Formal and informal language

We choose our words for the reader. Informal language is relaxed and chatty, for friends and family: contractions, slang and phrasal verbs. Formal language is careful and polite, for people we don't know, schools, companies and exams: full forms, precise words and longer sentences.

Key facts

  • Contractions are informal; full forms are formal: ⟦can't⟧ → ⟦cannot⟧, ⟦we're⟧ → ⟦we are⟧.
  • Formal words often replace phrasal verbs: ⟦put off⟧ → ⟦postpone⟧, ⟦find out⟧ → ⟦discover⟧, ⟦fill in⟧ → ⟦complete⟧.
  • Slang and chatty phrases (⟦gonna⟧, ⟦awesome⟧, ⟦grab your stuff⟧) never go in formal writing.
  • Formal phrases: ⟦I am writing to…⟧, ⟦Please do not hesitate to contact us.⟧, ⟦I look forward to hearing from you.⟧
  • The subjunctive is formal: ⟦If I were you…⟧, ⟦I wish I were…⟧, ⟦It is essential that he be on time.⟧

Worked examples

Example 1

Make it formal: ⟦We can't come.⟧

  1. ⟦can't⟧ is short for ⟦cannot⟧.
  2. ⟦We cannot come.⟧

Answer: ⟦We cannot come.⟧

Example 2

Choose the most formal word: ⟦The meeting has been ___ until Friday.⟧ (⟦put off⟧ / ⟦postponed⟧)

  1. ⟦put off⟧ is a chatty phrasal verb.
  2. ⟦postponed⟧ is the formal word.

Answer: ⟦postponed⟧

Example 3

Formal or informal? ⟦Fancy a game later?⟧

  1. It is chatty and missing words (⟦Do you⟧).
  2. You would say it to a friend: informal.

Answer: informal