Definition:

A broad term for speech or writing marked by a casual, familiar, and generally colloquial use of language.
An informal writing style is often more direct than a formal style and may rely more heavily
on contractions, abbreviations, short sentences, and ellipses.
When it comes to writing in English, there are two main styles of writing formal and informal. Consider these
two examples:
Example 1: This is to inform you that your book has been rejected by our publishing company as it was not up
to the required standard. In case you would like us to reconsider it, we would suggest that you go over it and
make some necessary changes.
Example 2: You know that book I wrote? Well, the publishing company rejected it. They thought it was awful.
But hey, I did the best I could, and I think it was great. Im not gonna redo it the way they said I should.
Informal: May use colloquial words/expressions (kids, guy, awesome, a lot, etc.).
Formal: Avoid using colloquial words/expressions (substitute with children, man/boy, wonderful, many,
etc.)
Informal: May use contractions (cant, wont, shouldnt, etc.).
Formal: Avoid contractions (write out full words cannot, will not, should not, etc.).
Informal: May use first, second, or third person.
Formal: Write in third person (except in business letters where first person may be used).
Informal: May use clichs (loads of, conspicuous by absence, etc.)
Formal: Avoid clichs (use many, was absent, etc.)
Informal: May address readers using second person pronouns (you, your, etc)
Formal: Avoid addressing readers using second person pronouns (use one, ones, the reader, the readers,
etc.)
Informal: May use abbreviated words (photo, TV, etc)
Formal: Avoid using abbreviated words (use full versions like photograph, television, etc.)
Informal: May use imperative voice (e.g. Remember.)
Formal: Avoid imperative voice (use Please refer to..)
Informal: May use active voice (e.g. We have noticed that..)
Formal: Use passive voice (e.g. It has been noticed that.)
Informal: May use short and simple sentences.
Formal: Longer and more complex sentences are preferred (short simple sentences reflects poorly on the
writer)
Informal: Difficulty of subject may be acknowledged and empathy shown to the reader.
Formal: State your points confidently and offer your argument firm support.
These are just some of the differences between formal and informal writing. The main thing to remember
is that both are correct, it is just a matter of tone and setting. Formal English is used mainly in academic
writing and business communications, whereas Informal English is casual and is appropriate when
communicating with friends and other close ones. Choose the style of writing keeping in mind what you are
writing and to whom. But whichever style you write in formal or informal be sure to keep it consistent,
do not mix the two.
Example e-mails
1)
Hi Scott,
Thanks for the e-mail. It is always nice to hear from people, especially
from you, Scott.
I have not got any reply, a positive or negative one, from Seibido yet.
Let's wait and hope that it will make a BOOK.

Have you finished your paperwork for Karen and writing academic articles?
If you have some free time in the near future, I want to meet you and
explain to you our next project.
Why not drink out in Hiroshima if we are accepted?
We need to celebrate ourselves, don't we?
Let's have a small end-of-the-year party!
Sincerely, K. Nakagawa
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You want to sell your television. You think a friend of yours might like to buy it from you.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter explain
1.
Why you are selling the television
2.
Describe the television
3.
Suggest a date when your friend can come and see it
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Model Answer
Dear Gary,
Hope you are doing well.
Im doing fine, though my life is quite hectic at the moment because, as you know, I am moving abroad and
there is so much to do!
There are a few things that I cant take with me because they are too big so I am seeing if any of my friends
would be interested in buying them. One of the things I do not want to take with me is my television, and I
thought you might like to buy it off me for a cheap price.
Its a 32 flat screen TV, and its a Phillips model. It has a USB port so you can just plug in a thumb drive to
watch movies or listen to music. It has great stereo surround sound.
As you know, Im leaving the country at the end of the month, which is only two weeks away. So if you want to
see it, it would be best to come on 20th or 21st. That will give me time to sell it elsewhere if you are not
interested.
Ok, I look forward to seeing you. Let me know if you cant make it.
All the best,
John.
(202 Words)
Comments
Overall it is a good answer meeting all the requirements.
The IELTS letter addresses the three key points in the task about the television why its being sold (paragraphs 1
and 2), its description (paragraph 3), and some possible dates (paragraph 4).
It is clearly organized with each key point being addressed in a separate paragraph.
The tone is appropriate informal as it is being sent to a friend (Hope you are doing well, so much to do!..., All
the best...).
There is also evidence of the ability to use a mix of complex sentence structures correctly (though my life,
because, that I cant, if any of my friends, which is only, as you know), and correct usage of modality
(cant, would, might, will).