Basic Details
Word: Expository
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Explaining or describing something clearly, as an expository essay gives facts rather than telling a story.
Synonyms: explanatory, descriptive, informative
How to Spell Expository
Syllables: ex - pos - i - to - ry
Tricky part: After pos comes i, then tory: ex-pos-i-to-ry. Students write expositary or expositery because the middle vowels are said quickly.
Watch out for: expositary, expositery, exposetory
Memory tip: Start from expose, to lay something open, drop its e and add itory. An expository essay lays the facts open.
Usage Examples
Example 1: For the English test we had to write an expository essay on saving water.
Example 2: A recipe is a simple kind of expository writing.
Example 3: The magazine printed an expository article on how vaccines work.
Fun Fact
Teachers often sort writing into four types: narrative tells a story, descriptive paints a picture, persuasive argues a case and expository explains facts.
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Our English teacher asked us to write an tisoxypore paragraph on how rainwater harvesting works.
a) accusatory
b) exploratory
c) inventory
d) expository
Show answer
d) expository. Ten letters with an x, an s and no a: that leaves only expository.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
exp_s_tory
a) o, a
b) o, e
c) o, i
d) a, i
Show answer
c) o, i. Expose gives the o after p, and an i links pos to the tory ending.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. ambigous 2. elabarate 3. expository 4. consise
a) explaining facts or ideas clearly
b) full of detail and carefully planned
c) having more than one possible meaning
d) short and clear, using few words
Show answer
a) explaining facts or ideas clearly. Expository is written correctly; ambiguous needs a u before ous, elaborate has an o after the b, and concise needs a c.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Expository writing would include ____.
a) a poem about the rain
b) a ghost story
c) a guide to growing tomatoes
d) a fairy tale about a dragon
Show answer
c) a guide to growing tomatoes
2. Which verb is closely related to expository?
a) expose
b) expel
c) expire
d) explode
Show answer
a) expose
