Different types of writing often confuse fresh as well as expert writers. Mostly, they do not know what type of writing they should use for what purpose. The purpose is the main difference between different writing types. The fresh writers get deceived by the purpose and wander somewhere else. Apart from the four major types of writing, functional writing is also a type that is purely based on a different purpose. In today’s article, I will discuss this writing in detail along with its types. There will also be guidelines on how to write it in the end. So, let’s begin our discussion with a very basic question.
What is Functional Writing?
This writing is a practice of expressing real-life scenarios. As the name suggests, it is functional writing, the word functional tells us that the content is about how to do something. Giving advice or asking someone to do something also comes under this writing. This particular type of writing intends to make things simple to understand for its readers. It often turns complex subjects into something easy to understand.
Every writing has a purpose, but functional writing targets a specific individual. In fact, most of the writing that ordinary people or fresh writers do belong to this category. The content is specifically intended to fulfil particular needs.
What Are the Features Of Functional Writing?
Like every writing, functional writing also possesses some features. A brief description of its most important features is as follows as shared by experts of a dissertation proposal writing service;
Focus
As described earlier, the purpose of this writing is to deliver some kind of information to a target population. For effective communication of the purpose, the focus is very important. The length of the sentences is short, and thus, you have to be very focused between your lines.
Organisation
Along with focus, the organisation of the content is also an important feature of functional writing. The content and the information must be organised in an understandable way. The organisation is all about the completeness of the ideas and their relatedness. Thus, your writing ideas must be clear and organised in a way that is easy to read.
Style
One of the most prominent features is the style of this writing. Basically, the writing style controls the use of language for the intended audience. A writer’s style is evident through his word choice and sentence structuring. The functional writing uses short and easy to read words.
What Are The Types Of Functional Writing?
Functional writing covers a wide variety of texts and writing types. Following are the types of this writing;
Letter writing
Letters are written messages addressed to a particular person. You may ask someone to do something using the method described in the letter. It becomes a functional type of writing automatically. Also, business managers write letters to their employees when they want a thing to be done in some other way. Also, you write letters to give someone a piece of advice regarding his studies or work. As all this comes under this writing, letters are the first type.
Memo writing
Now, memos are also the type of functional writing. In memos, managers or leaders of a company address the organisation’s employees. The managers convey any new policy and working guidelines through a memo. A memo tells its readers how to do something and the new things they have to follow.
Public notices writing
You may have seen public notices in front of an office door or government offices. On those notices, there are standards of conduct or instructions about something. For example, there is a change in the working hours of the company. What will they do to let people know about this change? Of course, they will make a public notice and paste it in front of the office. All this type of writing informing or reminding people of activity is functional.
Minutes of meeting writing
Keeping a record of the minutes of the meeting also comes under functional writing. It is necessary because the company notifies its employees of the decisions made after the meeting. The writing on the pad of minutes of the conference is functional.
Example of Functional Writing
After introducing and discussing types, it is time for the example. Below you will find a written memo as an example of this writing to use as business writing;
Example
Memorandum
To: All administrations bodies of departments (UOL, Lahore campus)
From: Mr Abdurrahman Lodhi (Vice-chancellor, UOL)
Ref no.: TTTI/0155
Date: 24-02-2022
Subject: Observing the new dress codes
It has come to my attention that students are not observing the dress code issued by the university. They are just wearing whatever they want. I have spotted young men wearing adorning caps. The dresses of the girls were also very revealing. This is not good for the discipline of the university.
I, therefore, order that all of you must ensure the university’s dress code. I do not want to see anybody wearing an absurd dress during university time. Forward those students’ names who do not follow the university’s dress code rules.
XXXXX
Signature: ………….
How Do You Write Functional Writing?
Writing any type of content becomes easy when you follow its requirements. To write perfect functional writing, you must follow the points below;
- Use language with an appropriate tone and wit. The vocabulary should be simple and easy to understand
- Writing must have a sense of who you are writing for
- Write with a strong sense of purpose and keep the objective in mind
- The structure and shape of the writing must be up to the standards
- There should not be any mistakes in terms of punctuation and grammar
- Keep your content relevant to the problem
Conclusion
All in all, functional writing is about letting someone know how to do something. To do so, it can take the shape of any type of writing, i.e., a letter or memo. The guidelines mentioned above are very helpful in organising functional writing.