People often lump different kinds of phrases and words into one broad category and call them “informal writing” and slap a huge NO on them. Truth is,  there are many kinds of these informal phrases floating around; they’re not all the same thing, and they’re not always bad. Two main types of these phrases that are often confused and mishandled are idioms and colloquialisms.

Idioms are expressions that cannot be understood literally (”hold a meeting,” “kick the bucket,” “call in sick,” etc.). People often call an idiom a cliché, but they’re not always the same thing. A cliché is usually an idiom, but an idiom isn’t always a cliché.

Colloquialisms are (besides being darned hard to spell on the first try) casual, informal words and phrases (”ain’t,” “gonna,” “wanna”). They are often limited by geographical area. A soft drink is “pop” in the upper midwest, “soda” in the west and northeast, and “Coke” in the South (no matter the brand).

In some cases, it is perfectly okay to use an idiom or colloquialism in your writing:

• If you’re writing fiction. By using phrases specific to a region, you add definition both to the character and the setting.
• If what you’re writing will only be exposed to readers in that same region (say, a local newspaper or magazine).
• If you’re directly quoting someone, and they said it.

Don’t use them if your writing will be exposed to an international audience. They will have no idea what you mean. Even the more advanced English speakers probably will not be familiar with the phrases inherent to America and its regions. They might wonder why you’re making such a big deal over a guy kicking at a bucket. (”Did he make a mess?” they’ll wonder in confusion.)

You also shouldn’t use them in formal writing or any type of professional business correspondence. So, please don’t use “ain’t” in a term paper and tell your professor I said it was okay.

This article was written by Jennifer Roach http://jennifermroach.com Jennifer is a fiction writer, blogger, and freelance editor/proofreader. You can follow her on Twitter @jennifermroach or on MySpace . To see more posts click here

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