Formal VS Informal Messages

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo g
• Leerjaar 4

Frequent mistakes

Capital Letters:

When you talk about "ik", "i" is wrong, it is always “I” 

Days of the week, months : Monday, Tuesday, August, October

Informal Writing 

Slang (dialect, streektaal)

Expressions (uitdrukkingen)

Personal tone (persoonlijk)

Simple language
, short sentences (simpel en kort)

Informal style (informele opbouw en stijl)

Contractions  are allowed
(You're, it's) (afkortingen toegestaan)

Expressing feelings (uitdrukken van jouw gevoelens en emoties)

Informal Writing 

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.

 

Formal Writing

Complex (ingewikkelder)

Longer sentences (langere zinnen)

Explain your points (uitleg, argumenten)

Formal style (formeel taalgebruik, netter)

No contractions (such as you're) (geen afkortingen)

No expressions or slang (geen uitdrukkingen of dialect)

No or hardly any emotions/feelings (niet te persoonlijk)

Diverse vocabulary usage (diverser taalgebruik)

Formal Writing

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.

Most importantly...

- Reread your essay! 
- Check your grammar!

- Check your spelling!
- Add some linking words / nicer vocabulary!

I often see too many mistakes that you could have seen yourself, because people want to quickly hand it in and leave. 

Do:

- Do: add as many linking words as possibe
   (moreover, however, in addition, furthermore, firstly, secondly)

- Do: use linking words such as "However" and "Moreover" at 
   the beginning of your sentences, and "but" / "and" in the 
   middle of them. 

Vocabulary

- Think about words with similar meanings, even for simple
    words: "he says" > claims, argues, believes, states

- Think of alternatives in Dutch and translate those to English
   (so use your dictionary):
   boos > woedend, kwaad, gefrustreerd, vol haat, ...
   angry > furious, pissed off, frustrated, resentful, ...

For more examples, 
check the vocabulary 
wheel, interner and use

your reader

Linking Words

- Shows how your arguments / paragraphs are connected
- "Moreover, On the contrary, Nevertheless, Additionally"
- Check the list in your reader, also for other useful phrases

- Personal opinion: "In my view, To my mind, I believe that, ..."
- Concluding: "Finally, All in all, On the whole, In conclusion, ..."
- Etc. 

Don't:

- Don't use abbreviations (etc. = etcetera, vs. = versus)

- Don't use contractions (don't = do not, won't = will not, 
   I'm = I am, can't = cannot, it's = it is, we'd = we had / we would)

- Don't switch between tenses too often. Try to stick mostly to 
   either the present or the past tense.

Common Grammar Mistakes

- Their (their house), They're (they are), There (there is no water)
- We're (we are), where (where were you?)
- Than (= vergelijkingen, bigger than), then (= toen/daarna)
- Witch (= heks), which (= welke),

- Noun vs. Verb: Effect (= een effect), affect (= beïnvloeden)
- Plural: child/children    "New York and London are (not is)"

Common Spelling Mistakes

- Capital letters: i > I , new york > New York   

- Verb instead of the noun: live = life , believe = belief  
- Missing letters: interpet = interpret , suprise = surprise 
- Added letters: aible = able , neccessary = necessary 

- Mixed up letters: maby = maybe , definetely = definitely 

When unsure, look it up! Especially if you have time left! 

When to use

FORMAL or INFORMAL

writing?

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;
• 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.

Use Formal Writing When:

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

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. On the next slides are some examples of both styles. Can you guess which one is which?

Talk to you later!

1. Formal
2. Informal

I hope to hear from you soon.

1. Formal
2. Informal

I consider myself a team player

1. Formal
2. Informal

We visited Paris and I loved it!

1. Formal
2. Informal

I hope you'll feel better soon

1. Formal
2. Informal

I am looking forward to your reply

1. Formal
2. Informal

How are your parents doing?

1. Formal
2. Informal

Formal

Informal

A relative

A client

Your friend from school

Your boss

Match the sentences with formal or informal.

Hello Sabrina,

Dear Mrs Collins,

I'm writing to find out about ...

 I look forward to hearing from you.

 I apologise for not getting in contact with you ...

See you soon.

I'm not happy about ...

Sorry, I haven't written for ages, but ...

Formal 

Informal

I am writing to enquire about ...

 I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with ...

Match the formal expressions (right) with the informal expressions (left).

Obtain

Request

Inexpensive

Children

Reside 

Contact

Finally

Inform

Live

Ask for

Get in touch

Kids

In the end

Cheap

Tell 

Get 

Match the formal expressions (right) with the informal expressions (left).

Buy 

Try 

Take 

Family 

By accident 

Lucky 

Help

Look into

Accidentally 

Attempt 

Fortunate 

Relatives 

Assist 

Accept 

Investigate 

Purchase 

Match the formal expressions (right) with the informal expressions (left).

Big

Better

Change 

Call of

Put off

Put forward

But  

And 

Postpone 

Superior to

Propose 

Cancel

While 

Transform

As well as

Large

Match the formal expressions (right) with the informal expressions (left).

At first

Begin

Chance 

So

Seem like

Wrong

Show

Need

Appear 

Commence 

Incorrect 

Therefore 

Demonstrate 

Opportunity 

Require 

Initially 

In het kort:
Geef de belangrijkste verschillen tussen een formeel en informeel bericht.

Hi Bianca,

Hello Bianca,

Dear Bianca,

Best wishes,

Cheers,

Many thanks,

Love,

Aanhef

Afsluiting