diff --git a/grum/descs/desc.py b/grum/descs/desc.py
index 0c52278..8a85046 100644
--- a/grum/descs/desc.py
+++ b/grum/descs/desc.py
@@ -2,7 +2,22 @@
 class Description:
 
     def to_dict(self):
-        return {k: v for k, v in self.__dict__.items() if not k.startswith("_") and k != "name" and v is not None}
+        res = {k: v for k, v in self.__dict__.items() if not k.startswith("_") and k != "name" and v is not None}
+        tn = self.get_type()
+        res.setdefault("type", tn)
+        return res
+
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_type(cls):
+        tn = cls.__name__
+        suffix = "Description"
+        if not tn.endswith(suffix):
+            raise ValueError(f'"{tn}" does not end with "{suffix}"')
+        tn = tn[:-len(suffix)]
+        tn = tn.casefold()
+        tn = tn or None
+        return tn