  This chapter argues for more informed target metrics for the statistical
processing of stylistic variation in text collections. Much as operationalised
relevance proved a useful goal to strive for in information retrieval, research
in textual stylistics, whether application oriented or philologically inclined,
needs goals formulated in terms of pertinence, relevance, and utility - notions
that agree with reader experience of text. Differences readers are aware of are
mostly based on utility - not on textual characteristics per se. Mostly,
readers report stylistic differences in terms of genres. Genres, while vague
and undefined, are well-established and talked about: very early on, readers
learn to distinguish genres. This chapter discusses variation given by genre,
and contrasts it to variation occasioned by individual choice.
