Style (noun) — a particular way of doing, writing, or presenting something; a fashionable or elegant appearance. Style (verb) — to design, cut, or arrange something in a particular way.
What Does Style Mean?
Style is a versatile word with several closely related meanings in English. As a noun, it most commonly refers to a distinctive manner or approach — for example, a writer's writing style, a manager's leadership style, or a building's architectural style. It also describes fashionable elegance: someone who dresses with style dresses in a polished, considered way.
As a verb, to style means to design or arrange something in a particular fashion. A hairdresser styles hair; a graphic designer styles a webpage. You can also style yourself as something — meaning you present yourself as having a particular identity or expertise.
The word is extremely common across formal and informal contexts: academic writing, fashion journalism, business English, and everyday conversation all make heavy use of style and its collocations. Understanding the difference between style, manner, approach, and fashion will help you choose the right word for each context.
Etymology
The word style derives from Latin stilus, the pointed metal instrument ancient Romans used to write on wax tablets. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from the physical writing tool to the manner of writing, and eventually to any characteristic way of doing something. The word entered Middle English via Old French stile in the 14th century. The Latin root stilus also gives us stylus (a modern writing or pointing instrument) and the suffix -style found in compounds such as freestyle and lifestyle.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & note |
|---|---|
| I like her style — she always looks great. | A2 — style as fashionable appearance |
| He has a very clear writing style that is easy to understand. | B1 — writing style, noun phrase |
| The hairdresser styled her hair for the wedding. | B1 — style as a verb |
| Academic writing style requires formal vocabulary and complex sentence structures. | B2 — academic register, noun + noun compound |
| His minimalist architectural style challenged conventional notions of domestic space. | C1 — formal/academic, noun used as pre-modifier |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| writing style | Her writing style is direct and engaging. |
| management style | His management style encourages team input. |
| personal style | She has developed a strong personal style over the years. |
| architectural style | The building is a fine example of Victorian architectural style. |
| in style | They celebrated their anniversary in style at a top London restaurant. |
| out of style | Wide lapels went out of style in the 1980s. |
| cramp someone's style | Working from home no longer cramps her style. |
| house style | All documents must follow the company's house style. |
| lifestyle | Moving abroad required a complete change of lifestyle. |
| freestyle | He competed in the 100-metre freestyle at the national championships. |
Usage Notes
- Noun vs verb: Style is most commonly a noun ('a writing style'), but it functions as a regular transitive verb too: 'She styled the shoot.' The past tense and past participle are both styled.
- Style vs fashion: Fashion refers to trends that change over time; style is more personal and lasting. People say 'fashion fades, style is eternal'.
- Style vs manner: Manner is neutral and simply describes how something is done. Style implies a distinctive, recognisable quality — often an aesthetic or personal one.
- Style yourself as: This reflexive construction ('He styles himself as a thought leader') is slightly formal and carries a hint of self-promotion or self-invention.
- House style: In publishing and business, 'house style' refers to a set of rules about spelling, punctuation, and formatting that an organisation follows consistently.
Common Mistakes
She has a very stylish of writing.
She has a very stylish writing style. / She writes in a very stylish way. (stylish is an adjective; it cannot replace the noun style)
This music is in the style of jazz music.
This music is in the style of jazz. (avoid the redundant repetition of music; 'jazz' alone is sufficient)
He styled himself a great leader.
He styled himself as a great leader. (the preposition as is required with 'style oneself')