The document provides guidance on formal and informal writing. It distinguishes between real and invented writing purposes. It examines the differences between formal and informal writing styles, including vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar. An example letter from Brenda to Rosemary is analyzed for formality. Participants are then asked to identify levels of formality in sample greetings and closings. Finally, participants are instructed to write sample response letters accepting or declining an invitation, maintaining tone consistency.

1. Writing for Writing

2. Writing should be as easy as pie!

4. Objectives
Learn how to write more effectively by doing
a writing activity.
Distinguish the difference between FORMAL
AND INFORMAL REAL writing tasks.
Practice a FORMAL REAL purpose writing
task.

5. Real versus invented
purpose tasks
In EFL writing we write for a REAL purpose
or for an INVENTED purpose.
REAL purpose task: Ones that you will
probably need to perform at some stage
(e.g. letter writing, .
INVENTED purpose task: Ones unlikely to be
directly relevant to your needs.

6. Formal vs Informal Writing
Formal Informal
Vocabulary items
Anglo Saxon words (phrasal
Latin based words
verbs)
Uncommon Words
Common words
Punctuation
Abbreviations
Full words Contractions
Grammar
Passive constructions Active constructions
Noun phrases Verb phrases
Complex sentences Simple sentences

7. Let’s look at a letter

8. Flat 3
156 Centenary Road
Mumbai,
June 15th
Dear Rosemary,
I’ve just received your letter - thanks. It was nice to
hear from you. Well, we’ve been here for three weeks
already. I still can’t believe it. But things have
definitely improved since the bus left us at the
roadside on that first day. For a minute I wanted to
turn around and go home again. You know me, I’m a
great pessimist. But Mariel always thinks everything
is going to be fine. In less than a day she had found
us a flat and here we are.

9. I’ve found myself a job giving private conversation
classes. Not quite what I’m used to, but it’s still
teaching and my students are lovely. Mariel hasn’t
got a job yet, but she’s made contact with various
people in the film industry here and hopes she gets
work soon.
So the big news is, we’ve made our decision. We’ve
decided to stay. This is our home.
Please give my love to David and the kids. Why not
come and visit us soon?
Lots of love,
Brenda

10. Questions
Where is Brenda writing from?
How did Mariel get there?
How did she feel when she first arrived? How
does she feel now?
What differences are there between Brenda’s
and Mariel’s character?
What is Brenda’s job? Mariel’s?
Who is David?
How formal is the letter? How do you know?

11. Formal/Informal/Neutral
a) Hi Rosemary, I/F/N
b) Dear Mrs Forrest, I/F/N
c) Dear James, I/F/N
d) Dear Ms Forrest I/F/N
e) Dear Sir or Madam, I/F/N
f) With best wishes, I/F/N
g) With lots of love, I/F/N
h) Yours sincerely, I/F/N
i) Yours faithfully, I/F/N
j) Love, I/F/N

12. Formal/Informal/Neutral
k) Thanks for your letter. I/F/N
l) Thank you very much for I/F/N
your letter.
m) Please give my love to I/F/N
David and the kids.
n) I look forward to I/F/N
hearing from you.

13. Application

14. You are invited to celebrate
George & Mary’s
2nd wedding anniversary
(Yes, it’s been that long!)
at the Rathmore Club, Carlock Road
7 December 2002
from 8 pm
BAR, MUSIC, NIBBLES, POOL
R.S.V.P.
13 Welland Close
Harlow Essex JR5 6FT

15. RESPONSE
YES NO
28 Mill Road
7 Lilac Court
Cambridge
Cambridge
CB 13NL
CB 12XG
Nov. 12th
Nov. 13th
Dear Mary & George,
Dear Mary and George,
Thank you very much for your
Thanks for your invitation but I’m afraid I
invitation. I would love to come to
won’t be able to come because I promised
your party.
to go to my grandfather’s birthday party.
I look forward to seeing you on the
I hope you have a wonderful evening.
7th.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Lots of love,
Best Regards,
Lisa
Rose

16. Response Letters
Now it’s your turn to write a response letter.
You will write a “Yes” letter and a “No” letter.
Remember to decide whether to use a
formal/informal/neutral tone. Stick with that
tone throughout the response.
Have fun!

17. Conclusion
It is important to distinguish between formal
and informal writing, particularly when
writing letters, responses to invitations,
advertisements.
It is usually best to respond in the same
tone of the original writing.
You can make a letter formal/informal by
changing the salutation, e.g., Hi Lisa versus
Dear Mrs. Woods, and by shortening certain
words, e.g. Thanks versus Thank you.
Make sure to have fun writing!

18. The End