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types of writing

Writing for the Web

Molly T., Writing Center tutor

Please keep in mind that these are only general guidelines; always defer to your professor's specifications for a given assignment. If you have any questions about the content represented here, please contact the Writing Centers so that we can address them for you.

Writing for the web is a broad type of writing and exists in many contexts on the internet thanks to our ever-expanding network of websites, social networking, wikis, and blogs. As a writer, you may want to enter that world, but you will find it difficult to attract your targeted readers without first learning the rules.

Writing for the web is very different from what students are used to in college. You are no longer writing long-winded research papers; you are no longer even writing papers. With Twitter and other social networking sites becoming all the rage, writing for the web has even developed new lingos, and web content is becoming even shorter and more to-the-point. Whether you are making your own website, starting a blog, or just want to know more about the genre, this information will be of help to you.

If you would like to learn more about how to write better emails, try our page on writing emails.
If you would like to see how we engage in web writing, visit our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube pages, or listen to our podcast.

What are some important aspects of writing for the web?

  • Consider your audience. What kind of context are you writing in? Is this a personal venue or is this professional? What kind of information are you getting out there and who do you think will be interested? Let's say you have started a blog pertaining to your field of study, such as advertising. You want to establish your voice and know who your audience is: other advertising students, advertising firms, etc.
  • Consider your purpose. Why are you writing this website, blog, etc. in the first place? Does it have a focus or theme? The purpose of most web-based writing should be satisfying your audience while conveying the information quickly, efficiently, and clearly to the reader.
  • Be concise. Your reader will most likely skim the page. Keep your text readable with bulleted lists and strategic white space rather than bulky, long paragraphs. Use different font sizes or bolded text to guide the reader through the content.
  • Front-load the content. Most web-based writing is for practical use—your reader wants the information and they want it now. Get to the point right away and let them know what you are writing about. If a reader has to search for information, they won’t stay on your website long and will probably try a search engine instead.
  • Use plain language. Because of the nature of the internet, you generally can’t control who can and can’t see your content. All readers want to be able to understand what you are writing, so use plain language and consider your word choices carefully.
  • Write in first person and second person. Third person generally sounds more stuffy and withdrawn—save that for academic papers. Web writers should establish a more personal relationship with their readers by addressing them directly. It is also a good idea to engage your audience by asking and answering questions.
  • Passive vs. Active voice. Sometimes passive voice is acceptable depending on the context, but you should generally try to talk directly to your audience in an assertive, friendly, active voice.

What are some types of writing generally found on the web?

  • Wikis: Someone’s got to write that Wikipedia page on Ashlee Simpson-Wentz or that how-to on origami cranes. A wiki is simply a collaborative website where multiple authors add and edit content. Wikis are also used by organizations to manage content and interact with each other and their users.
  • Blogs: We are not talking about your average blog on Myspace or Livejournal. A professional blog engages the reader, writing on subjects others are interested in. Most blogs should have a theme or focus, such as a blog devoted to interior design or photography.
  • Websites: Whether personal, professional, or corporate, websites exist to give more information to the reader. Consider why you are creating a website and who would possibly read it.
  • Help-guide or Tutorial: A website or page built specifically to teach others a particular skill or skill set.
  • Newsletters & Fact Sheets: Usually downloadable from an organization’s website, these documents are recurring and updated as your audience needs.

Symbols and Terms for Online Interaction

For more terms, visit Webopedia.com, the collaborative dictionary for all web-based terms.
@reply: on twitter or other social networking where users have avatars, putting an @ symbol in front of their usernames will direct your message to that specific user
Avatar: a virtual representation of a user (whether a photo, a screen name, or an online game character), whether on a social networking site or in an online role-playing game.
HTML: Hypertext Markup Language. A web language used to build websites
CSS: Cascading Style Sheet. A web language used to design websites
Hash-tag: When you put the pound (#) symbol in front of a word, it is recognized by blogging and twittering tools as a keyword. If your blog post or tweet is about Chicago and you put #chicago in your post, other users will recognize it as having to do with Chicago.
Keyword: Words on webpages that would be used by search engines to find relevant pages to searches. Many blogging sites have keyword creation built-in.
PDF: Portable Document Format, a document format that allows the user to capture almost any document type and view it in Adobe Reader.
RSS or RSS Feed:  Really Simple Syndication, primarily used by blogs and news sites to display content in an easy-to-read and non-designed format. Any website can have an RSS feed, however.
URL: Uniform Resource Locator, the unique address of a web document, usually beginning with http:// or https://
Social Networking:  Social networking websites, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are for friends, colleagues, industry professionals, and strangers to connect with those who have similar interests. Each social networking site has its own function and jargon.

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