At the beginning of the semester, I had only a vague idea of a definition of style. I still think an exact definition is difficult to pinpoint, but I have a more clear idea now of what style is. I think now, that style has two distinct parts to it. The first part is about clear rules: rules on how to write for your audience, use grammar and syntax, organize, and generally convey information in a logical way. These rules of style are present in any variety of writing, I now know. Whether writing for a class, a comic book, or the web, there is a style governing the writing.
The second part of style ventures into the realm of the fuzzy. Though clear rules dictate style, there are other elements of style that defy definition, that cannot be taught in a handbook. The bits that make a piece of writing interesting often have nothing to do with following rules. A work can adhere to all of the style rules, but still not be anything special. Style is also a voice or tone, a clever turn of a phrase, and interweaving personality into everything else in writing.
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