Formal

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Formal Informal Language
The language you use in a piece of writing will
affect how your readers respond. Formal language
is serious and dignified. Informal language is
more like everyday speech.
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Formal Informal Language
The language you use in a piece of writing will
affect how your readers respond. Formal language
is serious and dignified. Informal language is
more like everyday speech.
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Formal Informal Language
The language you use in a piece of writing will
affect how your readers respond. Formal language
is serious and dignified. Informal language is
more like everyday speech.
Which of these sentences would you expect to find
in a persuasive essay addressed to the school
administrator?
The parking setup at school is so stupid because
kids get crazy trying to get into the few spaces
we have. Because the student parking lot at our
school is too small, drivers create a dangerous
situation when they jostle to get a space.
i
i
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MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
The language you use in a piece of writing will
affect how your readers respond. Formal language
is serious and dignified. Informal language is
more like everyday speech.
Which of these sentences would you expect to find
in a persuasive essay addressed to the school
administrator?
The parking setup at school is so stupid because
kids get crazy trying to get into the few spaces
we have. Because the student parking lot at our
school is too small, drivers create a dangerous
situation when they jostle to get a space.
CLOSE
The slang and informal language makes this
statement inappropriate for a serious persuasive
essay.
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MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
The language you use in a piece of writing will
affect how your readers respond. Formal language
is serious and dignified. Informal language is
more like everyday speech.
Which of these sentences would you expect to find
in a persuasive essay addressed to the school
administrator?
The parking setup at school is so stupid because
kids get crazy trying to get into the few spaces
we have. Because the student parking lot at our
school is too small, drivers create a dangerous
situation when they jostle to get a space.
CLOSE
This statement uses formal language and a clear
explanation. It is appropriate for the school
administration.
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Formal Informal Language
Understanding formal and informal language will
help you become a more effective writer. Click on
the type of language you want to explore.
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Formal Informal Language
Understanding formal and informal language will
help you become a more effective writer. Click on
the type of language you want to explore.
MENU

• Formal Language

• Informal Language

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Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
Use formal language for research papers, essays,
school assignments, business letters,
applications, and any situation where you have a
serious purpose.
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Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
Use formal language for research papers, essays,
school assignments, business letters,
applications, and any situation where you have a
serious purpose.
Formal language contains

• Complex sentence structures
• Sophisticated vocabulary
• Standard punctuation
• No contractions
• No slang

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Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
What elements of formal language do you see in
this model?
complex sentence structures sophisticated
vocabulary standard punctuation
Survivors is a movie for serious horror fans
only. The special effects team, using plasticine
and robotics, created some of the most
frightening vampires on film. These vampires are
so extraordinarily realistic that the images will
linger in viewers imaginations. The fiery ending
will shock even hardened horror aficionados.
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Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
What elements of formal language do you see in
this model?
complex sentence structures sophisticated
vocabulary standard punctuation
Survivors is a movie for serious horror fans
only. The special effects team, using plasticine
and robotics, created some of the most
frightening vampires on film. These vampires are
so extraordinarily realistic that the images will
linger in viewers imaginations. The fiery ending
will shock even hardened horror aficionados.
12
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
What elements of formal language do you see in
this model?
complex sentence structures sophisticated
vocabulary standard punctuation
Survivors is a movie for serious horror fans
only. The special effects team, using plasticine
and robotics, created some of the most
frightening vampires on film. These vampires are
so extraordinarily realistic that the images will
linger in viewers imaginations. The fiery ending
will shock even hardened horror aficionados.
CLOSE
Note that one sentence contains a participial
phrase, and the other contains a subordinate
clause.
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Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
What elements of formal language do you see in
this model?
complex sentence structures sophisticated
vocabulary standard punctuation
Survivors is a movie for serious horror fans
only. The special effects team, using plasticine
and robotics, created some of the most
frightening vampires on film. These vampires are
so extraordinarily realistic that the images will
linger in viewers imaginations. The fiery ending
will shock even hardened horror aficionados.
14
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
What elements of formal language do you see in
this model?
complex sentence structures sophisticated
vocabulary standard punctuation
Survivors is a movie for serious horror fans
only. The special effects team, using plasticine
and robotics, created some of the most
frightening vampires on film. These vampires are
so extraordinarily realistic that the images will
linger in viewers imaginations. The fiery ending
will shock even hardened horror aficionados.
15
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you decide whether
or not you need to use formal language.
16
PREVIOUS
MENU
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Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you decide whether
or not you need to use formal language.
17
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Formal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you decide whether
or not you need to use formal language.
The slang expressions, Kids and creeped out,
should not be used when addressing the local
newspaper audience.
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Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Use informal language for communications with
friends, for humorous essays, for dialogue, and
for other situations when your purpose is casual.
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MENU
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Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Use informal language for communications with
friends, for humorous essays, for dialogue, and
for other situations when your purpose is casual.
Informal language contains

• Everyday words and expressions
• Contractions
• Fragments and simple sentences
• Slang

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Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
What elements of informal language do you see in
this model?
everyday words and expressions contractions fragme
nts and simple sentences slang
You gotta see Survivorsa major fright flick.
Awesome special effects!! The vampires are
straight out of your worst nightmare, and you
wont believe the ending! The vampires melt into
pools of slime. So cool!
21
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
What elements of informal language do you see in
this model?
everyday words and expressions contractions fragme
nts and simple sentences slang
You gotta see Survivorsa major fright flick.
Awesome special effects!! The vampires are
straight out of your worst nightmare, and you
wont believe the ending! The vampires melt into
pools of slime. So cool!
22
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
What elements of informal language do you see in
this model?
everyday words and expressions contractions fragme
nts and simple sentences slang
You gotta see Survivorsa major fright flick.
Awesome special effects!! The vampires are
straight out of your worst nightmare, and you
wont believe the ending! The vampires melt into
pools of slime. So cool!
23
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
What elements of informal language do you see in
this model?
everyday words and expressions contractions fragme
nts and simple sentences slang
You gotta see Survivorsa major fright flick.
Awesome special effects!! The vampires are
straight out of your worst nightmare, and you
wont believe the ending! The vampires melt into
pools of slime. So cool!
24
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
What elements of informal language do you see in
this model?
everyday words and expressions contractions fragme
nts and simple sentences slang
You gotta see Survivorsa major fright flick.
Awesome special effects!! The vampires are
straight out of your worst nightmare, and you
wont believe the ending! The vampires melt into
pools of slime. So cool!
25
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you choose whether
or not to use informal language.
26
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you choose whether
or not to use informal language.
27
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you choose whether
or not to use informal language.
The word expired is too formal.
You wont believe what happened! I was running
for the train when I slipped and fell. I nearly
expired from embarrassment.
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PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you choose whether
or not to use informal language.
The word expired is too formal.
You wont believe what happened! I was running
for the train when I slipped and fell. I nearly
expired from embarrassment.
29
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you choose whether
or not to use informal language.
The word expired is too formal.
You wont believe what happened! I was running
for the train when I slipped and fell. I nearly
expired from embarrassment.
You wont believe what happened! I was running
for the train when I slipped and fell. I nearly
expired from embarrassment.
30
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you choose whether
or not to use informal language.
The word expired is too formal.
You wont believe what happened! I was running
for the train when I slipped and fell. I nearly
expired from embarrassment.
31
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you choose whether
or not to use informal language.
The word expired is too formal.
You wont believe what happened! I was running
for the train when I slipped and fell. I nearly
expired from embarrassment.
died
32
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you choose whether
or not to use informal language.
The word expired is too formal.
You wont believe what happened! I was running
for the train when I slipped and fell. I nearly
died from embarrassment.
33
PREVIOUS
MENU
EXIT
Formal Informal Language
Informal Language
Identifying whom you are writing for and your
purpose for writing will help you choose whether
or not to use informal language.
The word expired is too formal.
You wont believe what happened! I was running
for the train when I slipped and fell. I nearly
died from embarrassment.