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Enchanting Marketing

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How to Write Conversationally: An (Almost) COMPLETE Guide with 18 Examples

by Henneke | 223 enchanting opinions, add yours? :)

She’s reading her draft post.

And she doesn’t like the tone of her writing at all.

Why is it so hard to engage her readers?

Helena is an expert in climate change, and she’d like to write in a conversational tone …

As if she’s explaining climate change to a friend while sipping an ice tea at the town plaza. The pigeons are strutting around her, bobbing their heads and pecking at the crumbs on the pavement.

But, somehow, her writing always sounds too academic, too formal, too difficult, too stuffy, too boring.

What can she do?

How to write conversationally

Some say …

Just write like you talk.

But it doesn’t always work like that.

Yes, when you write a quick email or social media update, it’s possible to jot down your thoughts as if you’re actually chatting on the phone.

But when writing long-form content or when you’re still figuring out your ideas, writing in a conversational tone is more challenging. A draft often sounds writerly, and you have to massage it until it becomes more informal.

As Elmore Leonard suggested:

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

Want to know how?

How to edit a writerly text

To turn a formal text into a friendly conversation, follow 3 steps:

Take out the writerliness

See techniques 1 – 4 below >>

Turn your writing into a conversation

See techniques 5 – 8 below >>

Add an air of casualness (optional)

See techniques 9 – 14 below >>

Shall I show you?

I. Take out the writerliness

The basis of conversational writing is a simple text so readers can follow your ideas with ease:

• Eliminate complicated sentences >>
• Avoid the passive voice >>
• Replace writerly words >>
• Use transitional words often >>

Here are some examples …

1. Eliminate complicated sentences

Complicated sentences are a sure sign of writerliness.

So, keep your sentences simple and mostly short. The occasional long sentence is fine—as long as each sentence is easy to read.

For instance, Elizabeth Strout uses a conversational tone in her book Lucy by the Sea , and she doesn’t shy away from a long sentence:

He was seventy-one years old then, but he, kind of, I think, must have been plunged into some sort of midlife crisis, or older man crisis, with the loss of his much younger wife moving out and taking their ten-year-old daughter, and then his half-sister’s not wanting to see him and his finding out that his mother had not been who he’d thought she had been.

When I read Strout’s sentence, it’s almost like I can hear her talk. Can you, too?

The sentence above is easy to read because it starts with its core ( he was seventy-one years old ) and then expands. Moreover, filler phrases ( kind of, I think ) add a casual tone.

So, the key to conversational writing is not to keep all your sentences short but to keep your sentences simple. Communicate your ideas tiny step by tiny step.

2. Avoid the passive voice

Pay attention to everyday conversations, and you’ll note that most sentences use the active voice:

I went to the shops to get the groceries. I cooked a colorful stirfry with lots of veggies and prawns. We had dinner together.

The passive voice feels more writerly, less natural:

The groceries were purchased by Henneke. A colorful stirfry was prepared, and dinner was eaten.

I wouldn’t say that. Would you?

So, if you want to sound less writerly, try to avoid the passive voice.

3. Replace writerly words

Only use jargon if you’re writing for an expert audience who use that jargon themselves, too.

Otherwise, please …

Skip the posh words and gobbledygook.

Use everyday words instead.

For instance, jeans manufacturer Hiut Denim describes what they do in short sentences, using simple words:

We make jeans. That’s it. Nothing else. No distractions. Nothing to steal our focus. No kidding ourselves that we can be good at everything. No trying to conquer the whole world. We will just do our best to conquer our bit of it. So each day we will come in and make the best jeans we know how.

Note the everyday expressions above: That’s it; no kidding ourselves; we will just do our best; our bit of it.

Not sure which words to use?

Think of a face-to-face conversation with one of your favorite readers. What words would you use then?

4. Use transitional words often

Soooo …

When we talk, we use transition words to string our thoughts together.

Those transition words tend to be simple: When, if, and, but, or, because, so .

However, when we try to impress with our writing, we use more writerly transitions such as: Therefore, in contrast, additionally, furthermore, nonetheless, thus, subsequently, in conclusion.

Copywriter Gary Halbert is known for his conversational style, and the casual phrase anyway is one of his favorite transition words. It makes his writing sound as if he’s chatting to you. This is from his book The Boron Letters :

So anyway, today I’m going to start by telling you about a little trick that will improve your copywriting.

Anyway, a couple paragraphs back I wrote: “and if you can find a way to use it, you can dramatically increase your sales volume.” Now, compare that to this: “and if you can find a way to use it, you can make yourself a bushel of money!” Isn’t that a lot more powerful? You bet! The words “dramatically increase your sales volume” do not even begin to conjure up the visual imagery of “a bushel of money.”

Transition words create flow and help readers follow your text from one sentence to the next.

Moreover, if you choose simple transition words and use them often, your text will sound more conversational.

II. Turn your writing into a conversation

The 4 techniques below are the essence of conversational writing:

• Remember who you’re writing for >>
• Address your reader with the word you >>
• Ask questions >>
• Add personal comments (optional) >>

Here’s how …

5. Remember who you’re writing for

Good writing is a conversation with your reader.

And to make your conversation meaningful, remind yourself who you’re writing for. Who are they? What do they want to know? What’s their reaction to your writing?

When they shake their head because they disagree, you can counter their objections. When they don’t understand a phrase, you can replace or explain it. When a question pops up in their mind, answer it.

It can be hard to write a first draft with your reader in mind. Just formulating your thoughts is challenging enough.

So, once you’ve written that draft, try distancing yourself a little from yourself as the writer. Try not to be too precious about your words, and read them through the eyes of your reader. How can you make your text clearer and more engaging?

The better you can imagine your reader’s reaction, the more engaging your conversation with them will be.

6. Address your reader

In a face-to-face situation, you talk a bit about yourself, right?

And you also address the person you’re talking to?

Well, it’s the same in conversational writing. You address your reader with the word you , and you talk a little about me .

For instance, Mark Manson’s blog reads like a conversation with his readers because he addresses readers directly. This is from a blog post about feelings :

Look, I know you think the fact you feel upset or angry or anxious is important. That it matters. Hell, you probably think that because you feel like your face just got shat on makes you important. But it doesn’t. Feelings are just these … things that happen.

If you want to have a conversation with your reader, don’t create a monologue. Use the words you and your more often than the words me , my , and I .

7. Ask questions

Questions are probably my favorite conversational writing technique . For instance, here’s how I open a blog post on editing a sentence :

Do you ever wonder how others edit their writing? Me, too. So, picture my delight when I came across a fabulous example of revision … By a bestselling author!

And I start the sales page for the Enchanting Copywriting course like this:

Do you ever find yourself staring at a blank sheet? Struggling to find the right words to sell without feeling sleazy? You’re not alone. Persuasive writing is probably one of the most precious skills anyone in business can possess. But at school, we’ve not learned the art of persuasion. We’ve not learned how to write compelling content. We’ve not learned how to sell without feeling pushy.

Want to engage your readers?

Ask questions. Ask them whether they’re struggling with the problem you’re helping them solve. Or ask them whether they’d like to achieve that aim you can help them with.

Of course, asking questions only works if you understand your reader and if you know what’s bothering them and what they’re dreaming off.

8. Add personal comments

I discovered this trick for conversational writing only recently …

Add a personal comment between parentheses.

This technique is not widely used but it works like a dream.

The following snippet is from the memoir It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny Purmort:

This is for people who have been through some shit—or have watched someone go through it. This is for people who aren’t sure if they’re saying or doing the right thing (you’re not, but nobody is).

Above, McInerny Purmort first addresses her readers as a crowd ( This is for people who … ); it sounds less conversational.

But then she adds a comment between parentheses, addressing her reader directly ( you’re not, but nobody is ). That’s when it feels she’s talking with you.

As we’ve seen so far, to write conversationally, first edit your text so it’s simple and clear.

Next, turn your writing in a conversation with your reader: Know who you’re having a conversation with, address them with the word you , ask them questions, and if you like, add personal comments between parentheses.

Lastly, there’s one more optional step …

III. Add an air of casualness

Not all conversational writing needs a casual tone.

So, think about your readers. What’s the right tone for a conversation with them?

Then, try the following techniques:

(this is a safe technique that almost anyone can use)

(uhm … maybe not for everyone)

< waves hello >

(in mucho moderation)

(if you muuuuust)

Let me show you some examples …

9. Use contractions

Contractions merge two words together. It’s what we do when we speak all the time.

For example:

Using contractions is probably the most common and easiest technique for informal writing.

10. Try interjections

For more casualness, try interjections such as Phew. Duh. Whoah! Yay! Yikes. Ugh.

I occasionally use interjections in my writing:

What’s the most boring punctuation mark? I used to think that award should go to parentheses. They seem to smell like math exams in sweaty classrooms. Ugh.

Has it happened to you, too? In your mind, you’ve composed your next article. Perhaps while walking your dog or on your commute. You feel excited, because you know exactly what you want to write, and you think your readers will love it. Yay!

Even Apple uses interjections sometimes. For instance, when they write about the iPhone 14 :

Water resistance. (Phew.)

Interjections are shortcuts to expressing emotions.

Use them in moderation.

11. Use filler words

When we talk, we use filler phrases to give us time to think or to add emphasis.

Filler phrases include: I mean, you know, actually, so, yeah, well, sure enough, here’s the thing, why bother, hang on, like.

Here’s how Sara Gibbs ends her book Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels :

Right . . . Well, it’s getting late and I’ve got to get dinner on. Ah, crap, you’re never going to believe that. You know I’m not the one who cooks dinner. OK, uh . . . I think my cat is asking for me. No? I have to go; my husband’s on fire. God. Fine, you’ve got me. I have no idea how to end this book. I’m as good as getting out of conversations as I am at instigating them. I will leave you with these words – which I recently blurted out before hanging up on a confused GP’s receptionist: ’K, love you, bye!

As Tony Hoagland points out in his book The Art of Voice , filler words can be key to creating a voice that connects. They can create a sense of warmth, of companionship. A voice sounds more real.

But, of course, filler words make your writing less concise. And, as you can sense in the snippet by Gibbs above, a lot of filler words make writing exhausting to read.

So, think about what works for you and your audience. And, also, read your writing aloud. Does it flow naturally or does it become exhausting?

It’s up to you to find the balance between being concise and being more chatty.

12. Add gestures

Your keyboard doesn’t allow you to put hand gestures into a text.

Or does it?

< shrugs shoulders >

So, this is the trick:

You can put hand gestures or facial expressions between angled brackets.

< raises eyebrows >

It’s like putting emoticons into words.

Angled brackets can also be used to < checks notes > create a pause in your writing. Here’s Ann Handley in a recent newsletter :

You think you have a handle on a problem or a situation or a topic. You sit down to write: hands hover over laptop, claws ready to clack the keys, itching to go! Let’s GO! < seconds pass > < is it a minute already? > Your mind wanders.

Putting gestures or other comments between angled brackets can add personality to your writing. But always consider: Is this the right tone for the conversation you’re having? Or do you prefer a more concise conversational style?

Oh, and if you don’t like angled brackets, you can use *asterisks* instead.

Or, if you want to create a pause, just adding an ellipsis (…) is a neat trick, too.

13. ALL CAPS

I’m a little hesitant to mention this technique.

Because it should be used sparingly. Very sparingly.

ALL CAPS is a bit like shouting.

But the thing is this: When we talk, we can whisper, or shout, or sing.

And we can’t do that in our writing.

So, how can we emphasize our words instead?

My preferred method is to choose stronger words: Emotional words (such as despair, joyful, enchanting ) or sensory words (such as dazzling, gloomy, prickly, sweet ).

But sometimes, you may want to use ALL CAPS for extra emphasis.

For instance, Ramit Sethi occasionally uses ALL CAPS on his sales pages, like here :

There are tons of books, courses, and articles about confidence. “How to be confident at work!” “How to stop being shy on dates!”, “How to make everybody at a party love you!” The list goes on and on. The #1 piece of advice in all these materials is: “Just be yourself!” VOMIT.

And Joe Tracini also uses ALL CAPS occasionally in his memoir Ten Things I Hate About Me :

I’m scared. Terrified, really. I’m scared of what you’ll think of me, because even though I don’t know you, I don’t want to disappoint you, and I am desperate to be liked by EVERYBODY AT ALL TIMES. (Seriously. If I’m in a shop and I think the person on the till doesn’t like me, I will spend the rest of that day thinking I’ve ruined their afternoon, then worrying and wondering about how I could’ve been a better customer.)

Used sparingly, ALL CAPS can mimic the emphasis you’d add to a couple of words when talking. It’s like raising your voice.

Moreover, research indicates that putting one or two words in ALL CAPS makes it easier to understand something at a glance.

BUT …

Using ALL CAPS for longer texts reduces readability.

So, be careful: ALL CAPS can quickly be too much, and your writing tone becomes shouty.

14. Elongate your vowels

Pleeeaaaase, explain to me …

Why do we drag out our vowels?

Elongating vowels creates a more casual tone by mimicking our intonation when we talk. You may think this technique is only for teenagers on social media but even Apple uses it on their website :

The looongest battery life of any iPhone. Ever.

And Wil Reynolds writes in a blog post about SEO and AI disruption :

SEO has been “dead” or “dying” since before I got started in 1999. Mayyyyybe it’s just an industry that changes a lot.

I sometimes elongate vowels on Twitter , too:

Pleeease … Don’t tell me to write like I talk. In writing, you can’t use hand gestures & facial expressions. So, writing has to be stronger than spoken language.

You can also lengthen certain consonants. Dammmmmnnn. What a messss.

So, this is an interesting technique, most commonly used on social media. Elsewhere, use in moderation or not at all. There is a risk your tone becomes unprofessional.

Always consider who your reader is and what tone is appropriate for your conversation with them.

How casual should your writing be?

Your objective is not to make your writing as conversational and casual as possible.

Think about the topic you’re discussing with your reader.

Consider your reader’s reaction and what feelings crop up when they’re reading your text.

Also, think about the context. Social media tends to be most casual, email comes next. And blogs tend to be more conversational than books but that’s also a matter of personal preference.

Sometimes, simple and clear writing is your aim.

Sometimes, you want to go a step further and turn your text into a conversation or make the tone more informal.

How casual is your conversation with your reader?

Cup of tea? Slice of cake?

PS This is a completely refreshed and expanded version of an article originally posted on January 14th, 2014. The new version was published on August 29th, 2023.

Recommended reading on conversational writing:

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Reader Interactions

Leave a comment and join the conversation cancel reply.

June 11, 2024 at 11:59 am

Amazing content, Henneke! I’ve read the first version of the article and I’m very impressed how you could expand a guide that for me was already perfect hahaha

Tks a lot for sharing your work, your tips and your perspective of the conversional writing ❣️

June 12, 2024 at 10:10 am

Thank you, Paulo. That’s a lovely compliment. It took me a long time before I felt ready to update this guide. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

December 15, 2023 at 4:00 am

Thanks, for this very insightful post. I think that people, looking for guidance in their writing, will definitely not leave empty. I have personally gained useful tips and suggestions, that will help me in my writing. This post will add value to the newbie’s writing, like me, and even some of the more mature writers.

December 15, 2023 at 10:29 am

I’m glad you found it useful, Rupert.

October 31, 2023 at 9:46 pm

Faaaaantastic! Learnt LOADS. Thanks.

November 1, 2023 at 9:00 am

Yay! I’m glad it was helpful. 🙂

October 21, 2023 at 9:13 am

This made me laugh and all the tips are helpful. Happy Belated Birthday. It’s never too late to celebrate your beauty Henneke and to be grateful for all you are and all you share! You give me hope and inspiration and skill.

October 23, 2023 at 10:37 am

Thanks so much, Andrea. This was a fun post to write.

October 18, 2023 at 4:09 pm

For someone who has stalled on writing for a while due to so many things, bereavement being one. Reading this has truly inspired me, I’ve taken notes and I can’t wait to practice all that you shared. Very informative and useful tips. I believe you’ve just eased the burden I felt at the thoughts of going back to writing. Thank you Henneke!

October 18, 2023 at 4:56 pm

I’m sorry about your bereavement, Bukky. I hope you’ll get back to writing soon and will find joy in writing again.

September 11, 2023 at 3:33 pm

I haven’t even finished reading, and just have to say how truly helpful this is! Our company just rebranded our voice/tone, and “conversational” is our latest descriptor of how we should be writing (I’m a copywriter). I thought I knew how, but am quickly realizing how hard it is when writing about tech products. Thank you for making this so approachable and easy to understand. I have a post-it note handy with notes from your blog to keep on my desk! 🙂

September 13, 2023 at 6:58 am

Thank you, Marissa. That’s lovely feedback. Happy writing!

September 8, 2023 at 6:29 pm

Thank you so much Henneke. You’re a whole institution, trust me. 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼❤️🤗 Thank you

September 13, 2023 at 6:57 am

Thank you, Nnenna. I just enjoy writing, sharing and connecting with lovely people like you.

September 4, 2023 at 9:53 pm

Happy belated birthday, Henneke. I hope you’re feeling well. As usual, you never disappoint me with how you display your knowledge — much appreciated.

September 5, 2023 at 4:21 pm

Thank you, Dom. That’s lovely feedback. And I appreciate your birthday wishes.

September 4, 2023 at 10:07 am

Thank you very much Henneke for this long topic! I’ve already read the first version before and now I see new stuff you added. There is such information that I can’t remember all!! I feel I need to read that again from time to time to assimilate that. And Happy Birthday in late! 🤗

September 5, 2023 at 4:19 pm

Thanks so much, Alexandra. No need to remember it all. Just pick a new technique or two that appeal to you, and start practicing. When you feel you want to try something different, you can always come back. But you know that already 🙂

September 2, 2023 at 12:53 pm

Great read. In order to make the writing *even more* conversational, we might also use:

– emojis, to underline the message or suggest the opposite (yeah, right… 🙄), but used sparingly. – animated GIFs. Again, to make the point in a funny, relatable way. Maybe instead of writing gestures, we might show ’em 🙂 – larger or colored characters, to emphasize a short sequence of words. However, I’d use this technique sparingly, depending on context (I woulnd’t use it in B2B communication, but it’s ok when writing to young moms).

Apart from those, I think your list is all-inclusive 🙂

September 3, 2023 at 10:34 am

Thanks so much for adding these suggestions, Radu. Fab.

August 30, 2023 at 10:14 pm

Thank you Henneke for your precious article. Vero useeeeeeful! And… Happy Birthday from Italy. Maurizio

August 31, 2023 at 9:43 am

Sooooo glad you find this useful, Maurizio.

And thank you for your birthday wishes 🙂

August 30, 2023 at 8:37 pm

Thank you! Happy Birthday!🎉🎊🎈🎂

August 31, 2023 at 9:42 am

Thank you so much, Shauna. 🎉

August 30, 2023 at 4:31 pm

Hi Henneke, Very handy article. I love all the different ways you have picked up on to make writing sound like a real conversation – all the umms and errs. And you’ve made me realise that although I say ‘anyway’ all the time, I would never dream of writing it. So now I need to think about that, along with so and however. Thanks.

August 30, 2023 at 5:11 pm

It’ll probably be interesting to experiment and see whether you like it when you add “anyway” to your writing, and what frequency feels right.

Writing will never quite be the same as speaking. It’ll always be more concise, more structured, and a little stronger. But when we allow ourselves to be a bit more conversational, we can let our personality shine through a little more.

happy writing!

August 30, 2023 at 8:29 am

Happy birthday!

Brilliant piece; saved for future reference. Thank you.

August 30, 2023 at 11:08 am

Thank you so much, Beverley. Happy writing!

August 29, 2023 at 9:25 pm

I just finished a youth book on the 23rd Psalm that’s woven in a young girl’s life while studying it. She narrowly survived bullets randomly fired at the March 6, 2023 shooting in Allen Texas, at the Outlet Mall.

I’m mostly pleased with the book, but wished I had read—no studied, this article before starting. I tried to make the book conversational. I doubt that I succeeded. Do I rewrite with this article in mind? Probably not, since the parents of the girl have approved it. BUT, this will be a go-to on my next book.

Thanks for this article. It truly is helpful

August 30, 2023 at 11:10 am

I think that’s a wise decision. It’s easy to be tempted to keep improving a book but as it’s approved already, it’s probably better to start your next project.

Best wishes to the girl who survived the shooting.

August 29, 2023 at 8:04 pm

This is not a blog post.

But a Bible on conversational writing.

What else can I say?

Best wishes,

August 29, 2023 at 8:41 pm

As I was working on it, I was wondering whether it was bit too much!

August 29, 2023 at 5:49 pm

This landed in my inbox at the perfect time. Have a first draft of my next newsletter and it reads kind of stiff. Ugh. Your tips totally inspire me to bring it to life. Thanks, Henneke.

August 29, 2023 at 6:16 pm

Yay! That makes me happy, Fiona. Thank you. Happy editing!

August 29, 2023 at 12:54 pm

I started and couldn’t stop reading your article. And, I missed my train. Not to worry, I gained more from your item than my meeting with the bank manager. Thanks. Is it OK to use conversational writing on my website pages?

August 29, 2023 at 1:01 pm

Oops. I’m sorry you missed your train!

And yes, you can use conversational writing on your website. Just consider who is reading your website and what the right tone is to engage them.

April 18, 2023 at 12:09 pm

Hi, Can you share if a conversational tone can be used in a coffee table book?

April 18, 2023 at 4:01 pm

Sure. Why not? It depends how you want to position your coffee table book.

October 21, 2022 at 5:47 pm

You got me in awe! I just can not stop myself from reading it till the end + I want to read more !

October 22, 2022 at 4:23 pm

Thank you, Shafeeq. That’s a lovely compliment 🙂

August 12, 2022 at 1:03 pm

Great tips for chatting through writing.

Way too many bloggers and online marketers forget that human beings sit on the other side of the computer or phone. There are other humans out there reading our content and engaging us from their laptops and phones. Keeping this idea in mind urges me to be chatty, to write how I speak and to converse with fellow human beings by a Blogging From Paradise, my emails and through social media too.

We want to chat with people online not speak to them.

August 12, 2022 at 4:26 pm

Yes, so true. Conversational writing is not just for blog writing, but also emails and social media. It even works for books!

April 27, 2021 at 3:05 pm

Beautiful flow. Your message arrives home with perfect clarity and conciseness. Thumbs up Henneke.

April 27, 2021 at 6:56 pm

Thank you, Deniz. Happy writing!

September 18, 2020 at 5:18 pm

Do you have any YA novel suggestions which are written using conventional tone. I would be very interested in this. Thanks

September 18, 2020 at 5:40 pm

I don’t read a lot of YA novels. The only one I can remember reading “recently” is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I read that almost two years ago but if I remember correctly, that used a conversational tone. I’m sure there are many many more.

August 29, 2020 at 6:55 pm

This is great. I just wrote a conversational piece today. I wanted to double check if I was on the right track. This post was insightful.

I have jotted down points like checking if it looks like writing. I am going to revisit the piece tomorrow with fresh mindset and your overall tips.

Thank you so much. This was a great read and helpful in a practical way. 🙂

August 29, 2020 at 8:08 pm

I’m glad this has been helpful to you, Kavya, and I like your idea of revisiting your writing tomorrow (rather than today) to check whether it sounds like writing. Happy editing!

August 27, 2020 at 6:43 am

Wow! The post itself is written in a conversational tone. Flows well and easy to connect with. Thanks for this.

August 27, 2020 at 12:13 pm

Thank you, Martin. I’m glad you enjoyed this.

August 5, 2020 at 3:58 am

I love this! It guided me to a nice, relaxed way of blogging. This approach will allow readers to get comfortable on my blog.

August 5, 2020 at 9:39 am

Thank you, Tayler. Happy blogging!

June 29, 2020 at 4:17 pm

That was a real good post about writing good stuff.Writing is an art and you are an artist in true sense.Your writing style kept me hooked till end of the article.And I was compelled to write a comment to you. Way to go ??

June 29, 2020 at 6:20 pm

Thanks so much for your comment (and your compliment!), Preeti 🙂

June 1, 2020 at 6:24 pm

That’s great!! I think you are a fantastic writer , I like this. Good writing has a strong voice, where you can hear the writer as if they were talking to you.

June 2, 2020 at 12:55 pm

Thank you, Amit. Happy writing!

April 23, 2020 at 11:40 am

I never knew before that writing something, that too conversationally also exists. I meet new people everyday as a part of my job. I love talking to new people. And yes, asking questions definitely gets the other person involved. Thank you for such an awesome topic. I hope these tips will help me better in effective communication with my clients. Thanks and keep on giving us more.

April 23, 2020 at 12:26 pm

Asking questions is a much underrated skill. I’m glad you’ve discovered the power of questions already. Thank you for stopping by, Mihir.

March 9, 2020 at 10:19 am

I accidentally clicked on the link to your site, I liked it very much . Signed up for your free course.

March 9, 2020 at 7:35 pm

I hope you’ll enjoy the snacks, Sergey! Thank you for joining 🙂

January 24, 2020 at 5:44 pm

I loved the way you presented the ideas. I am a fan of your writing thank you. I bookmarked this post so, I can read it daily and improve my writing skills.

January 26, 2020 at 10:04 am

Thanks so much, Vijay. Happy writing!

November 28, 2019 at 11:35 am

This is amazing….!! I just got a reply from a company to write casual content, I was so confused… How am I going to do… but now I feel a little bit confident… I hope I can write well… Wish me luck….:)

November 28, 2019 at 4:56 pm

I’m glad this post is useful to you, Sandhya. Happy writing!

PS Consider asking your client for examples of conversational writing they like because the interpretation of what kind of writing is conversational may differ from company to company.

November 14, 2019 at 5:46 am

Hi Henneke,

Thank you for providing us with these useful writing tips. I often struggle with making my technical content look more informal and interesting but haven’t succeeded. With your tips, I am sure I can improve gradually.

Thanks and keep on giving us more

November 14, 2019 at 7:41 pm

I’m glad you found this useful, Amos.

Especially with technical texts, it can be useful to edit with your reader in mind. If the reader is an expert, it’s fine to use technical terms because they’d use those terms in a conversation, too. But if the reader isn’t, then it can be hard work to simplify your text to make it understandable.

Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate it.

September 11, 2019 at 7:30 am

Beautiful tips. I spend half of my day reading your tips… You are seriously to the point and have informative tips. I love it. I write small blogs but with long sentences and I learn a great deal of munching wisdom about how to clean up my writing. I think I will make a few changes in my website. I love your recipes….

September 11, 2019 at 8:25 am

Thank you so much, Jim. I’m delighted you’re enjoying my blog. Happy writing! 🙂

May 13, 2019 at 11:50 am

Cut the “writerliness” — now I have a name for this!

It feels like you live in my head (in a non-creepy way, of course) because when I revert to using passive voice or pompous-sounding words, I can almost hear you saying, “You might want to change that ?”

Thanks for your example from Ann Handley’s newsletter, I really enjoyed reading her conversational tone.

May 13, 2019 at 6:28 pm

I’m glad I don’t sound creepy when you hear me suggesting a change 😀

The word “writerliness” isn’t in the dictionary, but I think we should get it added 😉

Happy writing!

March 7, 2019 at 3:39 pm

Thank you Henneke. I love it.

March 7, 2019 at 7:03 pm

Thank you, Firdaos.

March 7, 2019 at 1:50 pm

I think a conversational tone works really well for blogs and other types of writing.

I think voice is the key to a good writer, and it is not exactly the same thing as tone. Good writing has a strong voice, where you can hear the writer as if they were talking to you.

Yes, voice is not the same as tone, even though many people use them as synonyms.

If you’d read a transcript from an interview with me, you’d notice that I talk quite differently from the way I write. It’s not like I’m a different person when I write and when I talk, and you can recognize the same personality—no matter whether I talk or write, but there’s still a big difference in the way I write and talk. Unfortunately, it’s hard to edit your talking. 🙂

March 7, 2019 at 12:12 pm

I’m hooked. Each of your articles is helpful. I love your work. Thanks.

March 7, 2019 at 12:19 pm

Thank you, Olusegun. Happy writing!

March 4, 2019 at 3:47 pm

I had read this earlier. I came back to read it again 🙂 This gold!

The first place I ever heard of ‘writerliness’ but it makes a lot of sense.

March 4, 2019 at 5:45 pm

Writerliness isn’t in the dictionary. I made it up. But writerly exists and simply means “of, relating to, or typical of a writer” (according to Merriam-Webster). So, the meaning I use is a little more specific, but it seemed the best way to express this idea that writing has specific characteristics that make it sound like writing.

Thank you for coming back to reread and comment 🙂

February 26, 2019 at 11:39 am

Love this!!

I especially like the advice about counting how many times i mention; me, I & us.

You are spot on, i’m going to keep the reader in mind as much as possible, i wanted to be the best conversationalist possible!

February 26, 2019 at 2:53 pm

Thank you, Nick. And nice to see your picture now! 🙂

February 24, 2019 at 5:52 pm

Excellent advice, Henneke. Your conversational tone kept me reading. Many blog posts lose me after the first couple of paragraphs.

February 25, 2019 at 4:56 pm

I’m glad I kept you reading. Thank you for stopping by, Kathy 🙂

February 23, 2019 at 7:31 pm

I love this post! I enjoyed how you made your points come across. Thank you, Henneke!

February 23, 2019 at 7:34 pm

Thank you, Hank!

February 22, 2019 at 5:41 pm

Great post! I adore your writing style and generous tips for those of us wishing to improve our communications. I recommend your blog to my clients. Thank you for all that you do and share. Breathe joy!

February 22, 2019 at 7:26 pm

Thank you so much, KC, for your lovely comment and for recommending my blog to your clients. I appreciate it. Happy writing!

February 21, 2019 at 4:04 pm

Came here from LinkedIn. Now I know what you meant by the tea remark. An amazing article Henneke. You’ve broken down such a complex problem into the simplest form possible. And like always, your artworks are amazing.

February 22, 2019 at 10:39 am

Yes, we’re all having tea together here. I’m glad you were able to join, too. Thank you for stopping by 🙂

February 21, 2019 at 9:06 am

Hi Henneke Great post. I am writing a conversational piece at the moment and found this very helpful. Thank you. Sue Kingham

February 22, 2019 at 10:29 am

I’m glad this was helpful, Sue. Thank you for stopping by 🙂

February 21, 2019 at 4:41 am

Wow it does not seem that long since I read a similar advice, from you, crazy how four years can seem like four months. or was it fife month? I do love your posts about quitting the fancy writing, I’m certainly not that fancy type. Thank you Henneke

It was actually five years ago when I posted the original version. I can hardly believe I’ve been writing here for so many years. Crazy, eh?

February 20, 2019 at 3:18 pm

I, too, have read this one before, felt inspired and benefited, and commented already. But. This time you really got through to my “straight A+ in English” brain. How did you do that? 😀 So, thanks very much for the re-do, and … … I noticed Henrietta is sitting on the “h”. So I’d be one seat beyond, on the “k” when I read, here. It really felt that personal. <3

February 20, 2019 at 7:41 pm

Yes, the K is there waiting for you—I drew it in the last picture. And you can put your feet on the M if you like. Shall I make you a tea or a coffee? 🙂

February 20, 2019 at 4:39 am

Good reminder Henneke – conversational writing also very apt for how-to books. Paul, wet and steamy Sydney

February 20, 2019 at 9:30 am

Yep, conversational writing works for books, too. It seems that blogs (and email) have spearheaded to drive to conversational writing but it’s used more and more in books, too. Stay cool!

February 20, 2019 at 3:21 am

What a fantastic article, brilliantly summing up the topic. A perfect snapshot of the copywriter’s job. Love the infographic!

February 20, 2019 at 9:29 am

Thank you so much, Kate. I enjoyed drawing the pictures of Henrietta and her ideal reader on the typewriter 🙂

February 19, 2019 at 11:45 pm

Yes, this is what conversational feels like. I find myself learning to write shorter posts these days. This was certainly a great read. I have shared with my team, I shouldn’t take in the awesomeness alone.

February 20, 2019 at 9:28 am

Thank you so much for sharing this with your team, Mary. I appreciate it. Happy writing!

February 19, 2019 at 10:49 pm

I’ve read this post before, but I love it and totally concur. I picked up something new this time. Your distinction about writing as you write rather than as you speak got my attention this time. I hadn’t picked up on that before, but it really makes a lot of sense. Going forward, I think that will be very helpful in my writing. Thanks for yet another great idea.

That point about conversational writing not being the same as writing as you speak wasn’t worked out in the old version. I expanded it quite a lot. (And I also edited it so it sounds more like the way I write now rather than five years ago.)

Thank you for stopping by again, Gordon!

February 19, 2019 at 10:29 pm

Your email arrived in my Inbox at precisely the right time . . . when I am beginning to overhaul my Web site. Good reminders of how you can win over business not by being formal and intellectual, but by being more concise and casual. Thank you appearing in my life.

February 20, 2019 at 9:26 am

I’m glad this email arrived at the right time. Good luck with overhauling your website! Such projects can feel a bit intimidating.

February 19, 2019 at 10:09 pm

Hi Henneke I loved this, however, when I went to say thank you in the comments I felt like I missed a really good part FIVE YEARS AGO. I have so many writing hang-ups at the moment, this helps at least one.

love alwaz mike

February 20, 2019 at 9:25 am

I’m sorry you missed out five years ago, but I can reassure you this new version is a lot better! 🙂

Do you have any specific writing hang-ups I can help with?

February 19, 2019 at 8:29 pm

Brilliant, Henneke! I read many copywriting and business books but few write as well as you do. The list of these writers such as Dan Kennedy, Ted Nicholas, Seth Godin, Drayton Bird and many others simply don’t write as clearly and succinctly as you do. Robert Ringer and Andy Maslen aren’t among those – they write well and are always interesting. It seems to me that ‘if it isn’t interesting it won’t be informative’ (don’t know where I read that!). Thanks again.

February 19, 2019 at 8:38 pm

Wow. That’s a big compliment. Thank you, Paul ?

February 19, 2019 at 6:35 pm

You always hit the nail on the head–wham! Also want you to know your Enchanting Marketing “class” is proving so helpful. I write fiction stories not content marketing but believe me, I appreciate the help you give. Besides, your book recommendations are terrific. Don’t know how you’re able to do so much and give so generously to so many hungry birds! (I’m allowed one exclamation point–right?)

February 19, 2019 at 8:37 pm

I’m so happy to know that you’re finding the Write It, Don’t Fight It course helpful! Thank you so much for stopping by, Patrica. I appreciate it.

February 19, 2019 at 4:01 pm

I so agree, Henneke! Writing that feels conversational is still writing. It still takes work! I used to think, to warm and friendly, just transcribe a real conversation. That did not work! My transcribed interviews just seemed to lay there like a sack of potatoes. Your editing steps are essential! They’re like the chopping and cooking that turns a heap of words into something wonderful (like french fries). Your article says it best. A conversational tone is deliberate. It’s your choice of a few deft cuts, some heat and some sharp sensory spices that delight eaters – er – readers like me.

February 19, 2019 at 5:35 pm

I read a book a couple of years ago. It was a business book but the author also writes poetry which surprised me because the book didn’t feel like it was written by a poet who appreciates words. There was something lazy about the writing. Later I discovered that he’d dictated the book. Dictating helped him overcome writer’s block. The editing was pretty good so it wasn’t noticeable at first but still it something was slightly “off.” So, yes, as you say, the conversational tone is deliberate and takes some work.

Thank you for stopping by, Joanne!

February 19, 2019 at 3:18 pm

What can I say? Written so nice and concise. Pour me another cuppa!

February 19, 2019 at 5:32 pm

Coffee or tea? 🙂

February 19, 2019 at 1:33 pm

As always, Henneke, a wonderful post. I love the freshness of your post structure. So different to the Google formula of H1 to H10 or whatever.No table of contents or video as is deemed so vital by big bloggers. Thank you for an entertaining post.

February 19, 2019 at 2:19 pm

Thank you for your lovely compliment, Poovanesh. I prefer to put my readers first (and I’ve found that works quite well for Google, too).

February 19, 2019 at 1:30 pm

Nailed it! Your drawings drive the point home perfectly. (And, of course, I ❤️the ?!) ?

February 19, 2019 at 2:18 pm

The dog loves you, too 🙂

February 19, 2019 at 1:22 pm

Very inspiring. Thank you.

February 19, 2019 at 1:26 pm

My pleasure 🙂

February 19, 2019 at 12:51 pm

Brilliant as usual Henneke. Thanks for the salient reminder. I guess you could say: “Don’t be boring!”.

February 19, 2019 at 12:56 pm

Yes, that helps, too. 🙂

Good to “see” you again, Ray!

February 19, 2019 at 12:23 pm

Henneke, you’ve come up with another Classic. It’s on my wall. In front of my desk.

And it’s the first thing I read every day.

And while you at it, thank Kerstin for me.

February 19, 2019 at 12:26 pm

Conversational writing is one of my favorite topics. I was nervous about revisiting the old post but I’m glad I did (and it changed more than I had envisioned). 🙂

Thank you for your comment, Lee, and happy writing!

February 19, 2019 at 11:56 am

I felt like your favourite reader, so you nailed it. And I’m looking forward to drink tea with you one day .. ha ha (but not kidding). Your imagery is so funny e.g. “Send difficult words to the naughty corner and throw a party for simple words.” Ha ha. All the best, Tine

February 19, 2019 at 12:14 pm

One day we’ll drink tea together! 🙂

February 19, 2019 at 11:49 am

Henneke you know your stuff

Thank you, Jacqueline. 🙂

March 21, 2018 at 5:30 pm

I thank you very much and love everything you send me, I love illustration and I will not forget it.

March 23, 2018 at 11:51 am

Thank you, Samar. Happy writing!

February 12, 2018 at 3:28 am

Good Article and explained nicely, what needs to be taken care to make the writing as conversational writing

February 12, 2018 at 9:51 am

I’m glad you enjoyed it, Harish. Happy writing!

September 9, 2017 at 11:38 am

This post is great. The point about short paragraphs is the one that resonates most with me.

I hire a professional writer to write our blog, and at times, I have to go in and break up 6-10 sentence paragraphs. I hate seeing it!

The web and content format is changing so dramatically, nobody wants to read a wall of text these days!

February 16, 2017 at 7:28 pm

This is an excellent article. I’ve just noticed that I use exclamation rather than questions far too much in my writing. Maybe that’s where I’ve been going wrong?

February 16, 2017 at 9:29 pm

Thank you for stopping by, Derek.

April 25, 2016 at 5:08 pm

Just a suggestion: maybe you can add some definite heuristics as well.. such as some effective techniques that have been proven to work.. say for reducing content length, I’d say change from “in order to” to just “to”.. something like that

March 11, 2016 at 3:58 am

Great tips! I’ve just one question: how do you handle clients who insist that conversational writing is not ‘professional’? Had a recent client who insisted, in a snooty curl-in-the-lip manner, that they are a premium brand dealing with professional readers, and so things like contractions, short sentences, using 1st/2nd pov etc. are improper.

Problem is, the style they want would bore even the most stone-hearted tax accountant to tears :-/

I suppose my real question is: Can premium B2B branding still be portrayed through a more humane, conversational writing?

March 14, 2016 at 10:11 pm

Yes, that’s tricky. You still have to respect the brand voice, even if you don’t agree with it. With some clients you can adjust the guidelines for tone of voice, but others are pretty set in their ways.

To me, B2B is also writing for people, and yes, it can be portrayed in a more conversational way of writing, but not all brand managers like that. Of course, depending on who you’re talking to, your language may be more technical as you write using the same terms your audience uses.

January 19, 2016 at 4:51 pm

Hi there! I have always been hesitant to use “you” as it may sound preachy. Everyone I talk to says it’s best to write in 1st person. What do you think?

Also, agree on white space and editing. So much easier to read.

Learning forward!

January 19, 2016 at 5:02 pm

I use “you” a lot in my blog posts, and it doesn’t feel preachy to me 🙂

September 18, 2015 at 1:21 pm

Going through the comments section I realized that I went through a lot of conversational writing. Most of the writers were perhaps not aware of it. Awesome post 🙂

September 18, 2015 at 2:27 pm

September 3, 2015 at 2:44 pm

Thank you Henneke, this post is going to help me begin my blogging journey!

September 6, 2015 at 2:29 pm

Great! Happy blogging!

August 19, 2015 at 5:49 pm

Thank you Henneke, this is a sweet post. I already hankered for more.

August 19, 2015 at 6:56 pm

Thank you, Felix. Nice to meet 🙂

Happy reading!

April 17, 2015 at 1:13 pm

Beautiful tips. I spend half of my day reading your tips… You are seriously to the point and have informative tips. I love it. I write small blogs but with long sentences and I learn a great deal of munching wisdom about how to clean up my writing. I think I will make a few changes in my website. I love your recipes…. 🙂

April 17, 2015 at 1:24 pm

I love your phrase “munching” 🙂

Happy reading and happy writing!

July 14, 2014 at 7:41 am

Yes, thank you for your answer and for the examples!

July 13, 2014 at 7:31 am

Hi Henneke, I totally agree with you on this. But I’ve got a question: I’m working for a Dutch university. One of my tasks is to write texts for the university website. My target audience are prospective students. I would love to change the way we, as a university, talk to our readers. Because, frankly, I think all our copy is totally boring, generic and abstract (“Are you innovative and interested in current issues? Then you should enroll in programme X.”). I can’t seem to persuade my bosses of the need to switch to personalized writing though, because – as they put it – it’s important that as many secondary education pupils as possible should recognize themselves in our texts. And ofcourse its true that people have many different reasons to choose a particular education. So, my question is: is it even possible for organizations with so many different target audiences with such divergent interests to find a personal tone of voice in their writing? And if so, how would you tackle this problem? Thanks in advance for your advice, I really appreciate it!

July 13, 2014 at 2:23 pm

Hi Evelyne – that’s an excellent question and can be a tricky problem when people are stuck in old-fashioned writing.

I’d say the first thing to make sure is that your bosses understand the differences between how people read on the web vs how they read an academic paper or a book. This will help them understand the importance of using white space, short sentences, short paragraphs, and simple words.

When you need to appeal to a wider audience, you want to keep your word choice fairly neutral – you can’t add personality by using slang as not everyone will understand it (unless you do for instance specific case studies to appeal to specific groups of students).

Dropbox and Evernote are good examples of companies who appeal to a wide audience, but sound human in their writing. They do this by simplifying their writing, keeping content concise, and focusing strongly on benefits rather than features.

Does this help?

April 16, 2014 at 2:41 am

Henneke, Just now got here, for some unknown reason, and as I read your post, I realized who I would write to, immediately. When I first began blogging, I followed a lovely young woman who inspired me, totally, with her great posts. I wondered how she did everything she did, and why she bothered to visit my site. Then she was attacked on fb, and decided to take a break. My heart was broken, because I saw her as a sort of bloggy mom. although I was old enough to be HER mom. After reading this post, I realize she is who I should write my posts for, sort of in her memory, although she is very much alive and has another new baby to show for her time off. I can constantly visualize her, as I always have, but never did write for/to her. Also, I have noticed on my other site, that when I write advice letters to people whose names I have changed, but whose situations are real, my posts REALLY resonate with people. That’s just what you are talking about, I think…

April 16, 2014 at 11:29 am

Yep, when you write for one person rather than for a crowd of readers, your writing becomes more “real”. Readers will notice it in your writing voice. And they all feel like you’re writing for them personally.

February 5, 2014 at 8:11 pm

This was a nice post, Henneke. I love this quote.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. ~ Elmore Leonard

I think that in all aspects of our digital communications, we need to be more conversational. If there is no personal feel or touch, then what is the point? On that note, I included your post in my roundup of the month’s best SEO, social media, and content marketing. http://www.northcutt.com/blog/2014/02/january-resource-round-up-the-best-of-seo-social-media-and-content-marketing/

February 5, 2014 at 11:38 pm

Yep, conversational writing works in all digital communication. Thank you for stopping by, Ben, and for including my article in your roundup. Much appreciated 🙂

February 4, 2014 at 3:03 pm

In preparation for launching my own blog I’ve start reading posts like these, and I can’t tell you how much it’s helping. Before doing any research into it all I would be writing in a style that might sit somewhere in between this and sleazy sales person, unintentionally of course.

Maybe I should re-consider the copy on my website as well? (see what I did there? :D)

So, thank you again 🙂

February 4, 2014 at 4:18 pm

You’re a quick learner, Sean 🙂

Good luck with launching your blog!

February 1, 2014 at 1:53 pm

Hello Henneke,

I am a first-time reader, and found your guest post from one of my Facebook groups. I really enjoy your writing style, and I can see where some of my blog posts have fallen flat. Thank you for sharing the “how” of storytelling in such an enchanting manner.

February 1, 2014 at 9:06 pm

Hi Holly, Welcome & thank you for taking the time to comment on your first visit. I appreciate it 🙂 Glad to hear you find my blog posts useful!

January 29, 2014 at 3:30 pm

You are a writer–and a darn good one. And I can picture a Kindle children’s book with those super cute pictures. Now you just need a story and title to go with it! 😉

January 29, 2014 at 4:34 pm

Thank you, Penelope. 🙂

Maybe one day I can write and illustrate a children’s book for grown-ups. 😉

February 20, 2019 at 2:52 pm

Oh, yes. Do! Don’t you think a children’s book on how to become a writer would be great? I can imagine if there’d been such a book when I was enjoying writing assignments the MOST in grade school. Wouldn’t you love to cause a child to have courage and begin far earlier than I did? A MUST!!! 😀

January 29, 2014 at 12:34 am

Ok, Henneke. You are going to have to take on the title of “artist” along with writer. Are you up for that? 😉

Now you’ve got me wondering how many questions I have in my posts. I’m gonna go count ’em now. Thanks for germinating and sprouting all these new ideas in my head!

January 29, 2014 at 9:59 am

An artist?!? Not sure I’m quite ready for that yet. I’ve barely got used to the idea of calling myself a writer. 😉

January 23, 2014 at 6:15 am

Dear Henneke,

It is this time I am grateful. Thank you for your generous contributions over time. You have truly enriched my life with a well-toned understanding of writing a Blog.

January 23, 2014 at 11:47 am

You’re welcome, Joel. Thank you for stopping by 🙂

January 21, 2014 at 10:58 am

Thank you Henneke 🙂

January 17, 2014 at 3:49 am

Once again, awesome post, and so completely relevant!

I really like the idea of writing to one reader. As soon as I’m writing to a crowd, I can’t write at all. But I have this ongoing fear that if I write to one reader…my favorite reader…my ideal reader…I’ll connect with such an infinitesimal group of people.

I want to write about writing and marketing. Marketing with soul, you know. Because I feel like anything done with love, with real authenticity, with the soul, is infinitely better. But I’m finding it difficult to take the leap to even do that myself.

Thanks so much, Melissa

January 17, 2014 at 10:43 am

Yes, I so agree with you about writing with the soul. You’ll find that if you write for one reader it becomes much easier to write with soul and personality.

In a way having an ideal reader is just a “trick” to make your writing more engaging. Don’t worry about connecting just with one reader or a few. When you write for one person, it doesn’t mean that only one person will feel you’re talking with them. Many people will feel you’ve written the post especially for them, because many people are struggling with the same problems and challenges as your ideal reader.

Does that help?

January 18, 2014 at 3:42 am

It’s still a little scary, but your words help a lot! Thanks a bunch.

January 16, 2014 at 1:01 am

Hi again, love your drawings. Please note my website is not operating at the moment. I had to remove the files. So at the moment I am reworking everything. Give me a couple of days and I will get back to normal. You see this is the case with novices, mistakes, mistakes and more mistakes. I hope when I have restored the site it will be better in many ways. Also I hope eventually to start a blog that is why I read as much as I can. Your site I enjoy very much. That drawing has again just ‘pinged’ in my mind, so clean cut very striking. I shall have some of my own art, rather conventional, on my site when it is re-published, you might take some time to view. Thanks again for more interesting material, Tom

January 16, 2014 at 4:54 pm

We all make mistakes, Tom. It’s human 🙂

Good luck with reworking your site!

January 15, 2014 at 9:22 pm

Wow, I feel truly honoured to have inspired this post. It’s fantastic and really great advice as always. I just read all the comments you got for this post – looks like I’m not the only one struggling with this particular point. Happy new year, Henneke, and thank you so much for your great blog. xx

January 15, 2014 at 9:55 pm

Thank you so much for all your great comments last year, Kerstin. You inspire me to keep writing. 🙂

Happy new year to you, too!

January 15, 2014 at 6:39 pm

Thanks for the tips. I use “You” a bit more than I should in my posts, as in “You are loved” opposed to “I love you.” Will work on it:)

January 15, 2014 at 9:54 pm

Great! I hope you enjoyed the cake 😉

Thank you for stopping by, Clara.

January 15, 2014 at 5:18 pm

Great post, Henneke! Love how you flipped the idea of writing like you talk and rather to edit your text so it doesn’t sound like writing. Great way to think of it.

January 15, 2014 at 6:17 pm

Thank you, Jonas. This is really how it works for me. I have to edit out the gobbledygook and undulating sentences to make a text more conversational.

Good to see you here! 🙂

January 15, 2014 at 9:47 am

H. firstly, what a great drawing! You should definitely keep going. Thank you also for giving me permission to use but, because, and at the start of sentences. Whilst I’ve let go of other writing formalities, these have been particularly hard to let go. And sometimes it just feels right to start a sentence this way. Really enjoying reading your posts.

January 15, 2014 at 10:15 am

Thank you so much, Caroline. And good to see you’ve given yourself permission to start a sentence with And . You deserve a big slice of cake. 🙂

Just tell that high school teacher to shut up with his old-fashioned advice 🙂

January 15, 2014 at 12:41 pm

Nomnomnom 🙂

January 15, 2014 at 4:13 am

Hi! I just stumbled upon your work and I’m totally hooked!

I’m a marketer in the Philippines. Like you, English is not my native language, but it’s the language I use to reach customers. (Here English is unofficially the language of business.)

You make me want to go back and improve everything I’ve done in the past. Now I know how to do it. Thank you!

January 15, 2014 at 10:12 am

Welcome, Rhea. It’s so nice to have people from across the world joining the conversation here. I hope you took a big slice of the cake 😉

January 14, 2014 at 9:59 pm

Henneke, I love your illustration . Congratulations! I’m proud of you

January 14, 2014 at 10:16 pm

Thank you, Louie. As one of my most loyal readers you deserve a real slice of cake some time!

January 14, 2014 at 9:58 pm

As part of my New Year’s plan to get a handle on my e-mail in-box I have unsubscribed from most of the e-mail lists I have been on. But, I love receiving your e-mails because I feel exactly the way you describe in your post when I see yours come in. Thanks for your clear, helpful, engaging, and very personalized writing!

January 14, 2014 at 10:14 pm

I feel honored that you’re still allowing my emails in your inbox. Thank you. I’ll do my best to keep rewarding you with a slice of cake each week 🙂

January 14, 2014 at 8:57 pm

Another great post. I’m definitely guilty of not asking enough questions and not focusing enough on the reader.

– Steve

P.S. The cartoon was cute as well

It’s easy to forget the reader – you can’t see him yawning, glancing at his cellphone, or fidgeting in his seat as a sign that you’re rambling on too much. A face-to-face conversation is much easier.

Thank you for stopping by! 🙂

January 14, 2014 at 7:18 pm

Hi Henneke, Excellent article. You do write very conversationally, so you are walking the walk.

I cringe everytime I see an exclamation mark because I feel as if I’m being “screamed at.” And besides, it takes away from prudent use of it!!!! So many !!!! in our lives, it feels like so much noise!

I love the picture of Henrietta & Arthur!!!! (Those are sincere) Mary

January 14, 2014 at 7:41 pm

I once wrote that using more than one exclamation mark – in an email or blog post – is a crime against enchantment. I still believe this is true.

And yes, I do my best to walk the walk. Thank you so much, Mary 🙂

January 14, 2014 at 4:14 pm

Really helpful. Thank you! Learned a lot this week. And I’m particularly motivated as I did a survey of respondents last week and when asked what I could improve, a few of them said my grammar! I couldn’t agree more.

Interesting to read your comment about your native Dutch coming out – my New Zealand comes out too. I try and catch it, because people don’t understand me when I use words like “niggle” (irritate), “puke” (throw up) or “pash (kiss),” but they still occasionally slip through.

This language business is awfully fun. And I love reading your emails each week. Thanks again, Lisa (PS: Have you read “On Writing” by Stephen King? Am reading at the moment, again. Very inspiring.)

January 14, 2014 at 5:21 pm

Yes, language is fun. I sometimes use British words without realizing they’re specific to British-English and others might not get them.

I like the word “niggle” – it’s also used over here. I’m surprised people don’t know the word “puke” – I see it used quite a lot in blog posts. “Pash” sounds nice, but is new to me 🙂

Yes, “On Writing” is one of my faves, too. Have you read “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott? That’s inspirational, too.

Good to see you again!

January 14, 2014 at 5:58 pm

Ooh, thanks, I haven’t read that one. Will check it out.

And, yeah I was surprised about those words too. (“Pash” is what a NZ young person might call kissing, more than just a peck. A fun word to use!) Have a great week:)

January 14, 2014 at 3:40 pm

Henneke, I see that asking questions is so important, and I enjoy “talking” to you, answering the questions in your text. I will do it in our next post, thanks for pointing out.

January 14, 2014 at 4:08 pm

Always good to have you around for tea and cake 😉

January 14, 2014 at 3:35 pm

Love this article Henneke! Your drawing is amazing as well. I look forward to seeing more of them 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing your tools and knowledge. I especially found the use of question marks very helpful. Conversational copy is something that *seems* like it should be so easy…but it can be hard to retrain ourselves and unlearn what we’ve learned in school. But, we must adapt, right? 🙂

January 14, 2014 at 3:42 pm

Yes, I think that’s the mistake many people make – conversational copy *seems* easy because it’s so easy to read. But the truth is that it’s damn hard work to eradicate gobbledygook and to make each sentence flow naturally.

Thank you for stopping by, Kristy. I appreciate it! 🙂

January 14, 2014 at 3:32 pm

Hi, Henneke, You write the best emails with great headlines that always make me want to read your posts.

Why don’t you teach a headline class?? Blog post writing class??

I would take it and I’m sure some of your other readers would also! Sue

Hi Sue, thank you so much. Stay tuned – I’m developing a blog writing e-course.

I’m hoping to have an early bird list live before the end of February. 🙂

PS Isn’t it wonderful how two question marks (“??”) indicate a pleasant amount of impatience?

January 14, 2014 at 3:16 pm

I love the idea of adding questions in a blog post to engage the reader even more. Do you think this would apply to product descriptions as well?

January 14, 2014 at 3:17 pm

P.S. Love the illustration!

January 14, 2014 at 3:24 pm

Thank you 🙂

Good to see your (new?) avatar!

January 14, 2014 at 3:23 pm

That’s a good question! You made me think … Most product descriptions might be too short to include questions. Questions might sound unnatural as you don’t have enough time to really start a conversation. But if you write longer product descriptions it can work.

January 14, 2014 at 3:00 pm

A great post. Thank you so much. Loved the *3* essential tools you gave me. I could even ‘hear’ some dialect in your post, eh? Congratulations Henneke!

January 14, 2014 at 3:05 pm

You might be hearing my Dutch accent 😉

I used to be dead-nervous about using “Dutchisms” (phrases inspired by Dutch – my native language) in my blog posts, but I’ve now decided that’s part of my charm.

Thank you, John.

January 14, 2014 at 2:22 pm

H. Passive sentences are some of my challenges. How do you feel about checking your writing via http://www.read-able.com ? Keeps me on my finger tips. sQs Your advocate in Delray Beach FL

January 14, 2014 at 2:36 pm

I haven’t used this particular tool, but I have used the readability stats that Microsoft Word shows (if you tick the right box and do a spelling check). I’ve been a bit sloppier with this recently, but a year ago I would religiously check:

(a) the average number of words per sentence – I would go back to chop up long sentences and tighten my text when my average was over 14 words per sentence

(b) passive sentences – even if I had only 1% of passive sentences, I would try rephrasing the passive sentence. Occasionally I’d be happy to leave a passive sentence.

February 1, 2014 at 1:48 pm

Looks for the word “are” – it is not active. It is sitting on the couch. So are all verbs of “being.” If you catch one, try to change it. Example: “Passive sentences are some of my challenges” is more powerful as, “Passive sentences challenge me.” Whenever you can find the verb form of a noun, use it and remove “is” or “are.” Happy writing!

January 14, 2014 at 12:41 pm

‘Sleazy salesmen use exclamation marks. Good conversationalists use question marks.’ >> That is a world famous quote by Henneke D, did you know that?

January 14, 2014 at 1:20 pm

Somehow it feels like it has taken me a year to write these two sentences. They just clicked into place yesterday. To me they express the essence of good writing.

January 14, 2014 at 1:34 pm

Of effective writing, for sure!

January 14, 2014 at 12:31 pm

Henrietta looks very happy today! :))) Just a question: when you talk about “your favourite reader” why is it a “she”? Is it like boats, planes… and always feminine? Bit confused.

January 14, 2014 at 1:14 pm

I’m not sure who’s happier – Henrietta herself or her dog Arthur? 😉

Your reader can be a “she” or a “he”. It depends on who you like working with most.

January 14, 2014 at 12:12 pm

Truth is… I’m thinking about unsunbscribing from a blog for feeling that they care not for their readers.

The writing is good, so are the ideas — but their emails are nothing but links to the day’s post (ok, not much harm in that), while I see no answers on their blog comments, nor any real interaction on their FB page.

It’s only talk, talk, talk, or rather write-and-post-it, and I even think that even their blog commenters have tailed away lately.

January 14, 2014 at 1:10 pm

Yes, you make an excellent point. Readers can sense it immediately when writers don’t care and when they’re insincere.

January 14, 2014 at 11:59 am

You did it. I’m really waiting for the next slice of your home-made cake. 🙂

January 14, 2014 at 1:03 pm

Thank you, Paul 🙂

Don’t tell anyone, but the truth is that in real life I’m not so good at baking cakes – I prefer cooking a delicious meal!

January 14, 2014 at 11:56 am

Thanks Henneke, another keeper of a blog post. makes a lot of sense. Time for me to head off to the local cafe and write up the first draft of my next newsletter I think… Oh, and really like your illustrations, VERY cute doggie!

January 14, 2014 at 1:00 pm

Yes, that’s a good idea. I’m sure writing in a local cafe can make your content livelier, too!

Thank you for stopping by, Lynne 🙂

January 14, 2014 at 11:31 am

Can’t agree more! This is really good advice. And I love your illustration, Henneke!

January 14, 2014 at 12:56 pm

Thank you, Lucy. The book Leonardo’s Swans sounds interesting!

January 14, 2014 at 10:21 pm

Thank you for the link to the photos, Henneke. I’m feeling super inspired now! Have to do something like this with my paintings.

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Mastering how to write a conversation in an essay.

Updated: May 29, 2024

Ever felt your essay lacked that spark to truly immerse the reader? Writing conversations in essays can be tricky, balancing authenticity with academic rigor. To write a conversation effectively, use dialogue to add depth, emotional resonance, or clarify the content, ensuring it captures attention and feels realistic. In this blog post, we'll explore how to skillfully integrate dialogue into your essays, from understanding its purpose to mastering formatting rules like APA and MLA.

Understanding Dialogue in Essays

Dialogue in essays is not just about replicating spoken words but about enhancing the narrative and providing depth to the characters and the situation. It serves several key purposes: it can advance the plot, reveal hidden motives, or highlight conflicts. In narrative essays, dialogue breathes life into characters, making them more relatable and vivid to the reader. Similarly, in argumentative essays, it can illustrate points more dynamically and engage the reader more effectively than a simple exposition might.

The importance of dialogue in essays cannot be overstated. It transforms the reading experience by adding layers of meaning and emotion that pure descriptive text cannot achieve. For instance, dialogue can:

• Showcase a character’s personality and speech patterns,
• Build tension or suspense through interactions,
• Provide insights into the plot without a direct narration. Thus, mastering the use of dialogue is essential for any student or writer aiming to craft compelling and persuasive essays.

Exploring Types of Dialogue for Essays

In essays, dialogue can be categorized into three main types: direct , indirect , and inner dialogue. Direct dialogue involves the exact words spoken by characters, enclosed in quotation marks, providing a vivid sense of conversation. It's particularly effective in narrative essays where capturing the immediacy of an interaction is crucial. Indirect dialogue , on the other hand, paraphrases the spoken words without quotation marks, often used to summarize conversations or to blend dialogue into a descriptive passage, making it less disruptive and maintaining a more formal tone suitable for academic or analytical writing.

Inner dialogue reflects the thoughts or internal conversations of a character, offering a glimpse into their motivations and emotional states. This type of dialogue is usually not marked by quotation marks but may be italicized to differentiate it from external dialogue. Each type of dialogue serves a unique purpose in an essay:

• Direct dialogue adds realism and immediacy,
• Indirect dialogue smooths narrative flow while conveying essential information,
• Inner dialogue deepens character development and emotional engagement. Understanding when and how to use each type can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your writing, making your essays more dynamic and engaging.

Structuring Dialogue in Essays

Structuring dialogue effectively in an essay is crucial for maintaining clarity and ensuring a smooth flow of the narrative. When integrating dialogue, it's important to consider its placement within the context of your essay. Begin a new paragraph each time a different character speaks, which helps the reader easily follow the conversation. Additionally, ensure that each piece of dialogue serves a purpose, whether it's pushing the narrative forward, revealing character traits, or providing necessary information. Avoid cluttering your essay with unnecessary dialogue that does not enhance your argument or story.

To maintain a clear structure, use dialogue tags judiciously. These are phrases like 'he said' or 'she asked' that attribute the spoken words to a character. While necessary for clarity, repetitive dialogue tags can become cumbersome. Instead, mix them with action or descriptions that convey the speaker's mood or reactions, providing a richer picture without repetitive tags. For instance:

• John sighed. "I don't know what to do," he admitted.
• "Really?" Mary raised an eyebrow. "I thought you had it figured out."

This approach not only identifies who is speaking but also adds depth to the dialogue.

Start Writing Your Free Essay!

Formatting dialogue in academic essays.

When incorporating dialogue into academic essays, it's crucial to adhere to specific formatting guidelines to maintain the essay's credibility and readability. Different academic styles, such as APA or MLA, have particular rules for dialogue formatting that must be followed. For instance, in APA style, dialogue included as part of your narrative should be enclosed in double quotation marks, and each new speaker's dialogue should start a new paragraph.

Using the correct formatting not only helps in distinguishing the speakers but also aids in the overall presentation of your essay, making it easier for readers to follow the conversation. Here are some essential pointers:

• Always use double quotation marks for direct speech.
• Start a new paragraph for each new speaker to enhance clarity.
• Ensure that punctuation marks like commas, periods, or question marks are placed inside the closing quotation marks.

Adhering to these formatting rules is not just about following guidelines but about enhancing the reader's understanding and engagement with the content. Properly formatted dialogue can transform a simple narrative into an intriguing and dynamic discussion, thereby elevating the quality of the academic essay. Remember, consistency in your formatting choices throughout the essay is key to a polished and professional presentation.

Rules for Formatting Dialogue Correctly

To format dialogue correctly in academic essays, focus on punctuation, capitalization, and paragraphing. Begin each character's dialogue with a new line and enclose their speech in double quotation marks . Ensure that all punctuation marks that are part of the dialogue are placed inside the closing quotation marks. For example, if a sentence within dialogue ends with a period, the period should be inside the quotation marks. Additionally, the first word in each line of dialogue should be capitalized, unless it's part of a continuing sentence.

Examples of Dialogue in Essays

Let's explore some practical examples to understand how dialogue can be effectively used in essays. For instance, in a narrative essay about a family dispute, you might write: John exclaimed, "I can't believe you would say that!" This direct dialogue, enclosed in double quotation marks, vividly captures John's shock and helps the reader feel the tension. In another example, an academic essay discussing communication styles might include: Dr. Smith argues, "Non-verbal cues are often misunderstood," illustrating the expert's opinion through direct dialogue.

In a reflective essay, using inner dialogue can add depth, such as I thought to myself, 'Is this really the right choice?' This internal questioning highlights the narrator's conflict without direct speech. For indirect dialogue, consider a history essay example: The general told his troops that they would advance at dawn, which paraphrases the speech to integrate smoothly into a factual narrative. Each example demonstrates how dialogue can enhance the textual engagement and clarity, making the characters and scenarios more relatable and impactful.

Crafting a Conversational Essay

Crafting a conversational essay is all about making your writing feel like a chat between friends, rather than a formal lecture. This style not only engages readers but also helps them connect with the material on a personal level. To achieve this, you can start by using everyday language and short, punchy sentences that mimic natural speech.

Techniques to enhance the conversational feel include:

• Asking rhetorical questions to provoke thought,
• Using contractions like "you're" instead of "you are", which sound more natural,
• Incorporating personal anecdotes or light humor to establish a friendly tone. These strategies make the essay not just informative but also enjoyable to read, keeping your audience hooked from start to finish.

Enhance Your Essays with Samwell.ai

Samwell.ai revolutionizes the way you write essays with dialogue, making them more engaging and authentic. The AI-powered writing assistant helps you craft realistic conversations that enhance the narrative and emotional depth of your essays. This tool ensures that each dialogue piece is not only well-integrated but also adheres to academic standards, maintaining the balance between creativity and academic integrity.

Additionally, Samwell.ai offers advanced plagiarism checks and access to authentic sources , which are crucial for backing up your dialogues with credible information. With features like in-text citations and multimedia integrations, your essays become more comprehensive and informative, providing a richer context to the conversations within your academic writings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a conversation with an example essay.

A conversation in an essay is a way to include spoken words between characters to enhance the narrative, provide depth, or illustrate points dynamically. For example, in a narrative essay about a family dispute, you might include: John exclaimed, "I can't believe you would say that!" This direct dialogue, enclosed in double quotation marks, vividly captures John's shock and helps the reader feel the tension.

How to show a conversation in writing?

To show a conversation in writing, use direct dialogue by enclosing the spoken words in double quotation marks and starting a new paragraph for each speaker. Additionally, use dialogue tags like 'he said' or 'she asked' to attribute the spoken words to a character. For instance: John sighed. "I don't know what to do," he admitted. "Really?" Mary raised an eyebrow. "I thought you had it figured out."

How is a conversation written?

A conversation is written by using direct dialogue where the exact words spoken by characters are enclosed in quotation marks, and each new speaker's dialogue starts a new paragraph. Use dialogue tags to attribute the spoken words to a character, and ensure punctuation like commas and periods are placed inside the closing quotation marks. For example, you might write: John exclaimed, "I can't believe you would say that!"

How do you write a good conversation?

Writing a good conversation involves using realistic dialogue that reflects the character's personality and advances the plot or theme of the essay. Start each character's speech in a new paragraph, use double quotation marks for direct dialogue, and mix dialogue tags with action or descriptions. Ensure each piece of dialogue serves a purpose, whether revealing character traits, building tension, or providing necessary information. For example: John sighed. "I don't know what to do," he admitted. "Really?" Mary raised an eyebrow. "I thought you had it figured out."

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How to Achieve a Conversational Tone in Your Writing

• By Lavender Nguyen
• October 28, 2020

Table of Contents

Boosting engagement with your content can be as simple as writing the way you talk. .

A well-quoted stat in marketing circles states that 8 out of 10 people will read a headline, but that only 2 out of 10 will actually go on to read beyond the headline. The deciding factor may very well be the tone of your copy: how you sound, who you seem to be.

Neil Patel, co-founder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar and KISSmetrics ran an A/B test on two versions of the same blog post — one written in a formal tone, and the other written conversationally. 

Here’s what he found:

• 247% more readers consumed the full article when written in a conversational tone
• Readers spent an average of 4:45 minutes reading the conversational version, and only 1:22 minutes on the formal tone version

The conversational tone post came out the clear winner. 

In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to achieve a conversational tone in your writing. We’ll cover:

What is a conversational writing style?

• The difference between conversational writing and formal writing
• When you should use conversational writing
• 11 tips for practicing conversational writing
• Real examples of conversational copy 

Ready? Let’s dig in. 

Conversational writing feels like a one-on-one conversation between your audience and you. 

It’s real, meaningful, and relevant. It should create a kind of intimacy—ideally by using language and phrasing familiar to the audience. And it avoids stodgy words and sentence construction at all costs!

Let’s look at an example.

Little Black Kat Creative is a graphic design firm that produces unique, custom designs. Her website invites the audience to have some fun with her, and uses an easy-to-read conversational tone that reflects the way one would talk to a friend. She uses calls to action like “Become my BFF” and “Say Hello”. She even makes her terms and conditions sound interesting by calling them “the boring but important stuff”. 

On Instagram , Kat, the woman behind Little Black Kat Creative, shares her personal story to build even more intimacy with her followers. 

And it totally works. 

Conversational writing helps you to:

• Convey your message more easily. You use simple words, not fancy ones or jargon. 
• Engage better with customers. You show you’re genuine and human. You write like you talk. 
• Build a strong brand. The more customers want to engage with you, the stronger the relationship between them and you. 
• Increase conversions. Relationships build trust. Once trust is established, it can skyrocket your sales . 

The difference between conversational tone writing and formal writing

Some simple rules help to distinguish conversational writing from formal writing. Here are a few:

Formal writing uses longer sentences and words, complex sentence structures and language that would make your university professors proud. If you’re writing an academic paper, it’ll help you to sound smart and studious. 

But out in the rest of the world, formal writing often imposes a cognitive burden on your  readers. Conversational writing, on the other hand, allows you to sound, well, human. And humans tend to prefer doing business with other humans. 

When you should you use conversational tone in writing

The tone you adopt in your writing depends on many factors: the kind of business you’re in, your target audience, your messaging goals…

But unless you’re writing academic papers or working in law, you can likely safely use a conversational tone in almost all of the content you produce: from blog and social media posts, to email copy, web copy, landing pages, etc. 

Because ultimately, with any communication piece, your goal is to convey your message clearly, memorably and in an engaging way. You want your audience to pay attention. 

By consistently using conversational writing style, you make your brand accessible and memorable. Seth Godin has been doing this for years and has built a brand that is memorable not only for its thought-provoking work, but also for its ability to engage a wide cross-section of audiences.

11 tips for practicing conversational tone writing 

Unlearning the impetus to write formally takes some work. Follow these 11 tips to create an easy, conversational tone in your writing. 

1. Choose simple words

Avoid using all the words you would never use in real life, like “utlize” instead of use. No one says “utilize”. Remember that you’re writing to connect, not to impress. 

Also, avoid industry jargon as much as you can. Write so that anyone can understand what you’re talking about. 

The United States government created an amazing list of plain language words and phrases to use in your writing. 

Bookmark this list and check it whenever you write.

2. Use the second-person voice

Using the second-person “you” means you put your readers at the centre of the conversation. You talk less about yourself and more about them. 

Kathy Sierra , co-creator of the bestselling Head First series, explained this best:

“So one of the theories on why speaking directly to the user is more effective than a more formal lecture tone is that the user’s brain thinks it’s in a conversation, and therefore has to pay more attention to hold up its end! Sure, your brain intellectually knows it isn’t having a face-to-face conversation, but at some level, your brain wakes up when its being talked with as opposed to talked at. The word “you” can sometimes make all the difference.” 

3. Write short sentences

Keep your sentences short. Break long sentences into many short ones. 

Because long sentences reduce readability. 

A long sentence can make readers’ minds wander off mid-sentence . It takes more focus and time to process the information when a new piece of information is already vying for your attention. By shortening your sentence, you make your point easier to read and understand. 

Look at Hiut Denim ’s website for a great example of short sentences. The brand applies a conversational tone by using short sentences, simple words, and clear writing:

4. Use contractions

Do you say, “I will go to work,” or “I’ll go to work.”

In conversation, we use contractions. In conversational writing we do it too.

5. Avoid passive voice

In an active voice construction, the subject of the sentence carries the action of the verb. But in the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is being acted upon by the action. It not only makes the sentence longer, but it’s also harder to understand. 

Look at these examples:

Active voice: You can return your order.

Passive voice: Your order can be returned. 

Which one gives customers more confidence? 

The answer is obvious: The active voice.

6. Ask questions

A question makes your audience stop to think about their answers. It changes the flow of your writing. It keeps your audience involved in the conversation. 

Case in point: instead of saying, “Check out our blog to learn useful self-care tips and tricks,” The Body Shop asks you questions. They write a description as if they’re talking to you like a friend. 

7. Break grammar rules

Conversational writing style gives you the freedom to break the rules. That’s useful when you want your copy to come across as friendly and approachable. 

Here are some grammar rules you can break:

• Never start a sentence with and or but . Starting a sentence with “and” or “but” can make your point stronger. And how can you argue with that?
• Never use contractions . Contractions make a piece less formal and more approachable, don’tcha know. 
• Never end a sentence with a preposition . Winston Churchill found this silly , and you probably do, too. It’s certainly something to think on. 
• Never start a sentence with a conjunction . A sentence may flow better conversationally when started with a conjunction. Like in this example from Bombas , an apparel maker. 

Bombas uses short sentences (e.g., “Refund it. Send you socks.”) and also breaks grammar rules (“Happiness. Guaranteed.”) in its Happiness Guaranteed policy. 

8. Tell a story

A good story can change our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours . It can appeal to personal emotions and create empathy. Our brains simply love stories. 

Cuddle + kind applies this tactic to their Instagram posts, like in this example:

Instead of telling what the fawn is made of, the brand humanizes it by giving it a human character and telling the story of “Elliott.”

When you start your writing with a story, you activate an emotional trigger. 

9. Show your personality 

Let your character — or brand character — shine through.

• Tell your audience why you’re on your mission to change the world
• Share your journey of how you became who you are
• Share behind-the-scenes details about your company
• Share the mistakes you’ve made
• Create your own style of using metaphors and images

When you reveal a little bit of yourself through your content, your audience will become more curious and attracted to it. They’ll want to know more about you. 

And that’s where a long relationship begins. 

10. Write as though you’re talking to a friend

It’s a good idea to imagine you’re writing to a friend. Make your audience feel like they’re in your fold. Here’s an example from Barkbox of a fun approach and super casual tone on its website. It’s created an approachable and honest brand voice that pet lovers can relate to.

11. Read it out loud 

Read your copy aloud and ask yourself if it sounds like writing? If you can write the way you talk, it’ll naturally come across as conversational.

Or, try explaining what you’ve written to a friend. Then, replace your draft with what you just said to them. 

“If you simply manage to write in spoken language, you’ll be ahead of 95% of writers. And it’s so easy to do: just don’t let a sentence through unless it’s the way you’d say it to a friend.” —Paul Graham, Co-founder, Y Combinator

Using a conversational tone in writing is a great way to engage your audience. So give it a try. Break some rules and give your readers a good reason to keep reading. Take the time to edit your copy to make it more conversational. And hopefully it will eventually lead to more actual conversations with your customers.

Want better messaging? Start with better personas.  Download our 20 best questions to create your best customer persona. 

Looking for guidance on how best to engage your audience? Get in touch , we’re here to support with content strategy, implementation and blueprints for good storytelling.

Lavender Nguyen

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• Knowledge Base
• College essay

Style and Tone Tips for Your College Essay | Examples

Published on September 21, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on June 1, 2023.

Unlike an academic essay, the college application essay does not require a formal tone. It gives you a chance to showcase your authentic voice and creative writing abilities. Here are some basic guidelines for using an appropriate style and tone in your college essay.

Table of contents

Strike a balance between casual and formal, write with your authentic voice, maintain a fast pace, use a paraphrasing tool for better style and tone, bend language rules for stylistic reasons, use american english, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Use a conversational yet respectful tone, as if speaking with a familiar teacher, mentor, or coach. An academic, formal tone will seem too clinical, while an overly casual tone will seem unprofessional to admissions officers.

Find an appropriate middle ground without pedantic language or slang. For example, contractions are acceptable, but text message abbreviations are not.

Note that “Why this college?” essays , scholarship essays , and diversity essays are usually similarly conversational in tone.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Your essay shouldn’t read like a professor, parent, or friend wrote it for you. Use first-person singular “I” statements, appropriate vocabulary for your level, and original expressions.

Prioritize using the first-person singular

Unlike in some other kinds of academic writing, you should write in the first-person singular (e.g., “I,” “me”) in a college application essay to highlight your perspective.

Avoid using “one” for generalizations , since this sounds stilted and unnatural. Use “we” sparingly to avoid projecting your opinions or beliefs onto other people who may not share the same views. In some cases, you can use “we” to talk about a community you know well, such as your family or neighborhood.

The second-person pronoun “you” can be used in some cases. Don’t write the whole essay to an unknown “you,” but if the narrative calls for it, occasionally addressing readers as “you” is generally okay.

Write within your vocabulary range

Creative but careful word choice is essential to enliven your essay. You should embellish basic words, but it shouldn’t read like you used a thesaurus to impress admissions officers.

Use clichés and idioms with discretion

Find a more imaginative way of rewriting overused expressions一unless it’s an intentional stylistic choice.

Write concisely and in the active voice to maintain a quick pace throughout your essay. Only add definitions if they provide necessary explanation.

Write concisely

Opt for a simple, concise way of writing, unless it’s a deliberate stylistic choice to describe a scene. Be intentional with every word, especially since college essays have word limits. However, do vary the length of your sentences to create an interesting flow.

Don’t provide definitions just to sound smart

You should explain terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to the reader. However, don’t show off with several definitions to impress admissions officers.

Prioritize the active voice to maintain a lively tone

The passive voice can be used when the subject is unimportant or unknown. But in most cases, use the active voice to keep a fast pace throughout your essay.

If it seems hard to find the right tone and voice for your college essay, there are tools that can help.

One of these tools is the paraphrasing tool .

To begin, you can type or copy text you’ve already written into the tool.

After that, select a paraphrasing mode (e.g., fluency for better flowing text) that will rewrite your college essay accordingly.

You can occasionally bend grammatical rules if it adds value to the storytelling process and the essay maintains clarity. This can help your writing stand out from the crowd. However, return to using standard language rules if your stylistic choices would otherwise distract the reader from your overall narrative or could be easily interpreted as unintentional errors.

Sentence fragments

Sentence fragments can convey a quicker pace, a more immediate tone, and intense emotion in your essay. Use them sparingly, as too many fragments can be choppy, confusing, and distracting.

Non-standard capitalization

Usually,  common nouns should not be capitalized . But sometimes capitalization can be an effective tool to insert humor or signify importance.

For international students applying to US colleges, it’s important to remember to use US English rather than UK English .

For example, use double quotation marks rather than single ones, and don’t forget to put punctuation inside the double quotation marks. Also be careful to use American spelling, which can differ by just one or two letters from British spelling.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
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College application essays are less formal than other kinds of academic writing . Use a conversational yet respectful tone , as if speaking with a teacher or mentor. Be vulnerable about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences to connect with the reader.

Aim to write in your authentic voice , with a style that sounds natural and genuine. You can be creative with your word choice, but don’t use elaborate vocabulary to impress admissions officers.

Use first-person “I” statements to speak from your perspective . Use appropriate word choices that show off your vocabulary but don’t sound like you used a thesaurus. Avoid using idioms or cliché expressions by rewriting them in a creative, original way.

Write concisely and use the active voice to maintain a quick pace throughout your essay and make sure it’s the right length . Avoid adding definitions unless they provide necessary explanation.

In a college application essay , you can occasionally bend grammatical rules if doing so adds value to the storytelling process and the essay maintains clarity.

However, use standard language rules if your stylistic choices would otherwise distract the reader from your overall narrative or could be easily interpreted as unintentional errors.

A college application essay is less formal than most academic writing . Instead of citing sources formally with in-text citations and a reference list, you can cite them informally in your text.

For example, “In her research paper on genetics, Quinn Roberts explores …”

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Courault, K. (2023, June 01). Style and Tone Tips for Your College Essay | Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/college-essay/style-and-tone-tips/

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15 Tips for Writing in a Conversational Tone

People pay extra attention to a message written in a conversational tone. In fact, according to a study by psychology researchers Richard E. Mayer and Roxana Moreno , when people read something that’s written conversationally, it tricks their brain into thinking they’re directly involved.

As a result, a conversational tone is more effective for getting a message across–and getting that message to stick. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find your voice when writing informally. In school, you were taught to write in a strictly formal style; that’s a tough habit to break. Informal business writing might be a grammatical nightmare, but it’s an excellent way to build trust and attract customers.

Here are a few ways to make your writing sound less like a textbook and more like a natural conversation.

Record yourself talking

Record a conversation between you and a friend, then try to transcribe it. When you take spoken language and try to transfer it to written word, you’ll have a better understanding of the ways we play with language to get our point across.

Pay attention to how the other speaker talks as well and how they react to what you’re saying. Do you confuse the other person with the way you order your words? Do you use too much regional slang? This will give you a better understanding on how your audience will react to your conversational copy.

Use contractions

We speak with contractions because it helps us get our words out faster, so write with contractions to sound more conversational. You’ll also save space in your media by not having to spell out every single word.

This sentence sounds pretty unnatural when you say it out loud:

Do not wait! Our special sale will not last for long!

It almost sounds like something a robot would say. Let’s add some contractions:

Don’t wait! Our special sale won’t last for long!

This sounds much more like something you would actually say to someone.

This ad wouldn’t sound very natural without the use of contractions. Photo Credit: Cassie Pankonien and Elizabeth Entenman

Shorter sentences

Speaking requires breaks for breathing, so your sentences should be short–ideally less than 35 words. Shorter sentences also make it easier for your audience to quickly scan for information.

Break up your longer sentences using ellipses, commas and semicolons to visually separate ideas and increase scannability. If your sentence contains two or more complete thoughts, then use a period to chop it up into smaller full sentences.

When we speak we don’t necessarily worry about sentence length or completeness. Add some sentence fragments to your copy to mimic natural conversation. For instance:

Who wants to come home to a dirty house? No thanks! Call Sunny Maid Service Today!

Start sentences with “and” or “but”

This may go against everything your English teacher taught you, but it’s okay to start a sentence with “and” or “but.” We do it all the time when we’re talking and we think of a new point to bring up when our old point is finished.

Starting a sentence with “and” or “but” lets that sentence stand out from the others while still carrying over the thought from a previous sentence. It also allows for shorter, scannable sentences.

We can get the stain out of your shirt whether it’s from coffee, ink or even blood. And that’s a guarantee!

This print ad (written from the point of view of the meal itself) includes sentence fragments beginning with the word “and.” Photo Credit: TunnelBravo

End with prepositions

It’s a common myth that ending a sentence with a preposition (such as “on,” “in,” or “of”) is grammatically incorrect. In fact, this is a great way to make your writing sound more conversational. Not only do we talk this way, it may actually help keep your writing in the active voice.

Here’s a sentence in active voice that ends with a preposition:

We’ll build a new backyard garden that you can be proud of.

Conversely, this next sentence doesn’t end with a preposition, but it’s in passive voice and sounds pretty awkward:

You can be proud of the new backyard garden we’ll build.

Use common words

Conversational writing shouldn’t be loaded up with jargon or overly complex terms (unless you’re specially targeting an audience that understands them). Instead, you should focus on using common words and expressions found in everyday conversation. For instance, “Our flowers look beautiful” can be understood by everybody, while “Our flora look resplendent” is a little too wordy.

Keep your words at three syllables or less whenever possible, since we naturally try to use shorter words when we speak.

This sentence doesn’t roll off the tongue and sounds pretty stuffy:

We’ll make your ceremony look magnificent.

Here’s a more conversational and personable alternative:

We’ll make your wedding look lovely.

Incorporate slang

Depending on your product, mild profanity like “hell” might help appeal to your audience. Photo Credit: Jill Peebles

We identify with one another through our use of slang–kids have slang words that adults don’t understand and vice versa. Adding slang to your copy will make you sound more authentic, especially if it’s slang that your target audience recognizes.

The occasional naughty word can even be effective, but only use them in extremely rare cases and with the least offensive words possible. “Our sauce is hot as hell!” paints a vivid picture without being too vulgar. Hot sauce is marketed to adults, so the audience wouldn’t be offended by this mild swear word.

Ask questions

You know what really helps your copy sound conversational? Asking a hypothetical question. It makes the reader feels more engaged because you’re speaking directly to them and giving them something to actively figure out on their own.

It can be helpful to immediately follow-up your questions with an answer so that the reader doesn’t have time to think of the wrong answer. For example:

Where’s the best place to get quality, organic produce? Just down the street at Green Market Whole Foods.

Similarly, this ad promoting a rugged, no-nonsense gym uses a hypothetical question to appeal to its audience, turning a potential flaw into a positive.

Photo Credit: Ajith Gopinat

Write with an active voice

We talk with an active voice because it’s the easiest way to organize our thoughts. Writing in active voice means the subject of the sentence is the thing performing the action.

Passive voice is the opposite, when the subject is the thing being performed upon. We don’t usually talk in passive voice because it sounds unnatural to the ear.

This passive voice sentence sounds awkward when spoken out loud:

The place where you can get the best deal on your tires is Jacobs Automotive.

Instead, it should be written using the active voice:

Jacobs Automotive can give you the best deal on your tires.

Use examples, similes and metaphors

We add examples and metaphors to our speech to make complex ideas easier to understand. Write with examples, similes and metaphors to not only sound more conversational, but to strengthen your message.

For example, saying “We’re dependable” is okay on its own, but try adding a simile.

We’re dependable, like the best friend you can call after midnight.

This gives the audience something they can relate to from their own lives to associate with the message. Similarly, the ad below appeals to inventors by using a famous example (Ben Franklin).

Photo Credit: Tom Marcantel

Write like you’re telling a story to a friend

Communication is essentially storytelling. Frame your copy the same way you would frame a story to a friend. Pretend like you’re trying to tell them something in an e-mail, where writing is less formal and more conversational.

The best stories have a clear message, moral or call to action. If you told your friend a story about something that happened at work, your end result would be to garner a reaction–perhaps to have your friend sympathize with you or give you advice.

Speak to the reader in first/second person

Formal writing is always written in third person, but conversations take place using the first and second person pronouns. First person pronouns make your brand seem more personable and second person pronouns engage the audience, bringing them into the message.

Use plural first person pronouns to represent your brand; for example, “We’re the best in the business” and “Our representatives are happy to assist.”

However, if your brand is just one person, then using a plural pronoun will make your copy sound like British royalty. In that case, you want to use singular pronouns, such as:

I have twenty years of experience in professional photography.

Second person pronouns are always singular except for certain slang terms like “ya’ll.” This makes it easier to reach a wide audience while still making it sound like you’re having a personal conversation with each one. Sentences like “You won’t find a better deal” and “Your home is in good hands” could apply to both individuals and broad groups of people.

This brochure is written in the second person to speak directly to its audience. Photo Credit: Kevin Leicinger

Write to your target audience

If you have identified your target audience , you should have a better understanding of the appropriate conversational tone that will relate to that audience. After all, having a conversation with your best friend is much different than talking to your grandma.

For example, if you’re targeting a specific area, your copy should include elements of the local lingo. A take-out menu from the Midwest would advertise its “Ice Cold Pop” instead of “Ice Cold Soda,” while an ad in the South might use a tone of voice more tailored for that region.

This door hanger targeting households in the South uses a colloquial, conversational tone appropriate for its audience. Photo Credit: Jenny Lanier

Don’t go overboard

Real conversation can be downright inefficient sometimes. We start sentences that we never finish, go off on unrelated side-tangents and use empty filler words such as “like.” As such, your writing should only mimic conversation, not replicate it exactly.

Read everything out loud

When you’re done writing your copy, read it out loud–preferably with an audience. Pay attention to the places where you have to stop and take a breath. These are places where you could probably do with shorter words and sentences.

Don’t panic if you don’t start immediately start writing conversationally–it takes practice to get it right. However, it’s important to track your progress over time to see how your audience responds to your style. And when you speak to your new customers, if any of them say “You sound just like you do in the brochure,” you’ll know you’re on the right track.

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2 Responses to “15 Tips for Writing in a Conversational Tone”

What do you do about commas? I’m transcribing for someone who delivers their information very conversationally in an informal setting. He uses phrases like “But still,” and “And yet.” And breaks his sentences up with other sentences in the middle to such a degree that there could be 3 or 4 sentences in one sentence. And I am not allowed to re-word it (and I don’t want to.).Here’s a sample sentence without any punctuation. “I was thinking earlier about how you know when I brought my seminars to New York I was taken aback that sometimes not necessarily this group but different ones in the US people lacked participation in meetings.” As you can imagine, I am not finding a comma rule to help me with sentences like that one. Where do I find help for these kind of informal things?

I too am writing for both myself and my dear friend with whom I am writing a book about friendships, pets and other things. I record our calls and when I am transcribing them, I too am occasionally stumped with what to include or cut.

Although with the example you posted, I must say that I didn’t find what he was communicating confusing in any way. More so, I felt the challenge to step up and pay better attention.

If anything I might add a comma or a — mark denoting his thought pattern splitting to include several references. Like this:

“I was thinking earlier about how — you know when I brought my seminars to New York, I was taken aback, that sometimes not necessarily this group — but different ones in the US, people lacked participation in meetings.”

I hope this helps and by the rules posted above in this article I believe I am incorporating the punctuation correctly.

But I often think I am correct, and might be off a wee bit. So check it out for your own comfortability, and good writing to you!

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12 Tips for Writing in a Conversational Tone

Conversation tone in writing makes any form of text sound like a conversation between two people rather than merely presenting the information. It addresses the audience directly and allows you to convey any message to your reader casually. It is simple, fluid, and easy to read. It enables you to relay facts in a relaxed and approachable style. Compared to a formal tone, which sounds impersonal, the conversational tone sounds personal, making your readers feel closer. This has made the conversational tone the preferred business and internet language. Provided below are the guidelines you can use when writing a text using a conversational tone.  

1. Write for one person

When we engage in a conversation, our message is addressed to a particular audience. The same thing should also be practiced when using a conversational tone in writing. Instead of talking in general, address your message to only one person. If your message is directed to everyone, it will sound generic, impersonal, and formal. Thus, no particular audience will be able to really connect with you. Refrain from directing your message to large numbers of people and omit using plural pronouns. Instead, think about who your audience is then appropriate your content and conversational tone to them. When your target audience is clear to you, knowing how to effectively talk to them will be easier. You’ll write in a way as if you hear their thoughts and aware of their hopes, fears, and emotions. 

2. Use first and second person pronoun

In conversations, the first-person pronoun “I” refers to yourself, while the second-person pronoun “you” is used to engage your audience and direct your message to them. Likewise, in a conversational tone in writing, the same pronouns should be used. A simple tweak in your use of pronouns can make a big change in your tone. Formal tone uses third-person pronouns “they,” “he,” and “she,” but these words may suggest distance from you and your readers. Using the first and second person sounds more personal and engaging.

• “ Readers should pay attention to identify the subliminal message of the text. “
• “ You should pay attention to identify the subliminal message of the text.”
• “ The company aims to provide exceptional customer service to our clients.”
• “ We aim to provide you exceptional customer service.” 

3. Use informal linking words

We use different linking words when we convey our message to show the relationship and connection of our points. In formal writing, we often use discourse markers such as  “firstly,” “secondly,” “besides,” “on the other hand,” and “in conclusion.” Meanwhile, in a conversation, we use more informal linking verbs such as “anyway,” “well,” “plus,” “since,” “of course,” “because,” and “also.” When writing in a conversational tone, replace your linking verbs with those of informal transition words. 

“Due to your continuous support, we will send you some freebies. Besides , we will give you discounts.”

“Due to your continuous support, we will send you some freebies. Plus , we will give you discounts.”

“Due to your continuous support, we will send you some freebies. Also , we will give you discounts.”

4. Tell a Story

Part of conversing with others is sharing stories about your personal life. This helps you to connect with others. Likewise, if you want to achieve a conversational tone in writing, you can use stories to show your genuine self. Stories are compelling because they appeal to emotions and trigger senses. You can incorporate your facts into a narrative to make your message engaging. Also, make it relevant to your readers by showing how it can be applied to their own lives.

Learn more tips on storytelling by reading how to tell a story in English.

5. Include examples 

To make complex concepts easier to understand, examples are used in conversations. This can make your message more credible and powerful to your conversation partner. The same thing should be applied in achieving a conversational tone in writing. If you use examples, your reader will find your text more relatable and associate your given examples with their own experiences.

Without example  

“Our service is proven reliable.”

With example

“Our service is proven reliable in ways like you can call us anytime you’ll need assistance. Plus, we use technologically advanced tools to ensure uninterrupted service and communication.”

Without example

“We are dedicated to producing good quality products for our customers.” 

  With example 

“We are dedicated to producing good products for you. Our people research and outsource the best raw materials to create durable, functional, and elegant pieces for you. We have you in our minds in every product we create.”

6. Use contractions 

Contractions are normally suggested to be avoided in formal writing. However, due to its casualness and frequent usage in everyday speech, it is used in writing with a conversational tone. When people are conversing, contractions are often used as it helps to utter words faster. It makes the words shorter without changing their meaning. In writing, it sounds conversational as it shows how you would typically speak a word to someone. It makes your message sound more natural and allows your reader to feel you are just conversing with them. 

• “Hurry! Our free trial will not last long.”
• “Hurry! Our free trial won’t last long.” 
• “ We are inviting you to attend the annual conference.”
• “ We’re inviting you to attend the annual conference.”

7. Keep your sentences short

When we have conversations, we pay small attention to sentence length, structure, and completeness. We normally speak in short sentences. We also take a break to breathe. Ergo, to use a conversational tone in writing, you can follow this pattern. Readers can quickly understand your message and scan for information if you use shorter sentences. It also improves readability and prevents you from sounding like giving a long-winded lecture. If there is a way to express your message more shortly, then use it. Edit and split long sentences or paragraphs into several short ones. If it’s not possible to chop up your sentences, use punctuation marks such as ellipses, commas, and semicolons. 

“Hurry! Our stocks for this item are limited. You should buy this product now.”

Shorter Sentence

“Hurry! This product is a limited edition. Grab yours now.”  

“We are offering a free trial for our new subscribers. To avail of this limited offer, you can sign up today.”

Shorter Sentence  

“We are offering a free trial! Sign up today.”

8. Avoid Rambling

Related to keep your sentences short, this strategy aims to use as few words as possible in your writing. Sometimes you may find yourself using too many words when, in fact, you can express it one word. This makes the other words mean nothing thus can confuse your readers. By avoiding rambling sentences, your writing will sound more conversational, smooth, and fluid. To do this, replace some phrases with accurate words. Also, deliver your message straight to the point to make it easy to understand.

• “ At the present time , we are making some adjustments to improve our service.”
• “ In the event that you did not use your voucher, within the given timeframe, your discount will be forfeited.”
• “If you did not use your voucher within the given timeframe, your discount will be forfeited.”

9. Use words with a fewer syllable count

Refrain from using long words, and go for shorter words instead. When we speak, we usually use three-word syllables or less since they are easier to utter. When writing with a conversational tone, this pattern is also mimicked. Aside from sounding conversational, it also improves readability as they are easier to understand. 

• “We will commence the ceremony at at3 pm.”
• “We will start the ceremony at 3 pm.”
• “Kindly utilize the suggested tools to complete the project faster.” 
• “Kindly use the suggested tools to complete the project faster.”

10. Use common words

Some may think that using jargon will make their text-sound smart, credible, and impressive.  Although it is tempting to use sophisticated terminology in your text, this doesn’t sound conversational. When we have a conversation, we normally loosen up, relax, and just express our insights. We talk simply and use common words. Listeners don’t find big words relatable, and the same goes for your readers. Everyone prefers to read an easy-to-understand text. Hence, when writing, aim to communicate clearly by using simple words. Avoid loading up your text with jargon, and if you have to include them, use it only when necessary. 

• “If you want to see flora s from different regions of the country, visit us next week.”
• “If you want to see flowers from different regions of the country, visit us next week.”
• “Our rendezvous will be at the ABC Hotel.”
• “Our meeting place will be at the ABC Hotel.”

11. Ask questions

Conversations are not one-sided. It engages your speaking partners. The same must be done when trying to write in a conversational tone. It must invite you, readers, to be engaged in your message. You can do this by asking hypothetical questions. This will make your readers feel that you are speaking directly to them. Also, it will encourage them to think, guess, disagree, or agree with your point, thus making your text sound like a conversation. Moreover, it allows them to focus on looking for answers to your question by reading your text further.  Using this strategy, use a hypothetical question that can be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no.’

• “Who likes to join an all-expenses-paid trip?”
• “Wouldnt you love to join an all-expenses-paid trip?”
• “What’s your opinion about having other variants of this product?”
• “Would you love to have other variants of this product?”

12. Write not exactly like you speak

Many say that to write in a conversational tone, you should write the way you talk. This is true in the sense that you echo natural speech, and your personality and voice should be reflected in your text. However, in a conversational tone, writing exactly the way you talk isn’t the point. Writing conversationally does not mean exactly writing the conversation. It means your text should be fluid where writing doesn’t sound like writing but as a natural, casual conversation. If you are going to write like you speak, your text will be poorly written. In casual conversation, people speak unnecessary words and clichés. Fillers are included, and messages are delivered with unfinished thoughts and incomplete sentences. Words can also be repetitive, points can lack clarity, and grammar is not much considered. When presenting your message in written form, you would not want to have these qualities and details in your text. 

Conclusion:

Writing a conversational tone may take time and requires practice to get it right and fluid. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it easier and enjoyable to write. You can loosen up overanalyzing your text and relaxing a bit from following rules in getting your sentence structure and grammar perfect. 

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How to Write Fabulous Dialogue [9 Tips + Examples]

This post is written by author, editor, and bestselling ghostwriter Tom Bromley. He is the  instructor of Reedsy's 101-day course,  How to Write a Novel .

Good dialogue isn’t about quippy lines and dramatic pauses.

Good dialogue is about propelling the story forward, pulling the reader along, and fleshing out characters and their dynamics in front of readers. Well-written dialogue can take your story to a new level — you just have to unlock it.

In this article, I’ll break down the major steps of writing great dialogue, and provide exercises for you to practice your own dialogue on.

Here's how to write great dialogue in 9 steps:

1. Use quotation marks to signal speech

2. pace dialogue lines by three , 3. use action beats , 4. use ‘said’ as a dialogue tag  , 5. write scene-based dialogue, 6. model any talk on real life , 7. differentiate character voices, 8. "show, don't tell" information in conversation , 9. delete superfluous words, which dialogue tag are you.

Find out in just a minute.

Alfred Hitchcock once said, “Drama is life with all the boring bits cut out.”

Similarly, I could say that good dialogue in a novel is a real conversation without all the fluff — and with quotation marks. 

Imagine, for instance, if every scene with dialogue in your novel started out with:

'Hey, buddy! How are you doing?"

“Great! How are you?""

'Great! Long time no see! Parking was a nightmare, wasn’t it?"

Firstly, from a technical perspective, the quotation marks are inconsistent and incorrectly formatted. To learn about the mechanics of your dialogue and how to format it, we also wrote this full post on the topic that I recommend reading.

Secondly, from a novel perspective, such lines don’t add anything to the story. And finally, from a reading perspective, your readers will not want to sit through this over and over again. Readers are smart: they can infer that all these civilities occur. Which means that you can skip the small talk (unless it’s important to the story) to get to the heart of the dialogue from the get-go.  

For a more tangible example of this technique, check out the dialogue-driven opening to Barbara Kingsolver's novel, Unsheltered .

Screenwriter Cynthia Whitcomb once proposed an idea called the “Three-Beat Rule.” What this recommends, essentially, is to introduce a maximum of three dialogue “beats” (the short phrases in speech you can say without pausing for breath) at a time. Only after these three dialogue beats should you insert a dialogue tag, action beat, or another character’s speech.

Here’s an example from Jane Gardam’s short story, “Dangers”, in which the boy Jake is shooting an imaginary gun at his grandmother:

In theory, this sounds simple enough. In practice, however, it’s a bit more complicated than that, simply because dialogue conventions continue to change over time. There’s no way to condense “good dialogue” into a formula of three this, or two that. But if you’re just starting out and need a strict rule to help you along, then the Three-Beat Rule is a good place to begin experimenting.

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Master the art of dialogue in 10 five-minute lessons.

Let’s take a look at another kind of “beats” now — action beats.

Action beats are the descriptions of the expressions, movements, or even internal thoughts that accompany the speaker’s words. They’re always included in the same paragraph as the dialogue, so as to indicate that the person acting is also the person speaking.

On a technical level, action beats keep your writing varied, manage the pace of a dialogue-heavy scene, and break up the long list of lines ending in ‘he said’ or ‘she said’.

But on a character level, action beats are even more important because they can go a level deeper than dialogue and illustrate a character’s body language.

When we communicate, dialogue only forms a half of how we get across what we want to say. Body language is that missing half — which is why action beats are so important in visualizing a conversation, and can help you “show” rather than “tell” in writing.

Here’s a quick exercise to practice thinking about body language in the context of dialogue: imagine a short scene, where you are witnessing a conversation between two people from the opposite side of a restaurant or café. Because it’s noisy and you can’t hear what they are saying, describe the conversation through the use of body language only.

Remember, at the end of the day, action beats and spoken dialogue are partners in crime. These beats are a commonly used technique so you can find plenty of examples —  here’s one from  Never Let Me Go  by Kazuo Ishiguro . 

If there’s one golden rule in writing dialogue, it’s this: ‘said’ is your friend.

Yes, ‘said’ is nothing new. Yes, ‘said’ is used by all other authors out there already. But you know what? There’s a reason why ‘said’ is the king of dialogue tags: it works.

Pro-tip: While we cannot stress enough the importance of "said," sometimes you do need another dialogue tag. Download this free cheatsheet of 270+ other words for said to get yourself covered!

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Upgrade your dialogue with our list of 270 alternatives to “said.”

The thinking goes that ‘said’ is so unpretentious, so unassuming that it focuses readers’ attention on what’s most important on the page: the dialogue itself. As writer Elmore Leonard puts it: 

“Never use a verb other than ‘said’ to carry dialogue. The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. But ‘said’ is far less intrusive than ‘grumbled,’ ‘gasped,’ ‘cautioned,’ ‘lied.’”

It might be tempting at times to turn towards other words for ‘said’ such as ‘exclaimed,’ or ‘declared,’ but my general rule of thumb is that in 90% of scenarios, ‘said’ is going to be the most effective dialogue tag for you to use while writing dialogue.

So now that we have several guidelines in place, this is a good spot to pause, reflect, and say that there’s no wrong or right way to write dialogue. It depends on the demands of the scene, the characters, and the story. Great dialogue isn’t about following this or that rule — but rather learning what technique to use when . 

If you stick to one rule the whole time — i.e. if you only use ‘said,’ or you finish every dialogue line with an action beat — you’ll wear out readers. Let’s see how unnaturally it plays out in the example below with Sophie and Ethan: 

All of which is to say: don’t be afraid to make exceptions to the rule if the scene asks for it. The key is to know when to switch up your dialogue structure or use of dialogue tags or action beats throughout a scene — and by extension, throughout your book.

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Dialogue isn’t always about writing grammatically perfect prose. The way a person speaks reflects the way a person is — and not all people are straight-A honor students who speak in impeccable English. In real life, the way people talk is fragmented, and punctuated by pauses.

That’s something that you should also keep in mind when you’re aiming to write authentic dialogue.

It can be tempting to think to yourself, “ Oh, I’ll try and slip in some exposition into my dialogue here to reveal important background information.” But if that results in an info-dump such as this — “ I’m just going to the well, Mother — the well that my brother, your son, tragically fell down five years ago ” — then you’ll probably want to take a step back and find a more organic, timely, and digestible way to incorporate that into your story.

Kay Adams is Michael’s date at his sister’s wedding in this scene. Her interest in his family is natural enough that the expository conversation doesn’t feel shoehorned in. 

A distinctive voice for each character is perhaps the most important element to get right in dialogue. Just as no one person in the world talks the same as each other, no one person in your book should also talk similarly.

To get this part of writing dialogue down pat, you need to start out by knowing your characters inside out. How does your character talk? Do they come with verbal quirks? Non-verbal quirks?

Jay Gatsby’s “old sport,” for example, gives him a distinctive, recognizable voice. It stands out because no one else has something as memorable about their speech. But more than that, it reveals something valuable about Gatsby’s character: he’s trying to impersonates a gentleman in his speech and lifestyle.

Likewise, think carefully about your character’s voice, and use catchphrases and similar quirks when they can say something about your character. 

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“Show, don’t tell” is one of the most oft-repeated rules in writing, and a conversation on the page can be a gold mine for “showing.”

Authors can use action beats and descriptions to provide clues for readers to read between the lines. Let’s revisit Sophie and Ethan in this example:

While Sophie claims she hasn’t been obsessing over this project all night, the actions in between her words indicate there’s nothing on her mind  but  work. The result is that you show , through the action beats vs. the dialogue, Sophie being hardworking—rather than telling it.

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As always when it comes to writing a novel: all roads lead back to The Edit, and the dialogue you’ve written is no exception.

So while you’re editing your novel at the end, you may find that a “less is more” mentality will be helpful. Remember to cut out the unnecessary bits of dialogue, so that you can focus on making sure the dialogue you  do  keep matters. Good writing is intentional and purposeful, always striving to keep the story going and readers engaged. The importance lies in quality rather than quantity. 

One point I haven’t addressed yet is repetition. If used well (i.e. with clear intention), repetition is a  literary device  that can help you build motifs in your writing. But when you find yourself repeating information in your dialogue, it might be a good time to revise your work. 

For instance, here’s a scene with Sophie and Ethan later on in the story: 

As I’ve mentioned before, good dialogue shows character — and dialogue itself is a playground where character dynamics play out. If you write and edit your dialogue with this in mind, then your dialogue will be sharper, cleaner, and more organic. 

I know that writing dialogue can be intimidating, especially if you don’t have much experience with it. But that should never keep you from including it in your work! Just remember that the more you practice — especially with the help of these tips — the better you’ll get.

And once you’re confident with the conversational content you can conjure up, follow along to the next part of our guide to see how you can punctuate and format your dialogue flawlessly .

As an editor and publisher, Tom has worked on several hundred titles, again including many prize-winners and international bestsellers. 

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How to Write an Essay in Conversation Style

How to Determine the Tone of an Essay

Conversational essays are intended to engage the reader and draw them in more than a more formal essay would. The stylistic choices that writers use ultimately determine the level of formality of an essay. Narrative essays tend to be more conversational in style because they generally include personal anecdotes and are usually written in first person point of view, naturally giving them a more conversational tone.

Word Choice

An author’s choice of words greatly affects an essay’s style. It helps to use simple words when creating a conversational style, as if you are speaking directly to the reader. Colloquial phrases almost never appear in a formal essay, but they can be used to great effect to create a conversational tone in a narrative essay. For example, if you are writing about what makes a great teacher and you wanted to say that long lectures are boring, in a conversational essay you can start out using a colloquialism. For example, "Classes where the teacher drones on forever aren't much fun, and students lose interest quickly." In a formal essay, a similar sentiment might read, "Teachers who only lecture aren't as effective as teachers who provide engaging activities for the students."

Point of View

Using a first person point of view is another way to create a conversational tone in an essay, especially narrative essays, because it gives the tone of the essay a more relaxed and conversational feel. For example, a first person account of your favorite teacher will give an essay a more conversational feel than if you are writing a more distanced third person account of teachers in general. A conversational essay feels more immediate and personal, and a first person point of view helps provide that sense of immediacy. Readers will feel that you are speaking directly to them instead of to the audience at large.

Rhetorical Questions

Asking readers rhetorical questions often engages them by creating a “dialogue” in the minds of the readers. As they read and mentally respond to the questions you pose, they become part of a conversation with you, the author of the essay. This mental engagement helps create a more conversational style.

Inserting humor into an essay also lightens the formality of the rigid essay structure. Whether it’s a humorous introduction or a sprinkling of witty but relevant remarks throughout the essay, using humor creates a more conversational tone in an essay. Humor shortens the emotional distance between people and encourages dialogue. This makes an essay more conversational because readers feel like they are a part of the writing and not just spectators. But, be careful not to overdo the humor as too much or too overt humor can take your essay from conversational to frivolous and silly.

Related Articles

List of Voice Types in Literature

Speech Vs. Essay

Problems That Students Encounter With Essay Writing

How to Write a Humor Essay

How to Write a Speculative Essay

What Are the Differences Between Formal & Informal Speech?

How to Identify Diction

Five Types of Genres in Writing

• Writers Digest: Crafting a First-Person Essay
• Writing Commons: Using First Person in an Academic Essay: When is It Okay?

Stacy Alleyne is a certified English teacher with a BA in English and graduate work in English, education, journalism and law. She has written numerous articles and her own dining column for the "Gazette."

Posted on 26th January 2018

The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing in an Academic Tone

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When writing an essay, it is important to argue your points in a clear and concise way, and of course to try to sound intelligent as a speaker. Finding the right tone in your written voice is an essential part of writing, yet many students find it difficult to strike the right balance. It is easy to fall into the trap of writing in either too formal or too casual of a tone. Both extremes can make your argument sound ill-researched and weaken the strength of your essay. However, it is easy to avoid these issues, by taking care to use a direct and active tone in your writing.

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts that will help guide you to find the right voice in your writing and achieve a strong academic tone in your essays.

1. What is the point of an academic paper?

This may sound like a silly question, but many students fail to recognize the main point of essay writing—which is to put forth an argument! Understanding that your essay should make a claim, put forth a new idea or interpretation, or argue a set of points, will ultimately help you to write in a strong academic tone.

If you set out to put forth an argument, and then provide evidence to support it, rather than set out to sound as smart as possible, you will find that your writing sounds clearer. A direct tone and simple language is usually the best route!

2. Avoid writing in an overly formal tone

While this advice might sound counterintuitive, often students mistake formal for academic. You don’t need to make your papers sound like Shakespeare or the most esteemed professor wrote it! When you adopt an overly formal tone in your writing, the result is most often that you sound like you don’t know what you are talking about. Make sure that you use words whose meaning you understand, and sentence structure that makes sense—even if it appears simple.

For example, in a paper on climate change, an overly formal sentence might read:

“The staggering volume of synthetic organic compounds accumulating in large bodies of saline water has engendered a colossal moral quandary for behemoth manufacturers—should they continue the course, or innovate new methods?”

You don’t want to sound like this!

Instead, in clear and direct language, the following sentence means the same thing, but in a more readable way.

“The large volume of plastic waste that has accumulated in the Earth’s oceans has created a moral question for companies that produce large amounts of plastic materials—should they continue to produce plastic? Or phase into producing products that will degrade over time?”

As you can tell, the second sentence is in much plainer English, and sounds far more academic in tone than the first!

3. Avoid colloquialisms

Although it is important to avoid using too formal of a tone in your writing, you also want to be sure that you don’t use colloquialisms—informal words or phrases that are common in spoken English—in your writing. It is easy to avoid slang words, but students often struggle to rid less obvious colloquialisms from their writing.

Most often, these colloquialisms are words or phrases that we use in everyday language when we speak out loud or in informal text conversations. In spoken English and informal text conversations, these phrases are perfectly acceptable. But, you want to avoid them in your writing, because often they are placeholder words and phrases, that merely help to bridge together ideas that draw upon the context of the conversation.

For example, you might text a friend:

“I got tickets to that concert Friday night. You in?”

Here, the word “got” and “you in” are colloquialisms. They make sense in context, but in writing—where you must assume the reader will take what you say literally—it is not clear what you mean by this.

For example, how did you get the tickets? Did you buy them? Did someone give them to you?

While it might sound formal for a text conversation, in an academic tone this sentence would read “I bought tickets to attend that concert Friday night. I can give you a ticket if you want to attend with me.”

To avoid colloquialisms, it is usually a best practice to try to be as specific and direct about what you mean as possible.

4. Don’t use exaggeration or hyperbole

Sometimes when students intend to create emphasis or articulate the importance of a piece of evidence or point in an argument, they rely on exaggeration or hyperbole to try to convince the reader to agree with them. Don’t do this! Most often, hyperbolic phrases make your writing sound corny, and most importantly you must assume that your reader is taking everything you say literally and needs proof of every statement you make.

You might write in your paper on climate change:

“Plastic waste is now clogging the oceans, choking the life out of sea-creatures and threatening to end all ocean-life as we know it!”

This phrase is hyperbolic, and doesn’t actually point to any evidence to support the claim. A better phrased sentence might read:

“According to the Plastic Oceans Foundation, humans have dumped more than 8 million tons of plastic into ocean water each year for several years in a row. This plastic waste does not degrade, and clumps together—which creates large blocks in the ocean that hurt ocean-life.”

As you can see, in this sentence the cited facts do the work to emphasize the points, rather than hyperbole.

5. Avoid making generalizations

Another bad habit that students often have a hard time dropping is making generalizations in their essays. Usually, these generalizations come as a way to introduce material, or make an emotional appeal to the reader. It is important to avoid using generalizations in your essays because like hyperbolic phrases they sound corny, they are hard to prove, and often they don’t even really relate to your argument.

For example, in an essay that argues that the passage of the 19 th amendment failed to promote equality for all women, because racist Jim Crow laws prevented black women from also voting, you might say:

“On July 4th, 1776 the United States of America was born with the undertaking that all Americans should be created equal. Since then the U.S. has been working hard to achieve this promise and it moved one step closer after it passed the 19 th amendment, but not close enough.”

This introduction to the idea of equality reads as corny, and isn’t necessarily specific to the exact topic of the paper.

A better sentence might read:

“Although the passage of the 19 th amendment was a significant step for women’s rights in the US, at the time of its passage it did not actually achieve total voting equality for women, as black women were still largely prevented from voting.”

As you can see, this introduction is much more direct, and specific to the topic.

In order to avoid making generalizations in your paper, try to be as specific as possible, and avoid moving too far away from the topic at hand when you lead into your essay.

6. Don’t use personal pronouns or invoke the reader

In academic writing, it is important to maintain an academic distance from your essay. You want to avoid using personal pronouns because it makes your tone sound too personal, and less factual. You also want to avoid using phrases that will invoke the reader, because you cannot be sure of who your reader is.

For example, a professor of Economics might write a paper on how government spending after the 2008 Financial Crisis helped the economy to recover and publish it in a major Economics academic journal, and write:

“In the wake of the 2008 Financial collapse, our nation experienced a crisis which our government addressed first through a stimulus package.”

In this sentence, the phrases “our nation” and “our government” appeal to the reader as being the same as the writer. This is a problem because you cannot assume who your reader will be. In this example, economists from other countries might read this paper.

A better sentence would just replace “our” with “the United States,” to be more specific and more detached from the information.

Many students find it difficult to strike the right tone in their writing. However, that is no reason to fear writing your papers! As you can see from these suggestions, it is easy to cut out simple bad habits and write in an academic tone.

Academic papers also need citations! If you need to cite in MLA style , APA style , or another citation style, try BibMe.com!

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8 Tips to Make Your Writing Sound More Formal

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Here at ProofreadingPal , we get a lot of requests to “elevate tone,” “create a scholarly tone,” and “increase the formality,” and even “help this sound smart.” Truthfully, we cannot make you sound “smart.” There is no substitute for good ideas, but we can (and do) help you elevate your tone and make you sound like a bona fide professional-thinking person. Here are some handy tricks that you can use yourself.

• Avoid colloquial, informal words

I see a surprisingly high number of formal academic/business works that include words that are better left for the water cooler or over a spirited discussion of the merits of Michael Bay movies. Some words to avoid are “totally” (use “completely” instead), “basically” (just avoid it), “impact” (mostly as a verb. You shouldn’t say “that will impact me”), “wicked” (only use this when chatting in online games), and “cool” (this word can mean just about anything. Try to choose a more precise word). In general, avoid all slang words (e.g., rad, YOLO, heaps, guv). If in doubt, see if you could imagine your professor or boss using it. If not, avoid it.

• Proper use of “such as”

In formal writing, never use “like.” It’s probably the most commonly used feature of speech today for certain populations, but avoid it in formal writing. Compare:

Animals, like bears and tigers, are interesting. Animals, such as bears and tigers, are interesting.

See how much more formal the second sounds?

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• Avoid contractions

Contractions such as “can’t,” “didn’t,” and “I’m” are purely a product of verbal speech. We speak in contractions, but the convention is that, for formal, non-fiction writing, we shouldn’t write in them. When writing a formal business letter or an academic essay, forego contractions. It’s easy to use the Word FIND function to seek them out and destroy them.

• Avoid clichés

  Common Formality Mistakes

 This guide wouldn’t be complete without a look at some common practices that people use to make their writing more formal that don’t work. Here are a few practices we end up having to correct time and time again.

5. Don’t use passive voice . Passive voice is wordy, but being formal has nothing to do with wordiness.

• Don’t use thesaurus words you don’t fully understand. Big words don’t make your writing sound more formal, and this can backfire when you pick a word that doesn’t mean what you think it means. Take the sentence, “I saw a red dog walking down the street.” Easy, right? But using too much of a thesaurus might cause you to create: “I consulted a bloodshot mongrel marching down the highway,” which clearly is not what you intended.
• Don’t be wordy.

In all writing, wherever possible, brevity is the soul of wit. (Even I can’t avoid clichés, but at least that’s Shakespeare.) That means, always keep your prose as simple as possible . You may think, “The item that we are discussing could be the solution we are looking for to solve our problem,” sounds better because it’s long, but it’ll just annoy your reader. “That is the solution to our problem,” is better.

• Don’t mangle your sentences with third person.

Some professors still insist their students use third person to make their writing sound more formal, but (and always check with your professor first) style guides such as APA (and us) recommend you use first or second person to prevent passive voice and ambiguous language. Take: “The researcher applied a qualitative approach to the study” for example. Who is the researcher? You or someone else? This is ambiguous. It’s better to say, “I will take a qualitative approach to the study,” and this doesn’t sound any less formal.

Happy writing, and good luck.

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11 Easy Tactics to Make Your Writing More Conversational and Casual

Many writers struggle to make their writing sound more casual… and many writers contact me to ask how they can do exactly that.

So if you’re tired of your work sounding like some horrendous bore-fest of an essay, these tips will help:

1) Use lots of brackets (these guys act like an interruption, as if you’ve quickly thought of one thing while saying another…. and that happens in conversation all the time). And to add some punch to a point, use exclamation marks inside of brackets (it works!).

2) Use… lots of… ellipses. These give your work a conversational flow.

3) Use shorter sentences. People prefer to read shorter sentences, and writing in short bursts makes your copy less prosaic and science-y. And while you’re at it, use shorter paragraphs. I guarantee this’ll result in higher engagement – NOBODY likes long paragraphs, so please stop using them.

4) Use shorter words. Alright, you might have a massive vocabulary. But nobody gives a fuck. If you were talking to your friend in a pub, you wouldn’t obnoxiously toss big words around like some sort of twat.

5) … similarly to the last one , talk to your audience as if they are your friends

6) Break grammar rules . So long as you’re not sacrificing the understandability of your post, do whatever you want with grammar. What, are you writing an essay? (‘understandability’ isn’t a word… but you knew exactly what I meant. See what I mean?).

7) … and just like I did above, make up words if you want . Cos if it was good enough for Shakespeare, it’s good enough for you.

8) People tell you not to start sentences with words like ‘but’, ‘and,’ ‘so,’ and ‘because.’ Ignore those people. Starting your sentences with these words makes your work more readable, and much more easy to understand.

9) Use slang and abbreviations . ‘Yeah’ and ‘yep’ are much more friendly and approachable than ‘yes.’ Sometimes, it’s useful to use words like ‘oh,’ ‘woah,’ and ‘cos’ (no, not the lettuce).

10) Don’t be afraid to throw jokes around. I’m not telling you anything new here, but people like laughing – and there’s nothing more conversational than laugh-worthy writing.

11) On that note, don’t be afraid to throw swear words around (assuming your clients allow it) . We all swear – so why do we have to be so formal and pretend we don’t actually like saying useful words like ‘fuck’ and ‘shit’?

For more tips like these, keep checking back to my site.

… oh, and before you go, I’ve used all these techniques in this post. Can you spot them?

If this has been helpful, hang around for more. Or if you have the money to spare, chuck a little donation in that box below. It might just make me cry with joy. Thanks!

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Conversational Analysis: Exploring Social Interactions

Introduction

Conversation analysis: an overview, what are the basic principles of conversational analysis, conversation analysis example, how is conversation analysis carried out, challenges of conversation analysis.

From pauses to thinking words, from changes in volume to emphasis on words, conversation analysis looks at all the different ways meaning is embedded and understood in social interaction. In linguistics, conversation analysis plays a role in discourse analysis by focusing less on what people say and more on how they say it.

That said, there are numerous challenges and complexities relating to how people speak, how speech is understood, and how conversation shapes meaning, social relationships, and cultures. Collecting data to document and analyze the complexity of spoken interactions, as a result, is an equally daunting task, requiring a deep consideration of this analytical approach in detail.

In this article, we will look at conversation analysis, techniques used to conduct conversation analysis effectively, and challenges that researchers face when analyzing social interaction.

Conversation analysis examines concepts of speech acts that are non-verbal in nature such as speaking speed, intonation, word stress, and length of pauses. In contrast, discourse analysis focuses on understanding human communication through analyzing words, their meaning, the intentions behind them, and the underlying assumptions that inform them. Conversation analysis instead focuses on the non-verbal cues in social interactions.

What is the function of conversational analysis?

Conversation analysis theory acknowledges the importance of non-verbal cues present in interaction. Without these cues, interaction looks and sounds very different and perhaps unnatural.

For example, when someone answers a question, how confident are they in their answer? We can infer their level of confidence in the way they speak. Maybe they pause in between words because they are mentally searching for the right words. Perhaps they emphasize certain words in their answer because they are speaking from a place of authority and expertise.

The goal of conversation analysis is to document the ways that speakers interact with each other. The challenge is that the written form used in research papers and presentations does not lend itself to showing non-verbal information embedded in communication. We as research writers use prose and bulleted lists and rely on words to convey meaning.

As a result, it's incumbent on researchers employing conversation analysis to present their research with a strong conversation analysis essay or presentation that visualizes interaction. Searches for communication studies often produce research that provides various conversation analysis examples that make use of notations to mark the various non-verbal cues accompanying interaction.

Details captured in conversation analysis

Undertaking conversation analysis means analyzing the various features and developments of interaction and presenting them in an empirical manner that leads to theoretical development. While many other research inquiries that look at data from interviews and focus group discussions primarily examine the meaning of words and the co-construction of knowledge, conversation analysis acknowledges the importance of the accompanying features of interaction in influencing that meaning.

Some details captured in conversation analysis include, but are not limited to, the following:

• turn-taking
• interruptions
• thinking words
• word stress
• body language

Think about how each of these details, in isolation or in conjunction with each other, can make an interaction look and sound fundamentally different than an interaction without these details. Their contribution to the nuances of interaction justify the utility of conversation analysis among researchers in linguistics.

Distinguishing conversation analysis from discourse analysis

You can think of conversation analysis and discourse analysis either as complementary approaches or as one being a subset of the other. Either way, they have distinct approaches and objectives that are worth exploring in discrete detail.

Discourse analysis investigates the use of language in all aspects, from the meaning that is conveyed to the way that it is conveyed and why. Understanding discourse means acknowledging the larger context around language and communication and how that context informs meaning, cultures, and social relations.

Another approach is critical discourse analysis, which examines the use of language as an exercise of power. How politicians, business executives, and other people in power communicate messages is an important area of study that captures how ideas are shaped to reaffirm the power of institutions.

On the surface, it may not seem that there is significant overlap between conversation analysis and these other analytical approaches. However, the main thing in common between conversation analysis and discourse analysis is the assumption that the meaning of words is complemented by a whole host of other contextual cues, cultural assumptions, and situational considerations.

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Conversation analysis is more of a broad analytical approach rather than a strict methodology that warrants definition. However, there are a number of guiding principles that researchers should acknowledge when conducting conversation analysis:

• Empirical focus . There is an understanding among conversation analysis researchers that, given the dynamics of naturally occurring spoken interactions, spoken discourse can be captured and analyzed in a systematic manner. An empirical focus to conversation analysis can capture data and structure it in a way that allows researchers to identify recurring patterns from the interactional data.
• Context sensitivity . At the same time, researchers also acknowledge that the universal rules for interaction are all but elusive as interactions are informed by cultures, contexts, and individual differences. How speakers interact with each other in one culture is bound to differ from speakers in other cultures, so it is incumbent on researchers to place interactions in their situated contexts to provide sufficient definition to the theoretical developments they propose.
• Order in interaction . More often that not, people in interaction respond to each other in a process called turn-taking. This is easy to observe in a conversation involving two people, but how does this play out in a situation involving three or more speakers? As a result, researchers also employ conversation analysis to understand power dynamics between speakers, particularly those of different statuses or positions, or those with particular relationships.
• Indexicality . Research employing conversation analysis often examines the semiotic systems - or the ways in which people communicate and understand meaning - that guide interaction. A major component of semiotics is indexicality, or the concept where meaning is tied to "signs" in interaction such as gestures, pronouns, and accents. Capturing this indexicality thus requires situating interactions in sufficient context at the individual and macro levels.
• Data-driven analysis . Conversation analysis is primarily an inductive approach to understanding interactional data. While some research inquiries in conversation analysis may involve hypothesis testing or experimental study that can be deductive in nature, theoretical developments in conversation analysis typically arise from the data itself. This is an important feature of this analytical approach, especially when inductively analyzing culture and language.

The concept of Phonetics of Talk in Interaction provides a useful example where conversation analysis can prove relevant. Think about how mothers talk to their babies, and how this talk might be different among adults, or even between adults and children who are able to speak.

At least in Western contexts, mothers tend to repeat the nonsensical utterances their babies might make. They may also exaggerate their pronunciation of words or speak more slowly. Why they do this is fundamental to understanding parenting, making the empirical collection of data that represents these phenomena important to research about parenting and communication.

Other conversation analysis examples can look at how intonation and prosody inform communication. Consider the question "What did you do last night?" A speaker can emphasize any word in that question and the nuance might change accordingly. If they emphasize "what" or "night," the assumptions we can make about the speaker regarding what they are interested in and what they assume about who they are talking to are bound to change.

Conversation analysis can also look at how communication features like turn-taking, prosody, non-verbal gestures, and facial expressions might change across forms of interaction. Indeed, the way that people take turns in an online meeting can look fundamentally different from the turn-taking in face-to-face communication, prompting researchers to explore how online communication shapes interaction in different ways.

Conversation analysis typically has an established process that, in many ways, mirrors the process for other forms of qualitative research . That said, researchers should keep some additional considerations in mind while conducting conversation analysis.

• Data collection . Observations , interviews , and focus group discussions typically involve data collection by the use of an audio recorder. In addition, you may want to keep track of non-verbal utterances and other developments of note by using a video recorder or taking notes during data collection . Your data collection may also focus on different specific types of interaction, such as speeches, discussions, and dialogues.
• Conversation analysis transcription . Transcription is the process of turning raw audio or video into written text representing the words uttered in an interaction. When employing conversation analysis, you will likely want to consider transcribing as much detail as possible to capture spoken interaction subtleties. Thinking words, repetitions, errors in grammar and sentence structure, and other features of interaction that may not be linguistically accurate should all be included for the purpose of analysis. You may also include notations to indicate where relevant non-verbal cues occurred.
• Reflections on data collection . Reflections and realizations may come to you during the course of data collection which can inform your analysis. Conversation analysis notes and memos can be a useful component of the research process as they can point to important features of communication that warrant analysis or potentially novel theoretical developments regarding interaction.
• Notation of transcripts . A conversation analysis looks to examine spoken interactions closely by presenting utterances in extensive detail. However, when research papers and presentations rely on the written form to convey their findings, it's important to have a system in place for transcribing and marking up interaction data. The Jeffersonian transcription system is a form of notation commonly used in conversation analysis research to mark up details like turn-taking, pauses, and prosody. Other systems such as systemic functional linguistics transcription and phonetic transcription also exist, so you can choose the most appropriate approach for the research question you are exploring.

Developing expertise in conversation analysis requires an approach to qualitative data that differs from other methods such as thematic analysis and content analysis . A good deal of data organization is necessary to provide the structure that allows for an analysis of interactions that captures conversation analysis concepts in a rigorous fashion.

There are a number of methodological and logistical concerns to keep in mind when conducting conversation analysis.

• Equipment for data collection . The tasks of collecting conversational data can prove challenging when they rely on capturing as much granular detail as possible to facilitate writing realistic dialogue in research papers and presentations. A standard audio recorder might accomplish most tasks in conversation analysis, but if your research question relies on specific details in interaction such as intonation and word stress, more sensitive audio or video recording equipment might be necessary.
• Transcription . Transcribing natural spoken interactions remains an inherently subjective process despite the growing body of studies that employ conversation analysis. The manner in which you transcribe utterances should aim to be consistent and comprehensive in capturing as much detail as possible. Some people use more thinking words and sounds than others, while others may repeat words or stutter while speaking.
• Notation . Marking up research transcripts in a consistent and rigorous manner is yet another subjective component of conversation analysis. How do you measure pauses between words? What constitutes a sufficient rise or fall in intonation to warrant notation? Which syllables in a word does the speaker emphasize? Simply using a standard, established notation is not enough; it's far more important to apply it consistently in a way that your research audience can understand.
• Research and writing process . When employing conversation analysis, essay writing becomes a formidable task when it comes to persuading the research audience. A comprehensive conversation analysis essay requires an empirical approach to presenting findings in a manner that is easy for your research audience to understand. If you are presenting examples of your conversation analysis in written form, consider using a common notation that adheres to consistent standards. In addition, be sure to explain your data and analysis thoroughly enough to immerse your audience in the context of your data and the theoretical developments it illustrates.

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How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing

Last Updated: March 23, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci . Tristen Bonacci is a Licensed English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,053,764 times.

Colloquial, or informal, language is common when we speak to friends and family. However, it isn't always appropriate in writing. When you're writing an essay for school, a cover letter, or a scientific article, your language and tone should be formal. There are many ways to convert informal writing into formal prose. Build your vocabulary and choose more precise words over generalized phrases. Present a formal tone by avoiding emotional writing and exuding confidence to your readers. Finally, structure and organize your writing to convey a clear and coherent thesis.

Writing Help

Choosing Formal Words

• Reading widely is a great way to improve your vocabulary. Look for upper-level publications like The Atlantic or Foreign Affairs for articles with more advanced language. College-level books also have a wide selection of potential new words for you to learn.
• Consider signing up for a “word of the day” app or website. These resources help you learn at least 1 new word every day.

• Some other common contractions are “can’t,” “won’t,” “isn’t,” and “aren’t.” Replace these words with “cannot,” “will not,” “is not,” and “are not.”

• Some imprecise words or phrases are “a lot,” “very,” or “totally.” Replace “a lot” with a more precise figure, like “12%.” “Very” and “totally,” in most cases, can be eliminated entirely.
• Adverbs like “really” or “clearly” are usually filler words that don’t add much detail to your writing. Reduce your use of adverbs to eliminate unnecessary words.

• For example, in the sentence “John put down the conclusions in last month’s study,” the phrasal verb “put down” makes the sentence sound informal. Writing “John dismissed the conclusions in last month’s study” instead makes the sentence more formal.
• This is a case where building your vocabulary is very helpful. With a larger vocabulary, you can quickly replace phrasal verbs with more formal alternatives.
• Use a thesaurus or dictionary if you need help coming up with different words to replace phrasal verbs.

• One exception to this rule is in a cover letter or personal statement. In these documents, you should be writing about yourself specifically.

• If you aren't sure about using a particular phrase, consider if it's something you often say when hanging out with your friends. If it is, then it's probably an informal slang term. Replace it, just to be safe.
• For example, if you were writing a professional review of an amusement park, don't use slang language like, "Everyone had a really cool time." Instead, say "The group had an enjoyable experience at the park."
• There are many more slang terms and phrases, and the list grows every year. Try searching for a phrase you're considering using to see if it's been added to a list of slang terms. [8] X Research source

Using Formal Language

• In a job cover letter, for example, phrases like “I think I am qualified” are not appropriate. Instead, convey confidence by saying “I am qualified for this position.”
• Don’t present yourself as arrogant, however. Saying “You have no choice but to agree with my conclusions” is inappropriate. Instead, write “I am confident in my conclusions.” This shows your authority without seeming arrogant.

• As an added bonus, using specific information helps you sound more confident.
• Whenever possible, use figures, statistics, and evidence to support your point.
• For example, writing that “Kids today spend too much time on the phone” is too general and doesn’t give your reader any evidence or statistics. Writing “In 2017, kids spent an average of 7 hours per day on their phones. The American Medical Association says that is an excessive amount,” provides a clear, precise statement that makes your point.

• Determine if a sentence is in the active or passive voice by asking yourself, "Who or what is doing the action?"
• In, "The door was opened by Mike," Mike is doing the action but the door is the subject. Switch it to, "Mike opened the door" to convert the sentence to the active voice.

• Some common clichés are “raining cats and dogs,” “as strong as an ox,” “open the floodgates,” or “delicate as a rose.” Avoid using statements like these. Proofread your writing and remove any cliches.

• “Their” is now accepted for singular use to avoid assuming gender. Rather than writing “The student handed his test to the teacher,” it is correct to write “The student handed their test to the teacher.”
• In a cover letter, don’t write “Dear Sir.” Instead, write “To Whom It May Concern,” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”

• For example, “It was a heartbreaking scene” is an emotional phrase. Replace it with a more detached, informative statement.
• Note that this doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to express opinions in formal writing. But do it with factual statements and figures rather than emotional phrases.

• As a general rule, never use exclamation points in formal writing. It looks unprofessional.
• Only use a colon if you are introducing a list. For example, "I will explain 3 issues with our current policy: ... "

Professionalizing Your Presentation

• Make sure every paragraph after the introduction supports the thesis. Eliminate any information that is unrelated.
• Restate the thesis and wrap up the piece with a concise conclusion.

• Check your writing and see if there are sections where you use several short or long sentences in a row. Break up these sections by altering the length on 1 or 2 of these sentences.
• Consider shortening long sentences by breaking them into 2 or even 3 separate sentences. Join 2 short sentences with a comma. However, make sure these 2 sentences are not both independent clauses or you might have a run-on sentence.

• Try letting someone else read the essay as well. Sometimes you miss your own mistakes when you’ve been working on a piece for hours, and a fresh set of eyes sees things that you didn’t.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/reducing-informality-in-academic-writing
• ↑ https://www.antioch.edu/santa-barbara/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/06/Academic-Tone-for-Formal-Writing.pdf
• ↑ https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/HELPS%20Formal%20and%20Informal%20Language.pdf
• ↑ Tristen Bonacci. Licensed English Teacher. Expert Interview. 21 December 2021.
• ↑ https://facultyweb.ivcc.edu/rrambo/tip_formal_writing_voice.htm
• ↑ https://www.umass.edu/ipo/sites/default/files/slang.pdf
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/tone_in_business_writing.html
• ↑ https://www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/conversational/use-active-voice/
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/formal-vs-informal-writing/
• ↑ https://www.lynchburg.edu/academics/writing-center/wilmer-writing-center-online-writing-lab/grammar/a-quick-guide-to-punctuation/
• ↑ https://opentextbc.ca/writingforsuccess/chapter/chapter-5-putting-the-pieces-together-with-a-thesis-statement/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/

About This Article

To avoid informal writing, make sure you aren't using any contractions in your paper, for instance by using "did not" instead of "didn't." Additionally, remove any personal pronouns or emotional words like "I think," "Your," and "we should all." Instead, try to give reasons to back up your argument, for example by writing "Osmosis Jones is a powerful teaching tool because..." Combine this with formal language instead of slang, for example by writing "film" rather than "movie," and remember to stick to correct punctuation. To find out more about the differences between informal and formal English, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Texting Conversations in Writing: What’s the best format?

I was reading a great post on Dan Alatorre’s blog today, “3 Ways to Show a Text Conversation” (that’s no longer available). It was talking about how to write text messaging in our manuscripts. He presented several ways of accomplishing it, but after some research and feedback he felt only one was a truly worthwhile way.

The problem with it, as Dan mentioned, is that there is no standard format for writing a text message conversation into a story. He suggested the best format possible be made the standard. 

I had a thought about what I would assume texting talk should look like when reading a story. Here’s my spin:

What about offset like in the box without the box? You know? I’m going to write a quick story piece and insert a section of text talk to try to illustrate what I mean.

In advance, I’m sorry for the screen shot. I wanted to make sure the formatting would show and make sense.

Gretchen looked at her watch and flopped down on the couch with an exasperated huff. She’d gotten home from work expecting to spend the afternoon with her boyfriend, but his text was nothing short of a downer. Dating a firefighter definitely had its annoying moments, but she couldn’t deny he sure looked good in suspenders.

With this it’s like a double tab (and by tab I don’t mean really tab! Use the ruler/indent features to properly format) for one person and a triple tab for the POV person  (I’m being lazy and using this term for the character from whose perspective we are seeing).

For consistency, the POV person would always be the triple tabbed one (farther to the right) like in a text box on your phone. The person texting you is always on your left and you are always on the right (or at least that’s how it is on my phone and computer).

Keeping the lines shorter and having double space between speakers also gives the appearance of texting. The POV is not in italics while the other person is. I’ve never thought of trying to write text conversations in a book, so it’s an interesting concept to consider.

Something like this hearkens back to how long quotes, songs, and other added elements are offset within a story. It relieves the need for beats (unless you want to add in what the POV character is doing or thinking while texting, which I think is a good thing) and dialogue tags for the texts.

I’ve never read texting within a story before, so this is a new concept for me, but I’m curious to know what you think of this possible method. It would be great to make sure we as writers have a consistent way of writing text message conversations in our manuscripts that are both easy for us to format and easy for our readers to follow.

I’m not sure how this element would be rendered with some software when auto formatting into epub and mobi formats, but I’d be curious to know.

But if I were to put texting into my manuscript, this is probably–and I’m way far away from 100% on it– how I would accomplish text message dialogue in a manuscript. Am I way off base or on to something? 🙂

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40 responses to “Texting Conversations in Writing: What’s the best format?”

[…] solution I came across for the formatting issues above is using tabs to format text. Here is an […]

‘Fifty Shades of Gray’ does it nicely. I had never seen it before. It was so natural that I came to anticipate their next conversation. I no longer have the books so can’t say exactly how it was formatted, but there were italics, maybe names, and it was indented I believe. The texting of their banter was beautiful.

Like Liked by 1 person

Would you say it was similar to this? I think with the advancement of technology, eventually it will be that texting conversations will look just like the screen layout of a phone. Even ebook will have that ability. At the point, I think it would be great to just name yourself and someone who would be willing to text back and forth with you the names of your characters and then get a screen print of the back and forth dialogue of the two characters to put as an image in the book. 🙂

An interesting topic. I recently had a story published with a text conversation by a trade publisher, and he offset it, but he didn’t use the shorter lines. I think I like it better that way, but I’m willing to be convinced otherwise. 🙂

Like Liked by 2 people

I figure the more we can make it look like texting the better. Congrats on another published story, Cathleen! I sure miss our regular chats on here. How is everything else going?

I tried putting an emoji with a text when I first formatted a book for Kindle – when I uploaded and previewed, the darn thing kept appearing on top of the text no matter what I did. I ended up deleting it.

That’s exactly the main issue with formatting that we are essentially discussing. I’m hoping we can find a consistent and easy way. It’s frustrating when the formatting won’t stick.

Same thing happened to me! Most annoying.

[…] Texting Conversations in Writing: What’s the best format? BY RACHAEL RITCHEY […]

I just read Dan’s post. I like your idea, Rachael. It feels and looks more text-like. My only concern would be the interruption of sentences that describe movement and other things going on, so I might add the persons name before each text piece to lessen confusion. But then again, adding text messages to a story is something I haven’t tried yet, so I can’t say for sure what I’d like best yet. 🙂 I do like the “tabs” idea of yours though! And like you said, it’d be interesting to find a way to make it work for ebooks. It’s a mystery for you to solve, Detective Rachael! I look forward to what solutions you come up with! 😀

haha I’ll keep mulling it over. No matter how you look at it, texting-talk in a story just looks out of place. I like to imagine some really cool formatting feature in the future that is basically a box that looks like a standard phone screen with all the little icons and time and stuff at the top and then the text bubbles below that…it would be this cool thing the author would just input the text of the conversation into to make it look like a phone screen on paper for those bits. Would be so cool…

Loved it! Linked back to this post. So timely for me. Thanks.

Thanks Jean! It caught my attention and now I can’t think of much else. hahaha

Posting tomorrow! Hope you like it. Threw in my thoughts, for the 2 cents they’re worth. Let me know what you think.

Can’t wait to read it! 🙂 Thank you!

This is how my Skype transcripts come out if you copy them. Or close. I mean with time and who says what

Ahhh! I see. I’ve never tried to copy out a Skype transcript, but then I’ve barely uses Skype. haha I should have more conversations that way. 🙂

Interesting idea, may be useful someday, and your proposed format looks good too! Thanks!

Thanks Ellie! The only issue is testing to see if it’s easy to get the formatting to “stick” when published for ebook! 🙂 I’m glad it might be useful.

In the worst case scenario you can do like this: 5:03 JACK: whatsup 5:05 SALLY: chillin 5:06 JACK: I’d warm you up now 🙂

Five minutes. No answer. Ten, fifteen minutes. Jack nervously devoured his fingernails and kicked himself for a blunter, as if saying ‘Too much, you idiot’. Finally the coveted ‘ping’ came through.

5:28 SALLY: ummmm 5:29 JACK: just kidding! Seriously! When is the com201 paper due?

HAHA Love the awkward flirting. haha I think the time stamp is an interesting touch. 🙂 Otherwise that’s similar to something Dan mentioned on his blog post about it. 🙂

Oh I did not read that post 😉 I will now

Like Liked by 3 people

TESS! You’ve NEVER texted, ever?! Not in the history of the world? hahaha You might have the right idea. Really, if you’ve ever had an instant conversation on Facebook messaging, Google Hangouts, or some other online real time messenger then you’ve texted because it’s basically the same thing. 🙂

Oooh. When Messenger first came along, I chatted. Huh. Now my memory’s going too. Waa. +(~.~)+

haha who needs it? 😉

Nice! Save the tech stuff for computers. 🙂

I saw Dan’s post too, and thought it was so interesting. I like what you have done here, and I was thinking the same thing with having text show up like it does on your phone. I did a short conversation of text in one of my Blogbattle stories, but I indented the POV person, and then used the right justification button for the second person, so that one was on the left and the other on the right.

I am all about the formatting, and also like to format things so that they are appealing to the eye, and think of the flow for the reader. With that said, the way I did it probably would not be a good solution, because the eyes would be darting from left to right, and might be frustrating for a reader. I do like this solution you came up with, but…as far as flow goes, since we read from left to right, maybe reverse it, where the POV person should be the double tab, and the second person the triple tab. But my thought had always been, have it as close to the real thing as possible, within the limits of book formatting.

What I have actually seen in books are text messages that are formatted like an email. These were very lengthy text messages, so it worked. There was a bold header with the two and from names, and the message was in italics. That would not work for short text messages, or how text messages really are in real life. It’s a great topic to explore, because text messaging isn’t going anywhere, and is just another element for writers to use to draw their readers in 🙂

Just a humble opinion from a novice writer, but an expert reader 😉

I lovehearing your thoughtful opinion, Carrie Ann. It’s great to get a broader understanding of the topic. I have no idea why I’m feeling so driven to figure this out except I enjoy puzzles and I agree that texting is not going anywhere any time soon. I’m sure we’ll see more and mite of it in books as time goes on.

I included a text stream in my first novel and did it by alternating the text alignment so that it was consistent with how a text box would show on a phone. However, this proved to be an absolute pain in the tuckus when it came time to format my book for an e-reader.

That’s my concern with it, too. I love solving puzzles and problems, so I think that’s probably why this is bugging me. There has got to be a way to format texting conversation that reads well and is not a headache to format. Haha

I have sometimes made use of texts in my short stories, but never thought of formatting. I don’t like texts packet with only letters but no words, for some reason even as a teen I did write out most words except when I’m a rush.

Haha I go back and forth when using texting abbreviations. It is related to the timev when texting was not unlimited and you were only allowed a certain amount of characters per text. Shorthand became economical! 🙂

I read the linked article, but I just love your idea. It really reads like text messages.

Thanks, Irena. I couldn’t get the idea out if my head yesterday. Haha

I’d just do this – 😎☕️- texts don’t go on longer than that, do they? 😉

LOL No, they usually don’t 🙂 It might be hard to put that into a book, though. Let’s make it a thing! 😉

Even that was twice what I say to most people.

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How not to write your college essay.

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If you are looking for the “secret formula” for writing a “winning” college essay, you have come to the wrong place. The reality is there is no silver bullet or strategy to write your way to an acceptance. There is not one topic or approach that will guarantee a favorable outcome.

At the end of the day, every admission office just wants to know more about you, what you value, and what excites you. They want to hear about your experiences through your own words and in your own voice. As you set out to write your essay, you will no doubt get input (both sought-after and unsolicited) on what to write. But how about what NOT Notcoin to write? There are avoidable blunders that applicants frequently make in drafting their essays. I asked college admission leaders, who have read thousands of submissions, to share their thoughts.

Don’t Go In There

There is wide consensus on this first one, so before you call on your Jedi mind tricks or predictive analytics, listen to the voices of a diverse range of admission deans. Peter Hagan, executive director of admissions at Syracuse University, sums it up best, saying, “I would recommend that students try not to get inside of our heads. He adds, “Too often the focus is on what they think we want.”

Andy Strickler, dean of admission and financial aid at Connecticut College agrees, warning, “Do NOT get caught in the trap of trying to figure out what is going to impress the admission committee. You have NO idea who is going to read your essay and what is going to connect with them. So, don't try to guess that.” Victoria Romero, vice president for enrollment, at Scripps College adds, “Do not write about something you don’t care about.” She says, “I think students try to figure out what an admission officer wants to read, and the reality is the reader begins every next essay with no expectations about the content THEY want to read.” Chrystal Russell, dean of admission at Hampden-Sydney College, agrees, saying, “If you're not interested in writing it, we will not be interested when reading it.” Jay Jacobs, vice provost for enrollment management at the University of Vermont elaborates, advising. “Don’t try to make yourself sound any different than you are.” He says, “The number one goal for admission officers is to better understand the applicant, what they like to do, what they want to do, where they spend the majority of their time, and what makes them tick. If a student stays genuine to that, it will shine through and make an engaging and successful essay.”

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Don’t Be Artificial

The headlines about college admission are dominated by stories about artificial intelligence and the college essay. Let’s set some ground rules–to allow ChatGPT or some other tool to do your work is not only unethical, it is also unintelligent. The only worse mistake you could make is to let another human write your essay for you. Instead of preoccupying yourself with whether or not colleges are using AI detection software (most are not), spend your time focused on how best to express yourself authentically. Rick Clark is the executive director of strategic student success at Georgia Institute of Technology, one of the first institutions to clearly outline their AI policy for applicants. He says, “Much of a college application is devoted to lines, boxes, and numbers. Essays and supplements are the one place to establish connection, personality, and distinction. AI, in its current state, is terrible at all three.” He adds, “My hope is that students will use ChatGPT or other tools for brainstorming and to get started, but then move quickly into crafting an essay that will provide insight and value.”

Don’t Overdo It

Michael Stefanowicz, vice president for enrollment management at Landmark College says, “You can only cover so much detail about yourself in an admission essay, and a lot of students feel pressure to tell their life story or choose their most defining experience to date as an essay topic. Admission professionals know that you’re sharing just one part of your lived experience in the essay.” He adds, “Some of the favorite essays I’ve read have been episodic, reflecting on the way you’ve found meaning in a seemingly ordinary experience, advice you’ve lived out, a mistake you’ve learned from, or a special tradition in your life.” Gary Ross, vice president for admission and financial aid at Colgate University adds, “More than a few applicants each year craft essays that talk about the frustration and struggles they have experienced in identifying a topic for their college application essay. Presenting your college application essay as a smorgasbord of topics that ultimately landed on the cutting room floor does not give us much insight into an applicant.”

Don’t Believe In Magic

Jason Nevinger, senior director of admission at the University of Rochester warns, “Be skeptical of anyone or any company telling you, ‘This is the essay that got me into _____.’ There is no magic topic, approach, sentence structure, or prose that got any student into any institution ever.” Social media is littered with advertisements promising strategic essay help. Don’t waste your time, energy, or money trying to emulate a certain style, topic, or tone. Liz Cheron is chief executive officer for the Coalition for College and former assistant vice president of enrollment & dean of admissions at Northeastern University. She agrees with Nevinger, saying “Don't put pressure on yourself to find the perfect, slam dunk topic. The vast majority of college essays do exactly what they're supposed to do–they are well-written and tell the admission officer more about the student in that student's voice–and that can take many different forms.”

Don’t Over Recycle

Beatrice Atkinson-Myers, associate director of global recruitment at the University of California at Santa Cruz tells students, “Do not use the same response for each university; research and craft your essay to match the program at the university you are interested in studying. Don't waste time telling me things I can read elsewhere in your application. Use your essay to give the admissions officer insights into your motivations, interests, and thinking. Don't make your essay the kitchen sink, focus on one or two examples which demonstrate your depth and creativity.” Her UC colleague, Jim Rawlins, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management at the University of California at San Diego agrees, saying “Answer the question. Not doing so is the surest way we can tell you are simply giving us a snippet of something you actually wrote for a different purpose.”

Don’t Overedit

Emily Roper-Doten, vice president for undergraduate admissions and financial assistance at Clark University warns against “Too many editors!” She says, “Pick a couple of trusted folks to be your sounding board when considering topics and as readers once you have drafts. You don’t want too many voices in your essay to drown you out!” Scripps’ Romero agrees, suggesting, “Ask a good friend, someone you trust and knows you well, to read your essays.” She adds, “The goal is for the admission committee to get to know a little about you and who better to help you create that framework, than a good friend. This may not work for all students because of content but helps them understand it’s important to be themselves.” Whitney Soule, vice provost and dean of admissions at The University of Pennsylvania adds, “Avoid well-meaning editorial interference that might seem to polish your writing but actually takes your own personal ‘shine’ right out of the message.” She says, “As readers, we connect to applicants through their genuine tone and style. Considering editorial advice for flow and message is OK but hold on to the 'you' for what you want to say and how you want to say it.”

Don’t Get Showy

Palmer Muntz, senior regional admissions counselor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks cautions applicants, “Don’t be fancier than you are. You don’t need to put on airs.” He adds, “Yes, proofread your work for grammar and spelling, but be natural. Craft something you’d want to read yourself, which probably means keeping your paragraphs short, using familiar words, and writing in an active voice.” Connecticut College’s Strickler agrees, warning, “Don't try to be someone you are not. If you are not funny, don't try to write a funny essay. If you are not an intellectual, trying to write an intellectual essay is a bad idea.”

Anthony Jones, the vice president of enrollment management at Loyola University New Orleans offers a unique metaphor for thinking about the essay. He says, “In the new world of the hyper-fast college admission process, it's become easy to overlook the essential meaning of the college application. It's meant to reveal Y...O...U, the real you, not some phony digital avatar. Think of the essay as the essence of that voice but in analog. Like the completeness and authenticity captured in a vinyl record, the few lines you're given to explain your view should be a slow walk through unrestrained expression chock full of unapologetic nuances, crevices of emotion, and exactness about how you feel in the moment. Then, and only then, can you give the admissions officer an experience that makes them want to tune in and listen for more.”

Don’t Be A Downer

James Nondorf, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid at The University of Chicago says, “Don’t be negative about other people, be appreciative of those who have supported you, and be excited about who you are and what you will bring to our campus!” He adds, “While admissions offices want smart students for our classrooms, we also want kind-hearted, caring, and joyous students who will add to our campus communities too.”

Don’t Pattern Match

Alan Ramirez is the dean of admission and financial aid at Sewanee, The University of the South. He explains, “A big concern I have is when students find themselves comparing their writing to other students or past applicants and transform their writing to be more like those individuals as a way to better their chances of offering a more-compelling essay.” He emphasizes that the result is that the “essay is no longer authentic nor the best representation of themselves and the whole point of the essay is lost. Their distinctive voice and viewpoint contribute to the range of voices in the incoming class, enhancing the diversity of perspectives we aim to achieve.” Ramirez simple tells students, “Be yourself, that’s what we want to see, plus there's no one else who can do it better than you!”

Don’t Feel Tied To A Topic

Jessica Ricker is the vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid at Skidmore College. She says, “Sometimes students feel they must tell a story of grief or hardship, and then end up reliving that during the essay-writing process in ways that are emotionally detrimental. I encourage students to choose a topic they can reflect upon positively but recommend that if they choose a more challenging experience to write about, they avoid belaboring the details and instead focus on the outcome of that journey.” She adds, "They simply need to name it, frame its impact, and then help us as the reader understand how it has shaped their lens on life and their approach moving forward.”

Landmark College’s Stefanowicz adds, “A lot of students worry about how personal to get in sharing a part of their identity like your race or heritage (recalling last year’s Supreme Court case about race-conscious admissions), a learning difference or other disability, your religious values, LGBTQ identity…the list goes on.” He emphasizes, “This is always your choice, and your essay doesn’t have to be about a defining identity. But I encourage you to be fully yourself as you present yourself to colleges—because the college admission process is about finding a school where your whole self is welcome and you find a setting to flourish!”

Don’t Be Redundant

Hillen Grason Jr., dean of admission at Franklin & Marshall College, advises, “Don't repeat academic or co-curricular information that is easily identifiable within other parts of your application unless the topic is a core tenant of you as an individual.” He adds, “Use your essay, and other parts of your application, wisely. Your essay is the best way to convey who your authentic self is to the schools you apply. If you navigated a situation that led to a dip in your grades or co-curricular involvement, leverage the ‘additional information’ section of the application.

Thomas Marr is a regional manager of admissions for the Americas at The University of St Andrews in Scotland and points out that “Not all international schools use the main college essay as part of their assessment when reviewing student applications.” He says, “At the University of St Andrews, we focus on the supplemental essay and students should avoid the mistake of making the supplemental a repeat of their other essay. The supplemental (called the Personal Statement if using the UCAS application process) is to show the extent of their passion and enthusiasm for the subject/s to which they are applying and we expect about 75% of the content to cover this. They can use the remaining space to mention their interests outside of the classroom. Some students confuse passion for the school with passion for their subject; do not fall into that trap.”

A Few Final Don’ts

Don’t delay. Every college applicant I have ever worked with has wished they had started earlier. You can best avoid the pitfalls above if you give yourself the time and space to write a thoughtful essay and welcome feedback openly but cautiously. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect . Do your best, share your voice, and stay true to who you are.

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Choosing Between a Structured or Conversational Interview

• Marlo Lyons

Both approaches have pros and cons — and can yield different insights about a candidate.

It’s critical to avoid the financial burden of making a wrong hire. Two approaches to conducting interviews — structured and conversational — can yield different insights about a candidate. While structured interviews make it easier to compare candidate responses and help ensure each interviewer covers distinct areas without redundancy, they may fall short in uncovering the candidate’s communication style and adaptability to change in a real-world setting. Conversational interviews offer a unique opportunity to get to know a candidate better by engaging them in a discussion about a real problem your organization is facing or has faced, but they can also present greater opportunities for bias to creep in. Here’s what each interview method can reveal about a candidate and when you might want to use them.

Interviewing candidates involves more than assessing their hard and soft skills — it’s crucial to choose the right method to gain a comprehensive understanding of their potential long-term fit for the team and company. During my time in human resources, I frequently encountered new hires who possessed extensive experience and expertise but struggled to adapt, which ultimately benefited no one. This mismatch often stemmed from a lack of alignment between the candidate’s values and the company’s environment and core principles, as well as the hiring manager’s lack of understanding about a candidate’s long-term career aspirations and motivations.

• Marlo Lyons is a career, executive, and team coach, as well as the award-winning author of Wanted – A New Career: The Definitive Playbook for Transitioning to a New Career or Finding Your Dream Job . You can reach her at marlolyonscoaching.com .

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How an ‘ always-on ’ work culture can create a vicious cycle that damages workers and employers

Professor of Management Strategy & Organisation, University of Bath

Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Management Strategy & Organisation, University of Bath

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Farooq Mughal works for the University of Bath. He is also a Trustee and Director in a non-executive capacity for the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution.

Yasin Rofcanin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Bath provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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The glamorisation of high-pressure work environments, like the infamous “996” culture (where staff work from 9am until 9pm six days a week), often portrays relentless dedication and long hours as key to career success.

A PR boss at Chinese tech firm Baidu publicly apologised in May after glorifying a work-till-you-drop culture. Qu Jing advised staff not to expect weekends off and denied any responsibility for employee welfare, saying: “I’m not your mother.”

It is not surprising that there was a public outcry around a culture that discourages a work-life balance. The effects of this can be profound , especially for young workers who want to develop their careers amid blurred boundaries between work and personal life.

And it appears a healthy home life is important to work performance too. In studies we conducted with dual-earner couples aged 40 and over from the US, our results showed that feeling supported at home spills over into the workplace. This can improve both creativity and performance.

Two interesting results came to light. First, our results showed that constant exposure to mobile phones during non-work hours (referred to as “phubbing” ) damaged the support and communication between couples at home.

Employees who engaged less with their phones at home were able to enjoy the support and communication of their partner better. As employees, they felt more proactive and energised at work.

Second, by focusing on the times when positive experiences from home cross into the work domain, we found that supportive colleagues (for example, someone who would help out a colleague who had a family emergency) made employees more engaged at work.

Employees who felt supported by their partner (at home) and colleagues (at work) felt energised and “in the flow”, and they contributed to company success by showing creativity and innovation.

The changing workplace

While flexible working has become the norm in the wake of COVID, companies have increasingly been offering more flexibility. Another study shows that young employees who have discretion over when and where they work perform better in their job.

What we noticed was that the employees went above and beyond their work requirements. This piqued our interest, and our follow-up research focused on the factors that contributed to these elevated performance levels.

We found a new type of leadership trait, which we called “family-supportive leadership”. This management style aims to foster a culture that values work-life balance through empathy.

We found working with family-supportive leaders who can show empathy enhances employee performance and wellbeing . Through a family-supportive work culture, employees growing through the ranks are more likely to feel energised at work.

We conducted a meta-analysis (a scientific review of all studies published) on family-supportive leadership to understand the link between this type of leadership, the work culture and employee behaviour.

Our review demonstrated that empathy from a manager improves the performance of employees – as well as the employee’s job satisfaction. It also reduces burnout. The underlying reason for these positives is that family-supportive leadership minimises conflict between work and family as much as possible.

What’s more, these leaders are praised by their teams, which has positive effects on employee morale and motivation. Where work culture supports family and leisure, we found that employees were more creative.

And in a more recent study that we conducted with young employees and their managers in Mexico – where there is an emphasis on long working hours with men predominantly the breadwinners – we found that family and leisure-supportive culture plays an important role keeping employees engaged. We measured vigour, dedication and absorption around work, which ultimately led to better performance.

In light of the Baidu misstep, it’s crucial to recognise the broader implications of work exploitation in large corporations. When employers prioritise relentless productivity over creating a balance between work and family lives, it perpetuates a cycle of exploitation that places profits over employee wellbeing.

We have some key takeaways for leaders, companies and employees.

invest in programmes to develop family-supportive leadership practices and attitudes (for example, reduced workload arrangements or carer support groups)

create a culture that’s respectful of the work-family and work-leisure balance. Ensure that norms, behaviour and attitudes respect the non-work lives of employees and pay attention to the boundary between work and family lives

be aware of the dangers associated with phubbing and constant phone access. Employees who constantly feel connected develop signs of burnout, exhaustion and depletion over time. A possible solution is to normalise switching off, recovery and relaxation strategies after work and during weekends

invest in employee strengths (these areas where they shine at work). This is important, as employees who build on their strengths tend to feel inspired and find meaningfulness in their work.

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Guest Essay

I Share a Birthday With President Biden. Ask Me About Our Age.

By Clark Hoyt

Mr. Hoyt was a reporter, editor, Washington bureau chief and news executive for Knight Ridder and later served as public editor of The Times.

President Biden and I have something in common: We were born on Nov. 20, 1942 — he in Scranton, Pa., I in Providence, R.I.

He and I once even joked about it, long before anyone could suggest we were too old for our jobs. He was vice president of the United States. I was a journalist.

Mr. Biden is having a very hard time right now, and I get it. That awkward, stiff walk of his? The White House physician says it’s the result of “wear and tear” on his spine. Tell me about it. I’ve had to get shots into my spine to alleviate excruciating pain caused by a collapsed vertebra.

The president and I share other health issues common for folks our age. We each have atrial fibrillation, an occasionally irregular heartbeat that can lead to a stroke. We take Eliquis for it. (Thank goodness for Medicare for me, the White House Physician’s office for him. It’s an expensive drug.) We also suffer from sleep apnea, which can make you wake up over and over, snorting and choking, leaving you tired and unable to focus during the day. We’re both being treated with continuous positive airway pressure that involves wearing a mask attached to a machine by the bed that pumps air into you all night. My wife laughingly calls me Mr. Hose Head.

There’s more, but you get the point: Aging isn’t fun. We do what we can. Mr. Biden works out five days a week. I work with a trainer twice a week and walk at least 10,000 steps a day. None of our physical problems would be disqualifying, perhaps, even for the most demanding job there is. Yeah, that gait might be embarrassing for the leader of the free world, but it’s not disqualifying. But there’s another aspect to getting old that few of us like to admit. It’s the mental decline that goes with the physical.

For nearly half a century I was a journalist, reporting and editing the news. Put me at a keyboard and the prose flowed. Now there are good days and bad — days when I know the word I’m searching for but just can’t bring it up from the La Brea Tar Pit of memory. Sometimes, if I sit for a few minutes, it will pop out. Other times I have to resort to tricks — googling what I think might be synonyms or, when that doesn’t work, reconstructing the whole sentence to circumvent the missing piece. When reading a news story I’ll often find myself asking “Who?” when someone’s last name appears on second reference. Worse are those days when I read an entire page of a book and realize I haven’t absorbed a bit of it.

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