What is Style?
In English speaking and writing contexts, styles can be categorized into two distinct groups: subjective and objective. A combination of both styles, however, can be used. Skilled writers know how to distinguish the two. They also know which style or which combination of styles is appropriate for which context. Likewise, careful readers can detect which style(s) is (are) being used in a given text.
The term subjective is used to describe a writing style that is based on personal beliefs or preferences. Subjective language often
- includes personal pronouns,
- is emotive,
- is exaggerated, and
- passes judgements.
The term objective is used to describe a writing style that focuses on facts and uses balanced, disinterested language that leads readers to critically evaluate the content presented in the text. Objective writing style does, in fact, include judgement. The judgements are supported by facts and are presented in a distant way.
Examples of Subjective and Objective Writing Style
She loves the snow. (opinion)
It is snowing heavily. (fact)
She loves the snow because she is a skier. (opinion with a fact)
Employees will probably be late to work today because it is snowing heavily. (prediction based on fact)
The order picker messed up our order terribly. (opinion, emotive language)
The order picker neglected to include several items in our order. (vague fact, negative language)
The order picker messed up our order; he neglected to include several items. (vague fact, negative language)
Two boxes of cleaning solution were not included in this morning’s order. (fact presented in an impartial manner)
In 2016, Zara launched its Join Life line as an initial step towards increasing product sustainability. (fact)
In 2016, Zara launched its Join Life line as an initial step towards supposedly increasing product sustainability. (fact, emotive language challenging the fact)
The Join Life women’s collection consists of about 280 pieces. (fact)
Zara’s other collections include about 1,500 items in its women’s dress category. (fact)
While Zara purports to be interested in sustainability, its sustainability collection includes only 280 items. (fact, judgement)
Zara is simply trying to trick customers into believing that it is concerned about sustainability, for a mere 280 of its items are part of its Join Life line. Moreover, most of its products are manufactured by underpaid labourers who live in some of the poorest countries in the world. (strong judgement supported by some fact, strong emotive language)
Compared to its other collection of over 1,500 items, Zara’s sustainability collection includes only 280 items. It, therefore, appears that Zara’s is doing little to address sustainability issues. (judgement based on fact, language is distanced)
The content about Zara was sourced and adapted from the reference below.
Objective Style in Report Writing
A report is a document created to impart information to a specific audience for a specific pur