diff --git a/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/convert/ReadingConverter.java b/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/convert/ReadingConverter.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4d4bb265d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/convert/ReadingConverter.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2011 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.springframework.data.convert;
+
+import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.*;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Documented;
+import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
+import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
+import java.lang.annotation.Target;
+
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.Converter;
+
+/**
+ * Annotation to clarify intended usage of a {@link Converter} as reading converter in case the conversion types leave
+ * room for disambiguation.
+ * 
+ * @author Oliver Gierke
+ */
+@Target(TYPE)
+@Documented
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+public @interface ReadingConverter {
+
+}
diff --git a/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/convert/WritingConverter.java b/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/convert/WritingConverter.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0364e517c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/convert/WritingConverter.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2011 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.springframework.data.convert;
+
+import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.*;
+
+import java.lang.annotation.Documented;
+import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
+import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
+import java.lang.annotation.Target;
+
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.Converter;
+
+/**
+ * Annotation to clarify intended usage of a {@link Converter} as writing converter in case the conversion types leave
+ * room for disambiguation.
+ * 
+ * @author Oliver Gierke
+ */
+@Target(TYPE)
+@Documented
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+public @interface WritingConverter {
+
+}