A formal writing style is not necessarily “better” than an informal style, rather each style serves a different purpose and care should be taken in choosing which style to use in each case.
Writing for professional purposes is likely to require the formal style, although individual communications can use the informal style once you are familiar with the recipient.
Note that emails tend to lend themselves to a less formal style than paper-based communications, but you should still avoid the use of “text talk”. If in doubt as to how formal your writing should be, it is usually better to err on the side of caution and be formal rather than informal.
Informal Writing Style
• Colloquial – Informal writing is similar to a spoken conversation. Informal writing may include slang, figures of speech, broken syntax, asides and so on. Informal writing takes a personal tone as if you were speaking directly to your audience (the reader). You can use the first or third person point of view (I and we), and you are likely to address the reader using second person (you and your).
• Simple – Short sentences are acceptable and sometimes essential to making a point in informal writing. There may be incomplete sentences or ellipsis(…) to make points.
• Contractions and Abbreviations – Words are likely to be simplified using contractions (for example, I’m, doesn’t, couldn’t, it’s) and abbreviations (e.g. TV, photos) whenever possible.
• Empathy and Emotion – The author can show empathy towards the reader regarding the complexity of a thought and help them through that complexity. See our page: What is Empathy? for more.
Formal Writing Style
• Complex – Longer sentences are likely to be more prevalent in formal writing. You need to be as thorough as possible with your approach to each topic when you are using a formal style. Each main point needs to be introduced, elaborated and concluded.
• Objective – State main points confidently and offer full support arguments. A formal writing style shows a limited range of emotions and avoids emotive punctuation such as exclamation points, ellipsis, etc., unless they are being cited from another source.
• Full Words – No contractions should be used to simplify words (in other words use “It is” rather than “It’s”). Abbreviations must be spelt out in full when first used, the only exceptions being when the acronym is better known than the full name (BBC, ITV or NATO for example).
• Third Person – Formal writing is not a personal writing style. The formal writer is disconnected from the topic and does not use the first person point of view (I or we) or second person (you).
Find more at: http://www.skillsyouneed.com/write/formal-or-informal.html#ixzz4H7ROTGxl
Here are some examples of formal and informal verbs which mean the same thing:
1. Ask for / Request
Examples: I asked for a map because I was lost. (informal) I requested a map because I was lost. (formal)
2. Set up (phrasal verb) / Establish
Examples: John set up his business in 2008. (informal) John established his business in 2008. (formal)
3. Find out / Discover
Examples: When did you find out the truth? (informal) When did you discover the truth? (more formal)
4. Go up / Increase
Examples: The price of wheat has gone up by 10% this year. (informal) The price of wheat has increased by 10% this year. (formal)
5. Go down / Decrease
Examples: The value of this land has gone down. (informal) The value of this land has decreased. (formal)
6. Give / Donate
Examples: She gave some money to charity. (informal) She donated some money to charity. (formal)
7. Help / Assist
How can I assist you? (formal)
Watch this lesson on formal and informal English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgwmAUJx248
Do these exercises to practice your skills.
http://www.flo-joe.com/cae/students/writing/register/formal.htm
The tile doesn’t stick until you have put it in the right place (click the exercise link and you will see what I mean)
- Formal vs informal words 1
- Formal vs informal words 2
- Formal vs informal words 3
- Formal vs informal words 4
Exercise: Formal vs Informal Letters 1
Exercise: Formal vs Informal Letters 2
Mr Smedjeback's English Class 