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Your English teacher didn’t do you any favors when she taught you to write with a formal writing style. Neither did mine.
Conversational English has become the language of business and it is definitely the language of the Internet.
In this post, I’ll explain what a conversational writing style is and list some of the benefits of using it. I’ll also give you a simple test that you can use to determine whether your own writing style is conversational.
Description of a Conversational Writing Style
What is a conversational writing style? Having a conversational writing style means that you write the way that you would speak (even if that means stretching or breaking a few rules of grammar).
If you want to write something that’s actually going to be read, use a conversational writing style. (If you’re creating a legal document or still in school, however, a more formal style is probably okay.)
Advantages of Writing with a Conversational Style
Here are some of the advantages of using a conversational style of writing:
- Builds an immediate rapport with your audience. A conversational style makes it easier for your readers to relate to you as an actual person.
- Seems more credible to most readers. If you’re using a conversational style, you are more likely to be writing in your own natural voice and your writing will seem less strained.
- Easier to understand. Conversational English is easier for most readers to understand. For that reason, a conversational style conveys your message better.
If you think about what you’ve enjoyed reading recently, chances are it was written in a conversational style rather than a formal style.
If you don’t believe me, when was the last time that you read a legal document (or a tax return, for that matter) for fun? If you’re like me, the answer is probably…never. We read those documents because we have to, not because we enjoy it.
Sadly, most English teachers still teach students to write in a formal style. While I think that it’s important to understand the rules (so that you can break them), English teachers would be doing their students a real favor if they also encouraged students to develop an authentic conversational voice.
Do You Have a Conversational Writing Style?
One way to test your own writing to see how conversational it is by reading it aloud. If you feel awkward speaking what you’ve written, chances are you aren’t using a conversational writing style.
What other benefits of a conversational style can you think of? Which type of writing do you prefer to read? Which writing style do you use in your own writing.
16 responses so far ↓
1 This Week in Freelance April 6, 2011 | Diary of A Mad Freelancer // Apr 6, 2011 at
[…] My favorite thing about Diary of a Mad Freelancer is the tone here. I want everyone to feel like we’re just having a conversation in your living room. Hey, I know some $5 words, too, but this isn’t about impressing you. I just want you “get” what I’m trying to say and feel like you know me. Conversational writing style has several other benefits, too. Laura Spencer outlines them Writing Thoughts’ Why Conversational Writing Style Is Important. […]
2 Lisa // Apr 7, 2011 at
I definitely agree, Laura. A conversational tone is just more interesting and something readers are more likely to relate to. Nobody can relate to the inflated writing that’s seen on legal docs. Great post as usual!
3 Laura Spencer // Apr 7, 2011 at
Hi There Lisa!
Wow! It’s been a while, but it’s good to see you commenting here again. 🙂 Hope to see more of you.
The sad thing is that schools still teach a very formal academic style to most students that isn’t relevant to the real world. (My child calls upon me all the time to help her with her papers.)
4 cmdweb // Apr 13, 2011 at
As a hobby, I sell articles on Constant Content (the mortgage-paying day job doesn’t afford the time for it to be anything other than a hobby). Far and away the most successful style, I find, is the conversational style that talks to the reader and uses the word ‘you’ a lot.
I ended up using that style for most of my articles because I always like to read a relaxed and informative article that is speaking to me. So I couldn’t agree more Laura – conversational is best, especially for web work.
5 Laura Spencer // Apr 14, 2011 at
Thanks for the confirmation cmdweb. I think that there are still some businesses that don’t realize the importance of using a conversational style.
6 LA Reddon // May 26, 2011 at
Write on, Laura!
For over a decade, I’ve been writing for a company that manufactures asphalt roofing products. You’ve never seen anyone get as excited about a “case of shingles” as these engineers! Thank goodness they have a sense of humour and know the value of conversational writing.
Too many companies persist in “corporate chest-thumping”. Is it because they lack the writing skills to communicate in a way that’s both professional AND engaging? Perhaps we’re all so self-interested, we don’t know how to look at things from anyone else’s perspective and have lost the ability to empathize.
Whatever it is, kudos to you for taking it on. Thanks for a great post!
7 Laura Spencer // May 31, 2011 at
Hi LA!
Thanks for your feedback. I think that too many of us are taught in school to write in a formal academic style that is designed to show the teachers what we know rather than to communicate with an audience. However, outside of the classroom writing that doesn’t reach its audience isn’t doing its job.
8 The Hazards of Writing with a Conversational Style : WritingThoughts // May 31, 2011 at
[…] Hazards of Writing with a Conversational Style Don’t get me wrong. I happen to think the conversational writing style is the greatest thing to hit business writing since the word processor. (Well, […]
9 Words on a page // Feb 27, 2015 at
[…] a conversational writing style is […]
10 Writing with Personality | Ask a PR Expert // Jun 26, 2015 at
[…] Writing and speaking should not be all that different, and writing at its best is a conversation with the reader. Use conversational language: “help” instead of “provide […]
11 10 Ways to Make a Dull Topic Sizzle // Aug 21, 2015 at
[…] Use a conversational style. Nothing turns readers off more quickly than dense, academic-sounding copy. There’s a reason why people don’t read contracts and tax forms for fun. […]
12 8 Incredible Freelance Article Writing Tips on the Use of a Conversational Tone | Writers Palace254 // Sep 15, 2015 at
[…] tone do you plan to use in your content? Which voice are you going to use to appeal to your readers? Laura Spencer has this to say regarding conversation […]
13 Iris Kirkland // Sep 21, 2015 at
I love writing in conversational style. But I studied to be a journalist and that was always a “no,no.” However I feel like I can get my words on the page more often with ease when I think about what I’m writing as a conversation.
14 Laura Spencer // Sep 22, 2015 at
It really does depend on what you are writing and who you are writing for. The conversational style works well online in blogs, informal articles, or marketing copy. Also, make sure you know who your audience is.
It’s not as effective in more formal articles and some more technical documents. If in doubt, ask your clients what they prefer.
15 Five Tips for Writing Clear Marketing Copy | Story Bistro // Sep 12, 2016 at
[…] popular because (she said) “I was taught to write like I talk.” Also called the “Conversational Tone,” this technique is especially important in print or online marketing where your copy has to […]
16 My Blogging Reflection | Monique Lombardo // Oct 4, 2016 at
[…] Spencer. L, 2015 ‘Why a conversational writing style is important,’ Writing Thoughts, 15 April, viewed 4 October 2016 <https://www.writingthoughts.com/why-a-conversational-writing-style-is-important/> […]