casualness
Casualness is the quality or state of being casual—characterized by relaxed, informal, or unconstrained behavior, dress, and language. It describes how people conduct themselves in everyday life as well as in organized settings, and it exists on a spectrum from low to high formality.
Etymology: casual from late Latin casualis "chance, accidental," via Old French casual; senses of "happening by
In language, casualness manifests as conversational tone, contractions, slang, and a relaxed syntax; in social behavior,
Attire: casual dress codes permit jeans, t-shirts, sneakers; in workplaces or events, terms like business casual,
Context and norms: different cultures regulate casualness; in hierarchies, too much casualness can be seen as
Benefits and drawbacks: advantages include approachability, efficiency, inclusivity; drawbacks include ambiguity, potential erosion of boundaries, or
Examples: casual Fridays, remote work communication, online forums with informal tone.
Casualness is not inherently good or bad; it is a social phenomenon that adapts to purpose, audience,