If you are on this page then I think you must have heard about these terms formal essay and informal essay. Basically, these are the two categories to differentiate in the essay. Whenever you are writing an essay, it will probably fall into one of these categories.
Essay writing is not a difficult task but when we talk about the difference between formal and informal essays then some beginners get confused with these two different types of essays. This article is specially written for those people who want to understand the difference between formal and informal essays.
If you are also wondering about the difference between formal and informal essays then you must read this article.
Contents
Formal Essays
A formal essay is one of the writing styles and categories in essay writing. A formal essay is written using a well-organized structure, vocabulary and punctuation. A formal essay is conducted with a formal tone and writing style and is more focused on giving readers a valuable perspective or solution.
A formal essay follows an academic and professional writing style. A formal essay does not contain informational words and the personal experience of the writer.
Informal Essays
Informal essays tend to be more personal messages and conversations. Informal essays do not follow an academic and professional writing style and may include humorous words and personal opinions.
Writing an informal essay doesn’t require much topic research and grammar knowledge because it is more about just writing personal opinions.
Formal vs Informal Essays: The Key Differences You Need to Know
Both formal and informal essays are different categories of essay writing and they have some major differences. Below I have tried to write down some of the key points for the difference between formal and informal essays.
1. Purpose of Writing
The purpose of formal essay writing is to present solutions and information for a specific topic. A formal essay includes a well-organized structure to represent logical arguments and thoughts.
Whereas an informal essay is a matter of expressing personal views and opinions on a specific topic.
2. Writing Tone
The writing style and tone of both formal and informal essays are different. A formal essay is written in a professional manner. It excludes informal words and personal thoughts and focuses more on academic and professional writing.
Whereas an informal essay is more like a conversational message and may include some humorous words, and personal opinions.
3. Writing Language
A formal essay is written in formal language. It does not include personal expression or personal tone. While an informal essay may include informal language and words and personal thoughts and expressions.
4. Writing Characteristics
Formal essay writing always includes only third-person pronouns. Some of the third-person pronouns are he, him, himself, she, her, herself, etc. While an informal essay mostly uses first personal pronouns. Some of the first-person pronouns are I, Me, My, We, Our, etc.
5. Structure of Writing
A formal essay follows an organized structure and focuses on easy navigation for readers to understand and connect with each paragraph. It includes typical academic content writing sections such as the introduction, main body and conclusion.
Informal essays, on the other hand, do not follow any structure. It can be flexible and the structure can vary from writer to writer. It is only focused on representing the idea and experience.
6. Evidence for facts and data
Formal essays usually require evidence for the statements, research, or data shown in the essay. Evidence and proof are not required in informal essays but sometimes you may need some proof to support your statement or idea.
Also Read: Guide for writing an essay fast and quickly
Final Words on the Difference between Formal and Informal essay
I hope the above key points helped you understand the difference between formal and informal essays. These are some key checks that you can use to identify whether an essay is formal or informal. Let me know if you still have any confusion
FAQ: Difference between Formal and Informal essay
What is the difference between formal and informal essays?
Formal essays are written in a professional manner using good grammar, research, and evidence while informal essays are more like a conversational message.
