Which text is most formal?

Learning Objectives Identify the key linguistic features of formal and informal writing. Analyze how an author's word choice (diction) and sentence structure (syntax) contribute to a text's level of formality. Compare and contrast multiple texts to evaluate their relative formality. Explain how audience and purpose dictate the appropriate level of formality in a text. By a the end of this lesson, students will be able to articulate a clear claim about a text's formality and support it with specific textual evidence. Differentiate between a text's tone (e.g., serious, humorous) and its level of formality (e.g., formal, informal). Would you write an email to your principal the same way you'd text your best friend? 🤔 Of course not! Understanding *why*...

TermDefinitionExample FormalityThe level of adherence to standard English conventions and the degree of distance a writer maintains from the reader. It exists on a spectrum from highly formal to very informal (or colloquial).Formal: 'The investigation yielded inconclusive results.' vs. Informal: 'The search didn't really turn up anything.' AudienceThe intended reader or group of readers for a piece of writing. The audience's expectations, knowledge, and relationship to the writer heavily influence the text's formality.The audience for a scientific journal is other scientists (requiring formal language), while the audience for a personal blog is the general public (allowing for informal language). PurposeThe reason an author is writing a text—to inform, t...

The Rule of Objectivity and Point of View Formal writing typically uses the third-person point of view (he, she, it, they) to maintain an objective distance from the subject matter. Avoid using first-person pronouns like 'I think' or 'In my opinion,' and second-person pronouns like 'you' or 'your.' This creates a more authoritative and less personal tone, which is a hallmark of academic and professional writing. The Convention of Precise Diction Formal writing avoids conversational language, including slang, clichés, abbreviations, and contractions. Instead of 'a lot of,' use 'numerous' or 'a significant amount.' Instead of 'can't,' write 'cannot.' This precision demonstrates credi...