Examples of Formal English Phrases

1. Notice in cafe: Only food purchase (=bought) here may be eaten on the premises.

2. Police statement: I apprehended (=caught) the accused outside the supermarket.
3. Theatre announcement: They play will commence (=start) in the two minutes.
4. Business meeting: The meeting will resume (=start again) this afternoon at 2 pm.
5. Lawyers in court: My client had a broken ankle, thus (=so) he couldn’t drive the car.
6. Business letter: I regret to inform you (I’m sorry to say) that we are unable to…
(=can’t).
7. Notice: If you require (=need) further assistance (more help) please contact…
8. Airport announcement: Will passenger for Miami please proceed to (=go to) gate
 Ask for – Request
 Come after – Follow
 Come up to – Reach/attain
 Deal with – Manage
 Go before – Precede
 Go out of – Exit
 Lead to – Cause
 Look at – Regard
 Look for – Seek
 Look into – Investigate
 Look like – Resemble
 Put up with – Tolerate
 Refer to – Consult
 Settle for – Choose
 Speak to – Address
 Talk about – Discuss/consider
 Think about – Consider/ponder
 Think of – Conceive
 Wait for – Await
 Really big – Considerable
 Lively – Energetic
 Whole – Entire/complete
 Exceptional – Marvelous
 Break down – fail/collapse
 Break off – Suspend/adjourn
 Break up – Disintegrate
 Bring in – Introduce
 Come back – Return
 Come/go in – Enter
 Get away – Escape
 Go ahead – Proceed
 Go away – Leave/depart
 Give/bring back – Return
 Give in – Yield
 Give out – Distribute
 Give up – Quit
 Link up – Connect
 Make out – Discern
 Make up – Invent
 Put/set down – Deposit
 Set out (1) – Display
 Set out (2) – Depart
 Take away – Remove
 Throw away – Discard
 Throw out – Eject
 Blow up – Explode
 Break down – Fail/collapse
 Hungry – Famished
 Tired – Fatigued
 Faithfulness – Fidelity
 Hopeless – Futile
 Go before – Precede
 Enjoyment – Gratification
 Thanks – Gratitude
 Funny – Humorous, amusing
 Childish – Immature
 Better – Improved
 Worse – Inferior
 Put in – Insert
 Make up – Invent
 Can – Is capable of
 Tons of, heaps of – Large quantities of, a number of
 Keep up – Maintain properly
 Could – Might be able to
 Plus/also – Moreover/futhermore
 Lots of/ a lot of – Much, many
 Anyways – Nevertheless
 A lot of – Numerous
 From (company) – On the behalf of
 Let – Permit
 Put off – Postpone
 Take out – Remove
 Mend – Repair
 Look like – Resemble
 House – Residence
 Keep – Retain
 Call on – Visit
 Try out – Test
 Drop out of – Withdraw (from)
 …

Example Sentences
Examples of Formal English Phrases
1. Notice in cafe: Only food purchase (=bought) here may be eaten on the premises.
2. Police statement: I apprehended (=caught) the accused outside the supermarket.
3. Theatre announcement: They play will commence (=start) in the two minutes.
4. Business meeting: The meeting will resume (=start again) this afternoon at 2 pm.
5. Lawyers in court: My client had a broken ankle, thus (=so) he couldn’t drive the car.
6. Business letter: I regret to inform you (I’m sorry to say) that we are unable to… (=can’t).
7. Notice: If you require (=need) further assistance (more help) please contact…
8. Airport announcement: Will passenger for Miami please proceed to (=go to) gate

Examples of Informal English Phrases

1. I had to go and pick up (=collect) the kids (=children) from school.
2. I reckon (=think) we’ll get (=receive/obtain) the money pretty (=quite) soon.
3. I’m just going to the loo. (=toilet).
4. Do you fancy going out? (= Would you like to go out?)
5. I managed to fix up (=arrange/make) an appointment for 7.30.
6. My flat is very handy for the shops. (near the shop and very convenient)
7. I thought the book was terrific. (=marvelous)
8. Most of the students are bright (=intelligent) but Paul is very thick. (=stupid)
9. What’s up? (=what’s the matter?)
10. We must get in touch with them (=contact them) very soon.
11. When we get to (=reach/arrive) the hotel, I’ll have a word with (=speak to) them.
12. I offered him ten quid (=pounds) but the gay (=man) wasn’t interested.
13. A: Here’s the book I promised you. / B: Oh, cheers (=thank you. It can also mean good
bye.)

Formal and Informal English – Images

Formal and Informal English Words | Infographic 1
Formal and Informal English Words | Infographic 2
Formal and informal language
 
Grammar > Using English > Types of English > Formal and informal language
from English Grammar Today

We use formal language in situations that are serious or that involve people we don’t
know well. Informal language is more commonly used in situations that are more
relaxed and involve people we know well.
Formal language is more common when we write; informal language is more common
when we speak. However, there are times where writing can be very informal, for
example, when writing postcards or letters to friends, emails or text messages. There
are also examples where spoken English can be very formal, for example, in a speech
or a lecture. Most uses of English are neutral; that is, they are neither formal nor
informal.
Formal language and informal language are associated with particular choices of
grammar and vocabulary.
Contractions, relative clauses without a relative pronoun and ellipsis are more common
in informal language.
Compare

She has decided to accept the

formal
job.

She’s decided to accept the job. informal: She’s = contraction

Compare

The girl whom I met in Singapore was interested

formal
in working in Australia.

The girl I met in Singapore was interested in informal: relative clause without the
working in Australia. relative pronoun whom

Compare

We went to Barcelona for the weekend. We have

Formal
a lot of things to tell you.

Went to Barcelona for the weekend. Lots to tell Informal: ellipsis (more likely to be written
you. or texted than spoken)

More formal vocabulary commonly involves longer words or words with origins in Latin
and Greek. More informal vocabulary commonly involves shorter words, or words with
origins in Anglo-Saxon. Most dictionaries indicate very informal and/or formal words.

formal informal

commenc
start
e

terminate end
 formal informal

endeavour try

We often choose to use certain modal verbs to be more formal and polite:
Can I suggest you try this new model? (neutral)
May I suggest you try this new model? (more formal)
Might I suggest you try this new model? (very formal)
See also:
 Contractions
 Ellipsis
 Speech into writing
 Politeness
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