The Difference Between Formal and Informal Language: CJN 691

In our society we use both formal and informal language. But what exactly is the difference between the two, and how do we use them differently and appropriately?

Formal language is the type of language you would use when talking with someone who outranks you, such as your boss or another superior. When using formal language, it is important not use slang or other words that make you sound unprofessional. When writing in the formal language, it is also important not to use abbreviations always try to spell out the full word (can't vs. cannot).

Informal language is the language you use when you are with your friends or family. In this instant you might use slang or other words that connect to that group of people, also, when writing it is okay to shorten words or use quick hand.

Buzzfeed: Procrastination Enabler.

My senior year of college, I starting noticing these funny articles on Facebook, things such as "If "Parks and Rec" Were An Old-School Nintendo Game" or "19 Signs You Might Be Comet From "Full House"" and obviously, since I was probably writing a creative brief Duck Brand duct tape, I kept clicking on these links.

Then one day I did the unthinkable, and honestly, the end of the world as I knew it... I went to the source itself. I went on buzzfeed.com.

I must have gone from article to article to article. I couldn't believe the amount of unnecessary articles that I felt compelled to read. I really probably could have lived without knowing the nine celebrity tweets I missed that day. But for some reason, I need to know, and it is usually very funny and makes me happy.

Buzzfeed also shows real news. They had minute by minute coverage of the Marathon Bombings, and they keep updates on the Government Shutdown. But for a website with so many useless articles, why do we feel compelled to read them? Even if I am not on Buzzfeed's website, I find these articles on Facebook or my Twitter, sometimes even my Instagram. I even just googled "why we are compelled to read buzzfeed" and my results included "32 Reasons Robert Downey Jr. Is The Most Perfect Man In The Universe." Obviously, this is true, and yes when that popped up I read it. Buzzfeed uses their headlines to grab the attention of various consumers. When people click on their links it adds to their website referrals, especially when after reading these articles we are compelled to share them with the friend we feel most relates to these articles. They amount of referrals Buzzfeed receives a day is probably astronomical, and honestly the more popular Buzzfeed, the more useless articles we get to enjoy.

Buzzfeed, while also having writers on staff, allow their fans to submit these articles. That is right, you too can submit to this tremendous time waster! I haven't tried it, but it seems rewarding. You should try it. Tell me how it is.

So my fellow Buzzfeed addicts, read on friends, read on.

Social Media: "Come break into my house!"

So recently a story broke out about teenagers who broke into Brian Holloway's house and threw a house party while the ex-NFL star was in Florida for Labor Day Weekend. While enjoying his weekend, Holloway's son got word of a party going on at the New York home and told father. Kids at the party were saying that Holloway's son was actually at the party, even though he was in Florida for school.

When Holloway logged on twitter, tweets were flooding about this awesome blow out that about 300 kids were enjoying at his home. The kids were actually tweeting to him and taking pictures of them trashing his house.

Social media sites like "foursquare" and even Facebook and Twitter, allow you to check in where you are. When Foursquare came out, you got certain badges when you check into certain places. But one problem that came with "checking in" is that people know where you are at all time. There have been other cases where people have checked in at the gym or checked in at a hotel and realized they had been robbed when they got home. Yet people continue to do it whenever they log on. I will admit, I am guilty of checking in places, like when I'm at the bar or on vacation. I'm not even sure why I do it.

So that is my question, why do we feel the need to tell people where we are, even people we do not know?