Solid, workmanlike writing - that communicates efficiently and clearly - should be a writer's immediate goal. But once a draft reaches this point, or in the draft stages when a writer is letting themselves go and not worrying about clarity, style can make writing much more effective.

What is style? Style is voice, is the unique way a writer communicates. Style is using the rules of the English language to maximize effect. Examples include:

• Using language to increase the power of an argument
• Varying sentence length and construction to stress specific ideas
• Motivating readers through the beauty of language

 What is an example of the power of style? One of our favorite examples comes from What If (Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter). In a section on naming novels and short stories, the authors ask the reader to paraphrase some famous titles.

• What if A Farewell to Arms became A Goodbye to Guns?
• What if The Grapes of Wrath became Angry Raisins?

Silly examples, for sure, but they illustrate the magic of a unique, poetic approach.

Some of the examples included here can be used immediately, others will take lots of practice. If your entire essay is loaded with flowery language and long, complicated sentences you'll surely lose your reader. But it is a rare reader who will penalize a writer for purposeful attempt at stretching beyond the workmanlike prose of basic writing, whether in business, school, or personal life. Stretching is what writing is all about; just make sure you have good editors to help you throw out the crap and keep the good stuff.