Why an Informal Writing Style Includes Contractions, Slangs, and Abbreviations

Why an Informal Writing Style Includes Contractions, Slangs, and Abbreviations

As a writer, you may have been taught to avoid using contractions, slangs, or abbreviations in your work. The reasoning behind this is that they are considered too casual and unprofessional. However, in recent years, more and more writers have started using them in their writing, especially in informal contexts. In this article, we’ll explore why an informal writing style can include contractions, slangs, and abbreviations.

What is an Informal Writing Style?

Before we dive into the reasons why an informal writing style can include contractions, slangs, and abbreviations, it’s important to define what an informal writing style is. Informal writing style is typically used in conversations or in writing intended for entertainment or personal use. It’s characterized by a casual tone, relaxed structure and is usually more conversational in nature compared to a formal writing style.

Reasons Why Informal Writing Style Includes Contractions, Slangs, and Abbreviations

1. To Create a Conversational Tone

One of the main reasons why an informal writing style includes contractions, slangs, and abbreviations is to create a conversational tone. Contractions, in particular, help to mimic the way people talk and make the piece of writing sound more natural and less formal.

For example, instead of writing ‘do not’, using ‘don’t’ sounds more conversational. In informal writing contexts, it helps the writer establish a connection with their readers, making them feel as though they are having a conversation rather than reading a piece of written content.

2. To Save Time and Space

Using abbreviations and slangs can save time and space in written content. In communication, people generally tend to use abbreviations and slangs as a way of communicating more quickly and efficiently. In written communication, using these can have the same effect. For example, instead of writing ‘by the way’, using ‘BTW’ can save both space and time.

3. To Appeal to a Particular Audience

When writing content for a specific audience, using contractions, slangs, and abbreviations can help you to connect with them better. For example, if you are writing for a younger audience, you can use slangs, and if you are writing for people in a specific niche, you can use jargon and abbreviations.

Using these specific language elements can help you to connect with your audience and make them feel as though you understand them better.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s important to remember that the use of contractions, slangs, and abbreviations in writing can be effective, but is context-dependent. Using them in a formal context or academic writing is not appropriate. Informal writing styles that include contractions, slangs, and abbreviations can create a more engaging and relatable piece of writing. Using them strategically can help to capture your audience’s attention and make them feel more connected to your content.