The eLearning gurus of the early days would frown if they heard the word casual mentioned in the same sentence as designing eLearning narrative.
However, not all conversational writing needs a casual tone.
So think about your learners for each topic. What’s the right tone of conversation for them? Then try the following techniques:
- Use contractions (this is a safe technique we can all use)
- Try interjections (why not)
- Use filler words (mmm, maybe not for everyone)
- Write gestures (waves hello)
- Use ALL CAPS (in moderation)
- Elongate your words (if you muuust)
9. Use Contractions
Contractions merge two words together. It’s what we do when we speak all the time.
For example:
- You are … You’re
- How is … How’s
- I am … I’m
- It is … It’s
Using contractions is probably the most common and easiest technique for informal writing.
10. Try Interjections
For more casualness, try interjections such as: Phew, Yay, Yikes, and Ugh.
I occasionally use interjections in instructional writing: “I think that “can I help you” is the most negative greeting to a retail customer. Ugh! I’m tempted to say, ‘I’m building a fence this weekend, how about coming and helping?’”
11. Use filler words
When we talk, we use filler phrases to give us time to think or add emphasis.
Filler phrases include: I mean, you know, actually, so, well, why bother, like.
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. So think about what works for you and your audience. And also read your writing aloud. Does it follow naturally or does it become exhausting?
It’s up to you to find the balance between concise and being more chatty.
12. Add Gestures
You keyboard doesn’t allow you to put hand gestures into a test.
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 emotions into words. Angled brackets can be used to <checks notes> create a pause in your writing.
Putting gestures or other comments between angled brackets can add personality to your writing. But always consider: Is it the right tone for the conversation you’re having? Or would a more concise conversational style be more appropriate?
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 strong words (such as, despair, joyful, enchanting) or sensor words (such as dazzling, gloomy, sweet).
But sometimes you may want to use ALL CAPS for extra emphasis. “You may be tempted to tamper with the vertical cutter to correct this fault. DANGER”
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 eaiser to understand something at a glance.
BUT …
Using ALL CAPS for longer texts reduced readability. So be careful: ALL CAPS can quickly be too much, and your writing tone becomes too shouty.