The Reading/Writing Learning Style: Turning Words Into Superpowers

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Hi, this is Ray.

I’ll admit it. I’m that guy who still has piles of notebooks from high school and college stacked somewhere in the back of a closet. You know, the kind of stack that looks less like “scholarly achievement” and more like “future fire hazard.”

If you relate, chances are you might have a Reading/Writing learning style. This is the type of learner who thrives on words. Hand us a textbook, a user manual, or even a cereal box with nutritional facts, and we’re in our happy place.

In a world of TikToks, AI summaries, and YouTube explainers, the Reading/Writing learners are the quiet rebels who insist: “Can I just get this in writing, please?”

Let’s break down what this style means, why it works, and how you can hack it to learn better, faster, and with fewer existential crises along the way.

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Step 1: What is the Reading/Writing Learning Style?

Imagine Hogwarts sorting hats, but instead of Gryffindor or Slytherin, it’s Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and Reading/Writing. Reading/Writing learners are the Ravenclaws of the group. We believe knowledge is best absorbed through… words. Written words. Typed words. Bullet-point lists that we reformat three times just to feel “right.”

Here’s how you know this is your jam:

• You keep lists like they’re Pokémon cards.

• You’d rather read a how-to guide than watch a how-to video.

• You secretly love essays, reports, and written exams (yes, you exist).

• The “Notes” app on your phone has more entries than the Library of Congress.

Basically, if someone hands you a dense research paper, you don’t panic… you sharpen your pencil.

Step 2: Why Does This Work?

The science is pretty solid here. Reading/Writing learners thrive because the act of converting information into written form forces your brain to process it deeply. That’s called elaborative rehearsal. Fancy words for “your brain works harder when you take notes.”

Research shows that writing down information improves recall more than just hearing or seeing it . It’s why your high school English teacher forced you to write five-paragraph essays until your hand cramped up. Turns out, they were onto something.

Another bonus: reading engages multiple brain regions tied to comprehension and memory . When you rewrite concepts in your own words, you’re creating new neural connections… like saving the game at a checkpoint instead of playing on “Ironman mode” and risking starting over.

Step 3: Strengths of Reading/Writing Learners

If this is you, congratulations. You have the superpower of structure. Reading/Writing learners shine when information looks like:

• Textbooks (yes, they still exist)

• Lecture notes

• Articles, blogs, and written guides

• Lists, outlines, and bullet points

Your brain loves converting chaos into ordered words. When your friend says, “Just wing it,” you hear, “Please create a 12-step outline and color-code it.” And honestly, that’s an advantage.

This skill pays off in school, at work, and even in relationships. (Pro tip: writing “I love you” in a note works better than saying it when your partner is also a Reading/Writing learner… unless they’re Kinesthetic, in which case, just give them a hug.)

Step 4: Challenges

Like every Jedi, we’ve got our weaknesses. Reading/Writing learners can struggle in environments that move too fast or lean too much on visuals. Picture a boss giving you a 30-slide PowerPoint full of charts and memes without a handout. Nightmare fuel.

We also risk information overload. Because if words are your love language, it’s tempting to write down everything. Suddenly your notes look less like study aids and more like an unedited George R.R. Martin draft. Good luck finding the main point in there.

Another trap: procrastination disguised as productivity. We love rewriting notes, reorganizing them, and making them look “pretty.” That’s useful… until you realize you spent three hours formatting your headers and zero minutes actually reviewing the material.

Step 5: How to Hack This Style for Maximum Learning

Here’s where the magic happens. If you’re a Reading/Writing learner, these strategies will turbocharge your study sessions:

1. Write to Remember

Don’t just read passively. Take notes in your own words. Summarize each section, make outlines, and create flashcards. The physical act of writing (or typing, though handwriting works slightly better for memory ) cements the material.

2. Translate Visuals into Words

See a chart? Write it out. Watch a video? Summarize it. Hear a lecture? Turn it into bullet points. Your brain thrives when you convert information back into text.

3. Use Lists Like a Superpower

To-do lists, checklists, glossaries… they’re not just for productivity nerds. They’re your learning fuel. Keep them simple, keep them handy, and review often.

4. Practice Retrieval… In Writing

Instead of just rereading notes (which tricks your brain into feeling smarter than you are), close the book and write everything you remember. Then check against the source. This retrieval practice is one of the most powerful memory hacks known to science .

5. Lean Into Technology

Tools like Notion, Evernote, or even good old Google Docs are your playground. Create digital notebooks, tag entries, and build your own searchable library of knowledge. Just… don’t spend more time customizing templates than learning. (Looking at you, my fellow nerds.)

Step 6: Putting It All Together

So how do you use this in the real world?

• Studying for an exam: Write summaries of each chapter, create practice questions, and make flashcards.

• Learning a new skill: Find a written guide or textbook, take detailed notes, then re-write key concepts in your own words.

• At work: Keep written records of meetings, create SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), and document everything. You’ll be the one saving the day when everyone else forgets what was said last week.

• In life: Journaling. Seriously. Write down your thoughts, reflect, and learn from your experiences. It’s like free therapy, only with more stationery.

Final Thoughts

Being a Reading/Writing learner isn’t about being old-school in a TikTok world. It’s about recognizing that your brain loves words… and using that to your advantage. While others might chase flashy videos or hands-on activities, you’re building a fortress of knowledge, one bullet point at a time.

So embrace it. Keep writing, keep reading, keep list-making. And maybe, just maybe, organize that fire hazard of old notebooks.

But let’s be honest… you’ll probably just buy another notebook. I know I will.

Sources

1. Brown, P. C., Roediger, H. L., & McDaniel, M. A. (2014). Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Harvard University Press. Link

2. Dehaene, S. (2009). Reading in the Brain: The New Science of How We Read. Penguin Books. Link

3. Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). “The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking.” Psychological Science. Link