A formal report is longer, more complex, and deals with non-routine issues. It requires careful planning and includes supplementary materials. An informal report is shorter, usually 1-2 pages, deals with routine matters, and is written for an internal audience with limited time. It follows a deductive style and uses a personal tone. A formal report analyzes issues, draws conclusions, and makes recommendations using an impersonal style.

1. Difference between formal and informal reports
Head Short Report Long Report
Length As the name implies, a short
report is very short in length.
Short report writing is usually
completed in a page or two.
A long report is never possible
to be completed in a page or
two. A long report usually
includes some special pages
(e.g. prefatory page) that do
not appear in short reports.
Nature A short report deals with the
routine matters.
Subjects of the long report are
not routine type. It deals with
major complex problems.
Reader A short report is usually
written for someone within’ the
organization. It is used when
the reader’s time is very
limited and the full detail of the
subject is not needed.
A long report is written for
someone within the
organization or outside the
organization.
Format Many short reports are written
in memorandum and letter
formats.
A long report is always written
in a manuscript (narrative
style) format.
Formality Short reports being informal do
not require extended planning
and contain varieties of
formats.
A long report being formal
needs a careful planning before
it is written because planning
focuses on your reader(s).
Use of Supplement A short report does not include
prefatory partsnor appended
once because it presents only
day-to-day events.
A long report includes these
special parts. As long report
deals with major complex
problems and it is kept on the
file for posterity, inclusion of
the supplements will increase
the reliability and validity of
the report.
Writing Short reports follow deductive
writing styles. A short report
highlights facts and specific
recommendations. It avoids
analysis and inclusion of
supporting information.
A long report on the other
hand, after analyzing and
interpreting the draws
conclusion and makes
recommendations.
Style Personal writing styles (using
first or second person style) are
used in writing a short report.
A formal long report is written
using impersonal (using third
person style) styles.
Coherence With the lessening of the
length of the report, the need
for coherence aid is lessened.
The formal (long) report
displays summaries,
introductory, forward-looking

2. In the extremely short report
like memorandums and letter,
reports, the information is
presented in a so brief and
simple way that extra
coherence aids are not needed.
sentences, and paragraphs in
key places. These are needed to
relate the different parts of
complex long reports.
If any one understand this difference between formal and informal reports he will get idea about
both formal reports and informal reports.
Formal and Informal Reports
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