Texttypes

Texttypes are categories of texts defined by purpose, audience, and structure. In education and linguistics, they describe how a text is organized and what it aims to do, rather than rigid forms. Common categories include narrative, exposition (including explanation), description, argument or persuasion, and procedure or instruction; many curricula also include recounts, reports, and explanations.

Narratives tell stories and follow a sequence of events, often with orientation, development, and resolution. Expository or explanatory texts aim to inform or explain, presenting general statements supported by details. Descriptive texts focus on sensory details about people, places, or things. Procedural or instructional texts provide step-by-step actions. Recounts retell past events in chronological order. Reports describe phenomena or data, often organized by categories or measurements. Explanations clarify why or how something happens, frequently showing cause and effect.

Language features vary by type: procedural texts often use imperative verbs; narratives favor past tense and evaluative language; descriptive writing uses vivid adjectives; expository and argument texts rely on logical connectors and evidence.

Texttypes help writers tailor content to audiences and purposes and help readers anticipate the organization and language. In practice, real texts often blend features, and classification serves as a practical guide rather than a rigid taxonomy.