Formal writing needs much more care; it needs the best writer. This style of writing is used for business and other official purposes. It’s typically more complex than informal writing.
The demand for quality content is higher than ever. Whether you need blog posts, articles, reports, or any other type of formal writing, hiring a freelancer can be a cost-effective solution. However, with so many websites to choose from, it can be overwhelming to find the best platform to hire freelancers specifically for formal writing in Africa.
If you’re looking to outsource your formal writing tasks to freelancers in Africa, it’s important to find a platform that connects you with talented individuals who can deliver high-quality work. In this article, we will explore the 7 best websites where you can find skilled freelancers for your formal writing projects in Africa.
What Is Formal Writing?
Formal writing is when you use language that maintains a clear, professional relationship with the reader while attempting to be as exact as possible so they don’t misinterpret your meaning. Often, this precision can be achieved by adhering to numerous norms and conventions, but the overall characteristics of formal language try to be as precise and to the point as possible while avoiding certain terms and phrases that sound more informal.
This form of writing is the style of writing used for business and other official purposes. It needs to be correct in terms of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage.
A more formal style may also be appropriate for some letters, for example, if you are making a complaint to an organization.
What Are Some Examples of Formal Writing?
Below you’ll find the different types of formal writing.
1. Formal Letters
One thing you might have to write formally is a letter. These would be written if you need to write to your bank or apply for a job. Formal letters should contain:
- Your address
- The date it was written
- The recipient’s address
- A greeting
- The message
- A farewell or sign-off
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2. Work Emails
If you’re sending an email to a client, customer, or manager, using a formal tone will help you achieve your goals and preserve your professionalism. This is particularly crucial if you don’t know them well. Although you may adopt an informal tone when sending an email to a long-time colleague, if you’re addressing someone outside your office, you must ensure that your writing reflects the entire organization.
3. Reports
Business reports present an argument to the reader clearly and logically. As previously stated, employing a formal tone enables you to be accurate and objective, which is essential for this type of writing. When producing a paper of this nature, it is critical to avoid using first person (I/we) and colloquialisms or slang while being neutral and unbiased.
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4. Essays
When writing an essay, you must be formal, as this is typically done in academic environments. In an essay, you typically make an argument and support it with facts and evidence from a variety of sources. They exist to enlighten, not entertain. When writing an essay, avoid using personal pronouns like ‘I’ and ‘me’. In addition, include footnotes and a reading list to cite any sources used.
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5. Articles
Much like a report or essay, you write an article or informative document formally to show that it’s objective and unbiased. Aim to be as clear as possible when presenting the information in these types of documents. The most crucial element is to demonstrate the facts directly and efficiently, which is why formal language is the better choice.
6. Cover Letters
When creating cover letters, it’s crucial to maintain a professional tone and writing style. Although you are permitted to describe oneself as ‘I’ most of the time, all of the other principles listed above are essential. Employers receive a great number of cover letters while hiring, so if you want them to read yours, it must be a smooth and easy read. By presenting your letter in this manner, they can discover why you’re the best candidate as quickly as feasible.
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7 Best Websites To Hire Freelancers For Formal Writing
Here’s a list of websites to hire freelancers for formal writing in Africa:
1. WritersGig
On WritersGig you will find a list of vetted formal writers with extensive experience in various types of formal writing. This is the most recognized freelance platform for African writers. Whether you need reports, essays, or research papers, rest assured that every word is crafted by a seasoned writer.
With WritersGig, you’ll experience seamless collaboration through our user-friendly platform. From initial briefings to revisions, our unique interface makes every process easy, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – achieving your informational objectives.
On the platform, the buyer can optimize works on the WritersGig interface. The text editor is the same as the WordPress interface. What this means is that when a job is sent in, all you have to do is copy the text and paste it to your website, and all the formatting is retained.
As a buyer on WritersGig, the system allows you to approve the job done by the freelancer only when your guidelines are met.
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2. Truelancer
Truelancer is a curated freelance marketplace with thousands of top-rated formal writers in Nigeria. On Truelancer you will find & hire formal writers who are professionals offering their expertise in various freelance informational writing Services to businesses near Nigeria and around the world.
3. Upwork
On Upwork, you can find both beginners and advanced writers for a wide range of formal writing like letter writing, essay writing, report writing, and the like. You can use filters to narrow down the candidates and find the ones that fit your niche and business needs.
You can search for writers based on their experience and how much they charge—including their fixed price and hourly rates.
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4. Fiverr
Fiverr is another freelancing site you can explore. It provides a platform for both freelancers and employers to find each other and get what they need from each other.
On Fiverr, freelancers offer a range of letter-writing services, including topic research and writing different types of letters such as apologies, thank you, introductions, cover, appreciation, visa applications, job applications, and recommendation letters.
5. Guru
Guru is a great choice for small business owners who may have tighter budgets. Since it’s free to post job ads, it’s easy to get the attention of qualified freelancers for formal writing without having to shell out big bucks. Again, you’ll need to be patient and use filters to narrow down the candidates from a large pool.
What differentiates Guru from Upwork is that it also features a built-in project management tool. You can create onboarding documents right on the website. You can even use Guru to manage your content marketing process by sharing documents and creating tasks.
6. Contently
Contently connects businesses directly with vetted formal writers. All of the services at Contently are customized to each individual client. The platform works with only the highest quality writers to help you find the perfect writer, even if your niche is incredibly small.
The team of formal writers contently helps manage everything from report drafting to letter writing. The platform allows you to work closely with a consulting partner to figure out your business’s marketing needs.
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7. PeoplePerHour
People per Hour is another freelance platform that you can use to find and work with formal writers in many countries. Similar to Upwork, you can post a project ad or browse its database to start hiring freelance writers. People per Hour will then charge fees to buyers and sellers for every project.
At the moment, the platform has about 10,000 freelance writers in its database.
Characteristics of Formal Writing Style
In formal writing, the writer takes a more objective approach, expressing the essential points and supporting them with arguments. Formal writing is less emotive in tone, therefore it avoids exclamation marks and emoticons.
Here are quick rules you can follow to write in a more formal style:
- Use proper grammar and terminology. Stay away from slang, figures of speech, and abbreviated words. For example, say “technology” instead of “tech” and “provide updates” instead of “give a rundown.” Formal writing is seen as being more professional. An exception to this rule would be if the essay was about slang or colloquial language.
- Take an objective approach. Avoid the use of the first person (I, we, us) and second person (you), and use the third person instead (he, she, they, or the person’s name). A formal piece of writing is more concerned with presenting facts rather than opinions. While you will have an opinion on the topic, you need to use statistics and factual evidence to support your views
- Use full words instead of contractions or acronyms. For example, instead of saying “didn’t” or “won’t” say “did not” or “will not.” Avoid acronyms unless the acronym is more commonly understood than the written phrase, like NASA or BBC.
- Regularly contain compound sentences: Sentences in pieces of formal writing are often long and complex. They make use of compound sentences which are sentences that include two or more clauses. E.g “Ian enjoyed swimming yet preferred to play football”.
- Avoid the use of slang: Formal writing is perceived as being more professional. That means not describing something as “lit” or “on point”. An exception to this rule would be if the essay dealt with slang or colloquial language.
- Good vocabulary: In addition to not using slang, a piece of formal writing must be of a high level. That means avoiding repetition by using synonyms and using more descriptive words. An example would be instead of saying something is good, say how beneficial it is.
Traditional rules of formal writing style also say to use the passive voice and to make sentences longer and more complex. However, these rules are changing as it becomes more widely recognized that the passive voice and long, complex sentences make writing harder to read and understand.
FAQs On Websites To Hire Freelancers For Formal Writing
You can hire freelance formal writers on platforms like WritersGig, Truelancer, Upwork, Guru, etc.
formal writing is writing to inform. It might be in the form of an instruction manual, an academic journal, an encyclopedia, or even just the back of a box of cereal.
The demand for quality content is higher than ever. Whether you need blog posts, articles, reports, or any other type of formal writing, hiring a freelancer can be a cost-effective solution.
Conclusion
The internet has made it easier than ever to connect with talented freelance writers from Africa. By utilizing the 7 websites mentioned in this post, you can easily find the perfect writer to help you create quality and formal writing for your business. Don’t hesitate to explore these platforms and start working with skilled freelancers today!
References
- Microsoft,com – What Is Formal Writing Style and When Should You Use It?
- uk.indeed.com – What is formal writing in the workplace? (With examples)
- twinkl.com.ng – What is Formal Writing?
