informal words in essay

Informal Essays: Your Personal Writing Playground

Table of contents

• 1 What Is an Informal Essay Writing
• 2.1 Flexibility in Topic Selection
• 2.2 Tailoring Your Writing to the Audience
• 2.3 Generate Ideas and Insights
• 2.4 Format of an Informal Essay
• 3.1 Add a Personal Voice
• 3.2 Maintain Authenticity
• 3.3 Infuse Your Unique Style
• 3.4 Use Contractions
• 3.5 Address the Reader Directly
• 3.6 Playing With Punctuation
• 3.7 Experimentation With Sentence Structure
• 4 So, How to Come Up with an Informal Essay?

Every student writes an essay from time to time while studying at university. In academic writing, essays are often associated with formality, structure, and a rigid set of rules. However, not all essays adhere to this austere template. Writing informal essays is a versatile and liberating form of written expression. It allows the author to break free from the constraints of conventional essay writing.

This article will help you understand:

• how to make an engaging essay;
• differences between formal essay and informal essay;
• what must be included in your paper;
• principles of college essay informal writing.

If you already have a topic for writing an informal essay, you can follow this guide to complete the assignment in the best possible way.

What Is an Informal Essay Writing

An informal essay definition says that it is a piece of nonfiction writing that conveys the author’s thoughts, emotions, and ideas on a particular subject. It’s not like a formal essay. It adopts a casual and approachable tone as if the author were engaged in a friendly conversation with the reader or a sarcastic tone at some questions.

If teachers want this type of essay from you, they are interested in your attitude to a specific issue, experiences, and thoughts. Therefore, feel free to describe them, and don’t be afraid to make a mistake.

How to Write an Informal Essay?

Writing an informal paper does not require strict standards. However, several rules make working with this type of task easier. They help students quickly produce high-quality informal essays and be satisfied with the results. Next, we will analyze these rules in more detail.

Flexibility in Topic Selection

First, let’s determine how to choose the right topic for your essay. It is easy to do if you are interested in the subject on which you have been asked to write a paper. Therefore, experts recommend choosing a topic according to one of the categories:

• Personal Reflections and Experiences. Here, you can describe your experience, how you found yourself in certain circumstances, what it gave you, and why it is essential to deal with the chosen issue.
• Current Events and Pop Culture. Current events and pop culture also evoke different emotions in each of us. Moreover, current events and culture influence the development of the community as a whole. Therefore, an essay on one of these topics can be exciting and helpful to write.
• Observations and Anecdotes. Usually, the anecdotes reflect some hot topic in the community, and your observations are happening to you right now. Therefore, an essay topic chosen based on anecdotes or observations may express some pressing social issue.

Formal essays have strict rules and a formal tone. Informal essays are not so tough. Formal essays have their laws and strict rules. Informal essays are not so strict. In a formal essay, you need figures and research. In an informal essay, it is not necessary.

Tailoring Your Writing to the Audience

Have you ever heard of speaking to an audience in their language? For example, if you are writing a paper a professor will read, they will want to see formal language, numbers and data, and scientific conclusions. If a child will read the finished text, you must write in simple phrases, informal language, and words. You can choose direct contact with the reader and keep the message clear.

Think about the informal tone and what words and arguments are appropriate for your informal essays, and stick to these rules.

Generate Ideas and Insights

Writing an informal essay is about embracing creativity and sharing your unique perspective. Do you struggle with how to start an informal essay? Here are some tips to help you generate ideas and insights for your informal essay:

• Reflect on personal experiences.
• Look at your everyday life.
• Ask thought-provoking questions.
• Read widely.
• Make conversation and dialogue.
• Use mind mapping.
• Think about emotions and feelings.

Format of an Informal Essay

A formal paper has strict formatting rules , but an informal essay does not. Therefore, every student who receives an assignment to write an informal essay has a question: What should it look like? What is the primary objective?

Typically, there is no common outline of an essay . The informal essay outline can consist of five paragraphs: introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs, research or arguments, and conclusion. However, the structure can vary depending on what you’re writing about and what information you need to give readers to explain your point. So, don’t be afraid to create your structure for an informal essay.

Tips and Techniques for Informal Writing

If you have never written informal texts or papers, the following tips will help you finish your work quickly and efficiently. Just follow step by step and perfect your paper.

Add a Personal Voice

An informal essay reflects your experiences and emotions, so first, decide how you will write an informal conversational essay and choose a conversational tone. You can describe your experiences, thoughts, facts, and your attitude. You can write with a cohesive flow and clearly with a thesis statement or choose a more artistic style. Don’t be afraid to write “I believe,” “I think,” etc. It will make the reader feel like they are exploring your experience. Your voice is, well, unique. Thus, don’t try to mimic someone else’s style. Embrace your natural way of expressing thoughts and ideas. It’s your authenticity that will connect with your readers.

Maintain Authenticity

One of the defining features of an informal essay is its authenticity. It’s your opportunity to be real, genuine, and authentic to yourself. Here’s why and how you should maintain authenticity in your informal essay:

1. Be honest: Authenticity begins with honesty. Share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, even if they make you vulnerable. Honesty connects your readers, who can relate to your genuine voice.

2. Embrace imperfections: Nobody is perfect, and that’s perfectly fine. Refrain from presenting a flawless image. Embrace your imperfections and the lessons they’ve taught you. It’s these imperfections that often make your story more relatable and compelling.

3. Write from the heart: Let your emotions guide your writing. If a topic evokes strong feelings, express them. Writing from the heart can be powerful and moving, drawing readers into your narrative.

Infuse Your Unique Style

When you incorporate your style into your writing, it reflects your personality, voice, and perspective. Your writing voice is like your literary fingerprint. It’s the tone, style, and personality that make your writing distinctive.

Personal experiences and conversational style are a goldmine for infusing your writing with authenticity. Draw on your life experiences, whether joyous, challenging, or reflective.

Part of infusing your style is the revision process. Edit your work with a critical eye. Remove unnecessary clutter and refine your sentences. Sometimes, your unique style emerges during the editing stage.

Use Contractions

Contractions are shortened forms or combinations of words created by omitting one or more letters and replacing them with an apostrophe. They help make the site informal, lively, and more understandable because no one communicates in complex scientific language. If you want your essay to be simple, understandable, and appealing to your readers, use contractions.

Address the Reader Directly

In informal essays, building a dialogue with the reader is crucial. It makes the reader feel like an active participant in the essay as if you’re speaking directly to them. And the narrative is more personal. By directly addressing the reader, you capture their attention and maintain their interest. Readers will likely be engaged and invested in your essay when they feel personally acknowledged.

Additionally, when you address the reader directly, you prompt them to think about the main idea and reflect on the topic alongside you. It creates a dynamic interaction where you’re presenting information and inviting the reader to ponder and respond.

Playing With Punctuation

In the writing world, punctuation isn’t just about rules and structure; it’s a versatile tool that can infuse your informal essay with personality, rhythm, and emphasis. Here’s an example of how to play with punctuation to add flavor to your writing process:

• to add energy: “What a beautiful day to hike!”
• to add some pauses: “I thought about it… and then I realized…”
• to make some alternatives: “The decision ─ difficult yet inevitable ─ weighed on my mind.”
• to add additional information: “The concert (which, by the way, was incredible) left me awestruck.”
• to create a specific rhythm: “In the morning, I brew coffee, take a deep breath, and start my day.”
• to explain something:  “Here’s the secret to success: hard work, determination, and a positive attitude.”

Experimentation With Sentence Structure

Experimenting with the arrangement of words and phrases can breathe life into your writing, making it engaging. Here’s how to play with sentence structure and some informal essay examples to inspire you:

• Short and Punchy Sentences: “She opened the door. There it was, her childhood teddy bear, sitting on the shelf.”
• Long and Flowing Sentences: “As I strolled down the cobblestone streets, the scent of blooming flowers filled the air, casting a warm golden hue over everything, made me feel like I was in a dream.”
• Parallel Structure: “She liked to read, to write, and to dream.”
• Repetition: “The storm raged on and on, relentless and unforgiving.”
• Rhetorical Questions: “Why do we hold on to memories, even when they bring pain?”
• Emphasizing With Fronting: “In the heart of the city, I found solace.”
• Interrupted Sentences: “I was so excited about the trip, but then…life got in the way.”

As you can see, work on the informal paper and its structure differ from the formal essay structure .

So, How to Come Up with an Informal Essay?

As you already understand, informal essays have no hard-and-fast rules. It makes it complex and simple at the same time. It is simple because you can meet a few requirements for your familiar essay to be high quality. And it is complicated because you must try to make it attractive and practical. If you are looking for essays for sale , be careful because the paper must show your personality.

The main thing is to understand these few rules. They will help you achieve your goal more easily:

• Use your writing style and share your thoughts.
• Choose an exciting topic that fascinates you and evokes something to say.
• Share your arguments and conclusions so the reader understands your idea and main point.

Experiment, add your thoughts, and make your essay unsurpassed!

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How to Write an Informal Essay: A Beginners' Guide

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.

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.

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How to write an informal essay

• 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.

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

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General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument. Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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ESSAY SAUCE

FOR STUDENTS : ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF A GOOD ESSAY

Guide: How to write an informal essay

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• Subject area(s): Types of essay
• Reading time: 5 minutes
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Understanding Informal Essays

An informal essay, unlike most formal academic essays, puts the writer and maybe even the audience front and center. This type of essay is characterized by a personal tone, conversational style, and the freedom to explore various topics in a less structured format. An informal essay can cover a variety of topics and may overlap with other essay types such as the persuasive essay. How the informal essay is approached will depend on the topic.

Informal Essay Topics

Informal essay topics may be assigned or may be up to the writer. A narrative about some important event in a writer’s life might be the topic for an informal essay. An essay about personal goals is another common topic for informal college-level essay writing. The scope of topics for informal essays is enormous, ranging from examining controversial issues to more creative essays that ask the writer to imagine being president for a term or what historical time period would be interesting to visit. The flexibility in choosing topics allows the writer to explore areas of personal interest and engage the reader with unique perspectives and insights.

In an informal essay, a writer is more likely to use something called an implied thesis. With an implied thesis, the writer may not include a single statement that tells the main idea of the essay. However, the essay’s main idea will be apparent to the reader either from the beginning or over the course of reading the essay. Even if the paper does not include a thesis statement, the writer should have a clear idea of the essay’s main idea. It’s possible, of course, that the thesis may only be clear to the writer after completing the first draft. When this happens, subsequent drafts can be made with the implied thesis in mind.

An informal essay shares many characteristics with more formal essays. Paragraphs still must be well-organized and focused. If the essay is an informal argument essay, the writer can rely more on opinion and emotion than fact, but those opinions still must be developed and supported. As with all writing, specific examples to illustrate the writer’s points and concrete rather than abstract language will make for a stronger essay.

For instance, in an informal essay about a memorable trip, the writer could describe specific incidents, dialogues, and feelings experienced during the trip. This makes the essay vivid and engaging. An informal essay about a controversial topic, such as climate change , might include personal reflections, anecdotes, and opinions, along with some factual information to support the writer’s viewpoint.

In some ways, however, an informal essay may differ a great deal from a formal essay. For an informal narrative essay, for example, a writer may use many techniques we associate with fiction, including dialogue. There is scope for greater creativity in an informal essay, and the personality of the writer can shine through. The use of humor, wit, and personal anecdotes can make an informal essay particularly engaging and relatable.

Point of View

In formal essay writing, “I” and “you” are rarely, if ever, used. However, both of these are permissible in informal essay writing. Writers may not only talk about themselves, but they may address readers directly as well. The trick here is to be consistent with the point of view. Writers should avoid beginning a sentence with one point of view and changing halfway through. Here’s an example of a sentence that begins in third person (“a person”) and changes to second person (“you”):

“A person should be careful about reading up on new flight rules before you board a plane.”

Here’s how that sentence could be rewritten so the point of view is consistent:

“You should be careful about reading up on new flight rules before you board a plane.”

The use of personal pronouns can make the essay feel more direct and intimate, helping to establish a connection with the reader. It allows the writer to express personal thoughts and feelings more freely, making the essay more engaging.

The tone of an informal essay is typically more relaxed and conversational than that of a formal essay. While maintaining clarity and coherence, the writer has the freedom to use a more casual style of writing. This can include colloquial language, humor, and expressions of personal opinion. However, it’s important to strike a balance between informality and professionalism. The essay should still be well-organized and thoughtful, with a clear structure and purpose.

Structuring the Essay

Even though the essay is informal, it should still have a clear structure. Typically, this includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction

The introduction of an informal essay should set the stage for the topic being discussed. It can be more engaging and less rigid than a formal essay introduction. The writer might start with an anecdote, a question, or a personal reflection to draw the reader in. The introduction should provide some context for the topic and hint at the main idea or purpose of the essay.

Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should focus on a specific point or aspect of the topic. The paragraphs should be well-organized and coherent, with clear topic sentences and supporting details. In an informal essay, the body paragraphs can include personal stories, reflections, and observations. The writer can use a more flexible structure, allowing for digressions and explorations of related ideas.

The conclusion for some types of informal essay may differ a bit from more formal essays. If the informal essay is a narrative essay, in which a story is told about the writer’s life, the conclusion should be less about summing up the main points of the essay and more about putting the story in perspective. The writer should discuss what was learned from the incident and place it in context. This provides a sense of closure and reflection, leaving the reader with a final thought or insight.

Revising and Editing

Even though the essay is informal, it should be polished and free from errors. Revising and editing are crucial steps in the writing process. The writer should review the essay for clarity, coherence, and consistency. It’s important to ensure that the essay flows well and that the main idea is clear throughout. Seeking feedback from peers or mentors can provide valuable insights and help improve the essay.

Practical Tips for Writing an Informal Essay

• Choose an Engaging Topic: Select a topic that interests you and that you feel comfortable writing about. Personal stories and reflections often make for engaging informal essays.
• Be Yourself: Let your personality shine through in your writing. Use a conversational tone and express your thoughts and feelings openly.
• Use Clear and Concrete Language: Avoid abstract language and provide specific examples to illustrate your points. This makes your essay more vivid and engaging.
• Maintain Consistent Point of View: Ensure that you use a consistent point of view throughout the essay. Avoid switching between first, second, and third person.
• Revise and Edit: Review your essay for clarity, coherence, and consistency. Correct any grammatical errors and ensure that your essay flows well.

Writing an informal essay allows the writer to express themselves more freely and engage the reader with a personal tone and conversational style. By choosing an engaging topic, being true to your voice, and maintaining a clear structure, you can create an informal essay that is both enjoyable to write and to read. Whether you are sharing a personal story, reflecting on a significant event, or discussing a controversial issue, the informal essay provides a unique opportunity to connect with your audience on a more personal level.

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How to Write an Informal Essay

An informal essay can be about a wide range of topics, from the deeply personal to the outwardly political. “Informal” doesn’t mean that it can’t also be informative or persuasive. It merely refers to the style in which the essay is written: in first-person and without necessarily having to adhere to the traditional five-paragraph structure.

Your writing style in your informal essay should also be “informal”. Using slang and colloquialisms is generally permitted in this type of essay (though make sure you use good judgement and refrain from offensive or explicit language). A conversational tone, as though you were explaining something to a friend, is about the right tone for an informal essay. In fact, in this type of essay, it’s generally best to steer clear of overly academic writing. You want to make the subject as accessible to the average person as possible.

If your teacher has assigned you to write an informal essay, they may not give you very many guidelines besides a word count. In case you’re lost on how to write this type of essay, here are some tips on how to choose a topic, how to structure your essay and other ways to write your informal essay successfully.

Buy Informal essay

Think about subjects that are important to you or that you generally have a lot to say about. Are you always getting into arguments about politics? Do you constantly chastise your younger sister for putting the toilet roll on “the wrong way”? Think about anything you have a relatively strong opinion about and make a list:

• Why There Is a RIGHT Way to Hang the Toilet Roll
• Why I’m a Vegan
• What Happened When I Started Going to Church
• How I Learned to Respect My Step-Mother
• Why I Love Soccer (or any other sport or activity)
• What I Learned From Traveling Abroad
• Why I Voted for X Candidate
• Lessons From My Grandmother
• Why I Abstain From Drinking
• Why I Believe in Reincarnation
• What I Learned From My First Job
• How I Plan to Save the Planet

You should also make a list of reasons why you are vegan and think about certain things that you face as a vegan such as difficulty finding vegan options in restaurants or supermarkets, stigma from your family and/or friends, etc.

• Introduction – Share some of the difficulties of being a vegan but that you still choose to be one.
• First Supporting Paragraph – Strongest reason why you’re a vegan (health reasons) and some statistics or research on it.
• Second Supporting Paragraph – Second strongest reasons why you’re a vegan (against animal cruelty)- and how that extends to things beyond just not eating animal products but also not using cosmetics tested on animals and not wearing clothing made from animal products
• Third Supporting Paragraph – How being a vegan affects your lifestyle, your relationships with friends, family and significant others. What are the challenges you face?
• Conclusion – Why you still choose to be vegan and how you see more and more people opting for a vegan lifestyle (quote some statistics) making it easier for vegans to choose veganism.

This above is merely a suggested outline. Your informal essay might have more or less paragraphs, depending on how you choose to structure it.

Writing an informal essay still requires the reader to follow the logic of your thoughts, so help them along by using transition words. Transition words are like sign posts that tell the reader what to expect next. Word like “similarly”, “additionally” and “furthermore” signal that you’re about to present more evidence to support an idea. Words like “on the other hand”, “unlike…” and “conversely” signal that you’re about to present evidence to the contrary. Words like “first”, “second” or “next” give order to your thoughts.

Too formal The digestive peptides required to process meat can cause free radicals to reproduce in the human body, a phenomena that fails to occur when digesting vegetables.

• Peer edit – It would be great if you could show your essay to a friend and ask them how easy your essay was to understand, if it sounds conversational or if it’s too academic.
• Be flexible – Think about if you need to add something or take something away. Remember that informal essays don’t need to follow the five-paragraph essay structure so if your essay would be made better by adding another paragraph or taking one away, then by all means, do it.

Anyone can write a successful informal essay. Things like reading other informal essays, making lists for possible topics, choosing the best topic for you, making an outline, writing using informal language and the occasional transition word and editing for tone and structure can help earn you a top score on your informal essay. Good luck and Happy Writing!

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How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing

Last Updated: March 23, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci . Tristen Bonacci is an English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,056,627 times.

Colloquial, or informal, language is common when we speak to friends and family. However, it isn't always appropriate in writing. When you're writing an essay for school, a cover letter, or a scientific article, your language and tone should be formal. There are many ways to convert informal writing into formal prose. Build your vocabulary and choose more precise words over generalized phrases. Present a formal tone by avoiding emotional writing and exuding confidence to your readers. Finally, structure and organize your writing to convey a clear and coherent thesis.

Writing Help

Choosing Formal Words

• Reading widely is a great way to improve your vocabulary. Look for upper-level publications like The Atlantic or Foreign Affairs for articles with more advanced language. College-level books also have a wide selection of potential new words for you to learn.
• Consider signing up for a “word of the day” app or website. These resources help you learn at least 1 new word every day.

• Some other common contractions are “can’t,” “won’t,” “isn’t,” and “aren’t.” Replace these words with “cannot,” “will not,” “is not,” and “are not.”

• Some imprecise words or phrases are “a lot,” “very,” or “totally.” Replace “a lot” with a more precise figure, like “12%.” “Very” and “totally,” in most cases, can be eliminated entirely.
• Adverbs like “really” or “clearly” are usually filler words that don’t add much detail to your writing. Reduce your use of adverbs to eliminate unnecessary words.

• For example, in the sentence “John put down the conclusions in last month’s study,” the phrasal verb “put down” makes the sentence sound informal. Writing “John dismissed the conclusions in last month’s study” instead makes the sentence more formal.
• This is a case where building your vocabulary is very helpful. With a larger vocabulary, you can quickly replace phrasal verbs with more formal alternatives.
• Use a thesaurus or dictionary if you need help coming up with different words to replace phrasal verbs.

• One exception to this rule is in a cover letter or personal statement. In these documents, you should be writing about yourself specifically.

• If you aren't sure about using a particular phrase, consider if it's something you often say when hanging out with your friends. If it is, then it's probably an informal slang term. Replace it, just to be safe.
• For example, if you were writing a professional review of an amusement park, don't use slang language like, "Everyone had a really cool time." Instead, say "The group had an enjoyable experience at the park."
• There are many more slang terms and phrases, and the list grows every year. Try searching for a phrase you're considering using to see if it's been added to a list of slang terms. [8] X Research source

Using Formal Language

• In a job cover letter, for example, phrases like “I think I am qualified” are not appropriate. Instead, convey confidence by saying “I am qualified for this position.”
• Don’t present yourself as arrogant, however. Saying “You have no choice but to agree with my conclusions” is inappropriate. Instead, write “I am confident in my conclusions.” This shows your authority without seeming arrogant.

• As an added bonus, using specific information helps you sound more confident.
• Whenever possible, use figures, statistics, and evidence to support your point.
• For example, writing that “Kids today spend too much time on the phone” is too general and doesn’t give your reader any evidence or statistics. Writing “In 2017, kids spent an average of 7 hours per day on their phones. The American Medical Association says that is an excessive amount,” provides a clear, precise statement that makes your point.

• Determine if a sentence is in the active or passive voice by asking yourself, "Who or what is doing the action?"
• In, "The door was opened by Mike," Mike is doing the action but the door is the subject. Switch it to, "Mike opened the door" to convert the sentence to the active voice.

• Some common clichés are “raining cats and dogs,” “as strong as an ox,” “open the floodgates,” or “delicate as a rose.” Avoid using statements like these. Proofread your writing and remove any cliches.

• “Their” is now accepted for singular use to avoid assuming gender. Rather than writing “The student handed his test to the teacher,” it is correct to write “The student handed their test to the teacher.”
• In a cover letter, don’t write “Dear Sir.” Instead, write “To Whom It May Concern,” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”

• For example, “It was a heartbreaking scene” is an emotional phrase. Replace it with a more detached, informative statement.
• Note that this doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to express opinions in formal writing. But do it with factual statements and figures rather than emotional phrases.

• As a general rule, never use exclamation points in formal writing. It looks unprofessional.
• Only use a colon if you are introducing a list. For example, "I will explain 3 issues with our current policy: ... "

Professionalizing Your Presentation

• Make sure every paragraph after the introduction supports the thesis. Eliminate any information that is unrelated.
• Restate the thesis and wrap up the piece with a concise conclusion.

• Check your writing and see if there are sections where you use several short or long sentences in a row. Break up these sections by altering the length on 1 or 2 of these sentences.
• Consider shortening long sentences by breaking them into 2 or even 3 separate sentences. Join 2 short sentences with a comma. However, make sure these 2 sentences are not both independent clauses or you might have a run-on sentence.

• Try letting someone else read the essay as well. Sometimes you miss your own mistakes when you’ve been working on a piece for hours, and a fresh set of eyes sees things that you didn’t.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/reducing-informality-in-academic-writing
• ↑ https://www.antioch.edu/santa-barbara/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/06/Academic-Tone-for-Formal-Writing.pdf
• ↑ https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/HELPS%20Formal%20and%20Informal%20Language.pdf
• ↑ Tristen Bonacci. English Teacher. Expert Interview. 21 December 2021.
• ↑ https://facultyweb.ivcc.edu/rrambo/tip_formal_writing_voice.htm
• ↑ https://www.umass.edu/ipo/sites/default/files/slang.pdf
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/tone_in_business_writing.html
• ↑ https://www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/conversational/use-active-voice/
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/formal-vs-informal-writing/
• ↑ https://www.lynchburg.edu/academics/writing-center/wilmer-writing-center-online-writing-lab/grammar/a-quick-guide-to-punctuation/
• ↑ https://opentextbc.ca/writingforsuccess/chapter/chapter-5-putting-the-pieces-together-with-a-thesis-statement/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/

About This Article

To avoid informal writing, make sure you aren't using any contractions in your paper, for instance by using "did not" instead of "didn't." Additionally, remove any personal pronouns or emotional words like "I think," "Your," and "we should all." Instead, try to give reasons to back up your argument, for example by writing "Osmosis Jones is a powerful teaching tool because..." Combine this with formal language instead of slang, for example by writing "film" rather than "movie," and remember to stick to correct punctuation. To find out more about the differences between informal and formal English, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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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.

Useful links

• 5-paragraph Essay
• Admission Essay
• Argumentative Essay
• Cause and Effect Essay
• Classification Essay
• Comparison Essay
• Critical Essay
• Deductive Essay
• Definition Essay
• Exploratory Essay
• Expository Essay
• Literature Essay
• Narrative Essay
• Personal Essay
• Persuasive Essay
• Research Essay
• Response Essay
• Scholarship Essay

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