How to write for different audiences

Different audiences are interested in different things.

Think about who you are writing for and what they already know, and then use language they will understand.

Work out who the audience is before you start writing - this will make it much easier.

Writers also need to consider the purpose of their writing (the thing they are aiming to do or achieve in their writing), as this affects what words they choose as well.

There are lots of different purposes for writing.

For example, to:

• entertain the reader or make them laugh
• express an opinion
• describe facts or situations
• explain a process or problem
• evaluate results or evidence
• inform the reader about something, such as news

Top tip!

The way you write matters to your audience!

• Decide on the purpose of what you want to write. Then think about the kind of person you imagine will read it.

Before you start to write something, spend some time thinking about who your readers are going to be.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What will my readers expect from my writing?

• What facts do my readers already know?

• What words will they know and understand?

Having answers to these questions before you write will help to make sure your writing fits its purpose.

Read the text below.

‘In the past, three diminutive porcine creatures (also known as little pigs) were domiciled in a verdant pasture.’

It's the start of The Three Little Pigs but instead of writing words a young child could understand, the writer has used long, formal words that make the story much harder to follow.

For a young child, the start of the story would have been better written as:

Once upon a time, three little pigs lived in a green field.

Top tip!

• 'Diminutive' means little, 'were domiciled' means lived, 'verdant' = means green, 'pasture' means field.

Top tip!

• 'Diminutive' means little, 'were domiciled' means lived, 'verdant' = means green, 'pasture' means field.