Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Formal Informal Neutral
Formal Informal Neutral
Formal
Informal
Neutral
We use different language registers for different types of writing, just as we speak differently to different
people. You would not speak to the President of the United States the same way you would talk
to your brothers.
The formal register is more appropriate for professional writing and letters to a boss or a stranger.
The informal register (also called casual or intimate) is conversational and appropriate when writing to
friends and people you know very well.
The neutral register is non-emotional and sticks to facts. It is most appropriate for technical writings.
In articles such as these, we tend to mix the formal and informal registers to present the information in an
easy to understand and personal tone.
Let's look closely at the three most common language registers used in the English language.
Formal writing is probably the most difficult type of writing. It is impersonal, meaning it is not written for a
specific person and is written without emotion.
There are many rules for writing in formal writing. We will discuss some of the most common rules here.
When in doubt, check the rules in an APA style guide.
Contractions are not usually used in formal writing, even though they are very common in spoken English.
Examples:
These are just a few examples of contractions. See more contractions by following the contraction link
above.
Contractions CAN be used if you are quoting someone’s exact words in your writing.
Example:
“Two-thirds of my eighth grade students can’t read at grade level,” the professor stated.
Apostrophes are also added to nouns to show ownership. These are used in all language registers,
including formal.
Examples:
children’s classroom
professor’s report
elephant’s trunk
Examples:
nineteen
twenty-two
seventy-eight
six
In formal writing, we usually do not use first person or second person unless it is a quote.
Avoid using:
I
You
We
Us
Examples:
OR
OR
Passive sentences:
Active sentences:
For example, in a rule above I wrote, “Apostrophes are also added to nouns to show ownership.”
OR
Slang is common in informal writing and spoken English. Slang is particular to a certain region or area.
Examples of slang:
awesome/cool
okay/ok
check it out
in a nutshell
Common clichés:
When using acronyms, write the entire name out the first time it appears, followed by the acronym. From
then on, you can use the acronym by itself.
Examples:
For abbreviations, write the complete word the first time, then use the abbreviation.
Examples:
Do not use slang abbreviations or symbols that you would use in friendly emails and texts.
Examples:
7. Do not start sentences with words like and, so, but, also
Here are some good transition words and phrases to use in formal writing:
Nevertheless
Additionally
However
In addition
As a result of
Although
Informal writing is written in the way we talk to our friends and family. We use informal writing when we
are writing to someone we know very well.
Personal e-mails
Phone texts
Short notes
Friendly letters
Most blogs
Diaries and journals
Figurative language
Acronyms
Incomplete sentences
Short sentences
Paragraphs or no paragraphs
Jokes
Personal opinions
We use the neutral language register with non-emotional topics and information.
Neutral writing is not necessarily formal or informal. It is not usually positive or negative. A neutral
register is used to deliver facts.
Some writings are written in a neutral register. This means they are not specifically formal or informal.
Writing in the natural language register includes:
Reviews
Articles
Some letters
Some essays
Technical writing