Formal & Informal Language MENUEXIT The language you use in a piece of writing will affect how your readers respond. Formal language is serious and dignified. Informal language is more like everyday speech. Continue…
MENUEXIT Which of these sentences would you expect to find in an essay written for your teacher? Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance, wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. People really liked all the stuff Zora Neale Hurston wrote. She didn’t make a lot of money though. In fact, she was broke when she died. PREVIOUS The language you use in a piece of writing will affect how your readers respond. Formal language is serious and dignified. Informal language is more like everyday speech. Click to see the answer Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Which of these sentences would you expect to find in an essay written for your teacher? Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance, wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. People really liked all the stuff Zora Neale Hurston wrote. She didn’t make a lot of money though. In fact, she was broke when she died. PREVIOUS The language you use in a piece of writing will affect how your readers respond. Formal language is serious and dignified. Informal language is more like everyday speech. i i Next Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Which of these sentences would you expect to find in an essay written for your teacher? Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance, wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. People really liked all the stuff Zora Neale Hurston wrote. She didn’t make a lot of money though. In fact, she was broke when she died. The language you use in a piece of writing will affect how your readers respond. Formal language is serious and dignified. Informal language is more like everyday speech. i This statement uses formal language and a clear explanation. It is appropriate for an expository essay that will be turned in to a teacher. CLOSE Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Which of these sentences would you expect to find in an essay written for your teacher? Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance, wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. People really liked all the stuff Zora Neale Hurston wrote. She didn’t make a lot of money though. In fact, she was broke when she died. The language you use in a piece of writing will affect how your readers respond. Formal language is serious and dignified. Informal language is more like everyday speech. i The slang, contractions, and informal language make this statement inappropriate for a serious expository essay. CLOSE Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Understanding formal and informal language will help you become a more effective writer. Click on the type of language you want to explore. Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Understanding formal and informal language will help you become a more effective writer. Click on the type of language you want to explore. MENU Formal & Informal Language Formal Language Informal Language
MENUEXIT Formal Language Use formal language for research papers, essays, school assignments, business letters, applications, and any situation where you have a serious purpose. Continue… Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Formal Language Use formal language for research papers, essays, school assignments, business letters, applications, and any situation where you have a serious purpose. PREVIOUS Formal language contains complex sentence structures sophisticated vocabulary standard punctuation no contractions no slang Next Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS What elements of formal language do you see in this model? complex sentence structures sophisticated vocabulary standard punctuation For more than 70 years, the solar system was described as having nine planets. Then, in a revolutionary moment in 2006, the International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto, the erratic and mysterious ninth planet, was in fact not a true planet at all. The scientists created a new category for it as a dwarf planet. Formal Language Formal & Informal Language Click to see the complex sentence structures
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS What elements of formal language do you see in this model? complex sentence structures sophisticated vocabulary standard punctuation For more than 70 years, the solar system was described as having nine planets. Then, in a revolutionary moment in 2006, the International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto, the erratic and mysterious ninth planet, was in fact not a true planet at all. The scientists created a new category for it as a dwarf planet. Formal Language Formal & Informal Language Click to see the sophisticated vocabulary i
MENUEXIT What elements of formal language do you see in this model? complex sentence structures sophisticated vocabulary standard punctuation For more than 70 years, the solar system was described as having nine planets. Then, in a revolutionary moment in 2006, the International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto, the erratic and mysterious ninth planet, was in fact not a true planet at all. The scientists created a new category for it as a dwarf planet. Formal Language Formal & Informal Language i Note that one sentence contains an introductory phrase, and the other contains a prepositional phrase and an appositive phrase. CLOSE
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS complex sentence structures sophisticated vocabulary standard punctuation For more than 70 years, the solar system was described as having nine planets. Then, in a revolutionary moment in 2006, the International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto, the erratic and mysterious ninth planet, was in fact not a true planet at all. The scientists created a new category for it as a dwarf planet. Click to see the standard punctuation Formal Language What elements of formal language do you see in this model? Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS complex sentence structures sophisticated vocabulary standard punctuation Next Formal Language What elements of formal language do you see in this model? Formal & Informal Language For more than 70 years, the solar system was described as having nine planets. Then, in a revolutionary moment in 2006, the International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto, the erratic and mysterious ninth planet, was in fact not a true planet at all. The scientists created a new category for it as a dwarf planet.
MENUEXIT Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you decide whether or not you need to use formal language. Continue… PREVIOUS Formal Language Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you decide whether or not you need to use formal language. PREVIOUS If your purpose is to persuade, and you are writing a letter addressed to the school board to be published in the school newspaper, how would you revise this sentence? It’s really lousy that we can’t leave school during lunch. Some kids like to grab a sandwich at the deli and hang out at the park. Click to see a revision Formal Language Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you decide whether or not you need to use formal language. PREVIOUS The slang expressions, lousy, kids, grab, and hang out, should not be used when addressing either the school board or the newspaper audience. It’s really lousy that we can’t leave school during lunch. Some kids like to grab a sandwich at the deli and hang out at the park. ORIGINAL Students are unhappy that they cannot leave school during lunch. Some students like to pick up a sandwich at the deli and relax at the park REVISED Menu Formal Language Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Informal Language Use informal language for communications with friends, for humorous essays, for dialogue, and for other situations when your purpose is casual. Continue… PREVIOUS Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Informal Language Use informal language for communications with friends, for humorous essays, for dialogue, and for other situations when your purpose is casual. PREVIOUS Informal language contains everyday words and expressions contractions fragments and simple sentences slang Next Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS What elements of informal language do you see in this model? everyday words and expressions contractions fragments and simple sentences slang Hey Jevon, Can’t wait to get home and see you Saturday. This swim camp is cool, but it’s starting to get old. Coach is killing us with practice—at 6 a.m.!! Love Florida, though. See you soon. Lots more to tell you. Andy Click to see the everyday words and expressions Informal Language Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS What elements of informal language do you see in this model? everyday words and expressions contractions fragments and simple sentences slang Hey Jevon, Can’t wait to get home and see you Saturday. This swim camp is cool, but it’s starting to get old. Coach is killing us with practice—at 6 a.m.!! Love Florida, though. See you soon. Lots more to tell you. Andy Click to see the contractions Informal Language Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS everyday words and expressions contractions fragments and simple sentences slang Hey Jevon, Can’t wait to get home and see you Saturday. This swim camp is cool, but it’s starting to get old. Coach is killing us with practice—at 6 a.m.!! Love Florida, though. See you soon. Lots more to tell you. Andy Click to see the fragments and simple sentences Informal Language What elements of informal language do you see in this model? Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS everyday words and expressions contractions fragments and simple sentences slang Hey Jevon, Can’t wait to get home and see you Saturday. This swim camp is cool, but it’s starting to get old. Coach is killing us with practice—at 6 a.m.!! Love Florida, though. See you soon. Lots more to tell you. Andy Click to see the slang Informal Language What elements of informal language do you see in this model? Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS everyday words and expressions contractions fragments and simple sentences slang Hey Jevon, Can’t wait to get home and see you Saturday. This swim camp is cool, but it’s starting to get old. Coach is killing us with practice—at 6 a.m.!! Love Florida, though. See you soon. Lots more to tell you. Andy Next Informal Language What elements of informal language do you see in this model? Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you choose whether or not to use informal language. Continue… PREVIOUS Informal Language Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you choose whether or not to use informal language. PREVIOUS If your purpose is to send an asking a friend to a concert, how would you revise the following? Let’s go to the Weird Cats concert on Friday night. I heard that they are really a distinguished group.. Click to see a revision Informal Language Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you choose whether or not to use informal language. PREVIOUS The words “a distinguished group” are too formal. Let’s go to the Weird Cats concert on Friday night. I heard that they are really a distinguished group. Informal Language Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS Let’s go to the Weird Cats concert on Friday night. I heard that they are really a distinguished group. Informal Language Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you choose whether or not to use informal language. The words “a distinguished group” are too formal. Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS Let’s go to the Weird Cats concert on Friday night. I heard that they are really a distinguished group. Informal Language Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you choose whether or not to use informal language. The words “a distinguished group” are too formal. Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS Let’s go to the Weird Cats concert on Friday night. I heard that they are really a distinguished group. Informal Language Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you choose whether or not to use informal language. The words “a distinguished group” are too formal. Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS Let’s go to the Weird Cats concert on Friday night. I heard that they are really sensational. Informal Language Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you choose whether or not to use informal language. The words “a distinguished group” are too formal. Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS Let’s go to the Weird Cats concert on Friday night. I heard that they are really sensational. Informal Language Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you choose whether or not to use informal language. The words “a distinguished group” are too formal. Formal & Informal Language
MENUEXIT PREVIOUS Let’s go to the Weird Cats concert on Friday night. I heard that they are really sensational. Menu Informal Language Identifying whom you are writing for and your purpose for writing will help you choose whether or not to use informal language. The words “a distinguished group” are too formal. Formal & Informal Language