As bloggers, we often try to sound professional and authoritative in our writing. However, using overly formal language can make our content dry, boring, and difficult to read. It can also create a barrier between us and our readers, making it harder to connect with them.
So how can we avoid overly formal language in blog writing? In this post, we’ll explore some tips and tricks to help you write in a more conversational tone without sacrificing professionalism.
Why Avoid Overly Formal Language?
Before we dive into the tips, let’s talk about why avoiding overly formal language is important. Writing in a formal tone can be appropriate for certain types of content, such as academic papers or legal documents. However, when it comes to blog writing, it’s important to strike a balance between professionalism and approachability.
Using overly formal language can make your blog seem impersonal and cold. It can also make it harder for readers to engage with your content. When readers feel like they’re reading a textbook or a legal brief, they’re less likely to be interested in what you have to say. By writing in a more conversational tone, you can create a connection with your readers and keep them engaged.
Tips for Avoiding Overly Formal Language
Here are some tips to help you avoid overly formal language in your blog writing:
1. Use Contractions
Contractions are a great way to make your writing sound more conversational. Instead of writing “do not,” use “don’t.” Instead of “cannot,” use “can’t.” This small change can make a big difference in the tone of your writing.
For example, instead of writing “It is important to always proofread your blog posts,” you could write “It’s important to always proofread your blog posts.” This makes the sentence sound more natural and less stiff.
2. Write Like You Speak
When you’re writing, try to imagine that you’re having a conversation with a friend. Write like you speak, using the same tone and vocabulary you would use in a conversation. This can help you create a more natural, conversational tone in your writing.
For example, instead of writing “The purpose of this blog post is to provide tips for avoiding overly formal language,” you could write “Hey, today we’re going to talk about how to make your writing sound less stuffy.”
3. Use Analogies and Metaphors
Analogies and metaphors are a great way to make your writing more engaging and easier to understand. They can also help you explain complex ideas in a more accessible way.
For example, if you’re writing about the importance of proofreading, you could use the analogy of a chef tasting their food before serving it to their customers. Just as a chef wouldn’t serve food that hasn’t been tasted and perfected, you shouldn’t publish a blog post that hasn’t been proofread and edited.
4. Tell Stories
People love stories. They help us connect with others and understand complex ideas. When you’re writing a blog post, try to include stories that illustrate your points. This can help your readers relate to your content on a personal level.
For example, if you’re writing about the importance of backing up your blog, you could share a story about a blogger who lost all their content due to a computer crash. This can help your readers understand the importance of backing up their own blog and motivate them to take action to prevent a similar situation from happening to them.
5. Use Humor (When Appropriate)
Humor can be a great way to engage readers and make your content more memorable. However, it’s important to use humor judiciously and in a way that fits with the tone of your blog.
For example, if you’re writing a blog post about a serious topic, like mental health, you wouldn’t want to use humor that trivializes the issue. On the other hand, if you’re writing a lighthearted post about your favorite TV shows, using humor can make your writing more entertaining.
6. Avoid Jargon and Buzzwords
Jargon and buzzwords can make your writing sound overly formal and difficult to understand. When you’re writing a blog post, try to use simple, straightforward language that your readers can easily understand.
For example, instead of writing “We need to leverage our core competencies to achieve our strategic objectives,” you could write “We need to use our strengths to reach our goals.” This makes the sentence much easier to understand and more accessible to a wider audience.
7. Break Up Your Text
Long paragraphs of dense text can be overwhelming and difficult to read. When you’re writing a blog post, try to break up your text into smaller chunks. Use headings, subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists to make your content more scannable and easier to read.
For example, instead of writing a long paragraph about the importance of keyword research, you could break it up into bullet points, like this:
- Keyword research helps you understand what your target audience is searching for.
- It can help you identify gaps in the market that you can fill with your content.
- It can also help you optimize your content for search engines, which can increase your visibility online.
8. Use Active Voice
Using an active voice can make your writing more direct and engaging. Instead of writing “The blog post was written by the blogger,” use “The blogger wrote the blog post.”
Using active voice can also help you avoid passive voice, which can make your writing sound overly formal and convoluted. For example, instead of writing “The mistake was made by the blogger,” use “The blogger made a mistake.”
9. Read Your Writing Out Loud
Reading your writing out loud can help you identify areas where your writing sounds overly formal or stiff. When you read your writing out loud, you can hear how it sounds and identify areas where you need to make changes.
10. Get Feedback
Getting feedback from others can help you identify areas where your writing could be improved. Ask friends, family, or colleagues to read your writing and provide feedback on the tone, clarity, and readability of your content.
Conclusion
Avoiding overly formal language in blog writing can help you create more engaging, approachable content that connects with your readers. By using contractions, writing like you speak, using analogies and metaphors, telling stories, using humor (when appropriate), avoiding jargon and buzzwords, breaking up your text, using active voice, reading your writing out loud, and getting feedback, you can create content that is both professional and approachable.
Remember, your goal as a blogger is to create content that your readers will enjoy and find useful. By following these tips, you can create content that is both informative and entertaining, and that keeps your readers coming back for more. So go forth and write, and remember to have fun with it!
