informalformal

Informalformal is a term used to describe a style that blends informal and formal elements within a single utterance or text. It aims to balance approachability and efficiency with a degree of professionalism or structure.

In practice, informalformal combines informal lexicon, contractions, or colloquialisms with formal syntax, courtesy phrases, or hedging. It may also mix casual tone with precise, explicit directives to maintain clarity while remaining friendly.

The concept arises in discussions of contemporary communication, especially in workplaces and digital media, where rigid formality can impede engagement and inclusivity.

It is distinct from code-switching between languages and from plain formality or informality; rather it refers to a continuum of registers that are used within a single language and context.

Examples include business emails that start with a cordial greeting but use concise, directive language, or social posts that pair polite framing with direct requests. A sentence such as "Hi team, thanks for your effort—please review the doc and share feedback by Friday" exemplifies informalformal.

Reception is mixed: some view informalformal as practical and inclusive, while others caution that ambiguous tone can undermine credibility or cross-cultural professional norms.

See also: register (linguistics), style shifting, code-switching, professional communication.