What do you think about using slang in your writing?
The official Rule is that you should avoid colloquialisms when you write. I can give you two good reasons for this.
1. They date your writing, just like any other popular reference. You can refer to some popular television show or catch-phrase, and all is well and good … for now. But a few years down the road? Not so much. Remember the Terminator’s “I’ll be back”? Or Bart Simpson’s “Ay, Carumba!”? Fonzie’s “Aaaaay”? Exactly. You remember them (or not), but if you used them in an article when they were popular, well, it won’t have aged very well.
2. They are unprofessional. Or rather, they make you sound unprofessional. Too many slang terms may make your readers think that you don’t know how to express yourself “correctly.” Colloquialisms by their very nature are casual.
That said, as with many (many) writing rules, this one relies on the context. So, when can you use slang?
1. When writing dialogue. No matter how correctly they speak, practically nobody completely avoids slang when having a conversation. You just expect less of it in a speech by a head of state than, say, a farmer from some isolated area. So, when writing dialogue, if your character would use more colorful language? Use it.
2. In casual writing. When writing a letter to a friend, you can and should write as naturally as you can. Because, again, unless you are a head of state, English professor, or someone in some other highly-literate line of work, chances are that you don’t speak like a textbook reads. Which means that, if you’re writing naturally, your writing isn’t going to be perfect. That might not be ideal when writing something official, but in an e-mail or a friendly note? By all means, go to town.
Great point Deb!
I sometimes get caught up in this when blogging because I like to write in a conversational style. I should remember that those posts could be around for a long time.
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A lot of people can tell the difference between “conversational” and “trendy”–because there’s a difference. I see so many posts and e-mails peppered with “BFF” and “gf” and “LOL” –which may technically be abbreviations, but which are going to date them just the same. You can’t write everything with posterity in mind, but… what does it hurt?
I think you hit the nail on the head in the second part of this post. It all depends on the piece and the audience. There are many occasions when conversational tones or trendy language (even abbreviations) would be appropriate. However, using LOL or “groovy” on a professional web site or in a serious article would be a big no-no!
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It’s amazing how often people don’t think of that kind of thing. But you know what I find interesting? In fiction, the difference between a book written at some point in the past that uses jargon that immediately dates the book–you read it a couple decades later and just groan at the dated slang–and a book written now that takes PLACE in the past, and uses the same jargon (sometimes accurately) to make the book seem realisticly set in its time. How is it possible that that works when the authentic, older book does not?
One of the cases “Not to use slang” worth mention is that when you write to someone who is not a native English speaker as we are taught the proper English when we study.
English has become my main communication language, but still I don’t understand most of the slang, and some phrases and figures of speech make me feel absolutely clueless.
It is also a nice fact that if you know your language you can make it colourful without using slang. 🙂
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Outi–that’s an excellent point. English is confusing enough to begin without adding MORE confusion for second-language speakers. I should have thought of that (grin).