What is written communication?

We explain what written communication is, its characteristics, classification and examples. In addition, its importance, elements and advantages.

1. What is written communication?

Written communication is one that is established through words or any other written code . The sender and the receiver must share the knowledge of that code in question, for the  communication to  be effective.

In this kind of communication, the sender writes while the receiver reads . Always, as a channel, there will be a physical device, which can be a paper or a computer screen or even a wall.

The oldest written communication was through pictograms: they are signs or drawings that represent a concept or idea.

2. Characteristics of written communication

• It is not simultaneous. The message is not received as it occurs as it happens in a conversation in which while the sender speaks, the receiver listens. It is clear that the time varies according to the type of communication: in a chat this gap is much narrower in a printed newspaper.
• It remains in time. Unlike the oral message, the writing manages to perpetuate itself. The words are not “carried by the wind.”
• You must respect rules. The message must adapt to grammar or spelling rules so that the content makes sense and is effective.
• Distances are not an impediment.  Unlike a face-to-face conversation, written messages can go around the world. Distances are not a problem for them.
• The messages are planned.  The issuer must plan, however minimal the communication, how to formulate the content so that it has cohesion and coherence.

3. Types and examples of written communication

Written communications can be personal or designed for a mass audience . In addition, they may have different objectives such  as informing, convincing or entertaining.

Some examples of written communication may be the following:

• Brochures or flyers. Through them, messages linked to propaganda or publicity are communicated . In general, they seek to convince the recipient of something. They are usually distributed in public spaces and have little text . In addition, they usually have resources to make them attractive to reading : various colors , different types of typography, images, bold text.
• Letters.  The message is written on paper that is placed in an envelope for the mail to reach its destination. Unlike brochures , they are personalized messages and, depending on the relationship between the sender and the receiver, there are more or less formalities.
• E-mails  They are the modern version of the letters, which are sent through the web , protect privacy and are personalized. The advantage is that, unlike letters, they allow you to attach files that through an envelope could be much more expensive and complicated. Its content, like that of the letters, can be of the most varied: personal, labor, commercial, informative.
• Newspapers and magazines. Its contents are usually linked to the present, are written by journalists and are printed from time to time. In general, they cover specific topics, so readers buy them according to their interests. Once read, these messages are discarded, unless they are part of a collection. Its function is to inform or entertain the public.
• Books. Unlike newspapers or magazines, they do not have a periodicity and are not intended to be discarded. They contain the most varied genres and, with exceptions, do not lose their validity. The main function of books is to entertain and disseminate knowledge.
• Internet and all its variants. Beyond e-mail, with the Internet came a series of invaluable written media: from web portals to social networks such as WhatsApp or Twitter. From the network of networks, written words arrive much faster, more massively and economically. For some, it is a key advance in the democratization of knowledge.

4. Importance of written communication

Written communication represents a before and after for humanity. Next, some keys that allow to elucidate its importance:

• It allows the dissemination of knowledge. With the writing and publication of content of all kinds, knowledge is no longer in the hands of a few. Written communication broke with the monopoly of information.
• Time is no longer an obstacle. Messages can be stored and disseminated from generation to generation. They are no longer limited to one stage of the story .
• The distances are broken. As with time, distances are no longer an impediment to the dissemination of knowledge.
• Help personal links.  The letters first and then the mails, chats or social networks have helped people keep in touch or even to rebuild links that the passage of time and distance had broken.
• Enrich the culture. Thanks to written communication, new types of expression and genres arose, ranging from novels to poetry , through stories and plays .

5. Elements of written communication

Among the elements that make up the writing we can mention three:

• Structure. As the name implies, it is the way in which the issuer orders or structures what he wants to communicate. It can be in paragraphs, chapters, dialogues, items, to give some examples.
• Style. It is the way he writes the content in question. It can be formal or informal, personal or impersonal.
• Content.  It is what you want to communicate. It can be knowledge, the qualities of a product that you want to sell, a fictional story, among many others.

6. Advantages of written communication

On a social level, written communication also brought certain advantages:

• It allows the organization. Through writing you can regulate laws and codes that structure and control a society .
• Encourage reflection. Before writing, the person must think about what he wants to communicate.
• Decrease distortion. The writing limits the levels of interpretation and manipulation that an intermediary can introduce.