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
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
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
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
Example
Case 1: Inconsistency
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
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.