Writing

 skills:  informal  vs.  Formal  writing  –  some  tips  

 
When  it  comes  to  writing  in  English,  there  are  two  main  styles  of  writing  –  formal  and  informal.  
Consider  these  two  examples:  
 
Example  1:  Formal   Example  2:  Informal  
This  is  to  inform  you  that  your  book  has  been   You  know  that  book  I  wrote?  Well,  the  
rejected  by  our  publishing  company  as  it  was  not   publishing  company  rejected  it.  They  thought  it  
up  to  the  required  standard.  In  case  you  would   was  awful.  But  hey,  I  did  the  best  I  could,  and  I  
like  us  to  reconsider  it,  we  would  suggest  that   think  it  was  great.  I’m  not  gonna  redo  it  the  way  
you  go  over  it  and  make  some  necessary   they  said  I  should.    
changes.    
 
The  difference  between  the  two  is  obvious.  The  first  one  is  formal,  and  the  second  is  informal.  But  
what  is  it  that  makes  them  formal  and  informal?    
 
It  is  the  style  of  writing,  or  the  way  we  use  words  to  say  what  we  want  to  say.  Different  situations  call  
for  different  ways  of  putting  words  together.  The  way  we  write  in  academic  and  scientific  settings  
differs  greatly  from  the  way  we  write  to  a  friend  or  close  one.  The  tone,  vocabulary,  and  syntax,  all  
change  as  the  occasion  changes.  This  difference  in  the  styles  of  writing  is  the  difference  between  
formality  and  informality,  or  the  difference  between  formal  and  informal  writing.      
 
Here's  a  list  of  some  of  the  main  differences  between  informal  and  formal  writing:    
   
Style:  Informal   Style:  Formal  
May  use  colloquial  words/expressions  (kids,  guy,   Avoid  using  colloquial  words/expressions  
awesome,  a  lot,  etc.).   (substitute  with  children,  man/boy,  wonderful,  
many,  etc.)    
May  use  contractions  (can’t,  won’t,  shouldn’t,   Avoid  contractions  (write  out  full  words  –  
etc.).   cannot,  will  not,  should  not,  etc.).  
May  use  first,  second,  or  third  person.   Write  in  third  person  (except  in  business  letters  
  where  first  person  may  be  used).  
 
May  use  clichés  (loads  of,  conspicuous  by  absence,   Avoid  clichés  (use  many,  was  absent,  etc.)  
etc.)    
May  address  readers  using  second  person   Avoid  addressing  readers  using  second  person  
pronouns  (you,  your,  etc)   pronouns  (use  one,  one’s,  the  reader,  the  reader’s,  
  etc.)  
 
May  use  abbreviated  words  (photo,  TV,  etc)   Avoid  using  abbreviated  words  (use  full  versions  
–  like  photograph,  television,  etc.)  
May  use  imperative  voice  (e.g.  Remember….)   Avoid  imperative  voice  (use  Please  refer  to.….)  
May  use  active  voice  (e.g.  We  have  noticed   Use  passive  voice  (e.g.  It  has  been  noticed  that….)  
that…..)  
May  use  short  and  simple  sentences.   Longer  and  more  complex  sentences  are  
preferred  (short  simple  sentences  reflects  
poorly  on  the  writer)  
Difficulty  of  subject  may  be  acknowledged  and   State  your  points  confidently  and  offer  your  
empathy  shown  to  the  reader.   argument  firm  support.    
 
These  are  just  some  of  the  differences  between  formal  and  informal  writing.  The  main  thing  to  
remember  is  that  both  are  correct,  it  is  just  a  matter  of  tone  and  setting.  Formal  English  is  used  
mainly  in  academic  writing  and  business  communications,  whereas  Informal  English  is  casual  and  is  
appropriate  when  communicating  with  friends  and  other  close  ones.  Choose  the  style  of  writing  
keeping  in  mind  what  you  are  writing  and  to  whom.  But  whichever  style  you  write  in  –  formal  or  
informal  –  be  sure  to  keep  it  consistent,  do  not  mix  the  two.  
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