Spectrum of Formality

As we communicate with English, we need to register our tone and linguistic impression to a certain level of formality and then be consistent throughout the content.

Getting Too Informal

Usually, we're used to using informal tone and impression to convey our messages. Informal style usually has these patterns:

Fills with silly and not serious words
With sarcasm, puns, and sometimes, slurs
Contradiction
Slang
Dialect

Getting Too Formal

We often use formal tone and impression to convey our messages in official documentations. Formal style usually has these patterns:

Very complex and grammatically correct
Absent of emotion / neutral
Straight-forward
Use of specialized verbs

Our Guideline: Straight The Balance

Between extreme informal and extreme formal, you would want to strike a balance between them for your receiver. You would want to:

Get a picture the formality you want receiver to understand
maintain the respect and perception you wish to create through your message
be consistent throughout your content.

Example

Case 1: Inconsistency

Gary Evans, the esteemed chairman of the board, is a pretty decent dude.

Gary Evans is an esteemed chairman of the board. It's a formal statement and you might want to maintain that level of respect.
"is a pretty decent dude" is an informal English slang. In this case, it reflects inconsistency. Should the receiver respects Gary Evans as a formal person or an unpredictable one?
A better version would be: Gary Evans, the esteemed chairman of the board, is a renowned philanthropist.

Case 2: Ordinary Pleasant Birthday Invite

Please join us for Little Philip's first birthday celebration! This festive occasion will include an abundance of delightful diversions in which you can partake.

Do you need that "state-level dinner" formality for a first year birthday baby celebration for your friend?
- If Little Philip is the Prince of England, all right. Fair enough.
Otherwise, you can go for a simpler version:

Please join us for Lil Philip's first birthday party! It's going to be fun: we'll have cake and games! Let's us know if you can make it.

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