Formal Writing vs. Informal Writing

Key Differences


Comparison Chart
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Contractions and Slangs
Abbreviations
Sentence Structure

Words Choice
Author’s viewpoint
Tone
Formal Writing vs. Informal Writing
There are two main styles of writing in English. These are, formal and informal. These two specific styles are distinguished to classify the writing accurately to get fixed in any particular context. The Formal writing style addresses in a way with no warm feelings or frankness. Informal writing is comparatively spontaneous and casual. The tone of formal writing is not personal or expressive. The tone of informal writing is more personal than formal language. It is a general way of writing, used when one is writing to closed ones. Formal writing is explicitly stated and appears in the first or second paragraph of the essay. Informal writing is not stated explicitly and is likely to appear anywhere in an article. Formal writing adopts a complex sentence structure. Informal writing takes a simple sentence structure. The target audience of formal writing is teacher, boss, head or any higher authority with whom you have no openness. The target audience of informal language is friends, siblings, etc. This writing contains text messages, personal emails, etc. Their difference lies in the art of writing, selection of words, tone, syntax, and vocabulary. All of them changes with the change in the occasion and the situation.
What is Formal Writing?
Formal Writing is the style of writing which is distinguished from the daily casual and careless use of language. It is formal, specific and to the point. It avoids certain things: colloquial words and expressions (wanna, gonna, etc.), contractions (“it’s” for “it is”), objectivity (I think, I believe). e.g., academic essays, official letters, applications, reports, and job interview, etc.
What is Informal Writing?
Informal Writing is the style of writing which do not restrict the writer and speaker in any way. It is instead a carefree and conventional method of writing. It addresses directly to the audience by the use of colloquial words and expressions (guy, kiddo, superb, etc.), clichés (loads of, use many, etc.), abbreviated words (TV, ASAP, etc.) and second person pronoun (you, your, etc.). e.g, writing for personal use, writing in a blog, dialogues, and conversation, etc.