formal essay prose

Definition of Prose

What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.

Common Examples of First Prose Lines in Well-Known Novels

Examples of famous lines of prose, types of prose, difference between prose and poetry, writing a prose poem, prose edda vs. poetic edda, examples of prose in literature, example 1: the grapes of wrath by john steinbeck.

A large drop of sun lingered on the horizon and then dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone, and a torn cloud, like a bloody rag, hung over the spot of its going. And dusk crept over the sky from the eastern horizon, and darkness crept over the land from the east.

Example 2: This Is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold

Example 3: Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General.

Synonyms of Prose

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What is Prose? Definition, Examples of Prose

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Definition of prose: Prose is often defined as straightforward rather than poetic writing.

What is Prose?

When identifying a piece of writing as prose, the piece should be written in a typical, straightforward manner. It will follow grammatical structures rather than a meter or verse pattern.

Examples of Prose in Writing

Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City , is a work of nonfiction that utilizes prose when describing the effect the fair had on the local hospitals:

• “With so many people packed among the steam engines, giant rotating wheels, horse-drawn fire trucks, and rocketing bobsleds, the fair’s ambulances superintended by a doctor named Gentles were constantly delivering bruised, bloody, and overheated visitors to the exposition hospital.”

Mark Haddon also writes using prose in his novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time when his teenaged protagonist finds his neighbor’s murdered dog:

• “It was 7 minutes after midnight. The dog was lying on the grass in the middle of the lawn in front of Mrs. Shears’s house. Its eyes were closed. It looked as if it was running on its side, the way dogs run when they think they are chasing a cat in a dream. But the dog was not running or asleep. The dog was dead.”

Different Types of Prose

While prose can be broadly defined as straightforward writing that resembles everyday spoken word, there are categories that prose can be broken into: nonfiction, fictional, heroic, and poetry.

Nonfictional prose writings are pieces that are written that contain mostly facts but may contain pieces of fictional information for literary purposes. Many memoirs can be described as nonfictional prose because the writers often include fictional information to make their life stories more interesting for the readers.

Fictional prose is writing that is entirely made up by the authors such as in short stories or in novels. These are pieces such as J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series or Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

Heroic prose pieces are written or oral stories that follow the traditional structure used by oral expressionists such as Homer’s The Illiad and The Odyssey . Both of these pieces include such structures as an invocation to the Muses or epithets that are used in oral storytelling.

Prose in poetry refers to works that include large amounts of poetic devices such as imagery, alliteration, and rhythm but are still written in a straightforward manner rather than in verse form.

The Function of Prose

Prose is used when the writer wants to tell a story in a straightforward manner. It should be used when the writer wants their writing to resemble everyday speech.

Examples of Prose in Literature

Here are some examples of prose in literature:

Nonfictional prose can be found in Zora Neale Hurston’s autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road because the piece is told in a straightforward manner:

• “I was born in a Negro town. I do not mean by that the black back-side of an average town. Eatonville, Florida, is, and was at the time of my birth, a pure Negro town—charter, mayor, council, town marshal and all.”

Fictional prose is used in John Kennedy Toole’s only novel A Confederacy of Dunces :

• “ Ignatius himself was dressed comfortably and sensibly. The hunting cap prevented head colds. The voluminous tweed trousers were durable and permitted unusually free locomotion.”

Dramatic prose can be found in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare often uses prose in this play when servants talk to show their lack of education and has higher-class characters talk in verse form. Here a servant speaks:

• “Now I’ll tell you without asking: my master is the great rich Capulet; and if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry!”

Define prose: Prose is writing that resembles everyday speech. It is straightforward, ordinary language rather than following a meter or rhythmic pattern like poetry.

Final example of prose:

Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem is written using the ordinary language found in prose:

• “It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil.”

• Literary Terms
• When & How to Write a Prose
• Definition & Examples

How to Write Prose

There’s just one rule for writing prose: don’t write verse by mistake. If you grew up in the modern world, chances are you’ve been writing prose since the day you started stringing sentences together on a page. So all you have to do now is keep it up!

• In general, prose does not have line breaks; rather, it has complete sentences with periods or other punctuation marks.
• There’s another very important kind of line break that makes your prose easier to understand: paragraph breaks. Paragraphs break up your writing into manageable chunks that the reader can digest one at a time as they read. This is especially important in essays , where each paragraph contains a single “step” in the argument. Without paragraph breaks, prose becomes pretty ugly: just a huge block of words without any breaks or structure at all!

When to Use Prose

Unless you’re writing poetry, you’re writing prose. (Remember that prose has a negative definition.) As we saw in §2, essays use prose. This is mainly just a convention – it’s what readers are used to, so it’s what writers use. In the modern world, we generally find prose easier to read, so readers prefer to have essays written that way. The same thing is true for stories – we have an easier time following the story when it’s written in prose simply because it’s what we’re accustomed to.

So you can use prose pretty much anywhere – poetry is the only kind of writing that frequently uses verse, meaning prose covers everything else . And even poetry, as we’ve seen, can be written in prose. So when should you use prose? The answer is: all over the place.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

Prose: Understanding, Examples & Writing Tips

What is prose.

• Prose classifications
• Examples of prose
• How to write prose
• Tips for writing effective prose

Ever wondered what makes a piece of writing engaging, readable, and relatable? A lot of it has to do with its structure and form. One such form of writing is prose. In this blog, we'll unravel the definition of prose, its various classifications, examples, and even some handy tips for writing effective prose. So, let's jump right in!

At its simplest, the definition of prose refers to any form of writing that doesn't have a strict metrical structure. Unlike poetry, which often relies on rhythm and rhyme, prose follows the natural patterns of everyday speech. Now, let's explore some key characteristics and types of prose.

The Characteristics of Prose

Prose is a versatile form of writing with several distinct characteristics:

• Ordinary Language: Prose uses everyday language, the kind you use when chatting with friends or writing an email. It's easy to understand, without any fancy or poetic elements.
• Structured Sentences: Sentences in prose follow grammatical rules and have a clear beginning, middle, and end. This structure makes prose easy to read and comprehend.
• No Rhyme or Rhythm: Unlike poetry, prose doesn’t have to rhyme or follow a specific rhythm. It flows naturally, just like spoken language.

Types of Prose

Prose can take on many forms, depending on its purpose. Here are a few you may recognize:

• Narrative Prose: This type of prose tells a story. It's what you'll find in novels, short stories, and biographies.
• Nonfiction Prose: This form of prose shares real-life experiences, facts, or ideas. Think newspaper articles, essays, and textbooks.
• Dramatic Prose: Dramatic prose is used in plays and scripts. It's written to be performed, rather than read silently.

Now that we've covered the definition of prose and its types, you're well on your way to understanding this versatile form of writing. Next, we'll look at some examples of prose to solidify your understanding. But we'll save that for our next section. Stay tuned!

Prose Classifications

Having grasped the basic definition of prose, let's move on to the various ways prose can be classified. Understanding these classifications can help you better appreciate the depth and diversity of prose in literature.

Literary Prose

Literary prose is a term often used to describe works of fiction and certain types of creative nonfiction. This classification includes:

• Novels: Long works of fiction with complex plots, subplots, and well-developed characters.
• Short Stories: Brief works of fiction, typically focusing on a single event or character.
• Essays: Short pieces of nonfiction that explore a particular topic from the author's perspective.

Functional Prose

Functional prose refers to writing that serves a practical purpose. This includes:

• Instruction Manuals: Guides that provide step-by-step instructions on how to use a product or perform a task.
• Reports: Formal documents that relay information or results in a structured format.
• Business Letters: Professional correspondence often used in the corporate world.

Conversational Prose

Conversational prose emulates the style and tone of everyday speech. Some examples include:

• Dialogues: Conversations between characters in novels, short stories, or plays.
• Personal Letters: Informal written communication between friends, family, or acquaintances.
• Blog Posts: Informal articles written in a conversational tone, such as this one!

With these classifications in mind, you'll start to see the breadth of prose in everyday life—from the books on your shelf to the instruction manual for your coffee maker. But how do these different types of prose come to life? Let's delve deeper into some examples in our next section. Stay tuned!

Examples of Prose

Now that you've got a solid understanding of the different types of prose, let's dive into some examples. This should help cement your understanding and give you a more tangible sense of what the definition of prose really entails.

Examples of Literary Prose

When it comes to literary prose, one can't help but think of classic novels. Take, for example, Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." In this novel, Austen's prose is elegant, witty, and deeply revealing of her characters' inner lives. Another example is "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, where the prose is simple yet powerful, and carries a heavy emotional impact.

Examples of Functional Prose

An example of functional prose could be the instruction manual included with your microwave. It's direct, clear, and serves a practical purpose—helping you figure out how to heat up your leftovers! Another example is a business report, such as a quarterly earnings report for a company, which provides structured and factual information about the company's financial performance.

Examples of Conversational Prose

In conversation, we use prose all the time without even realizing it. Think about the last text message you sent—it's likely a great example of conversational prose. Or consider the dialogue in your favorite sitcom. The characters' conversations are examples of prose that are designed to sound natural and spontaneous.

Hopefully, these examples have brought the definition of prose to life for you. Now, onto the fun part: how to write your own prose.

How to Write Prose

Writing prose isn't about fancy words or complex sentences. It's about clarity, rhythm, and meaning. If you've been wondering how to apply the definition of prose to your own writing, here are some steps to get you started.

Choose Your Purpose

First, decide why you're writing. Are you trying to entertain readers with a gripping story? Convey information in a clear and concise way? Or engage in a casual conversation? Your purpose will help shape the style and tone of your prose.

Plan Your Message

Next, consider your message. What do you want your readers to understand, feel or do after reading your prose? Keep this message in mind as you're writing—it will guide your choice of words and sentence structures.

Write with Clarity

When you write prose, strive for clarity. Use simple, everyday words. Make your sentences short and to the point. And remember, it's not about how complicated you can make the sentence, but how easily your reader can understand it.

Revise and Refine

Finally, always take the time to revise and refine your prose. Look for ways to make your writing more clear, concise, and engaging. Remember, the more you practice, the better you'll get at writing prose.

Now, you're ready to take your understanding of the definition of prose and put it into practice. But before you do, let's look at a few tips to make your prose even more effective.

Tips for Writing Effective Prose

Now that you've got a handle on the definition of prose and how to write it, let's delve a little deeper. Here are a few tips that can help make your writing more engaging and effective.

Use Active Voice

Active voice makes your writing more direct and engaging. So, instead of writing "The cake was eaten by the dog," write "The dog ate the cake." It's a simple change, but it can make a big difference in how your writing is received.

Keep Sentences and Paragraphs Short

Long sentences and paragraphs can be hard to follow. So, try to keep your sentences short and sweet. And break up your paragraphs into smaller chunks. This makes your writing easier to read and understand.

Choose the Right Word

Every word matters when you're writing prose. So, choose your words carefully. Use words that are precise and clear. And avoid jargon or overly complicated terms. Remember, your goal is to communicate, not to confuse.

Add Variety to Your Sentence Structures

Varied sentence structures can make your writing more interesting. So, don't be afraid to mix things up. Use short sentences. Use long sentences. Use sentences that start with "And" or "But." The key is to keep your reader engaged and interested.

By applying these tips, you'll be able to write prose that is clear, engaging, and effective. And remember, the best way to improve your prose is to write, write, and write some more. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start writing!

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What Is Prose?

The Quick Answer

Table of Contents

The Difference between Prose and Poetry

The difference between prose and prosaic writing, examples of prose, why prose is important.

• I'm not lying when I say a dog is full of love. I know from experience that a wet dog loves you the most.
• The truth I do not stretch or shove When I state the dog is full of love. I've also proved, by actual test, A wet dog is the lovingest. (US poet Ogden Nash)

Anastrophe (deliberately using the wrong word order)

• A stare long and threatening

Assonance (repeating vowel sounds in nearby words)

• The concept of mothering more overtly

Consonance (repeating consonant sounds in nearby words)

• Pick a lock and crack it.

Deliberate repetition (deliberately repeating ideas or words)

• I shall tell you, and you shall listen, and we shall agree.

Euphemisms (using agreeable words to replace offensive ones)

• He was so well oiled he lost his lunch .

Logosglyphs (using words that look like what they represent)

• With eyes like pools

Metaphors (saying something is something else)

• The volcano spewed its flaming Earth sauce .

Onomatopoeia (using words that sound like what they represent)

• Don't growl at customers.

Oxymoron (using contradictory terms)

• Non-prosaic prose

Similes (describing something as being like something else)

• The British accepted her absence like Americans accept the missing full stop in "Dr Pepper".
• Use literary devices to create non-prosaic prose.
• Flair in prose is like salt in soup. None is usually fine. A little is often an improvement. A lot is always a disaster.

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of prose, common examples of prose, significance of prose in literature, examples of prose in literature.

I shall never be fool enough to turn knight-errant. For I see quite well that it’s not the fashion now to do as they did in the olden days when they say those famous knights roamed the world.

( Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes)

The ledge, where I placed my candle, had a few mildewed books piled up in one corner; and it was covered with writing scratched on the paint. This writing, however, was nothing but a name repeated in all kinds of characters, large and small—Catherine Earnshaw, here and there varied to Catherine Heathcliff, and then again to Catherine Linton. In vapid listlessness I leant my head against the window, and continued spelling over Catherine Earnshaw—Heathcliff—Linton, till my eyes closed; but they had not rested five minutes when a glare of white letters started from the dark, as vivid as spectres—the air swarmed with Catherines; and rousing myself to dispel the obtrusive name, I discovered my candle wick reclining on one of the antique volumes, and perfuming the place with an odour of roasted calf-skin.

( Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë)

“I never know you was so brave, Jim,” she went on comfortingly. “You is just like big mans; you wait for him lift his head and then you go for him. Ain’t you feel scared a bit? Now we take that snake home and show everybody. Nobody ain’t seen in this kawn-tree so big snake like you kill.”

Robert Cohn was once middleweight boxing champion of Princeton. Do not think I am very much impressed by that as a boxing title, but it meant a lot to Cohn. He cared nothing for boxing, in fact he disliked it, but he learned it painfully and thoroughly to counteract the feeling of inferiority and shyness he had felt on being treated as a Jew at Princeton.

( The Sun also Rises by Ernest Hemingway)

Ernest Hemingway wrote his prose in a very direct and straightforward manner. This excerpt from  The Sun Also Rises demonstrates the directness in which he wrote–there is no subtlety to the narrator’s remark “Do not think I am very much impressed by that as a boxing title.”

The Lighthouse was then a silvery, misty-looking tower with a yellow eye, that opened suddenly, and softly in the evening. Now— James looked at the Lighthouse. He could see the white-washed rocks; the tower, stark and straight; he could see that it was barred with black and white; he could see windows in it; he could even see washing spread on the rocks to dry. So that was the Lighthouse, was it? No, the other was also the Lighthouse. For nothing was simply one thing. The other Lighthouse was true too.

And if sometimes, on the steps of a palace or the green grass of a ditch, in the mournful solitude of your room, you wake again, drunkenness already diminishing or gone, ask the wind, the wave, the star, the bird, the clock, everything that is flying, everything that is groaning, everything that is rolling, everything that is singing, everything that is speaking. . .ask what time it is and wind, wave, star, bird, clock will answer you: “It is time to be drunk! So as not to be the martyred slaves of time, be drunk, be continually drunk! On wine, on poetry or on virtue as you wish.”

Test Your Knowledge of Prose

1. Choose the best prose definition from the following statements: A. A form of communicating that uses ordinary grammar and flow. B. A piece of literature with a rhythmic structure. C. A synonym for verse. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #1″] Answer: A is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove

A. It has a rhythmic structure. B. It contains rhymes. C. It does not use ordinary grammar. D. All of the above. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #2″] Answer: D is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

You’re sad because you’re sad. It’s psychic. It’s the age. It’s chemical. Go see a shrink or take a pill, or hug your sadness like an eyeless doll you need to sleep.

“A Sad Child” B. 

I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it. Those who can believe that such stories are only stories have a better chance. If it’s a story I’m telling, then I have control over the ending. Then there will be an ending, to the story, and real life will come after it. I can pick up where I left off.

The Handmaid’s Tale C. 

No, they whisper. You own nothing. You were a visitor, time after time climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming. We never belonged to you. You never found us. It was always the other way round.

“The Moment” [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: B is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

What is Prose?

Prose is ordinary language that follows regular grammatical conventions and does not contain a formal metrical structure. This definition of prose is an example of prose writing, as is most human conversation, textbooks, lectures, novels, short stories, fairy tales, newspaper articles, and essays.

Prose can be either fiction or non-fiction. It can be “poetic,” meaning that it has rhythmic structure and contains figurative language. Sermons, political speeches, and modernist writing are good examples of poetic fiction.

How Do you Identify Prose in Writing?

Distinguishing prose from poetry is usually just a matter of recognizing the basic conventions of prose writing: paragraphs and sentences that have proper grammar and mechanics. Poetry, on the other hand, contains lines and stanzas. And while there may be a cadence or rhythm to prose, it contains neither a regular meter nor a deliberate rhyme scheme.

Only one form of writing falls in a gray area, and that is the so-called “prose poem.” As the name suggests, prose poems contain a formal metrical structure but are written out like prose, in sentence and paragraph form.

Examples of Prose

Prose Example 1.  The Hunger Games,  by Suzanne Collins, is a prose novel.

Prose Example 2. “Cinderella” is a prose fairy tale.

Prose Example 3. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a prose story by Charlotte Gilman Perkins.

Prose Example 4. “The State of the Union Address” is a prose speech delivered early in the year by the sitting president of the United States.

Prose Example 5. “The Declaration of Independence” is a prose document signed by prominent American colonists who wished no longer to be under British rule.

(View all  literary devices )

English Studies

This website is dedicated to English Literature, Literary Criticism, Literary Theory, English Language and its teaching and learning.

Prose: A Literary Genre

As a literary genre, prose refers to the use of ordinary language and sentence structure in written or spoken form without metrical patterns.

Etymology of Prose

Table of Contents

The word “prose” derives from the Latin term “prosa oratio,” which means “straightforward speech” or “direct discourse.”

It originated in the late Middle English period around the 14th century. It was intended to describe things or places in written or spoken language, lacking the metrical and rhythmic structure found in poetry. Characterized by its natural flow and organization, it becomes suitable for narrative, essays, and everyday communication.

Meanings of Prose

• Definition: It is a form of written or spoken language not structured into regular meter or rhyme.
• Natural Flow: It has a natural flow of language, lacking the formal structure found in poetry.
• Everyday Speech: It relies on the use of everyday speech and conversational tone.
• Literary Genres: It includes a wide range of literary genres, including novels, short stories, essays, and journalism.
• Versatility: It is the most common form of written language and is used in various contexts, including fiction, nonfiction, and academic writing.
• Contrast with Poetry: Contrasted with poetry, it lacks the use of meter, rhyme, and formal elements.
• Emphasis: While poetry often emphasizes sound and rhythm, prose prioritizes meaning and clarity.

Prose in Grammar

Grammatically, “prose” is a singular noun, and it takes a singular verb. However, when referring to multiple pieces, the plural form is not commonly used. Instead, the plural is indicated by using a plural verb, as in “The essays are written in prose.”

Definition of Prose

As a literary genre , it refers to the use of ordinary language and sentence structure in written or spoken form, without the incorporation of metrical or rhythmic patterns typically found in poetry. It serves as a means to convey information, ideas, and stories in a straightforward and clear way, emphasizing clarity and natural expression.

Types of Prose

Here are some common types as follows.

Literary Examples of Prose

However, it must be kept in mind that the literary type of prose is different. It is mostly in narrative or descriptive shape, emphasizing the type of writing it is used in. Here are some examples of narrative form.

In each of these examples, the prose style of the author is an essential part of the literary experience. The language used by the author serves to convey the themes and ideas of the work in a way that is both evocative and engaging for the reader.

Suggested Readings

• Strunk, William, and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. Fourth Edition, Longman, 1999.
• Zinsser, William. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction. HarperCollins, 2006.
• Tufte, Virginia A. Artful Sentences: Syntax as Style. Graphics Press, 2006.
• Williams, Joseph M. Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace. Twelfth Edition, Pearson, 2017.
• Pinker, Steven. The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century. Viking, 2014.
• King, Stephen. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Pocket Books, 2000.
• Gardner, John. The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers . Vintage, 1991.
• Brooks, Cleanth, and Robert Penn Warren. Understanding Fiction. Third Edition, Prentice Hall, 1959.
• Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life . Anchor Books, 1995.

Related posts:

• Onomatopoeia: A Literary Device

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Elements of Prose: Style, Forms, Construction

Table of Contents

Prose is a type of language that is written or spoken using natural language, rather than in a formal or poetic structure. It is the most common form of language and is used in a variety of contexts, including novels, short stories, essays, news articles, and everyday conversation.

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Style of Prose

Style refers to the way in which a piece of prose is written and the choices an author makes in terms of language, tone, and perspective. There are many different styles of prose, and the right style will depend on the purpose of the writing and the intended audience. Some common styles of prose include:

In contrast to formal prose, informal prose is more relaxed and conversational in nature. It is often used in personal writing, such as letters, diaries, and blogs, and it is characterized by its use of colloquial language and a more personal tone.This style is often used in more casual or personal writing, such as letters, diary entries, or memoirs. Informal prose can create a sense of intimacy or closeness with the reader, as it feels more relatable and approachable.

An essay is a piece of writing that presents a well-reasoned argument or interpretation on a specific topic. Essays can be formal or informal in nature, and they can take on a variety of styles, including narrative, descriptive, and persuasive.

A short story is a piece of fiction that is typically shorter than a novel and focuses on a single event or Character Character: the vehicle (person, animal, creation) that moves the story forward. A character may be main or minor, depending on his or her role in the work of literature. While some characters are two-dimensional, with one or two dominant traits, a fully developed character has a unique complex of traits.A) dynamic characters often change as the plot unfolds.B) static characters remain the same. " data-gt-translate-attributes='[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]' tabindex=0 role=link>character . Short stories are often published in magazines or anthologies and can take on a variety of styles and genres.

A memoir is a personal narrative that reflects on the writer’s own life experiences. Memoirs can be focused on a specific theme or event, or they can be a more general reflection on the writer’s life.

Non-fiction is a type of prose that is based on fact and presents information in a factual and informative way. This can include things like journalism, essays, and academic writing. The style of prose used in non-fiction can also vary, depending on the subject matter and the audience. For example, a scientific paper might use a more technical and formal style of prose, while a personal essay might use a more conversational and personal style.

Construction

Cohesion: Cohesion refers to the way in which the different parts of a piece of prose fit together. This can be achieved through the use of transitional words and phrases, as well as the repetition of key ideas and concepts. Cohesion helps to create a smooth and logical flow for the reader and makes the writing easier to follow and understand.

Discover more from Smart English Notes

Continuous Prose with Examples in English

Continuous prose is a piece of written work with text without subheads, flowing from one paragraph to the next. It is a name for any writing that is not in verse, and continues.

Continuous prose is a writing that has continuous paragraphs with no subheadings that divide each of the paragraphs. It typically has an introduction para, body paragraphs with concepts and examples, and a conclusion para.

Examples of Continuous Prose

Examples of continuous prose include essays, newspaper articles, journal articles, blog posts and academic papers. 

An essay is defined as a brief piece of writing expressing facts as well as the opinion of the writer. It is also considered synonymous with a story or a article or an essay. Essays are formal as well as informal. In general, formal essays are educational in nature and tackle serious subjects. Informal essays that are more intimate and also have elements that are humorous.

• News Article/News Report – 

News articles cover the essentials of current events. The questions they are answering are: who, what, where, how, and when. Photographs, accounts, interviews, polling, etc. can be included. Headlines may be used to concentrate the attention of the reader on a specific (or primary) section of the story.

• Journal Articles – 

A journal is a compilation of articles that is published periodically throughout the year (like a magazine). Journals present the most recent research. They may be published in print or online formats, or both.

• Blog Posts – 

A blog (formally known as a weblog) is a website or web page that is regularly updated and can either be used for personal use or to meet business needs. A blog needs to be updated frequently, unlike a website, which enables you to connect with visitors to your site.

• Academic/Research Paper – 

A research article is a common form of academic writing. Research papers require students and academics in a structured report to find information about a subject (i.e., to perform research), take a stance on that subject, and provide justification (or evidence) for that position.

The term research paper may also refer to a scholarly article that contains the results of original research or an evaluation of research conducted by others.

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Using Informal Style in Prose Writing

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

In composition , informal style is a broad term for speech or writing marked by a casual, familiar, and generally colloquial use of language .

An informal writing style is often more direct than a formal style and may rely more heavily on contractions , abbreviations , short sentences , and ellipses .

In a recently published textbook ( The Rhetorical Act , 2015), Karlyn Kohrs Campbell et al. observe that, by comparison, formal prose is "strictly grammatical and uses complex sentence structure and precise, often technical vocabulary . Informal prose is less strictly grammatical and uses short, simple sentences and ordinary, familiar words. Informal style may include sentence fragments , such as the truncated style of text messaging ... and some colloquialisms or slang ."

But as Carolyne Lee reminds us, "[s]impler prose does not inevitably mean simpler ideas or simpler conceptualizing" ( Word Bytes: Writing in the Information Society , 2009).

Examples and Observations

• "An informal writing style is a relaxed and colloquial way of writing standard English . It is the style found in most personal e-mail and in some business correspondence, nonfiction books of general interest, and mass-circulation magazines. There is less distance between the writer and the reader because the tone is more personal than in a formal writing style. Contractions and elliptical constructions are common. . . . An informal style approximates the cadence and structure of spoken English while conforming to the grammatical conventions of written English ." (G. J. Alred, C. T. Brusaw, and W. E. Oliu, Handbook of Technical Writing , 9th ed. St. Martin's Press, 2008)
• "[T]he informal style , far from being merely a sloppy form of language, is governed by rules every bit as precise, logical, and rigorous as the rules governing formal language." (A. Akmajian, et al, Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication . MIT Press, 2001)
• Informal Style in Electronic Communications "As e-mail messages, text messages and social network postings become nearly ubiquitous in the lives of teenagers, the informality of electronic communications is seeping into their schoolwork, a new study says. "Nearly two-thirds of 700 students surveyed said their e-communication style sometimes bled into school assignments, according to the study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, in partnership with the College Board’s National Commission on Writing. About half said they sometimes omitted proper punctuation and capitalization in schoolwork. A quarter said they had used emoticons like smiley faces. About a third said they had used text shortcuts like 'LOL' for 'laugh out loud.' "'I think this is not a worrying issue at all,' said Richard Sterling, emeritus executive director of the National Writing Project, which aims to improve the teaching of writing." (Tamar Lewin, "Informal Style of Electronic Messages Is Showing Up in Schoolwork, Study Finds." The New York Times , April 25, 2008)
• Standard English and Informal Style "[T]here is no necessary connection between Standard English and formal styles, or non-standard dialects and informal styles: My mate is bloody knackered. is informal style... but it is also Standard English. On the other hand, My friend be very tired. which is stylistically less informal, is not in Standard English but some other dialect." (Peter Trudgill, Dialects . Routledge, 1994)
• What Is Academese?
• Characteristics of a Formal Prose Style
• Definition and Examples of Formal Essays
• Euphuism (Prose Style)
• What Is Colloquial Style or Language?
• Definition of Usage Labels and Notes in English Dictionaries
• Parataxis (grammar and prose style)
• What Is Prose?
• What is a Familiar Essay in Composition?
• Definition and Examples in Rhyme in Prose and Poetry
• Diction - Word Choice and Enunciation
• Colloquialization (Language)
• Writer-Based Prose
• Conversationalization: Definition and Examples
• Hidden Verbs in Grammar
• style (rhetoric and composition)