Formatting Options
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Formatting controls the formality level of your TalkTone output. Think of it as a dial that adjusts how "dressed up" your writing sounds -- from jeans and a t-shirt (Casual) to a business suit (Formal).
Formatting works on top of your chosen mode and style. The same style can sound very different at different formality levels.
The Three Formatting Levels
| Level | Tone | Punctuation | Contractions | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | Relaxed, friendly, conversational | Minimal -- dashes, ellipses, exclamation marks | Yes ("don't", "can't", "we're") | Short sentences, fragments OK |
| Neutral | Balanced, clear, professional | Standard -- commas, periods, proper punctuation | Sometimes | Clean paragraphs, moderate length |
| Formal | Polished, authoritative, traditional | Full -- semicolons, proper grammar throughout | Never ("do not", "cannot", "we are") | Complete sentences, structured paragraphs |
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here is the exact same dictation shown at all three formatting levels. This makes the difference immediately clear.
Example 1: Email (Friendly Professional style)
What you say:
hey just wanted to tell you the report is ready and we can go over it whenever you have time
| Formatting | Output |
|---|---|
| Casual | Hey! The report's done -- let me know when you want to go over it! |
| Neutral | Hi, the report is ready. Let me know when you'd like to review it together. |
| Formal | Good afternoon. I am writing to inform you that the report has been completed. Please advise on a convenient time to review the document at your earliest convenience. |
Example 2: Chat (Professional style)
What you say:
the deployment went fine no issues everything is working as expected
| Formatting | Output |
|---|---|
| Casual | Deployment's done, all good! Everything's working fine. |
| Neutral | The deployment completed successfully. Everything is working as expected. |
| Formal | I am pleased to confirm that the deployment has been completed without incident. All systems are operating within expected parameters. |
Example 3: Document (Analytical style)
What you say:
user signups increased by twenty percent this month because we changed the landing page and ran some ads on social media
| Formatting | Output |
|---|---|
| Casual | Signups jumped 20% this month -- looks like the new landing page and social ads are doing the trick. |
| Neutral | User signups increased 20% month-over-month, driven by the redesigned landing page and targeted social media advertising campaigns. |
| Formal | Monthly user registrations have demonstrated a 20% increase, attributable to two primary initiatives: the comprehensive redesign of the primary landing page and the implementation of targeted advertising campaigns across social media platforms. |
Example 4: Social (Announcement style)
What you say:
we just launched dark mode and everyone has been asking for it for months
| Formatting | Output |
|---|---|
| Casual | Dark mode is HERE! You asked, we delivered. Go try it right now! |
| Neutral | Dark mode has arrived. The most-requested feature is now available for all users. |
| Formal | We are pleased to announce the release of Dark Mode, our most requested feature to date. The update is now available to all users. |
Example 5: Creative (Storyteller style)
What you say:
I woke up early and went for a run the streets were empty and it felt peaceful
| Formatting | Output |
|---|---|
| Casual | Woke up super early, hit the streets for a run. Not a soul around -- just me and the quiet. Honestly? Best part of the day. |
| Neutral | I woke early and stepped out for a run. The streets were empty, and there was a stillness to the morning that felt rare and welcome. |
| Formal | The early morning hours found me embarking upon a solitary run through deserted streets. The pervasive silence offered a tranquility that one seldom encounters in the bustle of daily life. |
Quick Reference: When to Use Each Level
| Formatting | Best For |
|---|---|
| Casual | Friends, social media, Slack, texts, informal blogs |
| Neutral | Coworkers, clients you know well, standard business communication |
| Formal | Executives, clients, legal, academic, government, first contact |
How Formatting Interacts with Other Settings
Formatting is just one layer of TalkTone's system. Here is how it fits in:
Mode (Email) → Style (Formal Business) → Formatting (Formal) → Intensity (Medium)
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You are here
| Combination | Result |
|---|---|
| Friendly style + Casual formatting | Very relaxed, like talking to a close friend |
| Friendly style + Formal formatting | Warm but polished -- friendly without being sloppy |
| Formal Business style + Casual formatting | Professional content delivered in a relaxed tone |
| Formal Business style + Formal formatting | Maximum professionalism -- boardroom-ready |
If you are unsure, Neutral is always a safe choice. It works in almost every professional situation without sounding too casual or too stiff.
How to Change Formatting
- Click the TalkTone icon in the toolbar
- Find the Formatting selector
- Choose Casual, Neutral, or Formal
- Your next dictation will use the new formatting level
Formatting is saved per session. When you restart TalkWriter, it returns to your default formatting preference set in Settings.
Next Steps
- Intensity Slider -- Control how much TalkTone rewrites your words
- Custom Instructions -- Add personal rules like "always use British English"
- Writing Styles -- Browse all 28+ styles