Using Formal
and Informal
Language
Appropriately
Art Imitates Life
• In writing, formal and informal
language work in a similar way… to
influence tone, which, in turn, speaks
to your audience.
Tone
Tone is defined as the
writer’s attitude toward the
subject matter and his or
her readers.
Audience
The audience is your
reader or listener– the
recipient of your verbal or
written communication.
Diction
• Diction is word choice
• Word choice is important in establishing
tone
• Three levels of diction:
– 1. high or formal diction
– 2. neutral diction
– 3. informal or low diction
Characteristic of Formal
and Informal Language
Formal
Informal
serious
objective
impersonal
reasoned
controlled
reserved
light
humorous
personal
casual
offhanded
"loose"
plainspoken
simple
Why does it even matter?
• Official or serious situations are often signaled
by the use of formal language, while ordinary or
relaxed situations are signaled by the use of
informal language.
– What determines formal or informal:
• public versus private occasion,
• The size of the audience,
• The relationship of the speaker/writer with the audience,
• The ability to vary your language according to
the situation is often considered a mark of an
educated person.
Certain Situations
Formal Situations
Informal Situations
job interview
principal’s office visit
business letter
class essay
text message
friendly letter
“locker” conversation
Journal-style writing
What makes INFORMAL
language?
• Simple grammatical structure
• Personal evaluation
– Using first person
– Using forms of “you”
• Colloquial or slang
vocabulary
– Contractions are considered
slang
What makes FORMAL
language?
• Formal language, even when
spoken, is often associated with
the conventions expected of
written standard English.
• Although you generally don’t
worry as much about formality in
speaking, it is extremely
important in writing because of
the knowledge you are recording
through the written word.
Continued on next slide…
Remember… when you are speaking,
writing
or analyzing
language in a
What
makes
formal
formal
situation…
language (continued)?
• Formal language does not use contractions
• Avoids personal pronouns such as: you, I, us,
me, and we
• Includes more polysyllabic words—BIGGER
words
• Complex, complete sentences
• Avoidance of colloquial or slang vocabulary
Remember… when you are speaking,
writing
analyzing
What
tooravoid
inlanguage
formalin a
formal
situation…
writing…
•
•
•
•
Exclamation marks
Needless words like “well” and “you know”
First and second person point of view
Beginning sentences with coordinating
conjunctions
• Too many short, choppy sentences that
could be combined to make more complex
sentence structures
What to avoid in formal
writing…
• Avoid most shortenings in formal writing. In
formal English, you talk on the “telephone,” not
the “phone”
• Know what acronyms may be used in your
writing. In formal English, you should limit your
use of acronyms, abbreviations making use of
letters that stand for certain words
• Similarly, limit your use of absolute terms, such
as "everybody," "always," "never"
• Avoid cliché’s and colloquialisms
Common Colloquialisms and
Informal Words
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A lot, alot
Ain't
Alright, all right
Anyways
Anybody, anyone
As
Big, large great
Buy
Contraption
Could of, would of, should
of
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cute
Fellow
For sure
Get, obtain
Get, understand
Gonna, wanna
Got
How come
How do you do
Humongous
Kid
Common Colloquialisms and
Informal Words Continued
• Kinda, kind of, sorta, sort
of
• Let
• Like
• Most
• On the other hand
• Pretty
• Real, really
• Shall, will, should, would
•
•
•
•
•
•
So
Thus, thusly
Until, till, ‘til
Use
Use to
Yeah
Formal or Informal?
After reading The Red Badge
of Courage, it is easy for you
to see Crane’s purpose in
telling the story.
Formal or Informal?
Native American literature is
rich in cultural information
and poetic language.
Formal or Informal?
Native American literature
isn’t rich in Puritain
characteristics.
Formal or Informal?
Native American Literature
is oral. It is passed down by
word of mouth.
Formal or Informal?
Everybody knows that
Snickers is the best candy
bar.
Formal or Informal?
The field trip participants will
meet at the A-Town WalMart.
References
“Formal/informal language.” 15 October
2008 <http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/
SESLL/EngLang/LILT/forminf.htm>.
“How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing.” 16
October 2008
<http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page>.
“Tone: A Matter of Attitude.” Capital
Community College. 2006. 15 October
2008 <http://grammar.ccc.commnet.
edu/grammar/composition/tone.htm>.
Homework
• Answer the following prompt:
– Both Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. wrote their speeches for the same
purpose. Identify the purpose and trace the
argument in BOTH speeches to determine
how each author achieves his purpose?
• Use your comparison chart for examples and help
• Due: Monday, Dec. 8th