Formal vs Informal English
The way you write and speak changes depending on your audience and purpose. Formal English is used in professional and academic contexts; informal English is for everyday conversation and casual writing.
When to use formal or informal English
| Formal English | Informal English |
|---|---|
| Academic essays and reports | Text messages and chats |
| Business emails and letters | Emails to friends |
| Job applications | Social media posts |
| Presentations and speeches | Everyday conversation |
| Legal and official documents | Personal diaries and journals |
Key differences: vocabulary
| Informal | Formal |
|---|---|
| get | obtain, receive, acquire |
| show | demonstrate, illustrate, indicate |
| ask | enquire, request, seek |
| use | utilise, employ, apply |
| big / huge | significant, substantial, considerable |
| help | assist, support, facilitate |
| need | require, necessitate |
| think | consider, believe, conclude |
| start | commence, initiate, begin |
| end | conclude, terminate, finalise |
Key differences: grammar and style
| Feature | Informal | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| Contractions | I'm, don't, it's, they've | I am, do not, it is, they have |
| Phrasal verbs | find out, give up, put off | discover, abandon, postpone |
| Sentence length | Short, punchy sentences | Longer, more complex sentences |
| Passive voice | Rare (active preferred) | More common |
| Personal pronouns | I, you, we freely used | Often avoided; impersonal style |
| Slang / colloquialisms | Common: cool, loads, gonna | Avoided entirely |
| Hedging language | Less common | It could be argued that…, It appears that… |
Informal: "Can you send me the report ASAP? I need it for a meeting."
Formal: "I would be grateful if you could send me the report at your earliest convenience. I require it for an upcoming meeting."
Informal: "The new law has loads of problems."
Formal: "The new legislation presents a number of significant challenges."
Email openings and closings
| Informal | Formal | |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Hi Tom, Hey! Dear Maria, | Dear Mr Collins, Dear Sir/Madam, |
| Closing | Thanks, Cheers, See you, Take care, | Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully, Kind regards, |
Register tip: Before you write, ask yourself: Who is my audience? What is my purpose? A text to a friend and a cover letter to an employer require completely different registers. Getting the register wrong is as noticeable as a spelling mistake.