Style of language

In the preface to her memoir Becoming, Michelle Obama mostly uses a formal style. The formality of the writing is shown, for example, when she talks about the opportunities she had while being First Lady: “I was the First Lady of the United States of America – a job that’s not officially a job, but that nonetheless has given me a platform like nothing I could have imagined.” (ll. 14-15).

Although the writing style is formal, the text also has some informal features. For example, Obama uses informal terms such as “kids” (l. 4) or the expressions “bossed (…) around” (l. 6) or “what I was shooting for” (l. 7). Such informal terms give the text a more personal style and make readers feel more connected to Obama and her experiences.

The preface contains many personal touches, as ...