A scenario

Imagine this scenario:

You feel ill and go to see a doctor.

Which of the following is informing, explaining or describing?

At the doctors

• Describing - you are telling the doctor how you feel.
• Informing - the doctor gives you the facts.
• Explaining - the doctor explains what a cold is and tells you a little bit more about it.

These areas do tend to overlap, but you should keep in mind that:

• Information is factual.
• Explanation is factual, but with more detail.
• Description is usually about how something makes you feel.