Nội dung lý thuyết
I use text message every day.
I sometimes use social media.
I never use letter phone.
WRITING SKILLS: Formal and Informal Writing
Letters and emails are classified into 2 styles: formal and informal. The tone of your letter or email depends on who you are writing to and how well you know them.
| Formal Writing | Informal Writing | |
| When to use | - Writing to people we don't know (e.g., an employer) - In business and professional situations | - Writing to people we know well (e.g., our friends, our family members) - In personal situations |
| How to write | - Using full sentences and special expressions: Dear Mr. Smith, I am writing to apply for the scholarship of..., Please see my attached high school transcription. Dear Sir/Madam, | - Using shorter sentences and contracted forms Hi! I'm having a party. Want to come? Love, |
Formal and informal writing are two different types of tone for either serious or casual language. Generally, formal writing is used for serious topics and readers that you don’t know very well, which is why it’s common in business and journalism. By contrast, informal writing is more relaxed and used for writing with friends or light-hearted conversations with anyone you’re familiar with.
Similar to tone as a whole, formal and informal writing are determined by the language you use. Things like:
Although context is important in deciding whether to use formal or informal writing, the message itself can be written in any style based on your writing choices. That’s why it’s crucial to learn the difference so you don’t write too formally or too informally in the wrong situation.
Formal writing is direct, thorough, and respectful. It is used for matters of importance, such as in business, journalism, legal affairs, medical diagnoses, and academic writing. Formal writing is used to show respect for a topic or a reader, which is why it’s often used when addressing a stranger. For example, formal emails are common when applying for jobs or completing business deals online.
You can identify formal writing because it sounds “official,” using the proper names of things and avoiding slang. Formal writing is also purposefully thorough and doesn’t use shortcuts, such as contractions or sometimes even pronouns.
Formal writing is often criticized for being bland and stilted, with long words and longer sentences. This isn’t a requirement, though; formal writing focuses on clarity and accuracy. If you can write formally and keep your message short, your readers will be happy.
Informal writing is casual, relaxed, and conversational. It’s used to communicate with friends or people you’re familiar with, but it can also be used to affect that relationship, as with persuasive writing or advertising.
Informal writing mimics how friends talk in person, drawing on speech communication tools like slang, contractions, and abbreviations, as well as idioms and colloquialisms (e.g., barking up the wrong tree).
Topics can also include personal opinions or emotions, both of which can be inappropriate in formal writing.
Unlike formal writing, informal writing is free to be more creative and expressive. Unique personal styles are welcome, and there are fewer restrictions about straying off-topic. Emoji and internet slang are common in informal writing but discouraged in formal writing as they detract from the solemn tone.