rws unit 5

• Informal language


  Used in personal texts meant for family, friends, and colleagues. Used when sending emails or writing messages to friends and family members close to your age.
• Formal language


  Used in academic, business, and official texts. Used when writing formal correspondence and memorandums, both in school and work.
• Familiar language


  Makes use of words commonly found in everyday life. Also called informal language.
• Direct language


  Makes use of words that are straight to the point.
• Simple language


  Makes use of words that are commonplace and easy to understand.
• Familiar language is that which the readers easily recognize and understand because they use it on a regular basis. It is our responsibility to create a sense of commonality between the person we are communicating with.</b>
• Direct language


  Used when you want to express something clearly, concisely, and candidly. Indirect language often sacrifices clarity, but at times, it makes the language more colorful, polite, or intentionally difficult to understand.
• Simple language


  Obviously easier to understand, whereas complex language is difficult. At times, complex language is used to demonstrate or reflect formality, superiority, and academic achievements.
• Unbiased language or bias-free language


  A responsible communicator has to be sensitive enough to avoid offensive remarks toward an individual or a particular group of people. The message must be free of any stereotype toward ethnicity, religion, political interest, social class, and the like. Of equal importance, one must avoid using slurs or pejorative language.
• Tips to ensure use of unbiased language

  • Use names or labels that individuals or groups choose for themselves
  • Do not mention group membership unnecessarily
  • Be aware of words that certain groups of people find negative or offensive and avoid using them
• Gender-neutral language


  A communicator should be careful not to favor a certain gender when constructing sentences. Its purpose is to avoid words that may be interpreted as biased, discriminatory, or demeaning by implying that one sex or social gender is the norm. Using gender-fair and inclusive language also helps reduce gender stereotyping, promotes social change, and contributes to achieving gender equality.
• How to avoid gender bias

  • Drop the pronoun that signifies gender and restructure the statement
  • Change to plural construction
  • Replace the masculine or feminine pronoun with one or you