“[Style is] a series of both conscious and unconscious choices that writers make about everything from the words we use (diction) and their arrangement in sentences (syntax) to the tone with which we express our point of view (e.g. ironic, formal, or colloquial) and the way we achieve emphasis in a sentence (e.g., by placing the most important information at the end). …Style is connected to a writer’s purpose, subject matter, audience, and context.” –Richard Butler, rhetorician and composition theorist

Richard Butler defines style in a clear way that accurately includes all the elements of rhetoric—syntax, expression, and tone. He includes how our personal style is affected, which is the purpose of the piece, the subject matter, the audience, and the context of the piece. Every writer considers these factors and takes time into developing the tone, expression, and syntax based on these five factors. Butler intended to define style in a way that considered both the personal style of the writer and the outside influences, and, through this definition, hoped that writers could better develop their style as they considered each element of writing itself and the factors that affect it.

In my personal writing experience, I sometimes forget to look at the big picture and how my writing fits into it. I liked this quotation so much because it does an excellent job summarizing what my job is as a writer—to communicate clearly and effectively to my audience. And, like Butler said, that includes considering why I am writing the piece in the first place, how I arrange my words to communicate that purpose, and the audience of my work. Each time I pick up my pen to write, I should be considering all these things as I arrange my words and develop my argument or story. Sometimes writers consider style as a singularly personal trait of the writing experience, and while the end result is a writer’s personal writing style, the development of a writing style for a specific piece is not only affected by what a writer prefers. On the contrary, it is developed based on who will read the piece, what kind of writing it is (prose, poetry, newspaper article, academic essay), and its purpose in relation to what else is going on.

This quote will help me remember to consider more than just how I like words to be arranged on a page. While writing is a personal experience, my intended audience deserves to be considered from the first step of the process to the last. My work will only be successful if someone other than myself likes it. My work need to be relevant, clear, and composed in a manner that considers more than my personal thoughts and ideas.

This quote inspires me to create a list of questions to which I can constantly refer as I write:

Why am I writing this?
Who am I writing this for?
What is the message I want to convey?
How can I write this so that my audience can understand and respond?
How can I develop my argument and ideas to communicate as effectively as possible?
How can I put this in context?
What is my tone (and why is it that tone)?

What is style?

In the fashion world, style means the preference of a person in the way they choose and put together clothing, shoes, and accessories. They pair pieces together in a way that reveals their personality and highlights their preferences and tastes.

Putting together an outfit is much like putting together a sentence. A writer will pick out certain words over others for many reasons: they prefer them, or maybe they want to convey a specific meaning. But a writer plays with their language in a way that no writer ever will, and just as everyone wears clothes differently, every writer has their own writing style.

A writer develops his/her style depending on what they read, how they’ve learned to write, and how free they are to express themselves through their medium of work. Writers must adhere to house style, or a manner or writing a certain publication has denoted to represent themselves. No matter what predetermined style a writer must follow, a writer’s personal writing style can always add personality to a piece of writing.

Following the Writer Meme fad, I created a Prezi to illustrate how style and style in writing are perceived by scholars, students, and the world at large. The credits for each photo and the commentary for why I chose each photo are included below.

Style Meme

What the general public (society) thinks it is: The word “style” is generally regarded as a reference to clothing preference or mannerisms. The phrase “she’s got style!” and the word “stylish” are used often and in reference to a good choice in clothing, music, or anything else. I chose this photo of two dapper-looking men to illustrate a pair of people who the general public would deem as “stylish.”
Credit: GQ

What experts think it is: The style “experts” would be considered the leading names in fashion and design. I included this photo with this section because fashion experts often think of “style” as being something new and dynamic. Every designer wants to be known as putting out the most original, most creative, and most inspiring pieces.
Credit: 4Fashionisty

What my friends think it is: My friends are 20-something writers and artists who see style as an expression partly of what society thinks is acceptable and partly what fits their personality most. I chose this photo because it defines perfectly what a young professional sees as style: dressed-up casual wear.
Credit: Iamnotasupermodel.wordpress.com 

What John Green thinks it is: John Green is an author, YouTuber, and nerdfighter—and one of my favorite public figures. Whether he is working on a new novel or teaching about world history on CrashCourse, John Green is saving the world in some way or another. John judges style not on fashion, but how you treat people and how you intend to “be awesome.” I posted this photo to illustrate that John believes that you can save the world in the most casual of outfits—especially if it is imitating a meme based off of him and pizza.
Credit: KittyDTTBA

What Emma Woodhouse thinks it is: Emma Woodhouse of Jane Austen’s Emma thinks that her way is the only way—and that would certainly count for style. Emma is poised, intelligent, and rather self-absorbed. I picked this photo because it not only displays the kind of dress Austen’s Emma would have worn but also a proper hat and a smirk that Emma would have certainly added as a key point in her style.
Credit: Wonderly.com

What I think it is: I think style is a complete expression of yourself—and for me, that means a simple outfit with a couple of key accessories and a look that shows you mean business. Emily Schuman (my favorite fashion blogger) is an excellent example of what I define as someone who embraces and displays her style in a clear and appealing way.
Credit: Cupcakes and Cashmere

Style in Writing Meme

What general readers think it is: For the general public, style in writing sets apart one writer from another, and often causes a reader to pick certain types of literature based on what they prefer and what they enjoy reading. I chose this photo because readers often define style as “good” when they love a book.
Credit: alisonmiller20.blogspot.com

What scholars and critics think it is: Appropriate style, according to scholars and critics, is formed based on the type of writing and the audience to which you are writing. The required style for a critical essay versus a young adult novel is dramatically different, and a critic judges style based on how well the author fits into this mold. I chose this photo because for scholars and critics, style in rhetoric is judged based on a formula that heavily includes audience.
Credit: Comphacker.org

What College Students think it is: College students often define style as what professors think deserves an A—oftentimes, college students only create a piece when they are writing an essay or a final paper in a course. I included this photo because it demonstrates what a college students composes when aiming for that “A,” and what a college students thinks is correct when they think of “style in writing.”
Credit: The Argument Research Group

What I think it is: As a writer striving to find my own personal, unique style, I define style as a product of what I read, what I experience, and what I study to improve and shape my own style. I chose this photo because it illustrates what goes on in my brain—and, therefore, what shapes and makes my style in writing.
Credit: philmckinney.com