ABSTRACT
When and how do we describe people? As far as simple, physical description is concerned—that is describing what someone looks like—we probably do not produce such descriptions very much in writing, although a description of someone’s appearance may be part of a more comprehensive description which includes information on their behaviour, possessions and attitudes. In institutional writing, such descriptions may be found in newspaper and magazine articles and, with some important additional features, in some types of advertisement and publications dealing with occupational roles and requirements.
