what is informal and formal speech

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Formal Versus Informal English: 6 Key Differences with Example Sentences

Like many languages, English has a formal and informal register (how a language is used in different situations).

Knowing the differences between the two can significantly improve your level of fluency .

So how do you, say, talk to a superior versus a close family member in English?

We cover all that (and more) in the post below!

Formal Versus Informal English: Definitions and Differences

Contractions, phrasal verbs, colloquialisms and slang, first-person pronouns, everyday phrases in formal and informal english, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

• Formal English is the standard and polished form of English used in academic, business and similar contexts (like communications from the government, for example). You use it for people in a higher position than you (like your teacher or boss) or complete strangers—as well as academic or business writing, interviews and presentations.
• Informal English  is used in everyday conversations and written communication in places like social media. You use it with family members, friends and peers (people who are your social equals) in casual settings. 

Here are some formal English phrases you can use and their informal counterparts:

As you can see from the video, formal English uses correct grammar and vocabulary appropriate for the context . Meanwhile, informal English uses contractions, colloquialisms, slang and the like.  

In case you’re wondering what “contractions,” “colloquialisms” and “slang” are, you’re in luck: that’s what we’ll cover in the next sections!

Contractions are common in informal language. Usually, they are two words merged together and are characterized  (differentiated from others) by an apostrophe ( ‘ ). 

Here are some of the most common contractions in the English language.

A phrasal verb is an  idiomatic phrase that consists of a verb and another element, typically an adverb or preposition. Phrasal verbs are more common in informal contexts than formal ones.

Here are some examples:

Colloquialisms and slang are  words and phrases regarded as very informal and rarely used in written speech. They typically vary between groups of people, regions, professions or age groups. 

In the English-speaking world, Americans use different slang from Brits (slang word for people from Britain) and Aussies (slang word for people from Australia), such as:

To paraphrase (explain in my own words) the definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary , an idiom is an expression in which you can’t easily guess the actual meaning from the words used.  

Here are examples of idioms commonly found in informal conversations:

In informal contexts, first-person pronouns (I and we ) are more frequently used—this makes for sentences that use the active voice. On the other hand, you’ll typically see passive voice in formal settings, particularly in official or academic writing. 

Here are examples of sentences using first-person pronouns, along with their more formal versions. Notice how different they come across, even though they say the same thing!

If you want more examples (and need some handy phrases you can use for friends versus your boss), here’s another table for you!0

And if you want to see these phrases in action, you can browse any of the videos from FluentU ‘s library.

Learning the differences between formal and informal English will go a long way in improving your grasp of the language. The better you master words and phrases from both registers, the more natural your speech will sound and the more confident you’ll feel!  

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe