Informal writing is characterized by a relaxed, conversational style, often used in personal communication and casual contexts. Here are 20 features of informal writing with examples:
1. Contractions: Using shortened forms of words.
- Example: "I can't believe it's already Friday."
2. Colloquial language: Using everyday spoken language.
- Example: "I'm gonna head out now."
3. Slang: Using informal, often trendy words.
- Example: "That party was lit!"
4. Acronyms and abbreviations: Shortened forms of words or phrases.
- Example: "LOL, that was hilarious!"
5. First-person perspective: Writing from the writer's point of view.
- Example: "I think it's a great idea."
6. Second-person perspective: Directly addressing the reader.
- Example: "You should totally check it out."
7. Short sentences and fragments: Using incomplete sentences for effect.
- Example: "No way! That's awesome."
8. Simple vocabulary: Using basic, everyday words.
- Example: "The weather is nice today."
9. Informal punctuation: Casual use of punctuation marks.
- Example: "Well... I guess we'll see."
10. Exclamations: Using exclamation points for emphasis.
- Example: "Watch out!"
11. Questions: Rhetorical or direct questions to engage the reader.
- Example: "Can you believe it?"
12. Ellipses: Indicating a pause or unfinished thought.
- Example: "I'm not sure... maybe we should wait."
13. Emojis and emoticons: Using symbols to convey emotions.
- Example: "See you soon 😊"
14. Interjections: Using words to express emotion.
- Example: "Wow! That was fast."
15. Casual tone: Maintaining a friendly and relaxed style.
- Example: "Hey, what’s up?"
16. Informal spelling and grammar: Relaxed rules for spelling and grammar.
- Example: "C u l8r."
17. Personal anecdotes: Sharing personal stories or experiences.
- Example: "So, the other day I went to the store..."
18. Hyperbole: Exaggerated statements for effect.
- Example: "I've told you a million times."
19. Repetition for emphasis: Repeating words or phrases for impact.
- Example: "It was so, so good!"
20. Parataxis: Placing clauses or phrases one after another without conjunctions.
- Example: "I came, I saw, I conquered."
Here are six examples for each feature of informal writing, paired with their formal equivalents:
1. Contractions
- Informal: I can't wait.
- Formal: I cannot wait.
- Informal: It's time to go.
- Formal: It is time to go.
- Informal: They're coming over.
- Formal: They are coming over.
- Informal: We're on our way.
- Formal: We are on our way.
- Informal: She won't agree.
- Formal: She will not agree.
- Informal: I'd like some help.
- Formal: I would like some help.
2. Colloquial language
- Informal: I'm gonna do it.
- Formal: I am going to do it.
- Informal: Wanna join us?
- Formal: Would you like to join us?
- Informal: Gotta go now.
- Formal: I have to go now.
- Informal: Kids these days...
- Formal: Young people these days...
- Informal: Y'all come back now.
- Formal: You all come back now.
- Informal: How's it going?
- Formal: How are you doing?
3. Slang
- Informal: That was dope.
- Formal: That was excellent.
- Informal: She is really cool.
- Formal: She is very pleasant.
- Informal: I'm totally bummed.
- Formal: I am very disappointed.
- Informal: This party is sick!
- Formal: This party is amazing.
- Informal: That movie was a flop.
- Formal: That movie was unsuccessful.
- Informal: He's such a bro.
- Formal: He is very friendly.
4. Acronyms and abbreviations
- Informal: LOL, that's funny.
- Formal: That is very funny.
- Informal: FYI, the meeting is at 10.
- Formal: For your information, the meeting is at 10.
- Informal: ASAP, please.
- Formal: As soon as possible, please.
- Informal: BRB, gotta run.
- Formal: I will be right back; I have to go.
- Informal: RSVP by Friday.
- Formal: Please respond by Friday.
- Informal: TBD on the details.
- Formal: The details are to be determined.
5. First-person perspective
- Informal: I think it's great.
- Formal: It is considered great.
- Informal: I believe we should go.
- Formal: It is believed that we should go.
- Informal: I noticed the issue.
- Formal: The issue was noticed.
- Informal: I feel it's important.
- Formal: It is felt that it is important.
- Informal: I suggest a break.
- Formal: A break is suggested.
- Informal: I recommend this book.
- Formal: This book is recommended.
6. Second-person perspective
- Informal: You need to check this out.
- Formal: This should be checked out.
- Informal: You will love it.
- Formal: It will be loved.
- Informal: Can you believe that?
- Formal: Can it be believed?
- Informal: You should try it.
- Formal: It should be tried.
- Informal: Are you ready?
- Formal: Is one ready?
- Informal: Did you see that?
- Formal: Was that seen?
7. Short sentences and fragments
- Informal: No way!
- Formal: That is not possible.
- Informal: Too late.
- Formal: It is too late.
- Informal: Really amazing.
- Formal: It is truly amazing.
- Informal: Right now.
- Formal: At this moment.
- Informal: Very cool.
- Formal: It is very impressive.
- Informal: Not a chance.
- Formal: There is no chance.
8. Simple vocabulary
- Informal: The test was hard.
- Formal: The examination was difficult.
- Informal: He is a nice guy.
- Formal: He is a pleasant person.
- Informal: The weather is good.
- Formal: The weather is favorable.
- Informal: I feel bad.
- Formal: I feel unwell.
- Informal: She's happy.
- Formal: She is content.
- Informal: This is fun.
- Formal: This is enjoyable.
9. Informal punctuation
- Informal: Well... let's see.
- Formal: Well, let us see.
- Informal: Hmm, I don't know.
- Formal: I am uncertain.
- Informal: So... what now?
- Formal: So, what now?
- Informal: Um, maybe.
- Formal: Perhaps.
- Informal: Wow, really?
- Formal: That is surprising.
- Informal: Oops! Sorry.
- Formal: I apologize for the mistake.
10. Exclamations
- Informal: Watch out!
- Formal: Please be careful.
- Informal: Awesome!
- Formal: That is excellent.
- Informal: Unbelievable!
- Formal: That is incredible.
- Informal: Amazing!
- Formal: That is remarkable.
- Informal: Great job!
- Formal: Well done.
- Informal: Oh no!
- Formal: That is unfortunate.
11. Questions
- Informal: Can you believe it?
- Formal: Is it believable?
- Informal: What’s up?
- Formal: How are you?
- Informal: Who would’ve thought?
- Formal: Who would have thought?
- Informal: Why not?
- Formal: Why should it not be considered?
- Informal: How come?
- Formal: Why is that?
- Informal: What’s new?
- Formal: What is new?
12. Ellipses
- Informal: Maybe... I don't know.
- Formal: Perhaps, I do not know.
- Informal: I guess... we'll see.
- Formal: I suppose we will see.
- Informal: It's possible... but not certain.
- Formal: It is possible but not certain.
- Informal: Well... alright then.
- Formal: Well, alright then.
- Informal: I thought... never mind.
- Formal: I thought, but never mind.
- Informal: So... what next?
- Formal: So, what is next?
13. Emojis and emoticons
- Informal: Great job! 😊
- Formal: Excellent work.
- Informal: I'm confused. 🤔
- Formal: I am confused.
- Informal: Thank you! 🙏
- Formal: Thank you.
- Informal: Let's meet at 6 pm. 🕕
- Formal: Let us meet at 6 pm.
- Informal: That's so funny! 😂
- Formal: That is very funny.
- Informal: I'm tired. 😴
- Formal: I am tired.
14. Interjections
- Informal: Wow, that's cool!
- Formal: That is impressive.
- Informal: Oops, my bad.
- Formal: I apologize for my mistake.
- Informal: Hey, what’s up?
- Formal: Hello, how are you?
- Informal: Ugh, this is annoying.
- Formal: This is frustrating.
- Informal: Yay, we did it!
- Formal: We have achieved it.
- Informal: Ouch, that hurt.
- Formal: That was painful.
15. Casual tone
- Informal: Hey, how’s it going?
- Formal: Hello, how are you?
- Informal: That sounds good.
- Formal: That sounds acceptable.
- Informal: I’m kinda tired.
- Formal: I am somewhat tired.
- Informal: Thanks for your help.
- Formal: Thank you for your assistance.
- Informal: See you later.
- Formal: I will see you later.
- Informal: Let’s get started.
- Formal: Let us begin.
16. Informal spelling and grammar
- Informal: Gotta go now.
- Formal: I have to go now.
- Informal: Lemme know.
- Formal: Let me know.
- Informal: Dunno what to do.
- Formal: I do not know what to do.
- Informal: Gonna be late.
- Formal: I am going to be late.
- Informal: Wanna hang out?
- Formal: Would you like to spend time together?
- Informal: K, see you.
- Formal: Okay, I will see you.
17. Personal anecdotes
- Informal: So, the other day I went to the store...
- Formal: Recently, I visited the store.
- Informal: I remember when I was a kid...
- Formal: I recall my childhood.
- Informal: Last weekend, we had a blast.
Sure, continuing with the rest:
17. Personal anecdotes (continued)
- Informal: Last weekend, we had a blast.
- Formal: Last weekend, we enjoyed ourselves greatly.
- Informal: I once tried to fix it myself.
- Formal: On one occasion, I attempted to repair it independently.
- Informal: Back in college, we used to have fun all the time.
- Formal: During my college years, we frequently engaged in enjoyable activities.
- Informal: One time, I got lost in the city.
- Formal: On one occasion, I became disoriented in the city.
- Informal: When I was a teenager, I loved skateboarding.
- Formal: During my teenage years, I greatly enjoyed skateboarding.
18. Hyperbole
- Informal: I’ve told you a million times.
- Formal: I have told you several times.
- Informal: This is the best day ever!
- Formal: This is an exceptionally good day.
- Informal: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
- Formal: I am extremely hungry.
- Informal: She’s always late.
- Formal: She is frequently late.
- Informal: This weighs a ton.
- Formal: This is very heavy.
- Informal: I’ve been waiting forever.
- Formal: I have been waiting for a very long time.
19. Repetition for emphasis
- Informal: It was so, so good!
- Formal: It was exceptionally good.
- Informal: This is very, very important.
- Formal: This is extremely important.
- Informal: I’m really, really tired.
- Formal: I am extremely tired.
- Informal: The food was super, super delicious.
- Formal: The food was exceptionally delicious.
- Informal: I miss you so, so much.
- Formal: I miss you greatly.
- Informal: He’s really, really nice.
- Formal: He is very nice.
20. Parataxis
- Informal: I came, I saw, I conquered.
- Formal: I came, observed, and succeeded.
- Informal: She laughed, she cried, she left.
- Formal: She laughed, cried, and then left.
- Informal: We met, we talked, we left.
- Formal: We met, conversed, and departed.
- Informal: He ran, he jumped, he cheered.
- Formal: He ran, jumped, and cheered.
- Informal: I cooked, I cleaned, I relaxed.
- Formal: I cooked, cleaned, and then relaxed.
- Informal: She studied, she passed, she graduated.
- Formal: She studied, passed, and graduated.
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