Functional writing is used to express specific information in a real-life scenario. Understanding the nuances of functional writing will help one to communicate effectively.
It often converts complex subject matter into something more understandable to the reader. Letters, e-mails, questionnaires, notices, memoranda, circulars, applications and most academic writing are functional. Functional writing differs from personal writing/creative writing, as you have less freedom in approaching the task. There are certain standard and accepted ways of writing letters, reviews and reports. Below are some important points to remember while approaching a functional writing task.
- It is usually a short piece of writing, so keep an eye on the length.
- Write according to the target audience. When writing a letter to a friend, you can be informal, but when writing to a newspaper, you must be formal.
- Organise your thoughts to express them with clarity.
- Keep sentences short and simple.
- Use language appropriate to the task.
WORKS CITED
Grellet, Françoise. Developing Writing Skills: A Practical Guide to Functional Writing for English Learners. Cambridge University Press, 1996.
British Council. “Functional Writing Skills.” British Council Teaching Resources, 2024, https://www.britishcouncil.org/teaching-resources/functional-writing
Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan is a teacher, bilingual writer and artist with over two decades of experience in teaching English language and literature. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of English at NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Her blog, ashlit.in brings together academic resources, creative writing in Malayalam and English, and visual art. The platform features lecture notes, study materials, poems, reflections, short prose, and a curated collection of her paintings. Through this space, she seeks to foster learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.
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