DESCRIBING PEOPLE
A descriptive composition about a person should consist of:
a) an introduction where you give some brief
information about the person (his/her name, time or
place you met/saw him/her, how you heard about
him/her);
b) a main body where you describe physical
appearance, personality characteristics and
hobbies/interests/everyday activities in separate
paragraphs; and
c) a conclusion which includes your comments
and/or feelings about the person.
Such descriptions can be found in articles, letters,
witness statements, novels, etc.
Points to consider:
Each paragraph starts with a topic sentence
which introduces the subject of the paragraph. A
variety of linking words should be used to
connect ideas.
To describe physical appearance, details should
be given as follows: height/build, age, facial
features, hair, clothes, moving from the most
general aspects to the more specific details. e.g.
John is a tall, slim man in his mid forties. He has a
thin face, blue eyes and a large nose. His short
hair is greying at the temples. He is usually
casually dressed.
To describe character and behaviour you can
support your description with examples. e.g. Sally
is very sociable. She loves going to parties and
dances. If you want to mention any negative
qualities, use mild language (tends to, seems to, is rather, can occasionally be,
etc.). e.g. Instead of saying Sally is arrogant, it is better to say Sally tends to be
rather arrogant.
Variety in the use of adjectives will make your description more interesting. e.g.
good-natured, well-behaved, gorgeous, etc.
Present tenses can be used to describe someone connected to the present, e.g.
someone you see every day. Past tenses can be used to describe someone
related to the past, e.g. someone who is no longer alive, someone whom you
won't meet again, etc.
Avoid beginning all sentences in the same way as this will make your composition
boring. Use a variety of structures, trying to link the sentences together.
Instead of writing: She is a pretty girl. She has an oval face., you can write: She is a
pretty girl with an oval face.
Look at the examples suggested below:
He has wrinkles. They make him look older. He has wrinkles which make him
look older.
She is a beautiful woman. She wears designer clothes. She is a beautiful
woman who wears designer clothes.
She has long hair. She wears her hair in a pony-tail. She wears her long hair in
a pony-tail.
He has a big garden. He grows vegetables in the garden. He has a big garden
where he grows vegetables.
Sentences can be linked together in a variety of ways. Read the examples and say
which words are used to link descriptions of similar qualities and which to join
descriptions of opposing qualities.
Similar qualities (both positive or both negative)
She is kind-hearted. She is cooperative.
She is kind-hearted and also cooperative.
She is kind-hearted and cooperative as well.
She is kind-hearted, as well as (being) cooperative.
In addition to being kind-heared, she is also cooperative.
She is both kind-hearted and cooperative.
Opposing qualities (one positive and one negative)
He is usually well-behaved. He can be naughty at times.
He is usually well behaved but can be naughty at times.
He is usually well-behaved; in spite of this/ nevertheless/ however, he can be
naughty at times.
Although/In spite of the fact that he is usually well-behaved, he can be
naughty at times.
Instead of only using adjectives to describe a person’s character, you can also include
examples of the way they speak/look/smile, etc. in order to give a clearer picture and
to make the description more lively. e.g. His blue eyes light up whenever he sees his
grandchild. Although the adjectives kind and affectionate could be used to describe the
person, giving examples of mannerism makes the description more vivid.
Narrative techniques (use of direct speech, weather description, use of dramatic
language to create mystery/suspense, reference to feelings/moods, etc.) can be used
when describing people. This will make your composition more interesting to the
reader. See how an ordinary beginning can be made more exciting:
Instead of saying: I first met Steven, the secretary of the manager of Sunnington Ltd,
last Monday.
You could say: A cold wind was blowing down the street last Monday morning as I
pushed open the heavy glass door of Sunnington Ltd. Chilled and nervous, I walked up
to Mr. Tibbs' secretary. A pair of friendly dark eyes met mine. So this was Steven!
(weather description, your feelings, suspense)
“Mr. Tibbs is at a meeting. Would you like to wait? He'll be about ten minutes." He had a
sharp clear voice, and a narrow intelligent face. I could see why Mr. Tibbs, the manager
of Sunnington Ltd, spoke so highly of Steven. (direct speech, mystery)
Source: Successful writing, upper-intermediate, Virginia Evans, Express Publishing
