Formal and informal English
TOMASZ P. SZYNALSKI
The most important piece of advice for an English learner is to get lots of input.
But not all input is the same. There are, roughly speaking, two basic types of
English input: formal and informal.
Formal English is used in “serious” texts and situations — for example, in
official documents, books, news reports, articles, business letters or official
speeches. Informal English is used in everyday conversations and in personal
letters.
Here is an example of formal English that you might come across in a book:
As the price of five dollars was reasonable, I decided to make the purchase
without further thought.
The same thought would be expressed quite differently in informal English.
Here’s an actual example that I heard from a young American:
It was, like, five bucks, so I was like “okay”.
You need to know formal English because you want to be able to read a book,
give a business presentation or write an official letter. You also need informal
English because you want to be able to understand and communicate with
English speakers in everyday situations.
Differences between formal and informal English
Formal English Informal English
Used in official, literary, academic, etc. Used in everyday, personal
content. conversations.
Typically used in careful, edited writing — Typically used in
when the writer has a lot of time to polish “improvised” speech —
his text. Formal English also occurs in when the speaker is
speech, usually when the speaker is saying speaking without
something that was prepared beforehand preparation, as in a
(for example, reading the news or conversation (in real life or
delivering an official speech). over the phone). Informal
English also occurs in
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writing, usually whenever
the writer is writing quickly
and without editing (for
example, in an Internet
chatroom or in quick,
personal e-mails).
Sentences are longer and more Sentences are simpler and
complicated, for example: Toyota’s US shorter, for example: Did
sales bounced back in March as you see Toyota’s sales
substantial discounts helped to win back figures? Looks like the
customers who had been shaken by the discounts have actually
firm’s mass safety recalls. worked.
The standard of correctness is higher. o
Some things are considered correct (or at
least acceptable) in informal English,
but wrong in formal English. For example:
o I’ve made less mistakes. (formal: I’ve
made fewer mistakes.)
o She’s liking it. (formal: She likes it.)
o I feel real tired. (formal: I feel really tired.)
o You did good. (formal: You did well.)
Formal English Informal English
Because informal English is
“improvised”, it is sloppy.
Speakers (and sometimes
writers) often do the
following:
o Use “delaying expressions”
to give themselves
time: Well, I think they
should have asked us
first, you know?
o Use “correcting
expressions” to correct
themselves: He’s not
well. I mean, he’s not sick,
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but he’s very tired.
o Use “qualifying
expressions” to show that
what they said is not
exactly right: This
whole blogging thing is
getting kind of old.
o Informal English contains
useful “everyday phrases”,
for example:
o Here you are. There you
go. (when giving something
to someone)
o Excuse me?, Come
again? (to ask someone to
repeat something)
o What do you mean? (to ask
for explanation)
o So, you’re saying
that...? (to ask for
confirmation)
o Exactly!, I couldn’t agree
with you more. (to agree
with someone)
o By the way..., Anyway... (to
change the topic)
o See you. Take care. (to say
goodbye)
A huge number of words and phrases are A huge number of words
used mainly in formal English. For and phrases are used
example: nevertheless, to disclose, to mainly in informal English.
constitute, to For
undertake, daunting, impervious, anew, tru example: dude, freaking, u
ly, solace, to h-huh, nope (= no), to
enchant, frantically, sizeable, to puke, trashy, grownup, awe
clutch, heyday, as it some, to chill
happens, upsurge, retrieval out, stuff, hard-up, to tick
somebody off, to sell like
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crazy.
Many (but not all) phrasal verbs are Phrasal verbs are used
avoided. frequently. For example, in
informal situations, people
usually say found
out instead
of discovered, came
across instead
of encountered and got
away instead of escaped.
Words and phrases are
sometimes pronounced in a
shortened and simplified
way, e.g. Lemme go!, I’m
doin’
fine, Whassup?, Whatcha
gonna do?
Where do I get formal and informal input?
Here is a handy chart that shows you what types of English (formal, informal or
“in between”) you can get from different sources of input:
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Formal vs. informal
There is a clear difference in register between 'familiar' and 'ceremonial' styles.
However, academic writing may require some cross registering with 'informal'
and 'formal' styles; therefore, it is important to understand the differences in the
language used and when cross registering is possible.
The following provides comparative examples of the two registers.
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Formal language makes use of complex sentence structures
(1) In 2001, the bridge was built. This was good politically. Two countries
united. = Informal
(2) The bridge was completed in 2001, which resulted in a positive political
move that united two countries. = Formal
Formal language does not use contractions
(3) When considering staffing in hospitals in the future, it's difficult not be
concerned. = Informal
(4) When considering staffing in hospitals in the future, it is difficult not be
concerned. = Formal
Formal language is objective
(5) I think/believe that the issue of global warming will be the primary concern
at the meeting. = Informal
(6) There is little doubt/It is clear that the issue of global warming will be the
primary concern at the meeting. =Formal
Formal language does not use colloquialisms (language which is
common to spoken English)
(7) Sweden's Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, totally flipped out when he read
the latest report from the press. = Informal
(8) The Prime Minister of Sweden, Fredrik Reinfeldt, expressed his concern
when he viewed the most recent report from the press. = Formal
Formal language focuses more on vocabulary choice
(9) The research assistant checked out the incident and got back to him the next
day. = Informal
(10) The research assistant investigated the incident and reported to him the
following day. = Formal
Formal language makes use of the discipline specific vocabulary
(11) Germs grow well in dirty and warm temperatures. = Informal
(12) Bacteria thrive in unhygienic and warm conditions.= Formal
