PRESENTED BY: GROUP 5

PRESENTED BY: GROUP 5

• Formalwriting is used for academic, business, legal or
professional purposes.
• Formalwriting is used when we do not have any idea of the
person, or when we know the person but haven’t exchanged
words, or we are not having familiar terms with the person
who receives the letter which indicates dignified and
deferential regard for the reader.
1. Complex
2. Objective
3. Full works
4. Third Person
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 (SMS, PNP for example).
4. 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).
• Informal writing is used for personal and casual
conversation, wherein friendly and colloquial language is
used.
• Informalwriting used when writing personal emails, text
messages, letters to friends and family etc.
• Ininformal writing, personal and emotional tone is used,
and the reader is directly referred by the words ‘you’ or
‘your’.
1. Colloquial
2. Simple
3. Contractions and Abbreviations
4. Empathy and Emotion
1. 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).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Empathy and Emotion – The author can show empathy
towards the reader regarding the complexity of a thought
and help them through that complexity.
 Formal Writing Style
The tone is polite, but impersonal
Avoids using contractions and slang
Avoids using abbreviations
Maintains a serious tone
Uses proper punctuation and capitalization
Avoids using first and second person pronouns (I, you, we,
and me). Often uses “one” or “the reader” instead.
Sentence structure tends to be varied and includes
lengthy and complex sentences
Word choice tends to be precise or technical
Found most often in scholarly books and articles, technical Found most often in personal e-mail and in some business
reports, research papers, and legal documents
Informal Writing Style
The tone is more personal
Freely uses contractions and slang
Freely uses abbreviations
May use humor or more casual tone
Uses proper punctuation and capitalization
Freely uses first and second person pronouns
Sentence structure tends to be shorter; writing
approximates the structure and rhythm of spoken English
Word choice may be more vague; colloquial phrases may
be used
correspondence, nonfiction books of general interest, and
mass-circulation magazines
 Formal Writing Style Informal Writing Style
The tone is polite, but impersonal The tone is more personal

Examples:
Formal
• To Whom it May Concern,
• Many people enjoy amusement parks.
• Studies show many people spend too much time on the computer.

Informal
• Dear Grandma,
• You like amusement parks, right?
• Do you spend too much time on the computer like many people do?
 Formal Writing Style Informal Writing Style
Avoids using contractions and slang Freely uses contractions and slang

Examples:
Formal
• It is important to do homework.
• Going to an amusement park was a thrilling experience.
• It does not take a genius to figure this out.

Informal
• It’s important to do homework.
• Going to an amusement park was cool!
• It doesn’t take a genius to get this.
 Formal Writing Style Informal Writing Style
Maintains a serious tone May use humor or more casual tone

Examples:
Formal
• Thank you for sending the package. It was a thoughtful thing to do.
• A person should want others to take time to read what they write.

Informal
• Thanks for the package. It was thoughtful of you.
• Who would be crazy enough to write something that nobody reads?
 Formal Writing Style Informal Writing Style
Avoids using first and second person pronouns (I, you, we, Freely uses first and second person pronouns
and me). Often uses “one” or “the reader” instead.

Examples:
Formal
• When one is preparing to cook, washing one’s hands should be step one.
• The author advises the reader not to judge a book by its cover.

Informal
• When you are preparing to cook, wash your hands first.
• I think that you should not judge a book by its cover.
 Formal Writing Style Informal Writing Style
Sentence structure tends to be varied and includes Sentence structure tends to be shorter; writing
lengthy and complex sentences approximates the structure and rhythm of spoken English

Examples:
Formal
The lunch served in the cafeteria today was not very appetizing. The food was over cooked, smelled
terrible, and tasted awful. Instead of serving students substandard food, the school should look into
bringing in food from a caterer or local restaurant if at all possible.

Informal
Lunch in the cafeteria today was nasty. It looked, smelled, and tasted bad. The school shouldn’t
serve nasty food like that. They should bring in food from a restaurant or something.
 Formal Writing Style Informal Writing Style
Word choice tends to be precise or technical Word choice may be more vague; colloquial phrases may
be used

Examples:
Formal
The lunch served in the cafeteria today was not very appetizing. The food was over cooked,
smelled terrible, and tasted awful. Instead of serving students substandard food, the school should
look into bringing in food from a caterer or local restaurant if at all possible.

Informal
Lunch in the cafeteria today was nasty. It looked, smelled, and tasted bad. The school shouldn’t
serve nasty food like that. They should bring in food from a restaurant or something.