Tips for Using Informal Language in Your Writing

 

When you sit down to write, you will write certain ways without even realizing it. In other words, you inadvertently write in your own voice, which is similar to your speaking voice. Sometimes, however, this informal style causes problems, as the informal language you use could lead to misinterpretations of the information you present. In other situations, a professional voice is not needed, and you can use informal language as long as it is understood by a wide audience. To know when and how to use informal language, check out the tips below.

Know When It is Appropriate to Use Informal Language

Just like most things in life, informal writing styles and language have an appropriate time and place. You are the best judge of which type of article or story you are writing, but generally speaking, you should follow some basic rules. For example, you should only use formal language for scholarly essays (including school papers), newspaper articles, and scientific research papers. However, for anything in the creative realm, such as memoirs, blogs, and stories, it's fine for you to use informal language, especially if you are developing a particular style. Your audience and the type of information you're relaying will help you to figure out which type of writing style will work best for your needs. For instance, certain areas, like email, are murky, which can go either way depending on your audience. If you're writing to your boss, keep it professional, but if you're writing to your friend, informal language is more appropriate.

Avoid Unnecessary Roughness

Do not write in overly harsh or graphic tones unless it is specifically needed. If your writing contains too many curse words or graphic scenarios, it will set readers on edge. A violent pace creates an environment where anything goes. If that is what you are trying to do, that's fine; however, in most circumstances you will want to avoid this scenario. Instead, use these tools as mechanism to further your writing by allowing them to express dissatisfaction, increase the tension, or demonstrate someone's ill intentions. In other words, use curse words and rough language sparingly. Like any potent spice, a little goes a long way.

Keep the Slang Appropriate

Even if you are writing a creative piece, you may not want to use slang, as it can be off-putting to your audience. Unless you are writing for a niche market, editors are not likely to accept writing with slang in it. Also, if someone from a different region tries to read the piece, it will not make sense to them. The idea is to capture the feel of an area or dialect without having to rely on slang and colloquialisms. If you must use slang, make it appropriate to your audience. Here again, the key is to know who your reader is.

Read a Variety of Authors, Genres, and Styles

In order to truly understand informal language and tone, you will need a wide range of examples to pull from. To build up your internal library, you will want to read a good variety of authors, genres, and styles. By reading a variety of people, you will be able to see how different writers use language to portray different situations and invoke appropriate emotional reactions.

Do Not be Repetitive

Just because the language isn't formal does not mean that you can use the same words over and over again in your writing. When there are numerous paragraphs that seem to state the same information or can be read in the same fashion, it is difficult to distinguish them from each other. You can improve an article's readability by using a variety of words and by changing up your sentence structure. One way to make sure that you are not being too repetitive is to read your piece out loud and edit as you go.

If you are used to writing only in academic situations, using informal language can feel different and difficult to master. However, by simply going through and utilizing a few of these tips, you will be able to incorporate it into your writing. With practice, you will also be able to distinguish the two easily and use them appropriately. Most importantly, practice extensively. Writers are not made overnight, but by practicing continuously, you can learn the craft.

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