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Using Formal and Informal Language Appropriately

The document discusses the importance of using formal and informal language appropriately based on factors like the situation, audience, and tone. It defines formal and informal language characteristics, providing examples of word choice, sentence structure, and vocabulary that indicate each. The ability to choose formal or informal language suited to the context is considered a mark of an educated communicator.

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Alliana Denice Vicencio
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87 views22 pages

Using Formal and Informal Language Appropriately

The document discusses the importance of using formal and informal language appropriately based on factors like the situation, audience, and tone. It defines formal and informal language characteristics, providing examples of word choice, sentence structure, and vocabulary that indicate each. The ability to choose formal or informal language suited to the context is considered a mark of an educated communicator.

Uploaded by

Alliana Denice Vicencio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Using

Using Formal
and Informal
Language
Appropriately
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 light
objective humorous
impersonal personal
reasoned casual
controlled offhanded
reserved "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 text message


principal’s office visit friendly letter
business letter “locker” conversation
class essay 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,
What makes
writing formal
or analyzing language in a
language formal situation…
(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,
What tooravoid
writing inlanguage
analyzing formalin a
writing… formal situation…
• 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 • Cute
• Ain't • Fellow
• Alright, all right • For sure
• Anyways • Get, obtain
• Anybody, anyone • Get, understand
• As • Gonna, wanna
• Big, large great • Got
• Buy • How come
• Contraption • How do you do
• Could of, would of, should • Humongous
of • Kid
Common Colloquialisms and
Informal Words Continued
• Kinda, kind of, sorta, sort • So
of • Thus, thusly
• Let • Until, till, ‘til
• Like • Use
• Most • Use to
• On the other hand • Yeah
• Pretty
• Real, really
• Shall, will, should, would
Formal or Informal?

• The project will be


completed next year.

• We’ll finish this job next


year.
Formal or Informal?
• We did some experiments.
• The students conducted an
experiment.
Formal or Informal?

• The decision will be


expected at 9:00 A.M.

• You have to decide at 9:00!


Formal or Informal?

• The idea is better than mine.

• I think your idea will help solve


this problem.
Formal or Informal?

• Please place new items in


the container near the door.

• Put them by the door.


Formal or Informal?

The field trip participants will


meet at the A-Town Wal-
Mart.
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>.

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