The Art of Balancing Informal and Formal Words in Your Writing

The Art of Balancing Informal and Formal Words in Your Writing

Writing effectively involves finding the right balance between informal and formal writing styles. Writing can often be tricky, especially when it comes to identifying the appropriate tone, style and language for your audience. Which is why it is important to master the art of balancing formal and informal language.

The Importance of Finding the Right Balance

The appropriate level of formality in your writing varies depending on several factors such as your audience, the purpose of the writing, the topic, and the medium. For instance, formal language is suitable for legal documents, academic papers, business reports, and professional correspondence. But, informal language is suitable for personal communications, blog posts, comments, and social media updates. Finding the right balance is essential, as it can affect the way your readers perceive your message.

How to Balance Informal and Formal Language

If you are unsure which style to use, there are several things you can do to strike the right balance:

• Identify Your Audience and Purpose: Determine the level of formality that’s suitable for your audience and message.
• Use Active Voice: Using active voice in your writing helps create clarity and brevity, which engages the reader effectively.
• Avoid Slang and Jargon: Too much slang and jargon can easily make your writing informal, making it an unsuitable choice for formal writing.
• Know the appropriate level of Vocabulary: Using big words in informal writing can make the writing sound unnatural, likewise, using casual words like “I ain’t” in a formal document detracts from the writer’s authority.
• Read your writing out loud: Reading your writing out loud helps identify errors, typos, and areas that need improvement.

Examples of Balancing Formal and Informal Language

Here are a few examples of sentences that are too formal, informal, and balanced:

• Too Formal: It is imperative that you arrive at the meeting venue at half-past nine in the morning.
• Too Informal: U need to b here at 9:30 am.
• Balanced: Kindly be present at the meeting venue by 9:30 am.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of balancing formal and informal language is essential for any writer. Writing in an appropriate tone, style and language helps in conveying your message effectively to your intended audience. While balancing formal and informal language can be a challenge, it can be tackled by following the tips outlined here. The key is to identify your audience, purpose, and medium. Strike a balance between formal and informal language to create effective writing that is easy to understand, and engaging to read.