Research paper FAQs 163
What is a research paper? 163
When will I need to write a research paper in college? 163
How do I determine a topic for my research paper? 163
Where can I conduct research for my paper? 163
How do I cite sources for a research paper? 164
How to Write a Research Paper Outline In 7 Steps 165
What is a research paper outline? 165
Are there different kinds of research paper outlines? 165
Alphanumeric research paper outline 166
Full-sentence research paper outline 167
Decimal research paper outline 169
Research paper outline FAQs 173
What is a research paper outline? 173
How is a research paper outline structured? 173
What are the different formats of research paper outlines? 173
How to Write a Research Proposal 174
What is the goal of a research proposal? 174
How long should a research proposal be? 175
Research proposal structure 175
How to write a research proposal 178
Common mistakes to avoid when writing a research proposal 178
Polish your writing into a stellar proposal 179
How to Write a Research Paper Introduction 180
 What is a research paper introduction? 180
How long should a research paper introduction be? 180
What to include in introductions to research papers181
What to include in introductions to scientific research papers 182
How to write introductions for research papers 183
Research paper introduction FAQs 185
What is a research paper introduction? 185
What do you include in an introduction to a research paper? 185
How do you write an introduction for a research paper? 185
Primary and Secondary Sources: What’s the Difference? 186
What is a primary source? 186
What is a secondary source? 187
How about tertiary sources? 187
When to use primary vs. secondary sources 188
How can I tell the difference between primary and secondary sources? 188
Common questions about primary and secondary sources 189
Can a work of fiction be a source for academic writing? 189
Can I cite a source I’ve written or created? 189
Do primary and secondary sources need to be cited differently? 189
Give your writing extra polish190
Everything You Need to Know About MLA Format and Citations 191
What is MLA format? 191
When to use MLA format 191
MLA vs. APA, Chicago, and other formats 192
How to set up your paper in MLA format 192
MLA formatting rules 192
MLA style rules 193
How to cite sources in MLA: citation examples 193
How to present evidence and quotes in MLA 194
In-text citations in MLA 194
Footnotes and endnotes in MLA 195
 Works cited page for MLA 196
How to cite different types of sources in MLA format 196
How to Cite a Book in MLA Format 197
How to Cite a Website in MLA Format 200
How to Cite an Image or Photo in MLA Format 205
How to Cite a Movie in MLA Format 210
How to Cite a TV Show in MLA Format 213
How to Cite Wikipedia in MLA Format 216
How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Format 218
How to Cite a PDF in MLA Format 220
How to Cite a Lecture or Speech in MLA Format 223
MLA format FAQs 228
What is MLA format? 228
How is it different from other formats? 228
What are some examples of MLA citations? 228
Grammarly helps you cite with confidence 229
APA Format and Citations: Everything You Need to Know 230
What is APA format? 230
When to use APA format 230
APA vs. MLA and Chicago 231
How to set up your paper in APA format 231
APA formatting rules 232
APA styling rules 232
How to cite sources in APA: citation examples 233
How to present evidence and quotes in APA 233
In-text citations in APA 233
Footnotes and endnotes in APA 234
APA reference list page 235
How to cite different types of sources in APA format 236
How to Cite a Book in APA Format 236
How to Cite a Website in APA Format 239
 How to Cite Newspapers and Other Articles in APA Format 245
How to Cite an Image or Photo in APA Format 249
How to Cite a Movie in APA Format 253
How to Cite a TV Show in APA Format 254
How to Cite Wikipedia in APA Format 257
How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA Format 259
How to Cite a PDF in APA Format 261
How to Cite a Lecture or Speech in APA Format 264
Chicago Manual of Style Format and Citations 267
What is the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) format? 267
Is Chicago the same as Turabian? 267
When to use Chicago format and citations 267
Chicago vs. MLA, APA, and other formats 268
How to set up your paper in Chicago format 268
Chicago formatting rules 268
Chicago styling rules 269
How to cite sources in Chicago: citation examples 269
How to present evidence and quotes in Chicago 270
Footnotes and endnotes in Chicago style 270
Author-date citations in Chicago (in-text citations) 271
Bibliographies and reference lists in Chicago style 271
How to cite different types of sources in Chicago style 272
How to Cite a Book in Chicago Style 272
How to Cite a Website in Chicago Style 277
How to Cite Newspapers and Other Articles in Chicago Style 280
How to Cite an Image or Photo in Chicago Style 284
How to Cite a Movie in Chicago Style 287
How to Cite a TV Show in Chicago Style 290
How to Cite Wikipedia in Chicago Style 293
How to Cite a YouTube Video in Chicago Style 294
How to Cite a PDF in Chicago Style 299
 What if there’s no date listed? 304
What if there’s no author listed? 304
Cite your sources with confidence 304
How to Write an Abstract for Your Paper 305
What’s the purpose of an abstract? 305
How long should an abstract be? 306
When do you need to write an abstract? 306
Types of abstracts 306
Informative abstracts 306
Descriptive abstracts 306
What to include in an abstract 307
Abstract formats 308
3 expert tips for writing abstracts 310
Give your formal writing the My Fair Lady treatment 311
The Writing Process 312
Brainstorming 312
Brainstorming: How to Generate Ideas and Improve Your Writing 312
How brainstorming can improve your writing 312
Individual vs. group brainstorming 312
How to brainstorm in 6 steps 313
How to organize ideas after a brainstorming session 316
Outlining 316
How Outlining Is Essential to Your Writing 316
Why is outlining important? 316
What to include in your outline 317
Types of outlines 317
Topic outline 317
Sentence outline 318
Tips for easy outlining that make writing a breeze 319
Ready for the next step in the writing process? 319
Rough Draft 320
 Tips for Writing a Powerful Rough Draf 320
What is a rough draft? 320
What’s the purpose of a rough draft? 320
What to include in a rough draft? 321
How long should a rough draft be? 321
Does a rough draft need citations? 321
How to write a rough draft 321
After the rough draft: Next steps 322
Editing 322
5 Self-Editing Tips to Strengthen Your Writing 322
Self-editing checklist: What to look for 323
How to edit your own writing: 5 self-editing tips 327
Proofreading 329
What Is Proofreading? 329
What is proofreading? 329
Proofreading tips 329
Proofreading vs. Editing 330
Using a proofreading service 330
More About the Writing Process 331
The Writing Process: 6 Steps Every Writer Should Know 331
Brainstorming 331
Preparing to write 332
Choosing authoritative sources 332
Striking the right tone 333
Writing your first draft 333
Editing and revising 333
Edit with fresh eyes 334
Proofreading your final draf 335
Publishing your finished work335
Sentences 336
How to Write Better Sentences 336
 What is a sentence? 336
Sentence rules and structures 337
Simple sentence structure 337
Complex sentence structure 337
Compound sentence structure 337
Compound-complex sentence structure 338
5 common sentence mistakes 338
Run-ons 338
Sentence fragments 338
Subject-verb agreement 338
Ending with prepositions 339
Passive voice 339
How Grammarly strengthens your sentences 339
Paragraphs 340
The Ultimate Guide to Paragraphs 340
What is a paragraph? 340
Expository paragraphs 341
Descriptive paragraphs 341
Persuasive paragraphs 341
Narrative paragraphs 341
How to write a paragraph 341
Advanced tips for writing paragraphs343
Improve Writing Skills 344
15 Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills Dramatically 344
Give your writing structure 345
1. Make sure you’re clear on the concepts you’re writing about. 345
2. If the message is complex, outline it. 345
3. Anticipate your readers’ questions. 345
4. Don’t over-explain. 345
Tighten your writing 346
5. Go easy on the prepositional phrases 346
6. Eliminate the filler words and phrases 346
7. Don’t pad weak words with adverbs. 346
8. Stick with simple words. 346
9. Use contractions. 347
10. Try transcribing yourself 347
11. Throw away the grammar rule book . . . within reason 347
12. Keep your sentences simple. 347
13. Read it out loud. 348
14. Infuse your personality into your writing 348
15. Practice, practice, practice! 348