Writing to Inform
Informative writing explains facts clearly and accurately, as in reports, articles and leaflets.
▶ Interact
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Informative writing explains facts clearly and accurately, as in reports, articles and leaflets.
- Use clear topic sentences
- Organise with headings
- Keep to the facts
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Writing to Inform?
Within English, which covers grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, poetry, drama and the skills for clear communication, this topic explains Writing to Inform. English topics help you read closely and write with purpose, so each one here explains a skill and shows how it works in a model text.
Check that you can explain Writing to Inform in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Writing to Inform helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
Writing to Inform in detail
Informative writing explains facts clearly and objectively to the reader, as in news reports, leaflets, encyclopaedia entries, guides and websites. Its features include a clear title, headings, short paragraphs, factual and precise language, topic sentences and formal, neutral tone.
Organise information logically, answering who, what, where, when, why and how. Use examples, statistics and quotations from reliable sources. Avoid personal opinion and unnecessary description. Know your audience and adjust the level of detail and vocabulary. Plain, accurate writing helps readers understand and use the information.
How the interactive helps you understand Writing to Inform
Click a step, or use the Previous and Next buttons, to move through the sequence one stage at a time. Auto-play moves on for you.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Writing to Inform.
Real-life uses and examples
- Support a point about Writing to Inform with a short, accurate quotation.
- Plan an essay paragraph by linking the technique to the reader’s response.
- Spot Writing to Inform when you read a poem, story or speech, then explain the effect it creates.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Naming a technique without explaining its effect on the reader.
- Quoting a long passage instead of picking a short, precise phrase.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Writing to Inform
What is Writing to Inform?
Informative writing explains facts clearly and accurately, as in reports, articles and leaflets.
What are the most important points about Writing to Inform?
The main points are: Use clear topic sentences; Organise with headings; Keep to the facts.
Why is Writing to Inform useful?
Understanding Writing to Inform helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
How can I practise Writing to Inform?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Writing to Inform?
Related topics in English include Writing to Describe, Writing Emails, Paragraphing and Organisation.