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Extended Essay: Formal vs. Informal Writing

  • Extended Essay- The Basics
  • Step 1. Choose a Subject
  • Step 2. Educate yourself!
  • Using Brainstorming and Mind Maps
  • Identify Keywords
  • Do Background Reading
  • Define Your Topic
  • Conduct Research in a Specific Discipline
  • Step 5. Draft a Research Question
  • Step 6. Create a Timeline
  • Find Articles
  • Find Primary Sources
  • Get Help from Experts
  • Search Engines, Repositories, & Directories
  • Databases and Websites by Subject Area
  • Create an Annotated Bibliography
  • Advice (and Warnings) from the IB
  • Chicago Citation Syle
  • MLA Works Cited & In-Text Citations
  • Step 9. Set Deadlines for Yourself
  • Step 10. Plan a structure for your essay
  • Evaluate & Select: the CRAAP Test
  • Conducting Secondary Research
  • Conducting Primary Research
  • Formal vs. Informal Writing
  • Presentation Requirements
  • Evaluating Your Work

Differences Between Informal and Formal Essays

When writing your extended essay you should use language that is formal and academic in tone.  The chart below gives you some idea of the differences between informal and formal essays. See the box below for examples of the differences in tone in informal and formal essays written on identical topics. A PDF of this chart, and the examples below, is in the box to the right , along with a list of tips for avoiding colloquial writing.

Examples of Informal and Formal Tone in Essay Writing

The following examples highlight the differences between formal and informal tone.

Language B - English

  • Formal vs. Informal Writing A chart giving the differences between informal and formal essays in seven areas (author's viewpoint; subject/content (sources of evidence); tone; structure; location of the research question; vocabulary; and purpose. Also included are examples comparing informal and formal writing for essays in English, biology, and psychology.
  • How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing While it may be acceptable in friendly e-mails and chat rooms, excessive colloquialism is a major pitfall that lowers the quality of formal written text. Here are some steps/tips that you can follow to help improve your overall writing.
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  • Last Updated: Feb 2, 2024 1:39 PM
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How to Write an Informal Essay: A Beginners' Guide

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A typical academic essay is serious writing. It is serious because it is often well-researched and written formally. The typical informal essay is the exact opposite of this.

how to write an informal essay

It is often not researched at all and is written in a casual tone. Furthermore, it is commonly written for enjoyment rather than serious discourse. And for that reason, it is a non-fiction essay that does not follow the writing conventions and is purely based on the author's reasons, reflections, and ideas.

In this guide, you will discover everything crucial you need to know to write a brilliant informal essay.

What is an informal essay?

An informal essay is an essay that is written for enjoyment rather than to argue or support a thesis with scholarly evidence. The essay is usually personal in nature and based on memory. A good example of an informal essay is – The happiest day of my life.

To write this essay, you simply need to recall the happiest day of your life and then write about it chronologically. As you can see, you don’t have to do much research to write an informal essay.

The fact that an informal essay is written for enjoyment does not mean that it does not have a set structure. The typical informal essay is a five-paragraph essay with three key parts – introduction, body, and conclusion. In terms of word count, the essay is often between 700 and 1,000 words long. The only thing informal about it is the fact that it does not need serious research. Moreover, unlike most essays, the informal can be written in a casual or conversational tone. This means that it can be written in the first and second person.

In most cases, informal essays are written for consumption by the author – to show their creativity, journal an experience, or release emotions through writing pieces.

Structure of an Informal Essay

Like most college students, you are probably used to following the five-paragraph essay structure that most professors recommend for formal essays . While using this structure to write your informal essay is okay, it is not necessary. The rationale for this is that the informal essay is informal and doesn’t follow any rigid structure.

Informal essays involve subjective opinions or ideas through prose. Some common examples of informal essays include impromptu speeches, diary entries, journals, social media posts, personal essays, and personal notes.

While the informal essay does not have a rigid structure or format, it must include four elements – topic, introduction, body, and conclusion.

The informal essay must have a title. It might be informal and without a structure, but it must have a title, and the title must be specific. By giving your informal essay a title, you are basically creating a compass that you can always refer to when writing your essay to ensure you are in the right direction. If, for example, you want to argue a point but are unsure whether it deserves to be in your essay, you can refer to your title to evaluate its importance. If the point helps to contribute to your title, you should include it in your essay. If it doesn’t, you should quickly ignore it.

2. Introduction

The informal essay must have an introduction . In other words, it must simply have a paragraph presenting what you will discuss in the body section. When writing the introduction of an informal essay, there is no specific formula to follow. The only thing that you must do is to make the introduction as interesting as possible. You can do this using a relevant quote, an interesting fact, or a related statistic.

In the body of your informal essay, you must go all out to tell the story you set out to tell in the introduction. You must do the title justice; you must make sure that anyone who reads your essay will agree that what you discuss or talk about in the body section is exactly what they expected. While there is no specific structure to follow when writing the body paragraphs of your informal essay, the best way to write them is chronological. This is because chronologically written paragraphs are easy to follow.

4. Conclusion

After writing your essay, you must write the conclusion part of your essay. The conclusion is usually the easiest part to write when writing an essay. This is because all you need to do is to summarize what you have written in the body section or body paragraphs. After doing this, you simply need to end your essay with a powerful closing sentence to complete it.

The Steps to Take to Write an Informal Essay

An informal essay is written in a conversational tone, which is laid-back, entails breaking academic writing rules, and sounds like everyday communication. You can use informal transition words, short sentences, contractions, common and cliché words, adages, expressions, and personal examples.

Here are the steps to take if assigned to write an informal essay.

1. Choose a topic

When you are asked to write an informal essay, you are normally allowed to choose your own topic. If this is the case, you should choose a topic that is very interesting to you. Because by doing so, the fact that the topic is interesting to you will result in you naturally writing an interesting essay. And interesting is what you want your informal essay to be to get a top grade.

Below the informal essay sample that follows this guide is a list of exciting informal essay topics. This list should inspire you to develop your own exciting informal essay topic; a topic that will make your essay interesting.

2. Create an outline for your informal essay

After choosing an interesting or exciting topic, you should create an outline for your informal essay . An essay outline is an essay writing plan. It highlights what you will include in the introduction section, the body section, and the conclusion section of your essay. To create an outline, provide a short summary of what you will include in your introduction paragraph, your three body paragraphs, and your conclusion paragraph.

But how do you know what you will include in your informal essay paragraphs? Well, it depends. If you are writing an informal essay based on a personal experience topic, you must recall as many details as possible about the experience to plan your essay. If you are writing an informal essay based on an academic topic, you will need thorough research to find as many details as possible about the topic to plan your essay.

3. Write the first draft of your essay

After creating a comprehensive outline for your informal essay, you should write the first draft of your essay. Do this by first writing your essay introduction. After writing your essay introduction, you should write its body paragraphs and the conclusion.

Writing the first draft of your informal essay after creating an outline for it should be a relatively straightforward job. You need to follow the outline like a map and use information from it to begin and structure your paragraphs.

The body paragraphs of an informal essay should each express your main message, perspective, or point of view. You can use persuasive writing skills to convince your readers. It would help to think of the topic as a forum thread where you defend your personal views against opposing opinions. Therefore, you must develop resilient supportive facts to defend your stance.

When developing the body paragraphs, you are allowed to use informal language. You should write short, clear, concise sentences, as long formulations are boring and misleading. You should center your discussions around some emotional vibe, express your personality, and write with vigor and respect.

Following your outline will make your informal essay well-organized and structured. However, it won’t guarantee flow in your essay. You will have to create a flow with your writing and transition words. Also, it won’t automatically give your essay a conversational and laid-back tone. You have to do this on your own using conversational words and writing.

Related Articles:

  • Using I in an essay.
  • How to format paragraphs for better readership.
  • Steps to come up with a great thesis statement.

4. Edit your essay

After writing the first draft of your essay, you should edit it thoroughly. Do this by reading it to eliminate ambiguous and unclear words and statements. After reading it to eliminate unclear words, you should read it to remove all types of grammatical and punctuation errors.

The next thing you need to do with regard to editing your essay is to review it one more time using Grammarly.com or similar software. This will help you to catch the errors you may have missed and to correct them.

After proofreading your essay using Grammarly.com, it will be ready for submission.

Informal Essay Example

Title: Benefits of living in a remote location They say no man is an island. While living in a community surrounded by friends and neighbors is a good thing with many benefits, living alone in a remote location also has its benefits. I have been living alone in a remote Pacific island for the last eight months, and the experience has been bliss. The island has a single cabin research station with basic amenities and a satellite connection. The nearest settled island is over 500 kilometers away. I had doubts when I first stepped on the island. I thought I wouldn’t last long. However, this has obviously not been the case. My stay on this island has been quite amazing. I have enjoyed many benefits, including improved mental health, improved safety, and a low cost of living. When I was living in Sydney, Australia, I was in a bad place mentally because I felt a lot of pressure to succeed. I also felt depressed and was frequently on depression medication. Living in a remote location has changed all this. I no longer feel any pressure. I no longer feel depressed or miserable. Just about every day is a good day nowadays. I wake up, check equipment, spend hours on the beach, and eat fresh food I grow in the station’s garden. I feel amazing mentally. I feel like a new person because life is so slow-paced on this island and devoid of the pressures of city life. Regarding safety, I believe living alone on a remote island is much safer than living in a big town or city. I feel safer on this island because there is literally no one around to cause me harm. I do not have to look over my shoulder when walking, sleeping, or doing anything on this isolated island. I also have no reason to watch the news, so I am not exposed to the constant reports of insecurity that city dwellers are exposed to. Not being exposed to constant reports of insecurity makes me feel even safer. Furthermore, in case of any emergency, there is an emergency number I can call at any time of the day to request urgent help. Lastly, regarding the cost of living, living isolated on a remote island is much cheaper than city or town living. I literally do not pay any rent on this island. I also grow much of my own food, and supplies are brought to me biweekly. Furthermore, I do not pay taxes and am not exposed to constant adverts that force city dwellers to make impulse purchases. And even if I want to purchase something, I wouldn’t because it probably wouldn’t have much use on a remote, isolated island. In conclusion, living in a remote location is very beneficial. If you choose to do this, you will be happier, safer, and less stressed financially. I can only equate it to living in paradise.

Informal Essay Topics

Below are some informal essay topics you can use as inspiration to come up with your own informal essay topic if asked to choose your own topic by your professor.

  • The best meals in our college cafeteria
  • Celebrities who are excellent role models
  • My religion and why I love it
  • My thoughts on marriage and divorce
  • The best day in my college life
  • The most embarrassing incident in my life
  • How parents can understand their children better
  • Why my mother is the most important person to me
  • The most famous African American inventors
  • Entrepreneurs who changed the world
  • Alcoholism among teenagers
  • Why home education is bad
  • Elon Musk and life on Mars
  • The Illuminati and other conspiracy theories
  • Legal migration and its benefits
  • Mental health in the USA
  • Communism and its benefits
  • The United Nations and its failures
  • Gender violence in California
  • Freedom of speech around the world
  • The effects of sanctions on Cuba
  • Education during the peak of the pandemic
  • East African culture
  • Why the death penalty should be abolished everywhere
  • Abortion and the right to life
  • What would I do if I became a millionaire overnight?
  • Why soccer is the most popular sport in the world
  • The pros and cons of video gaming
  • The Second Amendment and its protections
  • Why I would like to become a doctor
  • Why I love intermittent fasting
  • How I won a half marathon when undergoing chemotherapy
  • Lessons from my close friend who betrayed me
  • How I plan to win the next marathon
  • The car I love most
  • My dream job
  • Places I would like to visit
  • Why I love my step-dad
  • The last day at my first job

Dos and don’ts when writing an informal essay

  • Do write your essay in the first person. This will make it clearly informal and casual. It will also make it read much better.
  • Do write short sentences. Long sentences will make your essay difficult to read. In contrast, short sentences will make your writing easier to read and more casual (which is something you want when writing an informal essay).
  • Do rewrite your essay. After writing your informal essay, you should read through it to make it flawless. Do this by editing or rewriting anything that appears out of place in your essay.
  • Do proofread your essay. After you are done improving the flow of your essay, you should read it one more time to ensure it has zero grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors.
  • Do ensure your essay is chronological. While it is unnecessary to make your informal essay chronological, making it chronological will make it easy to read and understand.
  • Do use humor. It is okay to use humor in an informal essay. But you should only do it sparingly to avoid making your essay sound like a comedy script.
  • Do use conversational language. Using conversational language will make your article to read like a blog, which is a good thing when writing an informal essay. But do not go overboard with conversational language. It could make your essay difficult to understand.
  • Do read any informal essay examples. Before you write your informal essay, you should try to find and read informal essay examples online. This will help to make it easy for you to write your essay because it shows you the pattern you need to follow.
  • Do let your personality show. If you have a way of expressing your ideas, arguments, and so on, you should let your personality show in your writing. Let your writing be as unique as it can be. Do not try to make your essay look or even feel academic. Just write it as you would write a blog to be read by a friend. This will help make your essay delightfully informal.                                                                                                                     
  • Don’t forget to ensure a good flow throughout. While an informal essay doesn’t have a set structure, it must have a good flow. Therefore, you should ensure your essay is understandable throughout.
  • Don’t forget to edit your essay. The best informal essays are flawless ones. So after writing your essay, you should read it severally to edit it and ensure it is flawless.
  • Don’t make it formal. When writing informal essays, many students usually use the conventional academic language they use in formal essays. This is not right. You should try hard to make your essay as flawless as possible.
  • Don’t forget to include a thesis . At the end of your introduction, you should have a thesis statement, and your entire essay should be centered on this statement. A thesis is what distinguishes an informal essay from a blog article.
  • Don’t include weak arguments. It is important to ensure that your essay only contains strong arguments. Doing this will ensure you get a top grade. If you include weak arguments, you risk getting an average grade.

Parting Words!

Writing a good informal essay is not an easy job. It will require you to know the structure and style you must follow when writing an informal essay. Fortunately, you now know these two things. You also know exactly how to go about writing an informal essay. So go ahead and write yours. If you get stuck at any point, hire us to help you.

  • The Ideal number of paragraphs in a comprehensive essay
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You can hire professional writers to write excellent informal essays for you. Therefore, you should never hesitate to hire the best creative/composition writers to help you complete your informal essay assignment or to write it from scratch. Try our essay writing services today; you will not regret it.

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How to write an informal essay

Ibrahim Akturk

  • April 6, 2022

An informal essay is quite different from other types of essays . In an informal essay, you’re writing as if you are talking to a friend. You do not need to engage in a strict  academic writing process , but you should still avoid sloppiness.

  • In a formal essay, you expresses your ideas quietly behind the words.
  • In an informal essay, you talk to the reader in a conversational manner.

Formal and informal essays

In order to understand the difference between a formal and informal essay more clearly, let’s look at the table below.

Now that we know the general rules and definitions of an informal essay, let’s continue with the steps to write a great one.

Choose an informal essay topic

This is generally the first step of any essay writing process unless you are pre-assigned a topic already. An informal essay gives you a great opportunity in this step; you can write an informal essay on almost any topic . Here are some tips for you.

Informal essay topic tips

  • Choose a topic you have knowledge and are excited about.
  • Find inspiration from your own personal experiences.​
  • Just think about what you like to talk about the most, and you have your topic. ​

When choosing a topic:

Put the list away for an hour after you’ve created it. Return to it later. Most probably, one topic will stand out to you more. Then, you can write about that topic. For this how-to guide, we are choosing the topic “ why I stopped eating meat ”.

Create an outline

An informal essay does not need to follow a strict structure . However, it should still be coherent. Therefore, your outline does not need to be strict either. Just create one to help organize your thoughts.

Example of an informal essay outline

  • Thesis statement
  • Referring to reader
  • Address to the reader
  • Concluding sentence

Informal essay outline best practices

  • Remember you still need to do research while writing an informal essay.
  • Put together your research results in your outline so that your writing process becomes way easier. ​
  • Make sure to detail each part of the essay before writing, so you can write much faster.​

Write an introduction

Now, you start the actual writing process. In the introduction of an informal essay, you can basically follow the traditional introduction guide . 

Informal essay introduction example

Informal essay introduction best practices.

Before writing an introduction, you must first create an idea, identify a purpose, and collect information for the project.  The introduction also should contain a thesis statement .

Remember this type of essay is characterized by the inclusion of the writer’s viewpoint on the chosen topic , so be sure to declare your stance clearly.

Write the body paragraphs

Informal essay paragraphs example, tips for informal essay paragraphs.

  • You can write the main body of your essay using cliches, idioms, and even jargon. Don't forget every paragraph needs a topic sentence .
  • This is not a particularly academic type of paper; therefore, avoid sentences that are too long and complicated.​
  • To create a connection with the reader, it’s important to use a relaxed tone, transition words , and transition sentences . ​
  • Simple, quick, readable sentences and the use of various intonations will provide the essay with the necessary emotional context.​
  • This is a basic rule: write in a language that your professor can comprehend. That is to say, even if this is an informal assignment, it should still be readable.​

Important tip

Write a conclusion.

In the conclusion paragraph , you will need to summarize your main points and make a clear final comment.

Informal essay conclusion example

Informal essay conclusion tips.

  • Don’t make your conclusion repetitive.
  • Just quickly list the key points of conversation to leave a lasting impact on the reader. ​
  • You want them to remember and think about what you’re saying. ​

5-Paragraph Informal Essay Example

Game of Thrones: A World of Fantasy and Intrigue

Introduction

Body paragraphs, key takeaways.

  • An informal essay is a type of essay that is written in a conversational style and often includes personal anecdotes and opinions.
  • To write an informal essay, you should choose a topic that you are passionate about and write in a voice that is natural and engaging.
  • Begin your essay with a clear introduction that hooks the reader and provides context for your topic.
  • Use personal anecdotes, humor, and other storytelling techniques to illustrate your points and engage the reader.
  • End your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your main points and provides a final reflection on your topic.

Ibrahim Akturk

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  • Knowledge Base
  • How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples

How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples

Published on August 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph , giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

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Table of contents

Organizing your material, presentation of the outline, examples of essay outlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay outlines.

At the stage where you’re writing an essay outline, your ideas are probably still not fully formed. You should know your topic  and have already done some preliminary research to find relevant sources , but now you need to shape your ideas into a structured argument.

Creating categories

Look over any information, quotes and ideas you’ve noted down from your research and consider the central point you want to make in the essay—this will be the basis of your thesis statement . Once you have an idea of your overall argument, you can begin to organize your material in a way that serves that argument.

Try to arrange your material into categories related to different aspects of your argument. If you’re writing about a literary text, you might group your ideas into themes; in a history essay, it might be several key trends or turning points from the period you’re discussing.

Three main themes or subjects is a common structure for essays. Depending on the length of the essay, you could split the themes into three body paragraphs, or three longer sections with several paragraphs covering each theme.

As you create the outline, look critically at your categories and points: Are any of them irrelevant or redundant? Make sure every topic you cover is clearly related to your thesis statement.

Order of information

When you have your material organized into several categories, consider what order they should appear in.

Your essay will always begin and end with an introduction and conclusion , but the organization of the body is up to you.

Consider these questions to order your material:

  • Is there an obvious starting point for your argument?
  • Is there one subject that provides an easy transition into another?
  • Do some points need to be set up by discussing other points first?

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Within each paragraph, you’ll discuss a single idea related to your overall topic or argument, using several points of evidence or analysis to do so.

In your outline, you present these points as a few short numbered sentences or phrases.They can be split into sub-points when more detail is needed.

The template below shows how you might structure an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

  • Thesis statement
  • First piece of evidence
  • Second piece of evidence
  • Summary/synthesis
  • Importance of topic
  • Strong closing statement

You can choose whether to write your outline in full sentences or short phrases. Be consistent in your choice; don’t randomly write some points as full sentences and others as short phrases.

Examples of outlines for different types of essays are presented below: an argumentative, expository, and literary analysis essay.

Argumentative essay outline

This outline is for a short argumentative essay evaluating the internet’s impact on education. It uses short phrases to summarize each point.

Its body is split into three paragraphs, each presenting arguments about a different aspect of the internet’s effects on education.

  • Importance of the internet
  • Concerns about internet use
  • Thesis statement: Internet use a net positive
  • Data exploring this effect
  • Analysis indicating it is overstated
  • Students’ reading levels over time
  • Why this data is questionable
  • Video media
  • Interactive media
  • Speed and simplicity of online research
  • Questions about reliability (transitioning into next topic)
  • Evidence indicating its ubiquity
  • Claims that it discourages engagement with academic writing
  • Evidence that Wikipedia warns students not to cite it
  • Argument that it introduces students to citation
  • Summary of key points
  • Value of digital education for students
  • Need for optimism to embrace advantages of the internet

Expository essay outline

This is the outline for an expository essay describing how the invention of the printing press affected life and politics in Europe.

The paragraphs are still summarized in short phrases here, but individual points are described with full sentences.

  • Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages.
  • Provide background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press.
  • Present the thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
  • Discuss the very high levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe.
  • Describe how literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites.
  • Indicate how this discouraged political and religious change.
  • Describe the invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg.
  • Show the implications of the new technology for book production.
  • Describe the rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
  • Link to the Reformation.
  • Discuss the trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention.
  • Describe Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation.
  • Sketch out the large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics.
  • Summarize the history described.
  • Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period.

Literary analysis essay outline

The literary analysis essay outlined below discusses the role of theater in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park .

The body of the essay is divided into three different themes, each of which is explored through examples from the book.

  • Describe the theatricality of Austen’s works
  • Outline the role theater plays in Mansfield Park
  • Introduce the research question : How does Austen use theater to express the characters’ morality in Mansfield Park ?
  • Discuss Austen’s depiction of the performance at the end of the first volume
  • Discuss how Sir Bertram reacts to the acting scheme
  • Introduce Austen’s use of stage direction–like details during dialogue
  • Explore how these are deployed to show the characters’ self-absorption
  • Discuss Austen’s description of Maria and Julia’s relationship as polite but affectionless
  • Compare Mrs. Norris’s self-conceit as charitable despite her idleness
  • Summarize the three themes: The acting scheme, stage directions, and the performance of morals
  • Answer the research question
  • Indicate areas for further study

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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  •    
  • Informal Essay

The informal essay is written mainly for enjoyment. This is not to say that it cannot be informative or persuasive; however, it is less a formal statement than a relaxed expression of opinion, observation, humor or pleasure. A good informal essay has a relaxed style but retains a strong structure, though that structure may be less rigid than in a formal paper.

The informal essay tends to be more personal than the formal, even though both may express subjective opinions. In a formal essay the writer is a silent presence behind the words, while in an informal essay the writer is speaking directly to the reader in a conversational style. If you are writing informally, try to maintain a sense of your own personality. Do not worry about sounding academic, but avoid sloppiness.

The essay, which follows is an opinion piece that was written for The Globe and Mail. The style is therefore journalistic but aimed at a fairly sophisticated readership. Paragraphs are short, as is normal in a newspaper with its narrow columns, and the tone is more conversational than would be appropriate for a formal essay. Notice the clear statement of the thesis, the concrete illustrations in the body of the essay, and the way the conclusion leads to a more general statement of what is perhaps to come in the future. It is included here both because it is a good example of the essay form and because it explores the kind of problem you will come up against as you try to punctuate your essays correctly.

The essay topics of the informal essay type are not limited to any specific subject, you can write your informal essay on any topic. For example, here are some popular essay topics to give you an idea:

  • The Best Journey of My Life
  • The Point in My Life Where I Would Start Over
  • The Perfect Woman, Marriage and Divorce
  • My Religion
  • The Celebrities Give Us Bad Examples
  • Reincarnation
  • The “Delights” of Our School Cafeteria

You should be well familiar with the informal essay topic you choose. Also, you have to consider the interests of your readers. You should show your personality and the attitude in your informal essay.

what is an informal essay example

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what is an informal essay example

What Is an Informal Essay?

The informal essay is an essay written for pleasure. Its purpose is to help you organize your thoughts on a specific topic, to reflect on readings, and to express different points of view. It can still be informative and convincing, but you’re allowed to write it with less formal expressions.

How to Write an Informative Essay

The informal essay definition is pretty straightforward. It tells you when these assignments are needed in college. But does it tell you how to write informal essays? No. That’s what we’re here for today. We’ll give you effective tips and tricks on how to handle these assignments. Otherwise you can always order the informal essay from the best essay writing service . Although they are called informal, they are still being graded. Thus, you cannot take them lightly.

When you’re writing for pleasure, you tend to express yourself in the same language you use when talking with your friends. When students speak informally, their language is full of humor and sarcasm. You may still use such expression in informal essay, but you must not go overboard. Saying “The partisans were so freakin’ rad, man” might seem normal in spoken communication between friends. When you’re writing something that your professor is going to read, however, you can’t use a language that https://www.usu.edu/markdamen/WritingGuide/01inform.htminformal.

To start with, here are few general tips to have in mind when you’re dealing with this type of task:

  • Informal assignments give you some space for jokes, but you mustn’t turn them into a scenario for stand-up comedy. When you’re dealing with a serious topic, in particular, the humor will fall flat. That’s the first thing you must remember when writing informal essays.
  • This is a rule: write in a language your professor can understand . That means that although this is an informal assignment, it should still be readable . What does readable mean in this situation? Just avoid slang! Your friends may understand it, but your professor doesn’t.
  • Sarcasm is acceptable only if you know how to handle it way. In its definition, sarcasm is saying something opposite of what you mean, thinking that intelligent people should understand the mock. In writing, however, it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish the sarcastic tone. If you’re a master of sarcasm, you can make it work. But only in small doses!
  • In informal writing, you should create a direct contact between you and the reader. That’s the main contrast between this assignment and any type of formal paper. You’re allowed to use I and you . In fact, that’s even recommended.
  • You don’t know what a good informal essay should look like? Read few good personal blogs. Great bloggers know how to create that connection between them and the readers. This writing style will give you hints on how to handle an informal writing assignment.
  • Informal essays are much more personal when compared to argumentative, expository, or any other type of formal essay. If, for example, the topic is abortion, you’re allowed to express your personal opinion. You may still include some facts, but you’ll be mostly talking about the way you perceive the topic. The paper should feel like a conversation between you and the professor.
  • You have to show some personality in the ideas, style, and form of expression!

How to Start an Informal Essay

Now that we covered the main general tips to have in mind when dealing with informal writing, it’s time to start with the practical guidelines. How do you start this type of essay?

1. Choose a Topic

Your professor probably assigned a general theme. For example, they told you to write an informal paper on family values. You can’t take “An Informal Paper on Family Values” as your topic, though. You have to make it more specific and personal.

Some ideas for informal essay topics will help you start the essay planning and writing process. Here are few topics to get you inspired:

  • How Family Values Shaped Me as a Person
  • Motherhood: the Balance between Happiness and Burden
  • Is Early Parenthood a Good or a Bad Thing?
  • The Influence of Family Values on a Person’s Career Choice
  • How Family Values Changed in the Modern World
  • Could an Arranged Marriage Work Today?

You see? We came up with various options for a title you could use for a general theme like family values . To pick your perfect topic, you must choose an angle that triggers your opinions.

2. Plan the Outline

Once you have the topic, it’s time to start the essay. First, you’ll plan! The informal outline should briefly list the points you’re going to make. You don’t have to stick to the formal 5-paragraph essay structure, but your paper will still need an introduction, body, and conclusion. Plan what you’ll write in each section.

Formulate your main idea and think of the main goal you want to achieve with this essay. Are you trying to convince the reader of something, or you just want to share a personal experience? It’s important to have a focus, so the paper will maintain its logical flow.

3. Write the Intro

The introduction of an informal paper may give you a headache. You’d usually start an argumentative essay by giving some background on the topic and citing some sources. Well, that might be an overly formal start for an informal assignment. You have to make the introduction really captivating.

This is a good place to include a healthy dose of humor and a large dose of personality. To formulate your idea, you may share your personal experience or an anecdote. You may also include a quote that captures your point of view. Then, you’ll expand on it.

This essay should showcase your opinion on a specific topic, so get straight to that point. A thesis statement is still necessary at the end of the introduction. This sentence will tell the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. However, it shouldn’t be overly formal. Just tell the reader what your main point is going to be.

How to Write a Body Paragraph for an Informal Essay

In the body of the informal essay, you should express your point of view. Although it’s informal, the paper still has to be convincing. Think of the topic as a forum thread. You’re a member of the forum and you have to defend your point of view against opposing opinions. You’ll probably rely on convincing facts, right? That’s exactly what you should do when writing an informal paper: find facts and reference them, so you’ll add structure to your argument.

Keep these tips to mind when you’re developing the body of the essay:

  • You should use informal language, but not slang that your professor can’t understand.
  • Separate the body of your paper in shorter paragraphs, so it will be easier to read. Structure the paragraphs in accordance with the ideas you express. There must be a cohesive flow between them.
  • Write short, clear sentences. Overly long formulations are not acceptable for an informal assignment.
  • Give your essay a proper emotional vibe. Express your own personality, just like you would do that if you were writing this for an online forum.
  • Be respectful! Although this type of assignment does not put limits on the ideas you can express, the last thing you want is to write an essay that would be offensive to someone.

How to End an Informal Essay

Finally, you came down to the conclusion. Since you’ve done so much work by now, this should be relatively easy. In the conclusion, you’ll summarize everything you’ve written in the paper. However, you don’t want to make it repetitive. Just briefly refer to your main points of discussion, so you’ll leave the reader with definite impressions. You want them to remember and consider your message.

You’re not done with the paper when you’re done with the conclusion! You have two post-writing stages to go through:

Professional writers get some space away from their work before they return to it with the intention to edit. Do you know why they do that? They are so attached to their own work that it’s impossible to spot all mistakes in it. When they allow at least few days to go by, they can return to the content while maintaining a reader’s point of view. This approach allows them to spot the inconsistencies, redundancy, and gaps in logic.

If you have enough time before the deadline, allow at least a day to go by before you start editing . Read the entire essay. Think: is your message clear? Is the content readable? Is the logical flow flawless? Those are the aspects you’ll have to improve during the editing stage.

  • Proofreading

Finally, you can do a final reading to make sure the grammar and spelling are perfect.

The concept of academic essay is too broad. Students mostly perceive it as a formal assignment, but that’s not always the case. Informal writing is another skill you’ll have to master throughout college and university. Fortunately, these essays are usually fun to write. Are you ready to start working on your informal essay?

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Online Guide to Writing and Research

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  • Online Guide to Writing

Structuring the Research Paper

Informal research structure.

The informal research paper structure is sometimes used when writing essays or short research pieces; these examples of assignments won’t have as much structure as a formal research paper.  But always make sure to review the assignment instructions or ask for any clarification from the professor regarding structure-specific questions.  You always want to clearly understand what is required of you.    

As a review, the list below are terms used when describing patterns of presenting information that might require a less formal paper structure:

problem-cause-solution

problem-process-solution

discussions of raw data

summaries and abstracts

Look here for a refresher on these patterns: Chapter 3, “ Thinking Strategies and Writing Patterns ” 

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Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing

Chapter 1: College Writing

How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing?

What Is College Writing?

Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?

Chapter 2: The Writing Process

Doing Exploratory Research

Getting from Notes to Your Draft

Introduction

Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition

Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience

Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started

Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment

Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic

Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy

Rewriting: Getting Feedback

Rewriting: The Final Draft

Techniques to Get Started - Outlining

Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques

Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas

Writing: Outlining What You Will Write

Chapter 3: Thinking Strategies

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction

Critical Strategies and Writing

Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis

Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation

Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion

Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis

Developing a Paper Using Strategies

Kinds of Assignments You Will Write

Patterns for Presenting Information

Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques

Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data

Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts

Supporting with Research and Examples

Writing Essay Examinations

Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete

Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing

Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question

Chapter 4: The Research Process

Planning and Writing a Research Paper

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources

Research Resources: What Are Research Resources?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources

Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure

Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure

The Nature of Research

The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated?

The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed?

The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?

Chapter 5: Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity

Giving Credit to Sources

Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws

Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation

Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides

Integrating Sources

Practicing Academic Integrity

Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources

Types of Documentation

Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists

Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style

Types of Documentation: Note Citations

Chapter 6: Using Library Resources

Finding Library Resources

Chapter 7: Assessing Your Writing

How Is Writing Graded?

How Is Writing Graded?: A General Assessment Tool

The Draft Stage

The Draft Stage: The First Draft

The Draft Stage: The Revision Process and the Final Draft

The Draft Stage: Using Feedback

The Research Stage

Using Assessment to Improve Your Writing

Chapter 8: Other Frequently Assigned Papers

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers

Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure

Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument

Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion

Writing Arguments: Types of Argument

Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing

Dictionaries

General Style Manuals

Researching on the Internet

Special Style Manuals

Writing Handbooks

Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing

Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project

Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report

Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve

Collaborative Writing: Methodology

Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation

Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members

Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan

General Introduction

Peer Reviewing

Appendix C: Developing an Improvement Plan

Working with Your Instructor’s Comments and Grades

Appendix D: Writing Plan and Project Schedule

Devising a Writing Project Plan and Schedule

Reviewing Your Plan with Others

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what is an informal essay example

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What Is an Informal Essay?

An informal essay can refer to a number of different things, depending on the level of education a student has reached, and the type of course he or she is in, as well as the overall purpose of the assignment. In general, this type of essay is written as a reflection or a response to something, or is written as a type of informational piece about a personal experience. This type of essay may also be written as fiction . These are just a few of the many options for informal writing; an instructor will provide specific directions as to the focus and length of the essay.

A common misconception when students are assigned an informal essay is that important rules of spelling and grammar go out the window. It is still important to use proper, formal language when writing informally in an educational setting, unless the piece is fiction and the language is deliberate. The length of this type of essay can vary, but generally it is fairly short as compared to more in-depth pieces, such as research papers. It is still important to have a clear focus in any essay, and a cohesive idea of what the essay is about.

A reflective essay is one of the most common types of informal essays. These are often written in response to a certain experience, such as watching a film, reading a book, or taking a class. Students who participate in community events or volunteer days are often asked to write an informal essay about the experience as well. In addition, if a student attends an event for extra credit -- such as a lecture or a play, for example -- the instructor might require an informal essay in order to get the extra credit to ensure the student actually went to the event.

Many students will also assign compositions to students simply to test writing skills and to determine how much the students have learned. This is especially common in the younger grades when students are still learning basic writing skills. A teacher will often provide a simple prompt and encourage students to write an informal essay about it. Students might be prompted to write a fictional story, or they might be asked to tell a story about an experience they have had. Asking students to summarize what they have learned that day in school is another common essay writing prompt.

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Discussion Comments

Post your comments.

  • By: AlexOakenman A reflective essay is one of the most common types of informal essays.
  • By: takasu At any age level, it is important to adhere to basic spelling and grammar rules when writing an informal essay.
  • By: Monkey Business Some teachers provide simple prompts or ideas to help students write informal essays.
  • By: Syda Productions Plagiarism when writing an essay may result in academic expulsion.

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Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

Formal vs. Informal: Best Writing Practices

Formal-vs-Informal-Best-Writing-Practices

Langston Hughes once said, “The prerequisite for writing is having something to say.” But you are probably aware that there are many different styles of writing — and it pays to know which to use situationally. When it comes to formal vs informal writing styles, there is a time and place for each. By understanding their nuances and respective best practices, you can continue to improve your writing.

We will break all of this down and more, with examples. This can serve as a useful guide on formal vs informal writing for you throughout your educational journey (and beyond).

Defining Formal vs Informal Writing Styles

Formal writing is written for an audience you do not know on a personal level. It is often the main style in academic writing (unless otherwise noted) and is more complex than informal writing. Formal writing is serious.

Informal writing consists of short sentences and is used in more personal settings, such as writing a letter to a friend or writing a diary entry. It is much more relaxed than formal writing.

Photo by  Annie Spratt  on  Unsplash

Which style is appropriate.

Knowing the difference between formal and informal writing is only half the battle. The other important aspect is knowing which to use. Here are some examples of when you would use formal vs informal writing.

Use Formal Writing When:

  • Writing professionally (reaching out to a client or prospect)
  • Academic writings (essays, research papers, etc.)
  • Job applications ( resume writing , CVs, and cover letters)
  • Reaching out to someone you do not know

Use Informal Writing When:

  • Writing to a friend
  • Sharing a story or writing a personal blog
  • Writing creatively
  • Instructed to do so (if in school)
  • Writing dialogue and conversations
  • Writing an outline

If you are unsure of whether to use informal or formal writing, it’s generally the rule of thumb to start out writing formally. Then, when you make the connection and you see how the other side responds, you can ease up on the formality.

Key Features of Formal vs. Informal Writing

While the above gives a simple overview of the differences and uses of each style, let’s take a deeper look into what each style entails. That way, it should become more obvious how to recognize and structure each.

Formal writing tends to include the following:

  • Long and complex sentences: Sentences tend to be compound and contain commas to link two ideas or use transitions like “Furthermore” and “To exemplify,”
  • Does not use contractions: Would use “cannot” instead of “can’t”
  • Objective: Does not offer personal opinions
  • Doesn’t use colloquial language: You won’t see any slang or common everyday vocabulary
  • Diverse vocabulary words: Vocabulary is of a higher level
  • Use of words that are subject-specific: For example, if you are writing about biology, you’d use words like “epithelial cells” instead of “skin cells”
  • Use of third person: Does not use first person pronouns like “I” or “me”

Informal writing includes the following:

  • Can use first person, second or third: You can use any type of pronouns, including “I”
  • Can use slang: The use of everyday language and slang terms can be used, such as “It was cool that…”
  • Active voice: Sentences tend to be written with a subject acting on the verb, such as “We chilled the drinks and went out to the sea” instead of “The drinks were chilled…”
  • Personal emotional tone can be detected: Since the writing is personal, it can include feelings and the sharing of emotions
  • Contraction and abbreviation: It’s okay to use “can’t” instead of “cannot” or “it’s” instead of “it is”
  • Empathy: You can put yourself in the shoes of your audience and address their problems directly. This shows the author as coming from a place of understanding their situation.

Formal vs Informal Writing Comparison Guide

Formal vs Informal Writing Comparison Infographic by UoPeople

Additional Considerations

There are a few more things to take into account when starting out on any writing endeavor. These include the following 3 questions:

  • “Who is my audience?” – This is the first question you should ask when writing anything. You want to write to your audience, so you have to define them.
  • “How formal is the project I’m working on?” – This goes hand-in-hand with the audience and the project goals. However, knowing the level of formality will help you write accordingly.
  • “What medium should I use?” – For both informal and formal writing, you can produce the piece digitally or by hand. If it is for academic purposes and on the job, you’ll want to type your work. But, if you choose to write a formal letter by hand (such as a thank-you letter after a job interview), then it is advised to write on thicker card stock paper to look more professional. Remember, presentation is everything when it comes to formal work!

Here’s an Example!

Along with this list of references , here is a (meta) example on how this article would be written both formally and informally:

  • Formal: When writing academically or professionally, it is important to show respect to your audience by electing to write in a formal style, rather than informally. This means that sentences are longer than usual and tend to feel complex. Writing complex sentences with hyperfluent vocabulary shows your audience that you are well-informed on the subject matter. Furthermore, this writing style depicts unbiased information eluding emotions and first-person pronouns from the content.
  • Informal: Formal writing feels harder than informal writing. I think it’s because I can’t use contractions or short sentences. The only reason I’d write informally is if I had to, like if it was professional or academic. But when I write like this about formal writing, it’s easier. My vocabulary doesn’t matter as much. As you can see, I still care about grammar. Writing like this feels like I am talking to a friend.

Photo by  Glenn Carstens-Peters  on  Unsplash

Tying it all together.

There are many differences between formal vs. informal writing. That being said, they both serve their respective purposes. That’s why it’s important to understand both styles, as well as when to use them.

When writing professionally or academically, opt for formal writing. Remember to leave out contractions and remain unbiased.

On the other hand, informal writing comes from within. It’s aimed towards a personal audience, so you can write as if you are speaking to them. That way, you can use contractions, shorter sentences, colloquialism, and the like.

Regardless of why you are writing, always be sure to reread your work to check for typos and mistakes. The most important thing for writing is having something to say, but it’s also making sure that what you say can be understood!

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Informal Vs. Formal Writing: What’s The Difference?

  • What Is Formal Writing?
  • What Is Informal Writing?
  • Formal Vs. Informal Writing
  • Formal Example
  • Informal Example

As a writer, you’re faced with a lot of choices related to your writing: how long should your essay be ? Who should be addressed in a cover letter ? What is a thesis statement ? But there’s one question that also applies to every composition: how do you distinguish writing that’s informal vs. formal?  

That’s right. Whether a piece is informal or formal will influence everything down to the smallest comma and period. But what, exactly, is the difference between formal and informal writing? When do you use one over the other? Are they really that different? If you are wondering the answers to those questions, then read on as we explore the many different features between formal and informal writing. 

What is formal writing ?

First, you should know that it is the intended readers that will determine if a writer should use formal writing or informal writing . Generally, formal writing is defined as writing targeted toward an audience that a person doesn’t personally know. Typically, formal writing is used when a person wants their writing to be viewed as professional, polite, authoritative, or some combination thereof. For this reason, formal writing is often used in professional settings. For example, formal writing is often the form of writing used in research and academic papers, corporate memos and emails, press releases, and job applications. 

What is informal writing ?

Informal writing is the inverse of formal writing . In a manner of speaking, informal writing is the T-shirt-and-jeans counterpart to formal writing’s dress coat and pants. In general, informal writing is defined as writing targeted toward an audience that the writer knows personally or with whom the writer wants to establish a friendly tone. Informal writing may include inside jokes, slang, abbreviations, and local colloquialisms . 

As you might expect, informal writing is common in casual settings such as social media and in texting between friends. However, you will often see informal writing used in other situations, such as in literature or in lighthearted feature stories in newspapers and magazines. 

Formal vs. informal writing

There are many differences between formal and informal writing. We will cover a large number of them here, but this list won’t be exhaustive. Still, you should have a good idea how formal and informal writing differ after looking at these different features.

Grammar, spelling, and punctuation

In almost all cases, formal writing adheres to the proper rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation . Informal writing, on the other hand, may not. A person may not intentionally break the rules of grammar in informal writing, but they know that a reader is unlikely to care about errors or nonstandard sentence structure. 

  • Formal writing: The writing was clear but had several mistakes; you should revise and redraft the article.
  • Informal writing: The writing was clear, but had alot of mistakes… u should revise and redraft the article.  

Formal writing doesn’t always have to follow stuffy, antiquated rules. Check out 5 formulaic writing rules you can explore breaking.

Sentence length

Generally speaking, formal writing often uses long, complex sentences that are connected using transitions. Informal writing often includes shorter sentences that may abruptly move from topic to topic. 

  • Formal writing: Surprise inspections will be performed on a regular basis as determined by the acting supervisor, who has the authority to request them as needed. Furthermore, employees should be prepared to submit their work for review in a timely fashion. 
  • Informal writing: I love my new sweater! Thank you!! Where do you want to meet for lunch?

Vocabulary and tone

Typically, formal writing has a serious tone and uses a sophisticated vocabulary that often includes large, complex words. Additionally, formal writing often uses technical terms that match the topic being discussed. For example, a medical text using formal writing will often use the term tibia rather than shinbone or a similar term. Informal writing will often instead have a lighter tone that uses simpler, commonly used words.

  • Formal writing: The research team expeditiously and meticulously analyzed the findings in order to identify the origin of the Staphylococcus infection.  
  • Informal writing: We were out back chopping down some trees when Mom called.

Third person vs. first person/second person

In general, formal writing is usually written from the third person . Formal writing typically avoids using first- or second-person pronouns such as I, me, we, us, and you . By contrast, informal writing often uses first-, second-, and third-person perspectives while making frequent use of personal pronouns. Because of this difference, formal writing is also more likely to use the passive voice in order to avoid using a first- or second-person perspective.

  • Formal writing: The data were gathered by using sorting algorithms. 
  • Informal writing: I used sorting algorithms to gather the data. 

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Word choice

In general, formal writing will most likely avoid using many of the words or phrases that our dictionary has tagged as being informal. This includes terms such as wanna , gotta , gonna , ‘nuff , kerfuffle, cept, ’Merica, thingamajig , and many other examples of informal language. Relatedly, phrasal verbs are also often typically not used in formal writing . Formal writing will also typically avoid using slang, euphemisms , colloquialisms, expletives, vulgarities, nonstandard abbreviations, jargon , and online acronyms.  

  • Formal writing: Gregory wanted to remove the items from the box, but it was sealed tightly. Being unable to find scissors, he admitted defeat and ate a sandwich. 
  • Informal writing: Greg was dying to get the stuff outta the box, but the box was like it ain’t happening bro lol. He couldn’t find the damn scissors, so he said the hell with it and bounced to go scarf a hoagie.

Interjections

Typically, interjections are not used in formal writing . Going further, exclamation points usually don’t appear very often in formal writing. Both interjections and exclamation points are used in informal writing. 

  • Formal writing: The mixture violently erupted, catching bystanders unaware. 
  • Informal writing: The stuff exploded! Wow! 

Contractions

Typically, contractions are avoided in formal writing , and the words are instead spelled out. In informal writing, contractions are commonly used. 

  Examples: 

  • Formal writing: The team would have purchased extra materials, but the store was not open. 
  • Informal writing: The team would’ve purchased extra materials, but the store wasn’t open. 

Objectivity

In general, formal writing is usually written objectively . In most cases, writers attempt to avoid stating subjective thoughts or presenting personal opinions in the main text of formal writing. When presenting arguments in formal writing, writers often calmly present their side backed by supporting evidence and trustworthy sources . Informal writing can include (strongly worded) personal opinions, emotional appeals, and inflammatory language presented without evidence or supporting facts. 

  • Formal writing: As the evidence clearly shows, the director severely miscalculated production costs when initially presenting the film’s budget.
  • Informal writing: The incompetent buffoon who claims to be a professional director blew the budget so badly that the studio should fire him as soon as possible. 

Formal writing often entails referencing or researching what others have written. Check out these tips to avoid plagiarism.

Example of formal writing

The following excerpt shows an example of formal writing that was used in a statement released by American president Joe Biden:

Love is love, and Americans should have the right to marry the person they love. Today’s bipartisan vote brings the United States one step closer to protecting that right in law. The Respect for Marriage Act will ensure that LGBTQI+ couples and interracial couples are respected and protected equally under federal law, and provide more certainty to these families since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs . I want to thank the Members of Congress whose leadership has sent a strong message that Republicans and Democrats can work together to secure the fundamental right of Americans to marry the person they love. I urge Congress to quickly send this bill to my desk where I will promptly sign it into law.

Example of informal writing

The following example of informal writing is a review of the movie Fight Club by a user of the aggregator website Metacritic:  

Best movie of all time. Period. Seen it more than 28 times. Its a bible of what we have to learn. I say you are not your clothes. You are not the brands u wear, even when u think they re part of ur personality. Comb your hair. I ll tell everyone here the end of the movie, but that its not what this movie is about. First rule of fight club is… you do not talk about fight club. And if u havent seen this film then you are a hollow shell. Become human again and start by watching this lesson.

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what is an informal essay example

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Informal Outline Examples

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Sometimes during lectures, speakers forget that their listeners want to take notes of what they’re talking about and they tend to ramble on and on and on. Their listeners struggle to write down the facts and information given by the speaker because before they even finish writing the first one, another one is introduced immediately. This results in random writings and incomprehensible words and sentences. You may also see content outline .

  • APA Outline Examples in PDF
  • How To Make A Lecture Outline

Most students do this especially when a PowerPoint presentation is not available. Important information is written in messy handwriting and abbreviated words just to make do with what’s available. This habit has resulted in disorganized and incoherent thoughts. You may also see leadership outline .

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Although students try to outline topics discussed by their professors, with the limitations of time, it simply is not ideal and downright near impossible. Outlines are designed to summarize a certain topic and break it into smaller but still understandable parts. They help you organize thoughts and ideas. You may also refer to  How to Write Definition Essay and Examples

What is an Informal Outline?

An inform outline sometimes called a scratch outline or working outline is a blueprint for the argument. It still functions like any other outlines, however, it does not have the rigidity of a formal outline. Ideas are listed down minus the roman numerals that segregate main topics from sub-topics. You may also see project proposal outline .

An informal outline can also become the basis for your  formal outline . Once you’re done casually listing ideas that support your thesis, you can easily make a complex formal outline. Although this outline is fluid in structure, it is subject to constant revision because it is made with no attention to form and is destined for the trash bin.

Meaning an informal or working outline as the name would suggest is a constant work in progress. The writer just scribbles ideas that he/she thinks best explains the main idea and continues to add more examples to his/her outline. By doing more expansion and correction of his/her ideas, he/she is then able to come close to a rough summary of his/her own paper. You may also see  Samples of Formal Essays

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How to Make an Informal Outline

As this is an informal outline, there are no strict rules to follow and no structure to adhere to. An informal outline is just normally prepared by you, the writer, it is not rigid and controlling. It is somewhat like a free-flow writing where you jot down additional details as you progress. However, you can still follow these basic steps to have a more understandable informal outline:

1. Write the Title of Your Outline

The title of your outline should directly reflect the title of your actual paper. This will serve as a guide for you as you think and write about the topic. This step serves as the foundation of your thesis and helps ground the ideas you will include. You may also see training outline .

The title of your outline is not necessarily the title of your actual paper but it just a mere reflection of the same thought as your actual title. There are instances that as you continue to write the supporting details of the main topic, you follow a slightly different thought group than you originally planned. In this case, you can always revise the title and make it more suitable to the contents of your outline. Also, see  Examples of How to Write a Topic Outline

2. Formulate Your Thesis

Write your thesis clearly and label it as “Thesis.” For example, “Thesis: Environment conservation including the 3 Rs, reforestation, anti-mining drive, plastic use minimization and carbon footprint reduction.” By doing this, you are constantly reminded of the ideas and thought that you will need in your paper. It will give direction to the outline you are trying to make. The thesis is the backbone of your outline and the final paper. The supporting details revolve around the thesis in order to prove or elaborate it. You may also see thesis outline .

3. Write Your Main Idea

There can be more than one main idea on a certain topic. The main idea of your outline is the first issue in your thesis. Like in the given thesis above, your first main idea is about the 3 Rs namely Reduce , Reuse , Recycle . When writing your main idea in an informal outline, there is no need to label it as the first main idea. Unlike in a formal outline, it is not necessary to use roman numerals in an informal outline. You may also see book outline .

startup photos

4. Write Your Supporting Details

After your main idea comes the supporting details. It is better to indent the beginning of your first supporting detail. In the given example above, your first supporting detail can be “minimizing the use of non-biodegradable housewares.”  As there are no rules in an informal outline, you can elaborate on your supporting detail as much as you want with the limitation that an outline is supposed to shorten your paper, not lengthen it much more. You may also see course outline .

Like mentioned before, an informal outline is a free-flowing form of outlining, therefore, as you go through more main ideas and their supporting details, you can also insert new ones that you think is important and relevant to the topic. You may also see resume outline .

After the fourth step, you can add more supporting detail about your first main idea (step 3). After that, you can now add your second main idea. In the thesis given above, it would mean the second main idea is reforestation. You can then add its supporting details. And so on. You may also see  Step Basic Guide on Essay Writing .

Making an Informal Outline Example

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Things to Remember

1. An informal outline has no correct or incorrect format. It does not follow a number scheme or a hierarchical order. It is in the discretion of the writer how to organize his/her outline. You may also see essay outline .

2. It helps you organize your idea the best way you want it to. You can draw diagrams, draw ideas within bubbles, make charts or anything just to help you get your outline done.

3. As the name implies, a scratch outline only serves as a basis for your formal outline. It is destined to be put in the trash bin after you jot down your ideas, organize and reorganize ideas, and revise it as many times as you want without any restrictions in its format. You may also see speech outline .

4. Even though an informal outline is free-flowing, your outline should still be able to help you identify gaps in your argument, and problems with structure and logic. You may also see news editorial outline .

An informal outline is good to use when you are tasked to write an essay or any writing activity in a limited time. Because of the freedom it provides, you will have no problems just writing down ideas and rearranging them in the order you would like. You may also see program outline .

However, you must be careful about the lapses in an argument or the organization of your ideas. Because it is unstructured by nature, you might forget to arrange your ideas and in return come up with an incoherent paper instead. Always think about the flow and transition of your thoughts when you transfer it in your final paper. You may also see sentence outline .

what is an informal essay example

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Formal, Semi-Formal, and Informal English

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Why is it important?

Would you wear this to a job interview? No, because it’s too informal.

Formal, Semi-Formal, and Informal English Espresso English

Would you wear this to the beach? No, because it’s too formal.

Formal, Semi-Formal, and Informal English Espresso English

In the same way, using English that is too formal or too informal for the situation can cause a bad impression.

Three levels of formality in English

Formal – Textbooks, official reports, academic articles, essays, business letters, contracts, official speeches

Semi-formal – Day-to-day interaction with colleagues and teachers, popular magazines/books, interviews, when talking with someone in authority or whom you respect

Informal – Interacting with friends, speaking or chatting online

Formal English

1. longer/more complex sentences.

Punctuation, proper grammar, and correct sentence structure are very important. A formal sentence you might see in an academic journal:

Research has shown that learning a second language, in addition to leading to expanded career and social opportunities, can also expand the reasoning capability of the brain, although this finding is disputed by some scientists.

A less formal way to express the same idea:

Learning another language can improve your career and social life. Some people also say it can make you smarter, but others disagree.

2. Larger and less common words

A formal sentence you might see in an economic report:

The economy is currently quite robust; nevertheless, some specialists predict an imminent recession.

A simpler, less formal way to say the same thing:

The economy is very strong right now, but some specialists say we’ll have a recession soon.

Some less formal words and their formal equivalents:

Download a list of more formal/informal words

3. Avoid phrasal verbs

The price went up. The price rose/increased.

The client asked for a contract. The client requested a contract.

The problems have come back. The problems have returned.

We will cut down on spending. We will reduce spending.

4. Avoid contractions

I’m, you’re, can’t, don’t, wasn’t, it’s…

The shipment hasn’t arrived. The shipment has not arrived.

They’re manufactured in China. They are manufactured in China.

He’s the director of marketing. He is the director of marketing.

We’d like to inform you… We would like to inform you…

What about this? – The company’s employees

This is OK to use in formal English because it’s a possessive, NOT a contraction! It means “The employees of the company.”

With possessives, you can use either ‘s or “of the” – but try to avoid using “of the” multiple times in a single phrase:

the terms of the client’s contract NOT: the terms of the contract of the client

5. NO idioms, slang, text speak

Idiom: The software is a piece of cake.

  • The software is quite user-friendly.
  • The software is extremely easy to use.

Slang: A million bucks in profit.

  • A million dollars in profit.

Text speak: Tks & we look 4ward 2 meeting u.

  • Thanks, and we look forward to meeting you.

Also avoid shortened words:

The info was incomplete. The information was incomplete.

The results have arrived from the lab. The results have arrived from the laboratory.

fruits and veggies fruits and vegetables

Semi-Formal English

1. phrasal verbs & contractions = ok.

Could you look over this report? look over = review and check for errors

She came up with a great idea. came up with = created, invented, thought of

I’m available on Friday morning. The directors weren’t happy.

2. Some idioms are OK, but avoid slang and text speak

This project is on the back burner. on the back burner = not a priority at the moment

We’re operating in the red. in the red = no money, negative cash flow

Semi-formal (inviting your boss): “Would you like to join me for lunch?” Informal (inviting your best friend): “Hey, wanna grab a bite to eat?”

Semi-formal: “Hello, how are you?” Informal: “Wassup?”

Semi-formal: “The conference was great!” Informal: “It was awesome!” “It was the bomb!”

3. Use polite English

Say “I’d like…” instead of “I want…”

When making requests, use “could you” and “please,” don’t just give commands: Say “Could you please call me later?” and not just “Call me later.”

Another part of polite English is making criticisms and negative comments in an indirect way:

You’re wrong. I’m afraid you’re mistaken.

I disagree. I’m of a different opinion. / I see it differently.

This is terrible work. This could be improved.

I don’t like it. I don’t really care for it. It’s not my cup of tea. I’d prefer…

Informal English

1. shorter, simpler sentences – perfect grammar is not as important.

(So don’t be so nervous about mistakes when speaking!)

“Have you finished your work yet?” –> “Finished your work yet?”

“I’m really liking this book.” (“like” should technically not be in the -ING form here)

“But I don’t think so.”

Starting sentences with “but,” ending sentences with prepositions, using sentence fragments – these are all done in informal spoken English.

2. Expressions/exclamations

  • um, uh, like, lemme see… = hesitation, when you need a moment to think before speaking
  • I mean… = to clarify
  • …you know? = to check if the other person understands
  • Gotcha . = I understand
  • How come? = Why?
  • Yeah right. = a sarcastic way to say “I don’t believe you.”
  • I’ll say! = I definitely agree with you
  • wow! = surprise
  • oops = accident
  • yuck = that’s disgusting

3. Phrasal verbs, slang, and idioms are used VERY frequently

This is one reason that watching movies and TV shows in English is difficult… even if you have good vocabulary and grammar! You may not have learned the phrasal verbs, slang, and idioms in your textbook.

Phrasal verb: “I won’t put up with this!” put up with = tolerate

Idiom: “Could you give me a hand ?” give me a hand = help me

Slang: “I aced the test!” aced = got an excellent grade

The Phrasal Verbs in Conversation Course and the English Idioms Course can help you learn these expressions in context!

4. Reductions when speaking (in both semi-formal and informal English)

He’s gonna be angry. gonna = going to

I wanna learn how to ski. wanna = want to

Didja like the movie? didja = did you

We hafta leave now. hafta = have to

I bought apples n grapes. n = and

Courses to help you learn:

Business English Course – Focuses on formal and semi-formal English used in meetings, presentations, interviews, letters and e-mails, and vocabulary for jobs and careers.

Everyday English Speaking Course – Daily situations, socializing, phrases, expressions not found in textbooks, how native English speakers say things in real life.

Phrasal Verbs in Conversation – Teaches phrasal verbs in context, through dialogues, making it easier to learn and understand them. Quizzes and writing exercises help you put the phrasal verbs into practice immediately.

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Shayna Oliveira is the founder of Espresso English, where you can improve your English fast - even if you don’t have much time to study. Millions of students are learning English from her clear, friendly, and practical lessons! Shayna is a CELTA-certified teacher with 10+ years of experience helping English learners become more fluent in her English courses.

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Informal Essay Writing Guide

Informal Essay Writing Definition, Topics, Examples

  • 1 What is an informal essay
  • 2 What is the difference between formal and informal essay?
  • 3 What is the example of informal writing?
  • 4 Informal essay definition
  • 5 Follow a distinct structure
  • 6 A couple of valuable tips to keep in mind
  • 7 Informal essay topics
  • 8 Informal essay examples

What is an informal essay

Every student tasked with writing an informal essay should know that the major purpose of this kind of writing is to satisfy both the audience and the writer and bring them pleasure. However, it does not mean that your essay should contain anything unintelligible, as it is not permissible.

What is the difference between formal and informal essay?

What is the example of informal writing.

  • Personal blog writing
  • Creative writing
  • Writing to a friend
  • Conversation and dialog writing
  • Outline writing

Informal essay definition

Writing an informal essay is meant to check your ability to use informal language when writing something as well as discover how you would behave when given a chance to express your personal views informally.

Follow a distinct structure

Despite the fact that the structure of this kind of essay is quite pre-determined, there are a few characteristic features that you should keep in mind.

• Informal essays are generally more personal compared to other types of papers. They may be written on such topics as religious views and beliefs or your personal viewpoint on certain contradictory issue like gay marriage or euthanasia. It may also deal with your personal experience in some sphere of life.

• This kind of essay should be similar to a conversation, for instance, when people are arguing about some political issue and try to prove that they are right.

• You need to reveal your personality through this essay by making it as distinct as it can be. Try to be creative and express your personality to full extent.

A couple of valuable tips to keep in mind

You need to follow certain plan when writing an informal essay, so a few tips would definitely come handy. Here are some of them:

• Don’t exceed the permissible level of informality. If you use too many colloquialisms or probably slang words, it might divert your readers from your writing and make them think that you did not take the task seriously. Avoid writing in an excessively relaxed sort of way. This will ensure that you complete the task successfully.

• Try to be yourself and make your personal beliefs noticeable throughout your essay. This will guarantee you a success in writing this type of essay.

• Try to create a work of fiction in miniature by using special techniques that will capture the attention of your readers till the very end of your writing.

The final tip is quite simple. You should not follow any specific rules when writing this kind of paper. There is nothing worse than to ruin the informality in your essay by adhering to some strictly defined rules. All you have to do is to measure the level of informality. Try to make your writing interesting and captivating to create a right impression on your audience.

Informal essay topics

Informal essay examples.

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How to Write a Formal Essay: Format, Rules, & Example

If you’re a student, you’ve heard about a formal essay: a factual, research-based paper written in 3rd person. Most students have to produce dozens of them during their educational career. 

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The picture enumerates the characteristics of a formal essay.

Writing a formal essay may not be the easiest task. But fear not: our custom-writing team is here to guide you through the process. This article will:

  • explain what a formal essay is;
  • show how to write it step by step;
  • provide you with an essay sample. 

👔 Formal Essay Definition

  • ✅ How to Write
  • ✍️ Writing Rules
  • 🖥️ Essay Format
  • 📑 Sample Paper

🔍 References

A formal essay is a well-structured piece of writing with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. This type of essay often includes cited research, uses an academic tone, and is written in 3rd person. While writing a formal essay, it’s necessary to back up your arguments with factual evidence.

What Is an Informal Essay vs. Formal Essay?

Essays come in two formats: formal and informal (also known as personal .) They differ in terms of style and context. You can choose one of the formats depending on the situation and the type of paper you need to write.

Don’t know how to tell the difference between them? Well, here are some key characteristics of these essay types:

As you can see, these types of writing are almost total opposites. Informal essays are only reserved for creative assignments, which means that most of the papers you write need to be formal.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

Our article on creative essays can help you write an informal paper. But how do you craft a perfect formal essay? Keep reading to find out.

✅ How to Write a Formal Essay

Traditionally, a formal essay it’s composed of 3 sections: an introduction, 3 or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Let’s examine each part in detail.

Formal Essay Introduction

The introduction is what your essay starts with. Its primary goal is to catch the reader’s attention with a hook, briefly introduce the topic, and lead toward the thesis statement located at the end of the first paragraph.

Here is what you might want to keep in mind while writing the introduction:

If you want some more inspiration for your introduction, check out our article on hooks in writing .

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Now on to the thesis statement : the key idea of your essay. When working on it, keep in mind that it should answer the central question in your topic and reflect your essay’s overall structure. your essay’s overall structure.

Suppose your topic is related to the teaching methods involving poetry. In that case, the thesis statement can be like this:

Teaching methods that involve reading and writing poetry in elementary school are beneficial for children as they enhance their capacity for empathy, develop creativity, and help with self-realization.

Formal Essay Body

The next part of an essay is the main body paragraphs. They support the thesis statement with well-developed arguments and explore the topic in-depth. Each body paragraph starts with a topic sentence stating its main point. The length of a paragraph can vary, but the best option is to have between 4 and 7 sentences.

To make the text flow easily, you may use transitional words. Here are some examples:

  • after all, 
  • for instance, 
  • on the one/other hand, 
  • initially, 
  • as a result.

How to Write a Formal Essay Conclusion

Lastly, every essay needs closure. A good conclusion summarizes the essay’s main ideas, includes a paraphrased thesis, and encourages the readers to think more about the topic.

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

The structure of a conclusion may change slightly depending on the subject. For instance, it can suggest some solutions to a problem, express an opinion, or give a recommendation. It’s important to remember that the conclusion is a part that emphasizes your essay’s most important points and doesn’t introduce new information.

If you’re curious about writing each essay part, check out our article on 5-paragraph essays .

✍️ Formal Writing Rules

Just like choosing the proper attire to wear to a formal event, we need to use the right words while writing a formal essay. Here are some suggestions that can help you maintain a formal tone in your paper:  

Dos of formal writing

  • Pay attention to your vocabulary. The words you will use in a formal essay will likely have a nuanced meaning. Make sure you know exactly what the terms mean, and do your best to sound precise.
  • Use punctuation correctly. Here are some of the things to watch out for: Avoid exclamation marks; Use dashes for insertions; Use colons with enumerations; If you’re unsure of whether to use a punctuation mark or not, rewrite the sentence in a way that doesn’t require it.
  • Use varied sentence structure. In formal writing, there is always a danger of sounding monotonous. Avoid repeating sentence structures to make your essay more readable.
  • Provide references. It’s essential to cite every idea that you borrow. Try to paraphrase quotations from your sources: it will help you avoid plagiarism.

Don’ts of formal writing

  • Avoid using pronouns.  With words such as “I,” “me,” “we,” or “us,” an essay becomes wordy. It also makes the author seem less sure of their ideas. If you want to use personal pronouns, try substituting them with words like “the reader,” “viewers,” or “one.”
  • Avoid using slang expressions and nonstandard diction. Slang words in a formal essay will make it less appealing to the readers. If you want to be taken seriously, it’s best to avoid those expressions and use proper Standard English.
  • Avoid informal tone.  When you write a formal essay, incorporate the language and the expressions you would use while delivering a speech, not the words you use when you casually talk to friends. A formal tone suggests that the author is serious about the topic and respects the audience.
  • Avoid passive voice. Passive verbs are hard to read, and they are wordy. Use active voice to sound more straightforward and concise.

Contractions in Formal Writing

A contraction is usually a combination of two words into one, such as “don’t,” “isn’t,” “can’t,” and “wouldn’t.” When you work on a formal essay, it’s essential to be careful about contractions. It’s inappropriate to use them in academic writing, so it’s best to stick to the full variant.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, when working with direct quotations, it’s essential to reproduce words exactly as they are used in the original. To learn more about it, be sure to check out the University of North Florida’s article on in-text citations .

What to Use Instead of “You” in an Essay

Another common mistake students make is using the “you” and “yours” pronouns to address the readers. This mistake can make the essay overly informal and lead to misinterpretations of the text.

How do you fix it? Our advice is to replace 2nd-person pronouns with the following words:

  • individuals,

You can find more formal writing tips in this informative video from Smrt English:

🖥️ Formal Essay Format

Now that we’ve discussed formal essay writing in detail, it’s time to look at the formatting. A formal essay is usually written in MLA or APA formats. If you’re asked to write a paper in one of these formats, you may find the guidelines below helpful:

📑 Formal Essay Example

Here is an excellent sample of a formal essay that uses all the guidelines mentioned in this article. It will help you to produce a perfect paper of your own:

For more information, check out Purdue OWL’s resources on various formatting styles .

Formal Essay Topics

  • Stress management techniques  
  • The effects of coffee  
  • Negative effects of technology on children 
  • Causes and outcomes of organizational conflicts in sports  
  • Different types of friends  
  • Same-sex marriages in the United States  
  • Are early marriages harmful or beneficial? 
  • How do nutrition and hydration improve athletes’ performance? 
  • Is polygamy morally acceptable? 
  • Different features of sports business  
  • What characterizes friendship in the age of media ? 
  • Positive and negative effects of tourism on environment in the Caribbean  
  • How does society treat single parents ? 
  • How does the uninvolved parenting style affect child’s future well-being? 
  • The role of family relationships in Odyssey  
  • Financial concepts in sport finance  
  • Main features of a strong marriage  
  • The importance of media coverage for sport teams 
  • Reasons why students choose to get internship  
  • The role of stadiums in the sports industry 
  • The multiracial family: the Carters case analysis  
  • Characteristics of children’s sports  
  • Crucial factors affecting health fitness  
  • How is technology used in hotel management ? 
  • Structure and operational context of Four Seasons  
  • What are the main qualities of a true friend?  
  • Different websites that promote rental properties 
  • The imperative aspects of tourism  
  • Importance of hotel training  
  • What factors determine adolescents’ adjustment after they experience parental divorce ? 
  • How does tobacco use affect the human body?  
  • The importance of language and world view for communication 
  • What makes a combination of reinforcement and punishment in parenting efficient? 
  • The scientific approach of sports economics  
  • How does divorce affect children? 
  • Living on-campus vs. living off-campus when attending university: a comparison  
  • How does the New Moves program promote a healthy lifestyle? 
  • How to be an effective counselor  
  • Various types of restaurants in Ireland  
  • Carolina Dog’s characteristics 
  • Comparison of Monzameon’s The Love Suicides at Amijima and Tartuffe by Moliere  
  • Comparing homosexual and heterosexual families  
  • How is family presented in Everyday Use by Alice Walker ? 
  • In what ways can Anaerobic Threshold be assessed? 
  • Is bad parenting a healthcare problem? 
  • Why student-athletes should benefit from sports  
  • Mind-body awareness and its health benefits 
  • Can punishment boost academic performance? 
  • Techniques to teach students swimming  
  • Issues faced by the sports licensing field 

Thanks for reading through this guide! We hope that you found it helpful and now have a better idea of how to write an excellent formal essay. Don’t hesitate to share our article with a friend who may need it. Good luck!

Further reading:

  • How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay: Examples & Outline
  • What Is a Discourse Analysis Essay: Example & Guide
  • How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline: Template & Examples
  • How to Write a Précis: Definition, Guide, & Examples 

❓ Formal Essay FAQs

It’s best not to use pronouns such as “I,” “my,” “we,” “our,” etc., in a formal essay since it give the paper an informal tone and the text becomes wordy. It also makes the writer seem less sure about their ideas.

It’s better to avoid using parentheses and dashes in formal academic writing. If the information you want to include in the essay is important enough, it should be a part of the sentence. Otherwise, you can simply omit it.

The formal and informal essays differ in style and context. While a formal essay is a piece of well-structured writing that tries to convince the reader by providing arguments, an informal essay has no set structure. It reflects the author’s personal thoughts or opinions.

Starting your sentence with “because” in formal writing is not the best idea. The word “because” is a subordinate conjunction, which means it’s used to join the main clause to a subordinate clause, not to start a sentence.

It’s best to avoid using 1st- and 2nd-person pronouns, slang expressions, nonstandard diction, and contractions in a formal essay. They are primarily used in daily speech and are considered inappropriate in academic writing. 

  • Point of View in Academic Writing: St. Louis Community College
  • Components of a Good Essay: University of Evansville
  • Introductions & Conclusions: University of Arizona Global Campus
  • How to Improve Your Academic Writing: University of York
  • Nine Basic Ways to Improve Your Style in Academic Writing: University of California, Berkeley
  • Academic Writing Style: Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: University of Southern California
  • Formal and Informal Style: Northern Illinois University
  • Formal Writing: Davenport University: LibGuides
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MLA & APA help

  • Informal citations

Citations IRL (in real life)

Examples of informal citations, tips for informally citing sources.

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Speaking of avoiding plagiarism and attributing where you get information from, have you ever thought about how this practice happens every day around you? It does!

In real life, you're not going to include a formal citation in an email to your cousin. However, you might link to a news article backing up a claim you make in that email. We call these informal citations, or "blog style" citations.

Screenshot of email showing informal citation of text linked to a news article.

Really, something as simple as a link to an article in an email is an informal citation.

Informal citations allow everyone to cite their sources in less formal forms of writing, like blog posts, emails, news articles, and webpages. Informal citations are how everyday creators of information acknowledge ownership, attribute quotes, check facts, and learn more. The beauty of informal citations is that they force you to think about how your sources fit, and actually say why you're sharing them. (Those are skills that you also need in order to write more formal research papers!!)

News information citation

"'Forever 21 is a powerful retail brand with incredible consumer reach and a wealth of untapped potential,' Jamie Salter, CEO of ABG, said in a statement . Forever 21 currently has 593 stores globally."

Source : NPR Explanation : In the text of their news article, NPR is citing and linking readers to where CEO Salter said the quote.

Infographic informal citation

Infographic with informal citation of data-gathering methodology.

Screenshot source : Reddit Explanation : Redditor matts41 cited their data-gathering methodology in the image.

Informal citations work well for short papers with a small number of sources, reflection papers, and/or Moodle forum posts.

Check with your instructor first to make sure they don't expect a Works Cited (MLA) or References (APA) page. Make sure you provide enough information for the source so that it can be found in a Google search.

  • Google docs - How to turn text into a link without showing the URL
  • Word docs - How to turn text into a link without showing the URL
  • Moodle forums - How to turn text into a link without showing the URL
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  6. Informal Letter Writing In English

COMMENTS

  1. Informal Essay Definition, Format & Examples

    An informal essay is an essay that is nonfiction and has a conversational tone. Colloquialisms, or language used in everyday speech, are often used in informal essays to achieve a conversational tone.

  2. How to Write an Informal Essay: Guide, Tips, and Sample

    Example of informal essay. Below, you can read an informal essay example written by one of the EssayShark writers. Read it carefully to understand the structure and tone of this type of essay. Also, notice how the author addresses the topic of the most embarrassing memory and uses touching points to describe the situation better.

  3. Extended Essay: Formal vs. Informal Writing

    Differences Between Informal and Formal Essays. When writing your extended essay you should use language that is formal and academic in tone. The chart below gives you some idea of the differences between informal and formal essays. See the box below for examples of the differences in tone in informal and formal essays written on identical topics.

  4. Formal and Informal Writing—Explanation and Examples

    We'll give some examples below. 1. Contractions. It is advised to avoid contractions (shortened versions of words) in formal language, but they're acceptable in informal language. Unfortunately, the team could not replicate the results. (Formal) Unfortunately, the team couldn't replicate the results. ( Informal) 2.

  5. Informal Essay: Steps, Tips, Outline, Example, Topics

    An informal essay is an essay that is written for enjoyment rather than to argue or support a thesis with scholarly evidence. The essay is usually personal in nature and based on memory. A good example of an informal essay is - The happiest day of my life.

  6. Writing a Great Informal Essay (Steps & Examples)

    An informal essay is quite different from other types of essays.. In an informal essay, you're writing as if you are talking to a friend. You do not need to engage in a strict academic writing process, but you should still avoid sloppiness. In a formal essay, you expresses your ideas quietly behind the words. In an informal essay, you talk to the reader in a conversational manner.

  7. The Four Main Types of Essay

    An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays. Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and ...

  8. Video: Informal Essay Definition, Format & Examples

    An informal essay is an essay that is nonfiction and has a conversational tone. Colloquialisms, or language used in everyday speech, are often used in informal essays to achieve a conversational ...

  9. How to Write an Essay Outline

    An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph, giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold. You'll sometimes be asked to submit an essay outline as a separate assignment before you ...

  10. Informal essay writing help, ideas, topics, examples

    The informal essay tends to be more personal than the formal, even though both may express subjective opinions. In a formal essay the writer is a silent presence behind the words, while in an informal essay the writer is speaking directly to the reader in a conversational style.

  11. How to Write an Informal Essay

    The informal outline should briefly list the points you're going to make. You don't have to stick to the formal 5-paragraph essay structure, but your paper will still need an introduction, body, and conclusion. Plan what you'll write in each section. Formulate your main idea and think of the main goal you want to achieve with this essay.

  12. How to Write an Essay Outline in 4 Steps

    An essay outline is an informal document that lists and orders the parts of an essay so the writer can stay on track and make sure they don't miss anything. Because it's informal, an outline is usually written in incomplete sentences, similar to notes. ... Persuasive essays. Here's an example of a persuasive essay outline: ...

  13. Writing an Informal Essay

    The informal essay can be much less restricted by structural conformities and much more personal in both approach and expression. Allow your personal opinions and mode of expression to show through in an informal essay, rather than trying to sound 'academic'. Your own 'voice' should be clearly audible in the informal essay and you ...

  14. Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure

    Informal Research Structure. The informal research paper structure is sometimes used when writing essays or short research pieces; these examples of assignments won't have as much structure as a formal research paper. But always make sure to review the assignment instructions or ask for any clarification from the professor regarding structure ...

  15. What Is an Informal Essay? (with pictures)

    An informal essay is a piece of writing that adopts a relaxed, personal tone, akin to a thoughtful conversation with a friend. It allows the writer's personality to shine through, offering anecdotes and reflections without the strict structure of formal essays. It's a space where creativity flows and rules are bent.

  16. Formal vs. Informal: Best Writing Practices

    Here are some examples of when you would use formal vs informal writing. Use Formal Writing When: Writing professionally (reaching out to a client or prospect) Academic writings (essays, research papers, etc.) Job applications (resume writing, CVs, and cover letters) Reaching out to someone you do not know; Use Informal Writing When: Writing to ...

  17. Informal Vs. Formal Writing: What's The Difference?

    We break down some key elements of how to write for a formal and an informal audience, with examples of formal vs. informal writing along the way.

  18. Formal vs. Informal Writing: A Complete Guide

    Here's an example in which the formal version writes around the word "I" by using the passive voice: Informal: I asked the mayor about earthquake preparedness, and he said we haven't done enough to be ready. Formal: When asked about earthquake preparedness, Mayor Kim said the city has more work to do. Formal language sometimes gets ...

  19. Informal Outline

    4. Even though an informal outline is free-flowing, your outline should still be able to help you identify gaps in your argument, and problems with structure and logic. You may also see news editorial outline. An informal outline is good to use when you are tasked to write an essay or any writing activity in a limited time.

  20. Formal, Semi-Formal, and Informal English

    Formal - Textbooks, official reports, academic articles, essays, business letters, contracts, official speeches. Semi-formal - Day-to-day interaction with colleagues and teachers, popular magazines/books, interviews, when talking with someone in authority or whom you respect. Informal - Interacting with friends, speaking or chatting online.

  21. Informal Essay Writing Definition, Topics, Examples

    8 Informal essay examples What is an informal essay Every student tasked with writing an informal essay should know that the major purpose of this kind of writing is to satisfy both the audience and the writer and bring them pleasure.

  22. How to Write a Formal Essay: Format, Rules, & Example

    Informal essay Formal essay ; Purpose: Usually, the purpose of an informal essay is to share opinions or to entertain the reader. A formal essay aims to critically analyze facts, details, and ideas to prove a point. Pronouns use: Addresses the reader directly and uses 1st-person pronouns. Uses 3rd-person pronouns and doesn't address the ...

  23. Informal citations

    Informal citations allow everyone to cite their sources in less formal forms of writing, like blog posts, emails, news articles, and webpages. Informal citations are how everyday creators of information acknowledge ownership, attribute quotes, check facts, and learn more. The beauty of informal citations is that they force you to think about ...