Examples of formal and informal essays

In modern times, the formal essay has become more diversified in subject matter, style, and length until it is better known by such names as article, dissertation, or thesis, and factual presentation rather than style or literary effect has become the basic aim."

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.

How do you write a formal sentence? 1 Do not write in the first person. First person pronouns include I, my, we, our, us, etc. 2 Write out contractions in full. 3 Do not abbreviate. 4 Do not use slang or idioms. 5 Do not use clichés. 6 Do not use excessive punctuation, especially exclamation marks. 7 Avoid phrasal verbs.

Also included are examples comparing informal and formal writing for essays in English, biology, and psychology. 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.