Audience and Purpose

Your audience is the person or people who will read what you write. In college, your audience is usually your instructors. Whenever you write, always have at least one real person in mind as a reader. Think about what that person already knows and what he or she will need to know to understand your main point.

Your purpose is your reason for writing. Let’s take a look at some different audiences and purposes.

Audience and Purpose

TYPE OF WRITING AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE TIPS
COLLEGE: A research essay about the environmental effects of “fracking”: fracturing rock layers to extract oil or natural gas

AUDIENCE: The professor of your environmental science class

PURPOSE:

  • To complete an assignment according to instructions
  • To show what you have learned about the topic
 When writing to fulfill an assignment, never assume “My instructor already knows this fact, so what’s the point of mentioning it?” By providing relevant examples and details, you demonstrate your knowledge of a subject.
WORK: An e-mail to coworkers about your company’s new insurance provider

AUDIENCE: Fellow workers

PURPOSE: To make sure that coworkers understand all the important details about the new provider

 Define or explain any terminology or concepts that will not be familiar to your audience.
EVERYDAY LIFE: An electronic comment about an online newspaper editorial that you disagree with

AUDIENCE:

  • The editorial writer
  • Other readers of the editorial

PURPOSE: To make the editorial writer and other readers aware of your views

 Keep all correspondence with others as polite as possible, even if you disagree with their views.

The tone and content of your writing will vary depending on your audiences and purposes. In some cases, such as text messages or e-mails with friends, it makes sense to use informal English. However, in college, at work, and in your everyday life, when you are speaking or writing to someone in authority for a serious purpose, use formal English; people will take you seriously.