What Is Expository Writing? Types, Examples, & 10 Tips

• Nov 07, 2024
• 7 min read

• Tags: Academic Writing, Language, Writing Tips

Whether you’re writing an essay, research paper, report, or article, expository writing is a crucial skill. Mastering this writing style requires thorough research and clear organization of ideas. This blog simplifies the meaning of expository writing and provides practical examples.

We’ve also included 10 techniques to master this writing style and listed common mistakes to avoid. Before delving into these techniques and mistakes, let’s start with the definition of expository writing. 

What is expository writing? 

Expository writing is a type of writing that explains, informs, or describes a topic objectively. It is used to present facts and information without personal opinions or biases. 

This writing style follows a logical structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. It involves providing examples, evidence, and explanations to support the main idea. Also, a proper context and background are given for the reader’s understanding. 

Furthermore, visual aids like infographics, tables, and graphs can be used to provide clarity. The purpose of expository writing is to convey information with clarity. 

Now let’s quickly understand the importance of expository writing before studying 10 practical tips. 

Why is expository writing important? 

Following are the top 5 reasons why this writing style is important: 

• • • Informs and educates readers on various topics, expanding their knowledge.
    • Provides clear, objective explanations of complex subjects, making them easier to understand.
    • Develops critical thinking skills by presenting facts and evidence to support ideas.
    • Prepares students for academic and professional settings where clear communication is essential. 
    • Helps readers make informed decisions by offering unbiased, factual information. 

10 practical tips for expository writing 

To elevate your expository content pieces, follow the academic tips given below! 

1. Conduct thorough research

Gather information from reliable sources, such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites. You can also use academic research resources such as PubMedCentral, Library of Congress, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, etc. Some other AI tools for research you can explore are Research Rabbit, Dimensions.AI, Scite.ai, etc. 

2. Create an outline

Organize your thoughts and information into a clear structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. This writing process helps ensure your essay is logical and cohesive. You can also use outline generators provided by Copylime, Perfect Essay Writer, Ahrefs, MyEssayWriter.ai, etc. 

3. Use short paragraphs 

Break your expository essay into shorter paragraphs to make it easier to read and follow. Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea. Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence to introduce the main idea to discuss. 

4. Vary your sentence structure

Use a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences to make your writing more engaging. Include a combination of short and long sentences with different punctuations as required. 

5. Anticipate counterarguments

Consider potential counterarguments to your main points and address them in your expository essay to strengthen your position and show that you have considered alternative perspectives.

6. Write objectively

Avoid using first-person pronouns (I, me, my) and expressing personal opinions unless specifically asked to do so.

7. Vary the beginning of your sentences

Avoid starting every sentence with the same word or phrase. Vary your sentence beginnings to make your writing more interesting and engaging.

8. Use transitions

Employ transitional words and phrases to connect your ideas within and between paragraphs. For example,  use transitional words like “furthermore”, “however”, “hence”, “in addition to”, “as a result”, etc. This enhances the flow and coherence of your writing. 

9. Cite your sources properly 

Cite sources in your expository essay as per the required style guide (e.g., Chicago). This helps to avoid plagiarism. You can also use citation generators such as Citation Machine, Zotero, SciSpace APA Citation Generator, etc. 

10. Revise and edit

After writing, edit and proofread your text to eliminate any spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. You can also use spell checkers, grammar checkers, and punctuation checkers to do so. 

10 common errors to avoid in expository writing 

1. Lack of a clear thesis statement 

A weak or missing thesis statement leaves the reader unsure of the essay’s main point. Ensure that you mention the thesis statement in your expository essay’s introduction. Here is an example of a thesis statement: 

“In this essay, we will explore how plastic pollution negatively impacts climate change.” 

2. Insufficient or irrelevant evidence

Writers may not provide enough evidence to support their claims, weakening their arguments. For example, A writer states that social media is harmful to relationships but only provides one example without exploring the topic in depth. 

Writers may also include evidence that is not directly related to their main points, confusing the reader. For example, in an essay about the benefits of reading, a writer discusses the history of the printing press, which is not directly relevant to the main argument.

3. Poorly organized ideas and structure

Not arranging ideas in a logical order can make it challenging for readers to follow the essay’s progression. For example, a writer discusses the causes and effects of climate change but jumps back and forth between different points without a clear structure.

4. Overuse of passive voice

Relying heavily on passive voice can make writing less engaging to read. For example, writing, “The experiment was conducted by the researchers” instead of “The researchers conducted the experiment” sounds less interesting. Hence, using active voice wherever relevant is important for writing expository essays. 

5. Inconsistent verb tenses

If writers switch between past, present, and future tenses without a clear reason, this creates confusion. For example,

“The study found that exercise reduces stress. Participants are reporting better moods after the intervention.” 

In this example, the use of past tense in the first sentence and present tense in the second sentence sounds confusing. 

6. Lack of transitions 

A lack of appropriate transitional words or phrases to connect ideas can make the essay feel disjointed. For example, a writer discusses the benefits of meditation and suddenly shifts to discussing the history of yoga without a proper transition.

A lack of transitions also makes it difficult for the reader to see the relationship between different points. For example, “Cats are independent animals. Dogs are known for their loyalty.” (This sentence pair lacks a transition word or phrase such as “On the other hand” to clearly indicate a comparison between cats and dogs.)

7. Wordiness and redundancy

Using unnecessarily complex language or repeating the same information multiple times, makes the writing hard to follow. For example, 

Wordy sentence: “The study aimed to investigate and examine the effects and consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance.”

Refined sentence: “The study aimed to investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance.” 

8. Incorrect punctuation and grammar

Writers may make errors in punctuation, such as misplacing commas or using apostrophes incorrectly. For example, 

Incorrect sentence: I brought bananas apples and peaches. 

Corrected sentence: I brought bananas, apples, and peaches. 

Grammar mistakes, such as subject-verb agreement or incorrect pronoun usage, can also distract the reader. For example: 

Incorrect sentence: “I’ll gifts a box.” (Verb- gifts (plural), Noun- box (singular) 

Correct: “I’ll gift a box.” (Verb- gift (singular), Noun- box (singular) 

9. Failure to cite sources properly

Writers may forget to cite their sources or use an incorrect citation format, which can be considered plagiarism. For example, a writer includes a direct quote from a source without providing an in-text citation or reference. 

Alternatively, if a writer does not mention a source in the references list, which is mentioned as an in-text citation, this is an error. 

10. Biased or opinionated language

Writers may use language that reveals their personal biases or opinions, reducing the writing’s objectivity. For example: 

“The foolish decision to invest in fossil fuels will have dire consequences for the environment.”

Here, the use of the word “foolish” shows opinionated language. Using opinionated language can also make readers question the reliability of the information. For example: 

“The study clearly shows that this is the best approach to solving the problem.”

The use of the phrase “best approach” can make readers question the reliability of the research. 

Types of expository writing 

Following are the 6 types of expository writing: 

1. Definition

The purpose of this content is to explain the meaning of a term, concept, or idea. It involves introducing the term and providing a clear definition, examples, and explanations. 

For example: An essay explaining the concept of “democracy” and its various forms. 

Document types: Dictionaries, essays, glossaries, encyclopedia entries, textbook articles explaining key concepts, news articles describing complex topics 

2. Process 

This type of writing describes how something works or how to do something step-by-step. These sequential writings begin with an introduction to the process and explain each step involved in a logical manner. 

For example: An article about how to track changes in Google Docs. 

Document types: Recipes, instruction manuals, how-to guides, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), scientific experiment protocols 

3. Compare-and-contrast 

The purpose of any compare-and-contrast text is to analyze the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. These topics begin with an introduction of the subjects in question followed by an analysis of their similarities and differences. After this, the main points are summarized, and the topic is given an impactful ending. 

For example: A compare-and-contrast essay on the benefits of online learning vs. traditional classroom learning. 

Document types: Essays, product comparison articles or reviews, academic papers comparing themes or events, business reports comparing trends and strategies 

4. Cause and effect 

These writings examine the reasons behind an event or situation and discuss its consequences. The topic is introduced, followed by causes and effects presented sequentially or as a chain reaction, before concluding.

For example: An essay discussing the cause and effect of climate change. 

Document types: Scientific research papers, historical essays analyzing cause and effect, psychological case studies, environmental impact reports, economic analyses, and surveys 

5. Problem-solution 

These types of content pieces identify a problem, discuss its cause and impact, and provide a solution. This involves introducing the problem, analyzing its reasons and consequences, and proposing solutions. It also includes elaborating on the pros and cons of every solution. 

For example: A research paper addressing the problem of plastic pollution and proposing solutions such as recycling, using eco-friendly alternatives, and implementing government regulations. 

Document types: Business proposals, persuasive essays, business plans, technical reports recommending solutions, self-help books 

6. Classification 

These writings involve organizing and dividing a topic into specific groups and categories based on their shared characteristics. The structure of these writings is fairly simple. It involves introducing the topic, defining the categories, providing explanations and examples for every category, and then concluding the topic. 

For example: An essay classifying different types of renewable energy sources. 

Document types: Biology textbook chapters classifying species, sociology papers categorizing social groups and behaviors, business reports on target audiences, library catalogs for categorizing books, and journal articles categorizing news events by themes or importance. 

Explore two practical examples in the next section to understand expository writing better!  

Two engaging examples of expository writing

1. Expository writing for a scientific paper

Plants need light to grow, but how much light is best? This paper looks at how different amounts of light affect plant growth. We will study three types of plants: sunflowers, tomatoes, and lettuce. By measuring their growth over four weeks under various light conditions, we aim to determine the ideal amount of light required for each plant. 

2. Expository writing for a newspaper report 

How is expository writing different from other writing styles? 

While expository writing is used to convey information objectively, narrative writing is applied to tell a story (often involving a plot and characters). In contrast, persuasive writing aims to convince readers about a point. Comparatively, creative writing involves experimenting with language and using imagination to develop original ideas. 

Also, while creative writing uses many writing techniques like Personification, Metaphors, Similes, etc., expository writing heavily relies on facts, statistics, and the opinions of experts. 

Some other ways expository writing differs from other writing styles are: 

• • • • Tone: Neutral tone (expository), assertive tone (persuasive) 
      • Language: Clear, concise, less descriptive writing, and evocative (expository), more descriptive writing, and evocative (narrative and creative) 
      • Literary devices: Fewer figures of speech, symbolism, and imagery (expository), more use figures of speech, symbolism, and imagery (creative)
      • Structure: Strict (expository), flexible (narrative and persuasive)
      • Research and facts: Primary focus (expository), secondary focus (creative and narrative writing)

Now, you can start writing expository pieces in a clear and logical manner. You can also use the 10 practical tips given to enhance your writing. A crucial step after writing is to edit the text. At PaperTrue, we provide professional editing and proofreading services to polish your text. 

Here are some useful resources for you: 

• • Academic Writing in 2024: 5 Key Dos & Don’ts + Examples
  • Structure of an Essay: 5 Tips to Write an Outstanding Essay
  • College Essay Format: Tips, Examples, and Free Template
  • 100 Best College Essay Topics & How to Pick the Perfect One!
  • Top 10 Essay Checkers in 2024 (Free & Paid)

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Priya

Priya has a talent for academic research and enjoys simplifying complex topics. When she's not helping students improve their writing, she can be seen reading poetry, playing the harmonium, or learning classical dance.