FORMAL AND INFORMAL TONE
Formal writing is quite different from informal spoken English. Formal writing has a formal tone that is appropriate
for academic, business, official, and professional settings. Informal writing has an informal tone that is appropriate
for communicating with close friends in informal settings. Often, informal writing imitates the way that we
normally speak in informal situations. The differences between a formal tone and an informal tone can best be seen
from a number of examples. In general, informal writing contains a number of colloquialisms (conversational
expressions and slang) that are inappropriate for formal written English. It is important not to mix formal writing
with informal writing.
Formal writing does not contain the following:
 Contractions
Incorrect
Correct
It didn’t
They’ve
We’re
It did not
They have
We are
 Hesitation fillers
Incorrect
Correct
Um
You know what I mean.
well
okay
Like I said.
Oh yeah…
Do not use
hesitation fillers.
 Personal Pronouns ( examples: I, We, You, He, She)
Incorrect
Correct
I think this is a great plan.
You put the egg into the batter.
We used two methods to
solve the problem.
The plan is great.
The egg is put into the batter.
Two methods were used to
solve the problem.
 Informal / Imprecise Words or Slang
Incorrect
Correct
lots of
cause; cuz
big
things
messed up
crappy
like
gonna
many
because
large
reasons; problems
damaged; broken
unsuitable; inadequate
such as
going to
Name: ________________________________________________ Per. _____ Date: 2-26-14
FORMAL AND INFORMAL WRITING EXERCISES.
Directions: The following sentences are a mixture of formal and informal sentences. For each of the sentences,
do the following: A) Identify whether it is a formal or informal sentence. B) If the sentence is informal, rewrite it as a
formal sentence. (For extra credit: If a sentence is formal, rewrite it as an informal sentence.)
Example: 1. It’s like, you know, the best car to drive.
Type of sentence: INFORMAL
Revision: It is the best car to drive.
1. Um, I’ve got this dog that is really messed up.
Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2. I wonder why he put up with those terrible conditions for so long
Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
3. There are a number of reasons why the boxes need to be reorganized.
Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Hey, why did those kids split when the cops showed up?
Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
5. You’ve got to put the laptop on top of the table.
Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
6. The police officer on duty accidentally shot a bystander.
Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Restaurants will not be allowed to open unless they pass an inspection. Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Oh, yeah, they got your report yesterday.
Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
9. I filed a report with the police department.
Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
10. The students were going to ditch school tomorrow.
Type of sentence: _____________
Revision:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
(Hint: Only three of the sentences are formal.)