formal essay english language

How to Write a Formal Essay: Format, Rules, & Example

If you’re a student, you’ve heard about a formal essay: a factual, research-based paper written in 3rd person. Most students have to produce dozens of them during their educational career. 

Writing a formal essay may not be the easiest task. But fear not: our custom-writing team is here to guide you through the process. This article will:

• explain what a formal essay is;
• show how to write it step by step;
• provide you with an essay sample. 

👔 Formal Essay Definition

• ✅ How to Write
• ✍️ Writing Rules
• 🖥️ Essay Format
• 📑 Sample Paper

🔍 References

A formal essay is a well-structured piece of writing with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. This type of essay often includes cited research, uses an academic tone, and is written in 3rd person. While writing a formal essay, it’s necessary to back up your arguments with factual evidence.

What Is an Informal Essay vs. Formal Essay?

Essays come in two formats: formal and informal (also known as personal .) They differ in terms of style and context. You can choose one of the formats depending on the situation and the type of paper you need to write.

Don’t know how to tell the difference between them? Well, here are some key characteristics of these essay types:

As you can see, these types of writing are almost total opposites. Informal essays are only reserved for creative assignments, which means that most of the papers you write need to be formal.

Our article on creative essays can help you write an informal paper. But how do you craft a perfect formal essay? Keep reading to find out.

✅ How to Write a Formal Essay

Traditionally, a formal essay it’s composed of 3 sections: an introduction, 3 or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Let’s examine each part in detail.

Formal Essay Introduction

The introduction is what your essay starts with. Its primary goal is to catch the reader’s attention with a hook, briefly introduce the topic, and lead toward the thesis statement located at the end of the first paragraph.

Here is what you might want to keep in mind while writing the introduction:

If you want some more inspiration for your introduction, check out our article on hooks in writing .

Now on to the thesis statement : the key idea of your essay. When working on it, keep in mind that it should answer the central question in your topic and reflect your essay’s overall structure. your essay’s overall structure.

Suppose your topic is related to the teaching methods involving poetry. In that case, the thesis statement can be like this:

Teaching methods that involve reading and writing poetry in elementary school are beneficial for children as they enhance their capacity for empathy, develop creativity, and help with self-realization.

Formal Essay Body

The next part of an essay is the main body paragraphs. They support the thesis statement with well-developed arguments and explore the topic in-depth. Each body paragraph starts with a topic sentence stating its main point. The length of a paragraph can vary, but the best option is to have between 4 and 7 sentences.

To make the text flow easily, you may use transitional words. Here are some examples:

• after all, 
• for instance, 
• on the one/other hand, 
• initially, 
• as a result.

How to Write a Formal Essay Conclusion

Lastly, every essay needs closure. A good conclusion summarizes the essay’s main ideas, includes a paraphrased thesis, and encourages the readers to think more about the topic.

The structure of a conclusion may change slightly depending on the subject. For instance, it can suggest some solutions to a problem, express an opinion, or give a recommendation. It’s important to remember that the conclusion is a part that emphasizes your essay’s most important points and doesn’t introduce new information.

If you’re curious about writing each essay part, check out our article on 5-paragraph essays .

✍️ Formal Writing Rules

Just like choosing the proper attire to wear to a formal event, we need to use the right words while writing a formal essay. Here are some suggestions that can help you maintain a formal tone in your paper:  

Dos of formal writing

• Pay attention to your vocabulary. The words you will use in a formal essay will likely have a nuanced meaning. Make sure you know exactly what the terms mean, and do your best to sound precise.
• Use punctuation correctly. Here are some of the things to watch out for: Avoid exclamation marks; Use dashes for insertions; Use colons with enumerations; If you’re unsure of whether to use a punctuation mark or not, rewrite the sentence in a way that doesn’t require it.
• Use varied sentence structure. In formal writing, there is always a danger of sounding monotonous. Avoid repeating sentence structures to make your essay more readable.
• Provide references. It’s essential to cite every idea that you borrow. Try to paraphrase quotations from your sources: it will help you avoid plagiarism.

Don’ts of formal writing

• Avoid using pronouns.  With words such as “I,” “me,” “we,” or “us,” an essay becomes wordy. It also makes the author seem less sure of their ideas. If you want to use personal pronouns, try substituting them with words like “the reader,” “viewers,” or “one.”
• Avoid using slang expressions and nonstandard diction. Slang words in a formal essay will make it less appealing to the readers. If you want to be taken seriously, it’s best to avoid those expressions and use proper Standard English.
• Avoid informal tone.  When you write a formal essay, incorporate the language and the expressions you would use while delivering a speech, not the words you use when you casually talk to friends. A formal tone suggests that the author is serious about the topic and respects the audience.
• Avoid passive voice. Passive verbs are hard to read, and they are wordy. Use active voice to sound more straightforward and concise.

Contractions in Formal Writing

A contraction is usually a combination of two words into one, such as “don’t,” “isn’t,” “can’t,” and “wouldn’t.” When you work on a formal essay, it’s essential to be careful about contractions. It’s inappropriate to use them in academic writing, so it’s best to stick to the full variant.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, when working with direct quotations, it’s essential to reproduce words exactly as they are used in the original. To learn more about it, be sure to check out the University of North Florida’s article on in-text citations .

What to Use Instead of “You” in an Essay

Another common mistake students make is using the “you” and “yours” pronouns to address the readers. This mistake can make the essay overly informal and lead to misinterpretations of the text.

How do you fix it? Our advice is to replace 2nd-person pronouns with the following words:

• individuals,

You can find more formal writing tips in this informative video from Smrt English:

🖥️ Formal Essay Format

Now that we’ve discussed formal essay writing in detail, it’s time to look at the formatting. A formal essay is usually written in MLA or APA formats. If you’re asked to write a paper in one of these formats, you may find the guidelines below helpful:

📑 Formal Essay Example

Here is an excellent sample of a formal essay that uses all the guidelines mentioned in this article. It will help you to produce a perfect paper of your own:

For more information, check out Purdue OWL’s resources on various formatting styles .

Formal Essay Topics

• Stress management techniques 
• The effects of coffee
• Negative effects of technology on children 
• Causes and outcomes of organizational conflicts in sports
• Different types of friends 
• Same-sex marriages in the United States
• Are early marriages harmful or beneficial? 
• How do nutrition and hydration improve athletes’ performance?
• Is polygamy morally acceptable? 
• Different features of sports business
• What characterizes friendship in the age of media? 
• Positive and negative effects of tourism on environment in the Caribbean
• How does society treat single parents? 
• How does the uninvolved parenting style affect child’s future well-being?
• The role of family relationships in Odyssey  
• Financial concepts in sport finance
• Main features of a strong marriage 
• The importance of media coverage for sport teams
• Reasons why students choose to get internship 
• The role of stadiums in the sports industry
• The multiracial family: the Carters case analysis 
• Characteristics of children’s sports
• Crucial factors affecting health fitness
• How is technology used in hotel management?
• Structure and operational context of Four Seasons
• What are the main qualities of a true friend?
• Different websites that promote rental properties
• The imperative aspects of tourism
• Importance of hotel training
• What factors determine adolescents’ adjustment after they experience parental divorce ?
• How does tobacco use affect the human body? 
• The importance of language and world view for communication
• What makes a combination of reinforcement and punishment in parenting efficient?
• The scientific approach of sports economics
• How does divorce affect children?
• Living on-campus vs. living off-campus when attending university: a comparison
• How does the New Moves program promote a healthy lifestyle?
• How to be an effective counselor
• Various types of restaurants in Ireland
• Carolina Dog’s characteristics
• Comparison of Monzameon’s The Love Suicides at Amijima and Tartuffe by Moliere 
• Comparing homosexual and heterosexual families
• How is family presented in Everyday Use by Alice Walker ?
• In what ways can Anaerobic Threshold be assessed?
• Is bad parenting a healthcare problem?
• Why student-athletes should benefit from sports
• Mind-body awareness and its health benefits
• Can punishment boost academic performance?
• Techniques to teach students swimming
• Issues faced by the sports licensing field

Thanks for reading through this guide! We hope that you found it helpful and now have a better idea of how to write an excellent formal essay. Don’t hesitate to share our article with a friend who may need it. Good luck!

Further reading:

• How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay: Examples & Outline
• What Is a Discourse Analysis Essay: Example & Guide
• How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline: Template & Examples
• How to Write a Précis: Definition, Guide, & Examples 

❓ Formal Essay FAQs

It’s best not to use pronouns such as “I,” “my,” “we,” “our,” etc., in a formal essay since it give the paper an informal tone and the text becomes wordy. It also makes the writer seem less sure about their ideas.

It’s better to avoid using parentheses and dashes in formal academic writing. If the information you want to include in the essay is important enough, it should be a part of the sentence. Otherwise, you can simply omit it.

The formal and informal essays differ in style and context. While a formal essay is a piece of well-structured writing that tries to convince the reader by providing arguments, an informal essay has no set structure. It reflects the author’s personal thoughts or opinions.

Starting your sentence with “because” in formal writing is not the best idea. The word “because” is a subordinate conjunction, which means it’s used to join the main clause to a subordinate clause, not to start a sentence.

It’s best to avoid using 1st- and 2nd-person pronouns, slang expressions, nonstandard diction, and contractions in a formal essay. They are primarily used in daily speech and are considered inappropriate in academic writing. 

• Point of View in Academic Writing: St. Louis Community College
• Components of a Good Essay: University of Evansville
• Introductions & Conclusions: University of Arizona Global Campus
• How to Improve Your Academic Writing: University of York
• Nine Basic Ways to Improve Your Style in Academic Writing: University of California, Berkeley
• Academic Writing Style: Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: University of Southern California
• Formal and Informal Style: Northern Illinois University
• Formal Writing: Davenport University: LibGuides
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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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Extended Essay: Formal vs. Informal Writing

• Extended Essay- The Basics
• Step 1. Choose a Subject
• Step 2. Educate yourself!
• Using Brainstorming and Mind Maps
• Identify Keywords
• Do Background Reading
• Define Your Topic
• Conduct Research in a Specific Discipline
• Step 5. Draft a Research Question
• Step 6. Create a Timeline
• Find Articles
• Find Primary Sources
• Get Help from Experts
• Search Engines, Repositories, & Directories
• Databases and Websites by Subject Area
• Create an Annotated Bibliography
• Advice (and Warnings) from the IB
• Chicago Citation Syle
• MLA Works Cited & In-Text Citations
• Step 9. Set Deadlines for Yourself
• Step 10. Plan a structure for your essay
• Evaluate & Select: the CRAAP Test
• Conducting Secondary Research
• Conducting Primary Research
• Formal vs. Informal Writing
• Presentation Requirements
• Evaluating Your Work

Differences Between Informal and Formal Essays

When writing your extended essay you should use language that is formal and academic in tone.  The chart below gives you some idea of the differences between informal and formal essays. See the box below for examples of the differences in tone in informal and formal essays written on identical topics. A PDF of this chart, and the examples below, is in the box to the right , along with a list of tips for avoiding colloquial writing.

Examples of Informal and Formal Tone in Essay Writing

The following examples highlight the differences between formal and informal tone.

Language B - English

• Formal vs. Informal Writing A chart giving the differences between informal and formal essays in seven areas (author's viewpoint; subject/content (sources of evidence); tone; structure; location of the research question; vocabulary; and purpose. Also included are examples comparing informal and formal writing for essays in English, biology, and psychology.
• How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing While it may be acceptable in friendly e-mails and chat rooms, excessive colloquialism is a major pitfall that lowers the quality of formal written text. Here are some steps/tips that you can follow to help improve your overall writing.
• << Previous: Plagiarism
• Next: Presentation Requirements >>
• Last Updated: May 8, 2024 3:48 PM
• URL: https://libguides.westsoundacademy.org/ee

Definition and Examples of Formal Essays

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

In composition studies , a formal essay is a short, relatively impersonal composition in prose . Also known as an impersonal essay or a Baconian essay (after the writings of England's first major essayist , Francis Bacon ).

In contrast to the familiar or personal essay , the formal essay is typically used for the discussion of ideas. Its rhetorical purpose is generally to inform or persuade.

"The technique of the formal essay," says William Harmon, "is now practically identical with that of all factual or theoretical prose in which literary effect is secondary" ( A Handbook to Literature , 2011).

Examples and Observations

• "' Formal' essays were introduced in England by [Francis] Bacon , who adopted Montaigne's term. Here the style is objective, compressed, aphoristic , wholly serious. . . . In modern times, the formal essay has become more diversified in subject matter, style , and length until it is better known by such names as article , dissertation, or thesis, and factual presentation rather than style or literary effect has become the basic aim." (L. H. Hornstein, G. D. Percy, and C. S. Brown, The Reader's Companion to World Literature , 2nd ed. Signet, 2002)
• A Blurred Distinction Between Formal Essays and Informal Essays "Francis Bacon and his followers had a more impersonal, magisterial, law-giving, and didactic manner than the skeptical Montaigne. But they should not be viewed as opposites; the distinction between formal and informal essay can be overdone, and most great essayists have crossed the line frequently. The difference is one of degree. [William] Hazlitt was essentially a personal essayist , though he wrote theater and art criticism; Matthew Arnold and John Ruskin were essentially formal essayists , though they may have tried a personal essay once in a while. Personality creeps into the most impersonal of writers: it is difficult to read Bacon on friendship or having children , for instance, without suspecting he is talking about autobiographical matters. Dr. Johnson was probably more a moral essayist than a personal one, though his work has such an individual, idiosyncratic stamp that I have persuaded myself to place him in the personal camp. George Orwell seems split fifty-fifty, an essay hermaphrodite who always kept one eye on the subjective and one on the political. . . . "The Victorian era saw a turn toward the formal essay , the so-called essay of ideas written by [Thomas] Carlyle, Ruskin, [Matthew] Arnold, Macaulay, Pater. Between Lamb and Beerbohm there was scarcely an English personal essay, with the exception of those by Robert Louis Stevenson and Thomas De Quincey . . . ." (Phillip Lopate, Introduction to The Art of the Personal Essay . Anchor, 1994)
• Voice in the Impersonal Essay "[E]ven when 'I' plays no part in the language of an essay, a firm sense of personality can warm the voice of the impersonal essay narrator . When we read Dr. [Samuel] Johnson and Edmund Wilson and Lionel Trilling , for instance, we feel that we know them as fully developed characters in their own essays, regardless of their not referring personally to themselves." (Phillip Lopate, "Writing Personal Essays: On the Necessity of Turning Oneself Into a Character." Writing Creative Nonfiction , ed. by Carolyn Forché and Philip Gerard. Writer's Digest Books, 2001)
• Crafting the Impersonal "I" "Unlike the exploratory 'self' of Montaigne, Francis Bacon's impersonal 'I' appears already to have arrived. Even in the comparatively expansive third edition of the Essays , Bacon provides few explicit hints as to either the character of the textual voice or the role of the expected reader. . . . [T]he absence of a felt 'self' on the page is a deliberate rhetorical effect: the effort to efface voice in the 'impersonal' essay is a way of evoking a distant but authoritative persona . . . . In the formal essay , invisibility must be forged." (Richard Nordquist, "Voices of the Modern Essay." University of Georgia, 1991)
• A Brief History of English Literature
• What Are the Different Types and Characteristics of Essays?
• What is a Familiar Essay in Composition?
• The Essay: History and Definition
• Characteristics of a Formal Prose Style
• What Is a Personal Essay (Personal Statement)?
• What Does "Persona" Mean?
• An Introduction to Literary Nonfiction
• What Is Colloquial Style or Language?
• Mark Twain's Colloquial Prose Style
• A Look at the Roles Characters Play in Literature
• Periodical Essay Definition and Examples
• Plain Style in Prose
• What Is Tone In Writing?

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This page discusses some of the key points and areas to be more formal in Academic English Writing. Although there is no set rules on formality at university, this information on academic style is generally accepted throughout most universities.

Contractions   (it’ll, there’s)

All contracted forms need to be in full forms, e.g: it’ll, it will / it’s, it is / there’s, there is, please note – can’t, cannot (one word, not two), informal adjectives   (hard, easy, big,).

Some adjectives are seen as informal

Hard:   alternative more formal synonyms:

Difficult, complicated, harsh, complicated, intolerable, unpleasant, undeniable., easy:  alternative more formal synonyms:, effortless, elementary, manageable, simple, uncomplicated, big:  alternative more formal synonyms:, considerable, extensive, immense, substantial, tremendous  , these are often seen as informal and personal, (every coin has two sides… / on the other hand…), metaphors:   (a rocky road ahead… / the bottom line…), no personal pronouns   (i, you, he, she, you, they), try to avoid personal forms, use ‘there ‘ as a subject; e.g. ‘there is a serious risk of…’, use ‘it’ as a subject; e.g. ‘it is impossible to…’, use ‘ one’ as a subject; e.g., ‘one may ask whether…’ (‘ one’ is a formal version of ‘you’ [plural] in general ), use passive constructions, passive construction help to make your writing less personal, they can learn english effectively…, english can be learnt effectively…, they analysed the data and they discovered, the data was analysed…, use gerunds (ing forms), present participle or gerunds help to create more complex forms, they have to speak english, speaking english is necessary, if we understand the reasons behind…, understanding the rationale indicates…, noun phrases, long noun subjects or objects are common in academic writing, we analysed the data and we found evidence…., analysis of the data provided evidence…., they have many exercises to fill in the missing words available to learn from., the availability of gap fill exercises enhance learning, use academic word list (540 academic words), high frequency academic words taken from a academic literature  , [academic word list], establish / acquisition / analysis / strategies / validity / beneficial / assumption / criteria / hypothesis / fundamental / initiative /  presumption / differentiation / controversial / inevitable / intrinsic / exploitive / etc.., use fixed academic phrases, fixed phrases can be incorporated easily into your writing, it can be said / it could be argued that…, one major drawback of this approach is that ……  , one of the most significant current discussions in …, it is important to note that…, [ academic phrases ], colloquial / informal words expressions, beware of using slang, and general english terms, examples of informal / colloquial words are gonna / stuff / a lot of / things /, stuff:  alternative more formal synonyms:, effects, equipment, gear, goods, individual, kit, luggage, objects, paraphernalia, possessions, substances., a lot of:  alternative more formal synonyms:, abundant, adequate, considerable, plenteous, sizeable, substantial, sufficient, significant., things:  alternative more formal synonyms:, aspects, areas, elements, facts, figures, materials, points, situations, subjects, information, not sure use a synonym website:  www.thersaurus.com  , phrasal verbs / two word verb forms / multi-word verbs, a verb + preposition are often considered informal, examples of these are put off  / look into / come across – there is usually a formal alternative;, put off:  alternative more formal synonyms: postpone, look into:  alternative more formal synonyms: investigate, come across:  alternative more formal synonyms: discover , informal verbs, some verbs are considered informal and there are more formal alternatives, for example; ‘ get ‘, alternative more formal synonyms:, acquire , accomplish, attain, become, capture, compass, draw, effect, elicit, evoke, extract, gain, obtain, realise, receive, secure, apprehend., a chart of formal and informal verbs, check how academic your essay is – click here  , academic style lessons, academic style 1.

  Academic Style 1 : 20 key features to writing  

This lesson brainstorms academic style / formality in writing. Teacher conducts feedback by using visual highlighting & explaining the concepts. There are also 10x practice transformation exercises from informal to formal. ( Example).   It includes a PowerPoint:  PPT Link in download. Webpage link. Time: 60mins.   Level *** ** [ B1/B2/C1]  / / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP  / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Academic Style 2

Academic style 2: paragraph analysis, comparison and discussion  .

This lesson compares two paragraphs on CSR (informal and formal), discusses the conventions of academic style and finishes with a sentence re-writing activity. .  ( Example)  Time: 60mins.   Level *** ** [ B1/B2/C1]  / Webpage link.  / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP  / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Academic Style 3

Academic style 3 : vocabulary 1 (awl & nominalisation) .

This lesson is for general academic classes. It focuses on two key areas of academic writing: AWL and nominalisation. There are three worksheets comprising of a number of different activities to practise categorisation and reformulation at sentence and paragraph level.  ( Example)  Time: 60mins.    / Webpage link  / Level  *** **  [ B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP  / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Academic Style 4

Academic style 4: stem vocabulary 2 (awl & nominalisation).

This lesson is for STEM classes (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). It focuses on two key areas of academic writing: AWL and nominalisation. There are three worksheets comprising of a number of different activities to practise categorisation and reformulation at sentence and paragraph level.  ( Example)  Time: 60mins.    / Webpage link  / Level  *** **  [ B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP  / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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• Formal and Informal Style

Whether you use formal or informal style in writing will depend on the assignment itself, its subject, purpose, and audience.

Formal language is characterized by the use of standard English, more complex sentence structures, infrequent use of personal pronouns, and lack of colloquial or slang terms.

Informal language allows the use of nonstandard English forms, colloquial vocabulary and typically shorter sentence structures.

The choice of formal or informal style will affect the following areas:

• standard or nonstandard English
• choice of vocabulary
• use of contractions
• use of pronouns

Rule to Remember

Formal style affects the form of English, the choice of vocabulary, and the use of contractions and pronouns.

Standard or Nonstandard English

Standard English is the language used in professional and business communication. It is the form of English that follows the formal rules of the language.

Nonstandard English uses regional or social language variations. Nonstandard English should only be used when there is a purpose for it in writing. For example, it can be used in a narrative to describe a person with a specific regional dialect. Otherwise, the standard form of English should be used.

Choice of Vocabulary

Vocabulary  needs to be adjusted depending on the level of formality of any written work.

Consider the following words: investigate, examine, check out . Each of them has a different level of formality. While check out can be used in informal writing and speech, using it in a formal research paper would not be appropriate.

Use more formal vocabulary and avoid the use of contractions in formal writing.

Sometimes the whole sentence needs to be rephrased:

Contractions are more casual, and if you are striving for more formal style, they should not be used. Contractions in negative sentences should be especially avoided since they are easy to miss.

The Use of Pronouns

Formal language tends to be impersonal and precise. The use of pronouns , therefore, is restricted. In formal writing, when addressing the audience, you may use the passive voice or an adverbial clause in place of the personal pronoun:

Restrict the use of personal pronouns in formal writing.

The writer's presence, signaled by the use of the personal pronoun I , or we (if there are several authors), can also make writing more informal and less credible.

The second sentence is more formal and can be perceived by the audience to be more credible.

• Punctuation
• Organization
• General Document Format
• Formatting Visuals
• In-text Citations
• List of Sources
• Bias-free Language
• Sentence Structure

Formal Essays

Formal essay generator.

Within the activities that you have to deal with in your entire life, there are certain instances where you will be required to write an essay . This is the reason why you have to be knowledgeable on how to construct different kinds of essays so you can easily create a particular one when necessary. One type of essay that is usually asked by entities to be written is a formal essay. A formal essay is commonly associated with academic essay examples  and other educational writing activities. However, the usage of a formal essay is not limited to that as it can be used in professional researchers, business transactions, and other corporate undertakings.

It is essential for a formal essay to inform its audience about a particular matter. More so, it should be composed of details that can persuade the readers to believe what the writer is saying. Refer to the downloadable samples of formal essays that are available in this post so you can have references and guides if you have been tasked to create this specific essay and is unaware of what to do.

Formal Student Profile Essay Sample

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Formal Essay Sample Guide

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Components of a Formal Essay Introduction

Compared to how a  descriptive essay  can be deemed appealing, one of the things that you always have to give focus on when creating a formal essay is the introduction that you will use. First impressions play a vital role in how your target readers will create their perception of your writing. Just as how the physical appearance of people tend to be the factor that can affect your first impression about them, the introduction of your essay can also be the means on how your formal essay can be perceived and initially judged.

You need to create a formal essay introduction that is outstanding. It needs to get the attention of your readers in a way that is not overwhelming. You need to consider different factors when doing your introduction so you can ensure that your formal essay can have a good start. Here are some of the components of a formal essay introduction that you need to be aware of:

• Statistics or research results either coming from the government or reliable non-profit organizations
• Hard hitting questions that are relevant to your topic discussion
• Famous quotations from people whose life works are related to what you will be talking about
• Use another sentence to provide information about your topic.  Your readers need to have a basic background information about what they can expect with regards the content of your formal essay. This should contain details that can be helpful in providing your readers an idea of why it is relevant for them to continue reading your written output. One sentence is enough as your presentation only requires a few words to be done. Again, focus on the main information that you would like to talk about so that your readers will not be misled regarding the content of your formal essay.
• Lastly, incorporate your thesis statement in your introduction. It will be best if you will end your introduction with a thesis statement. This is for the reason that it can represent the main idea of your essay. If you will be able to present the major purpose of your essay and the actual point of discussion, then it will be easier for you to connect with your readers. The initial impact that your introduction can provide can say a lot about how you can direct the attention of your prospective audience. With a strong thesis statement, your formal essay is sure to be off to a good start.

Simple Formal Essay Sample

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Formal Presentation Essay Sample

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How to Create a Formal Essay

Since a formal essay should always be based on factual information, it tends to be more objective, precise and direct to the point compared to other essays. With this, formatting a formal essay requires in-depth knowledge about the topic as well as about the proper format or content flow that should be used to cohesively put together important information. Here is how you can easily format the information that you would like to present in a formal essay may it be a  college essay  or a professional/corporate requirement:

• Create an introduction which can provide the topic of your discussion. We have already given you an idea on how you can formulate an effective introduction. It all boils down to how you will incorporate these ideas to your actual writing. Your introduction may not give a lot of details when compared to the body of you essay but it certainly can convince your readers to continue reading which can make your work more usable and relevant.
• Each paragraph should contain a subtopic that is related to your discussion. This can make your discussion more organized.
• Ensure that your body will have factual details that can support your topic or subject. You have to make sure that the information that you will give to your readers are real so your essay will be deemed credible.
• Always create a body that conveys ideas related to the thesis statement that you have created. With each topic statement, the connection of both your resources and relevant opinions should be evident.
• Make a conclusion that can summarize the entire essay.  If you want to create an efficient essay conclusion, it is suggested for you to restate your thesis statement. This can remind your readers of the discussion that you just had in your essay’s body. Also, it will allow them to connect the purpose of the essay to what you have actually come up with. Your conclusion should also summarize all your main points so you can fully present your stand with regards the subject that you talked about.

Creating the format of your formal essay is easy. However, you have to make sure that your objective for writing the essay is realized. Think of the things that you need to discuss so you can put them in their proper places. Organization within the writing procedures can help you to be more focused on what to discuss first and what to give importance and focus on.

Sample Formal Essay Structure

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Formal Essay Example

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How to Make Your Formal Essay Outstanding Through Proper Language Selection

Writing an essay is not just about its thought, content, and format. Aside from these major factors of essay writing, you also have to be keen when selecting the language to use. May it be in the educational and professional field, using the appropriate language when writing your formal essay can affect the entirety of the document.

You need to make sure that the language that you will use is formal and business-like. This is not only used for writing a formal essay as it can also apply to comparative essay  creation and other writing activities. The language that you will incorporate into your essay can make your formal essay stand out if you will be aware of these items:

• Choose to use words that are formal in nature. Formal vocabulary can help your sentences, phrases, and paragraphs to be structured in a way that it will look more fitting as an academic document.
• As much as possible, veer away from using a first person standpoint. Always be reminded that your main task is to highlight and support your thesis statement. Both nouns and pronouns that are in the first person can actually make your essay less credible as it will sound like what you are stating are baseless or just your own opinion.
• Use words that can formally support your statements. It is essential for your language to have a precise interpretation of your essay and its tone. Being able to do this can help your formal essay to be more put together
• Use a language that is relevant to the needs of your target readers. Avoid slang, jargon, and colloquial terms which may not possibly be understood by your readers. You need to create a proper connection with your readers which is the reason why your language is very important to be considered.

Readers, though interested in the topic that you are writing about, can be offended or feel disinterested if they will find that your language is not appropriate for a particular discussion or written transaction. Hence, you need to be responsible enough as a writer when it comes to choosing your language.

Sample Formal Essay Format

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Extended Formal Essay Guide

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Guidelines in Writing a Formal Essay

Just like any other kinds of essays, there are no strict rules that are irreplaceable. The way that you create a formal essay will always vary from situation to situation. Within the entirety of your formal essay writing, it is for sure that you might commit  common essay mistakes . Listed below are some of the guidelines that you may incorporate into your writing so that your formal essay can look as professional as possible:

• Do not use redundant phrases. Repeating topics or content theme can make your formal essay boring. Repetitive statements can also irritate or bore your readers.
• Use samples of formal essays as your writing guides. If you have no idea on how to create a formal essay, it will be easier for you to create one if you are guided by downloadable samples. Having a reference when doing your own formal essay can help you become more efficient in the entire writing process.
• If samples are not enough to guide you, have the freedom to use templates. There are some templates that already contain a formal essay content. Make sure that you will remove these as all you need from the template is the guideline on how to format the document. More so, refer to the instructions that are given to you so you can incorporate it in the format that you will use.

Formal Essay Rubric Sample

Size: 98 KB

Formal Literary Essay Sample

Size: 211 KB

A standardized and comprehensive formal essay is very appealing to readers. Hence, always be consistent with your discussion and the presentation flow that you will follow. Your formal essay can represent your style as a writer which is the main reason why you always have to incorporate credible language, forms, and materials in your writing. Being able to immerse yourself in writing a formal essay in the most effective manner can help you grow as a writer. This will enable you to acquire new skills and develop new opportunities for academic or professional growth.

If you are already prepared to write a formal essay, make use of our samples as well as the tips that we have provided in this post. Review your formal essay before submitting it so you can correct grammatical errors and other mistakes. Writing a formal essay should not be a burden to you. Enjoy the process and learn from everything that you will go through. Once you already get the gist of writing this type of essay, it will be very easy for you to repeat the process for your next writing activities.

Text prompt

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Write a Formal Essay on the significance of Shakespeare's works in modern literature.

Discuss the ethical implications of genetic engineering in a Formal Essay.

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Free English Lessons

Formal and informal english – video.

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In this lesson, you can learn about formal and informal English. You’ll learn how to recognise and use formal and informal styles in your spoken and written English .

Quiz: formal and informal english.

Check how well you have learned the ideas in this lesson. This quiz has 20 questions containing statements about and examples of formal, informal and informal English.

You can do the quiz as many times as you like. When you have finished, click ‘Restart Quiz’ if you want to have another go, or ‘View Questions’ to review all the answers.

When you’re happy with your score, why not put it on the leaderboard!

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1 . Question

For the first five questions, decide if the statements are true or false.

If you’re not sure, you should use formal language.

2 . Question

Formality depends on more than just the words you use.

3 . Question

Neutral and informal sentences are generally shorter and simpler than formal ones.

4 . Question

Informal language tends to use simple, common vocabulary.

5 . Question

You can use contractions and abbreviations in informal or neutral writing, but not formal writing.

6 . Question

For the next five questions, decide if the language is formal, neutral of informal.

Wanna fix something up for next week?

7 . Question

It would be an egregious violation of my personal principles to condone such behaviour.

8 . Question

Do you know what time the meeting starts?

9 . Question

Would you mind if I borrowed this for a short while?

10 . Question

Thx. Fancy a pint?

11 . Question

For the next five questions, sort the three options into formal, neutral and informal. Some are from the video but there are others that are new.

Sort elements

• I was wondering if you would be prepared to attend a video call to provide a more detailed explanation to all staff.
• Are you able to join us on Zoom to explain the details to everyone in our team?
• Can you go through this with us on Zoom?

12 . Question

Sort the three options into formal, neutral and informal.

• Do you have any suggestions?
• Have you got any ideas?

13 . Question

• Lessons must be learnt from the mistakes which were made.
• I hope you can learn from where you went wrong.
• You made a mess of this and you need to do better next time.

14 . Question

• We would like to schedule another meeting as soon as possible. Would one day next week suit?
• We’d like to arrange another meeting as soon as possible. How about next week?
• We wanna fix up another meeting ASAP … say, next week?

15 . Question

• Please accept our sincerest apologies for this oversight. Steps have been taken to ensure that it is not repeated.
• I apologise for the mistake – we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.
• Soz, my bad, won’t happen again.

16 . Question

For the last five questions, choose words from the box to fill the gaps in the formal, neutral and informal versions. Some are from the video but there are others that are new.

formal : Could I you for a minute? neutral : Can I you something? informal : You a sec?

17 . Question

formal : You are required to collect your belongings and the premises. neutral : You need to take your personal possessions and the building. informal : You need to get your stuff together and .

18 . Question

formal : It may well be necessary to before we make a decision. neutral : We need to before we decide. informal : Let’s with him first.

19 . Question

There is one word that you need to write twice.

formal : We need to the data before . neutral : We need to the data before we . informal : We need to everything before we .

20 . Question

formal : Would you be so kind as to return this call ? neutral : Please give me a call . informal : Call me back , yeah?

1. Three Levels: Formal, Neutral and Informal English

Look at three sentences:

• Could I disturb you for a minute?
• Can I ask you something?
• You got a sec?

All of these sentences have the same basic meaning: I want to talk to you and ask you about something.

However, the tone is different. Can you see how?

These three sentences show three levels of formality. The first sentence is formal ; it shows politeness, respect and distance.

The second sentence is neutral ; it does not have a formal or an informal tone.

The third sentence is informal ; it shows that you and the person you are speaking to are familiar with each other, and you don’t need to make an effort to be polite or respectful.

Actually, there are more than three levels of formality. For example:

• Might I ask you something?
• May I take a moment of your time?

These sentences are all formal. The first is extremely formal. It’s probably too formal to use in most situations. The other two are both formal; the second is probably more formal than the third.

Why ‘probably’? Formality isn’t absolute. It also depends on context and intonation, so it’s not just about the words you use.

So, there are many levels of formality. However, when you speak or write in English, it’s useful to think about three levels: formal, neutral and informal.

But when should you use these different levels of language?

2. When to Use Formal, Neutral, or Informal English

In my experience, many English students use language which is too formal. They think: formal language is more polite. Polite language is better.

No, not always!

Language which is too polite puts distance between you and the person you’re talking to. At best, this will sound awkward and unnatural. At worst, you can sound cold and unfriendly if you use language which is too formal.

Knowing when to use formal language depends mostly on context. Let me ask you a question: when should you use formal language?

Maybe you said things like: in job interviews, in business meetings or negotiations, when talking to older people, when writing business emails, and so on.

The fact is, it’s not possible to say you should always use formal language in these situations. It always depends.

For example, take job interviews. Some companies have a very corporate culture, with a strict hierarchy and lots of rules and procedures. Other companies are more relaxed, and pay less attention to rules and job titles.

Obviously, if you’re going for a job interview at the first kind of company, you’ll want to dress, act and speak formally, to fit in with the company culture. On the other hand, if you go for an interview at the second kind of company, where things are more relaxed, it wouldn’t be appropriate to speak very formally.

So, always think about the actual situation in front of you. If you’re not sure, try to listen to other people around you. If people around you are speaking informally to each other, you probably shouldn’t try to sound very formal.

Also, if you don’t know, then use neutral language. Neutral language is safe. You can use it in any situation.

Informal language is very important in spoken English, but you need to be careful. Using informal language at the wrong time could sound disrespectful or rude.

Next, let’s consider some of the main differences between formal, neutral and informal English.

3. Sentence Structure in Formal and Informal English

Formal English tends to use longer, more complicated sentence structures.

Informal and neutral English tend to use shorter, simpler sentence structures.

For example:

• I was wondering if you could make yourself available on Wednesday to provide more detailed guidance on these matters. –> This is a formal sentence. You can see that it’s quite long, with a complex structure.
• Do you have time on Wednesday to help us with these problems? –> This is neutral.
• You got some free time on Wednesday to talk about this? –> This is more informal.

You can see that the neutral and informal sentences are much shorter and simpler.

Let’s do one more example. I’ll give you three sentences. Can you see which one is formal, which is neutral, and which is informal?

• We should have a word with him first.
• It may well be necessary to contact him before we make a decision.
• We need to talk to him before we decide.

Which is which?

The first sentence is informal. The second sentence is formal. The third sentence is neutral.

Did you get it right? Again, you can see that the formal sentence is longer and more complex.

Another point is that we sometimes leave out words in informal English, especially in questions.

For example, in the question Are you sure? it is possible to leave out the word are and just say You sure? In fact, you could even leave out the word you and just ask a question with one word: sure?

Let’s see some more examples of this:

• Will you be joining us? –> Formal—full form
• Are you coming? –> Neutral—full form
• You coming? –> Informal—short form
• Do you have any suggestions? –> Formal—full form
• Have you got any ideas? –> Neutral—full form
• Any ideas? –> Informal—short form

Do you notice any other differences between the formal, neutral and informal sentences you’ve seen in this section?

You might notice that we use different words in formal, neutral and informal English. Vocabulary is another important difference between formal and informal language. Let’s look!

4. Formal and Informal English Vocabulary

Formal English tends to use more literary, rare or old-fashioned vocabulary. Generally, if you want to be formal, you need to be very precise with your use of vocabulary.

Neutral English tends to use simpler, more common words.

Informal English, like neutral English, uses simple and common vocabulary. However, informal English also includes slang, phrasal verbs and colloquial language which are not features of neutral English.

Informal English is also generally looser. It uses more general words, and the meaning is understood from the context.

Let’s look at this in some more detail:

• We need to verify the data before we proceed.
• We need to check the data before we continue.
• We need to check everything before we carry on.

You can see that the formal sentence uses more literary vocabulary: verify instead of check , and proceed instead of continue .

The neutral sentence uses simple, common words.

The informal sentence is less precise: instead of saying the data, we say everything. It also uses a phrasal verb: carry on instead of proceed or continue .

In informal English, it’s common to use vocabulary in a less precise way. For example, you might use words like stuff or things to refer to specific things. You wouldn’t do this if you were speaking formally.

• You are required to collect your belongings and vacate the premises.
• You need to take your personal possessions and leave the building.
• You need to get your stuff together and get out.

Again, you can see more literary vocabulary in the formal sentence ( required, collect, belongings, vacate, premises ).

On the other hand, the informal sentence uses more basic vocabulary, including multi-part verbs like get … together or get out .

The informal sentence is also much less precise. It simply refers to stuff , instead of belongings or possessions . It also says …get out , without specifying the place ( the premises or the building ).

The neutral sentence is somewhere in between. In neutral language, you generally choose the simplest word you can. So, you would say take instead of collect , leave instead of vacate , and so on.

You can also see that the informal sentence is much more direct than the other two. This is an important part of formality in English.

5. Directness in Formal and Informal English

Formal language tends to be much more indirect. Formal language often sounds quite impersonal, because it uses fewer personal pronouns like I, you, he, she, etc.

Informal language tends to be more direct and personal. Informal language can be so direct that it can sound aggressive or rude if you use it in the wrong situations.

Neutral language is in the middle, similar to other situations you’ve seen.

• Lessons need to be learnt from the mistakes which were made. –> formal
• I hope you can learn from where you went wrong. –> neutral
• You made a mess of this and you need to do better next time. –> informal

You can see that the formal sentence is impersonal. How does it achieve this?

First, the formal sentence uses the passive. This makes it possible to avoid using personal pronouns. The other two sentences include the word you , but the formal sentence doesn’t.

This makes it possible to express the idea without mentioning or blaming a specific person, which can be useful in certain situations.

The neutral sentence is personal, because it uses you to refer to the listener. However, it’s not very direct, and wouldn’t generally be considered rude, even in a professional setting.

The informal sentence is very direct. If you say this to someone, you’re not hiding what you think!

This can be useful if you need to make yourself clear, but it could also sound rude or aggressive. It’s not appropriate in all situations.

Let’s do one more example. Look at three sentences. Can you tell which is formal, which is neutral, and which is informal?

• We won’t be able to do anything until we deal with these issues.
• We won’t be able to get anywhere until you sort this out.
• It may be difficult to make progress until these matters are resolved.

Can you tell which is which?

The first sentence is neutral, the second is informal, and the third sentence is formal.

You can see that the formal sentence uses an impersonal structure (with it ), rather than a personal pronoun ( we or you ).

Again, this is useful if you want to be respectful and indirect, because it isn’t clearly directed at one person.

The neutral sentence is more personal. Can you see the important difference between the neutral and informal sentences?

The neutral sentence uses we in both parts, while the informal sentence is more direct: …until you sort this out.

The points you’ve seen so far in this lesson are true for both spoken and written English. However, there are some features of formality which apply only to written English. Let’s take a look.

6. Formal and Informal English Writing

In writing, informal language uses contractions like he’ll , it’d , or we’re . In informal written English, you can also use abbreviations , like btw for by the way , ttyl for talk to you later , etc.

In formal writing, you generally wouldn’t use contractions or abbreviations.

In neutral writing, you can use contractions and some abbreviations. However, some abbreviations, like plz for please , are informal and shouldn’t be used if you want to sound neutral.

There are also some abbreviations which are possible in formal English. For example, HR for Human Resources would be okay in formal language. If you want to write something in formal English, and you aren’t sure whether an abbreviation is appropriate or not, then it’s best to write the full form.

Let’s see some examples:

• Just for your information, we would like to schedule another meeting in October. –> Formal—there are no contractions or abbreviations.
• Just for your information, we’d like to arrange another meeting in October. –> Neutral—uses contractions, but no informal abbreviations.
• Just FYI, we’d like to fix up a meeting in Oct. –> Informal—with contractions and abbreviations.

Written language is often held to a higher standard than spoken language, so it’s important to get the tone right. In particular, don’t use language which is too informal. If you’re not sure, aim for a neutral tone.

Let’s look at one more example:

• Thank you for all the hard work you have done. –> Formal—there are no contractions or abbreviations.
• Thank you for the hard work you’ve done. –> Neutral—uses contractions, but no informal abbreviations.
• Thx for everything you’ve done. –> Informal—with contractions and abbreviations.

Hopefully, now you have a good understanding of formality in English, and how to use formal, neutral and informal English.

Thanks for watching this lesson from Oxford Online English!

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Formal and informal language

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.

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.

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)

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English Works

Essays Made Easy for English Language (VCE Units 3-4)

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Each essay topic has a reference to the key area(s) in the Study Guide so students understand the scope of the topic and expectations. It also includes essay tips, quotes from commentators, key ideas and contemporary examples. Essay

Sample: “ Language has the power to expose outdated values and influence social change.” Discuss.

Formal language and social purpose

• Essay 1: Formal language is mainly used to clarify meaning, but it can also be used to obfuscate.
• Essay 2: Does political correctness unite us or divide us?
• Essay 3: Freedom of speech is a double-edged sword
• Essay 4: Formal language can both promote and prevent social harmony. To what extent do you agree?; ( ‘ At times language can disrupt, deceive and divide.’ Discuss when this is true in contemporary Australian society. 2022)
• Essay 5: How have changing social attitude s influenced language use in Australia. Discuss.
• Essay 6: “All euphemistic language , including doublespeak, is at heart a lie to conceal truth and as such, should play no part in effective communication”. Discuss, referring to at least two subsystems in your response.
• Essay 7: Using language to negotiate positive and negative face acts
• Essay 8: Language is a tool for building but it is also a weapon
• Essay 9: Language is a powerful tool that influences social attitudes . ‘In contemporary Australian society, we must be careful with our use of language in public contexts.’ (2021) (inclusive/exclusive language/ face needs)
• Essay 10: Discuss current social attitudes towards taboo language and swearing. How are these attitudes exemplified by modern language use?
• Essay 11: Formal Language and Power: formal language favours those in positions of power and influence. Discuss.

Standard Australian English and change

Essay 1: SAE and language change : are we embracing change? Essay 5: How have changing social attitude s influenced language use in Australia. Discuss.

‘It’s just language. Who cares if it’s formal or informal, standard or non-standard?’ To what extent is this true in contemporary Australian society? Refer to at least two subsystems of language in your response.

Offline and online forms of communication

Essay 1: The nature of digital communication , for better or worse, is changing the way we use the English Language.

Informal language and social purpose

• Essay 1: Informal language has a variety of functions in Australian society. What do you see are some of the crucial roles of informal language in contemporary Australia?
• Essay 2: Profanity is an emotive communicative tool which plays a variety of roles in contemporary Australian society. Discuss.
• Essay: Slang plays an important role in establishing individual and group identities. Discuss. 

Identity – standard and non-standard varieties

• Essay 1: Some varieties of Australian English are more prestigious than others.
• Essay 2: Contemporary Australian s use a number of overt and covert language norms to construct their identity; ‘ Our linguistic repertoires can be used to exploit overt and covert norms, helping achieve our aspirations.’ (2022)
• Essay: To be accepted as an Aussie …
• Essay 3: Standard Australian English must remain the most prestigious variety of English.
• Essay 4: An understanding of Standard Australian English is needed to be able to communicate in all contexts in contemporary Australian society. To what extent is this true?
• Essay 5: ‘How does language variation contribute to the development of a sense of identity?’ ‘When interacting with others, we make deliberate language choices that reveal elements of our social and individual identities.’ To what extent is this true in contemporary Australian society? Refer to at least two subsystems of language in your response. (2021)
• Essay 6: How do evolving language features reflect varying individual identities? ‘The evolving nature of our language largely reflects the influence other cultures have on the way we communicate.’’ To what extent is this true in contemporary Australian society? (2022)
• Essay 7: How is the language of young Australians changing to reflect our evolving national identity?
• Essays on national identity

Identity – individual and group identities

• Essay 1: Social identity is constructed primarily through language. Discuss referring to at least two subsystems.
• Essay 2: The language choices we make reflect who we are and the social groups to which we belong.
• Essay 3: Language is shaped by social attitudes
• Essay 4: Covert linguistic features help to establish solidarity
• Essay 5: Social Groups and Group membership markers
• See List of  Current Formal Examples  – 2023.
• List of Informal Examples 2023
• Return to: Contemporary examples 2023 for language variation
• Return to Essays Made Easy : English Language   
• References to linguists and relevant commentators (which ones?)
• Summaries for Exam Revision

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