Argument-Style Diagnostic

Feed it your writing

Paste a few paragraphs of something you wrote that makes a case — an essay, an op-ed, a discussion-board post, a cover letter, even a long text where you argued a point. The more argumentative the writing, the sharper the read. Aim for 150 words or more.

Tip: feed it one coherent piece at a time (an essay, an op-ed, a discussion post), 150+ words. Blending several different pieces together tends to average their styles into a muddy result. There's no upper limit, though — a very long text just takes a moment longer.

How to read this honestly. This tool scans for surface signals — the words and connectives that tend to accompany each style. It is a mirror, not a verdict. No style is the right one to be: each is a virtue with a characteristic excess, good when used at the right time and to the right degree (Aristotle; Walton). Treat the result as a conversation-starter about your default voice — and a menu of moves you can borrow.

One piece won't show everything. A single sample of writing may not reflect all eleven dimensions — different tasks call for different styles. Where a passage simply doesn't engage a given pair, the tool will tell you so rather than force you onto the spectrum.

Your argumentative temperament

What your writing leans toward

✍ The range-building exercise

Want to test what you’re drawn to, not just what you do? Try the Argument-Style Duel →
Or read the full framework: The eleven argument styles →

Feed it your writing

⚠ This doesn’t look like an argument

What your writing leans toward

✍ The range-building exercise