Personal Style:
* First-person perspective: Uses "I," "me," "my," "we," "us," and "our." The writer's opinions, experiences, and feelings are openly expressed. It creates a sense of immediacy and connection with the reader.
* Informal tone: Uses contractions (can't, won't), colloquialisms (slang or informal language), and simpler sentence structures. It feels conversational and relatable.
* Subjective viewpoint: Focuses on the writer's individual perspective and interpretation of events. Facts may be presented, but they are filtered through the writer's lens.
* Emotional engagement: Aims to evoke an emotional response from the reader, whether it's empathy, amusement, or anger.
* Examples: Blogs, personal essays, memoirs, letters, creative writing.
Impersonal Style:
* Third-person perspective: Uses "he," "she," "it," "they," avoiding direct reference to the writer. The writer remains detached and objective.
* Formal tone: Uses precise language, avoids contractions, slang, and colloquialisms. Sentence structures are often more complex and sophisticated.
* Objective viewpoint: Presents information factually and avoids subjective opinions or interpretations. Focuses on presenting evidence and data.
* Neutral emotional tone: Strives for neutrality and avoids emotional language or appeals. The goal is to inform, not persuade or evoke feelings.
* Examples: Scientific reports, academic papers, news articles, legal documents, technical manuals.
Here's a simple comparison table:
| Feature | Personal Style | Impersonal Style |
|-----------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Perspective | First-person (I, we) | Third-person (he, she, it, they) |
| Tone | Informal, conversational | Formal, objective |
| Language | Colloquial, simple | Precise, sophisticated |
| Viewpoint | Subjective | Objective |
| Emotional Tone | Expressive, engaging | Neutral, detached |
| Purpose | To connect, share, express | To inform, persuade objectively |
It's important to note that these styles aren't mutually exclusive. A piece of writing might blend elements of both, depending on the intended audience and purpose. For instance, a scientific paper might include a personal reflection in the introduction or conclusion, while a personal essay might incorporate factual data to support its points. The key is to choose the style that best suits the context and achieves the desired effect.