Difference Between Oral Communication and Written Communication (with Comparison Chart)

Words play a crucial role in communication process, to transmit the message in the way it is intended to be conveyed. When words are used in the process of communication, it is known as verbal commnication. Verbal transfer of information can be performed, orally or in written form. Oral Communication is the oldest means of communication, which is most commonly used as a medium for the exchange of information. It involves gathering or disseminating information through spoken words.

Written Communication, on the other hand, is a formal means of communication, wherein message is carefully drafted and formulated in written form. It is kept as a source of reference or legal record. In this article, we’ve presented all the important differences between oral and written communication in tabular form.

Content: Oral Communication Vs Written Communication

Comparison Chart
Definition
Key Differences
Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Communication	Oral Communication	Written Communication
Meaning	Exchange of ideas, information and message through spoken words is Oral Communication.	Interchange of message, opinions and information in written or printed form is Written Communication.
What is it?	Communication with the help of words of mouth.	Communication with the help of text.
Literacy	Not required at all.	Necessary for communication.
Transmission of message	Speedy	Slow
Proof	No record of communication is there.	Proper records of communication are present.
Feedback	Immediate feedback can be given	Feedback takes time.
Revision before delivering the message?	Not possible	Possible
Receipt of nonverbal cues	Yes	No
Probability of misunderstanding	Very high	Quite less

Definition of Oral Communication

Oral Communication is the process of conveying or receiving messages with the use of spoken words. This mode of communication is highly used across the world because of rapid transmission of information and prompt reply.

Oral communication can either be in the form of direct conversation between two or more persons like face to face communication, lectures, meetings, seminars, group discussion, conferences, etc. or indirect conversation, i.e. the form of communication in which a medium is used for interchange of information like telephonic conversation, video call, voice call, etc.

The best thing about this mode of communication is that the parties to communication, i.e. sender or receiver, can notice nonverbal cues like the body language, facial expression, tone of voice and pitch, etc. This makes the communication between the parties more effective. However, this mode is backed with some limitation like the words once spoken can never be taken back.

Definition of Written Communication

The communication in which the message is transmitted in written or printed form is known as Written Communication. It is the most reliable mode of communication, and it is highly preferred in the business world because of its formal and sophisticated nature. The various channels of written communication are letters, e-mails, journals, magazines, newspapers, text messages, reports, etc. There are a number of advantages of written communication which are as under:

Referring the message in the future will be easy.
Before transmitting the message, one can revise or rewrite it in an organised way.
The chances of misinterpretation of message are very less because the words are carefully chosen.
The communication is planned.
Legal evidence is available due to the safekeeping of records.

But as we all know that everything has two aspects, same is the case with written communication as the communication is a time consuming one. Moreover, the sender will never know that the receiver has read the message or not. The sender has to wait for the responses of the receiver. A lot of paperwork is there, in this mode of communication.

Key Differences Between Oral Communication and Written Communication

The following are the major differences between oral communication and written communication:

The type of communication in which the sender transmits information to the receiver through verbally speaking the message. The communication mode, which uses written or printed text for exchanging the information is known as Written Communication.
The pre-condition in written communication is that the participants must be literate whereas there is no such condition in case of oral communication.
Proper records are there in Written Communication, which is just opposite in the case of Oral Communication.
Oral Communication is faster than Written Communication.
The words once uttered cannot be reversed in the case of Oral Communication. On the other hand, editing of the original message is possible in Written Communication.
Misinterpretation of the message is possible in Oral Communication but not in Written Communication.
In oral communication, instant feedback is received from the recipient which is not possible in Written Communication.

Conclusion

Oral Communication is an informal one which is normally used in personal conversations, group talks, etc. Written Communication is formal communication, which is used in schools, colleges, business world, etc. Choosing between the two communication mode is a tough task because both are good at their places. People normally use the oral mode of communication because it is convenient and less time-consuming. However, people normally believe in the written text more than what they hear that is why written communication is considered as the reliable method of communication.