Informal vs formal language

 Casual

Speaking
 1 st /2 nd Person
Pronouns:
 Examples:
◦I, me, my, you, your, our,
we


Words that are a combination of
two words.
 Examples:
 can't, doesn't, that's, they're, it’s ,
etc.
 ALL contractions need to be
separated
 Examples:
 Cannot, does not, that is, they are ,
it is, etc.





Write in the 3 rd Person



Avoid using words like “You” or “Your” or “I”



Instead, use the following words as substitutes



Examples:



"An individual..."



or "A person..."



or "People,"



and "One."




Instead of using basic adjectives
that you might use when you are

speaking with someone you are
very comfortable with--like a
friend--instead use words that
are academic and enhance the
formal tone of your paper.


**The following slides are a few examples of
Informal writing transformed into Formal
writing.
-In the ‘Informal’ Slides, you will see words highlighted
in red to show exactly what you need to avoid. –On the
“Formal” slides, you will find these same problem areas
shaded green to show how you could change these
areas.
-Also, in the ‘Informal’ slides you will see words/phrases
underlined. These are words/phrases that need to be
enhanced with better adjectives that sound more formal
—You will find these same words/phrases italicized in
the ‘Formal’ slides to show the difference in how the
example can sound.


Informal:
 I think that it's really
bad that students
have to do so much
homework all the
time.

Formal: 
 Many people,
specifically students,
feel that it is unfair that
they receive a surplus
of homework each day.


Informal:
 When

you look at bacteria through a
microscope, it might seem like
nothing, but its effects are really bad
if you're exposed to it directly.


Formal:


If an individual observes bacteria
through a microscope, one might find
that it appears harmless.  However,
individuals exposed to bacteria have
a higher likelihood of contracting the
harmful effects, such as an illness.


Informal:



When you're thinking about how to solve a geometry
problem, that's your cerebrum in action.  It doesn't
help you remember things, it also contains your
memory, both long-term and short-term.


Formal:
For instance, when a person attempts to
solve a challenging question, the cerebrum
is processing, and retrieving, the
information necessary to solve the
question.  The cerebrum does not only
store prior knowledge or information, it
also contains a person's memory, both
long and short-term.