Formal and Informal Language
- Fakhruddin Babar

- Mar 6, 2024
- 2 min read
Formal and informal language are two different styles of communication used in various contexts. Here's an overview of what they are, their uses, and the key differences between them:
Formal Language:
What: Formal language refers to the use of standard language conventions, proper grammar, and vocabulary typically associated with professional or academic settings.
Uses:
Academic Writing: Formal language is commonly used in academic papers, essays, and research reports.
Professional Settings: It is employed in business correspondence, official letters, reports, and presentations.
Legal Documents: Formal language is essential in legal documents, contracts, and agreements to ensure precision and clarity.
Public Speaking: It's often used in speeches, presentations, and formal addresses.
Features:
Vocabulary: Formal language tends to use more complex and specialized vocabulary.
Grammar: Formal language adheres strictly to grammatical rules and avoids contractions and slang.
Tone: The tone in formal language is serious, respectful, and authoritative.
Audience: It is typically used when addressing a professional or academic audience.
Structure: Formal language often follows a structured format and employs specific conventions such as headings, subheadings, and citations.
Informal Language:
What: Informal language refers to relaxed language conventions, colloquialisms, and everyday speech patterns.
Uses:
Casual Conversations: Informal language is used in everyday conversations with friends, family, and acquaintances.
Texting and Social Media: It's prevalent in text messages, social media posts, and online chats.
Informal Writing: Informal language can be used in personal emails, blogs, and informal letters.
Entertainment: It's often used in informal settings such as comedy shows, podcasts, and entertainment media.
Features:
Vocabulary: Informal language may include slang, colloquialisms, and abbreviated forms.
Grammar: Informal language may be less strict in adhering to grammatical rules and may include contractions and sentence fragments.
Tone: The tone in informal language is casual, friendly, and familiar.
Audience: It is typically used when communicating with friends, family, or in relaxed social settings.
Structure: Informal language may lack strict structure and formatting seen in formal communication.
In summary, formal language is used in professional, academic, and official contexts, characterized by proper grammar, vocabulary, and a serious tone. Informal language, on the other hand, is used in casual conversations and everyday communication, featuring relaxed language conventions, colloquialisms, and a casual tone. Understanding the appropriate use of formal and informal language is essential for effective communication in various contexts.
Formal and Informal Vocabulary
Formal Vocabulary | Informal Vocabulary |
Assistance | Help |
Beverage | Drink |
Conclusion | End |
Departure | Leave |
Examination | Test |
Explanation | Explanation |
Facility | Place |
Interruption | Interruption |
Investigation | Investigation |
Modification | Change |
Notification | Notification |
Opportunity | Chance |
Presentation | Show |
Registration | Sign up |
Request | Request |
Requirement | Need |
Reservation | Booking |
Transmission | Transmission |
Abundant | A lot of |
Adequate | Enough |
Apparent | Clear |
Appropriate | Right |
Beneficial | Good |
Comparable | Similar |
Comprehensive | Thorough |
Considerable | A lot of |
Continuous | Nonstop |
Effective | Good |
Efficient | Good |
Eligible | Good |
Essential | Necessary |
Excessive | Too much |
Extensive | A lot of |
Flexible | Flexible |
Frequent | Often |
Immediate | Right now |
Impressive | Good |
Inadequate | Not enough |
Inappropriate | Wrong |
Inclusive | Including |
Indispensable | Necessary |
Inevitable | Sure |
Invaluable | Precious |
Irrelevant | Not related |
Lucrative | Profitable |
Memorable | Rememberable |
Numerous | Many |
Obvious | Clear |
Optimal | Best |
Peculiar | Strange |
Prevalent | Common |
Proficient | Good |
Prominent | Famous |
Reciprocal | Mutual |
Reliable | Trustworthy |
Respective | Own |
Substantial | A lot of |
Superfluous | Too much |
Temporary | Not permanent |
Unanimous | All agreeing |
Unnecessary | Not needed |
Ably | Well |
Accordingly | So |
Actually | Really |
Adequately | Enough |
Afterward | After |
Almost | Almost |
Altogether | All |
Always | Always |
Anyhow | Anyway |
Anywhere | Anywhere |
Approximately | About |
Asleep | Sleeping |
Awkwardly | Awkwardly |
Basically | Basically |
Beautifully | Beautifully |
Beforehand | Before |
Beyond | Beyond |
Briefly | Briefly |
Certainly | Certainly |
Clearly | Clearly |
Consequently | So |
Constantly | Always |
Currently | Now |
Daily | Every day |
Definitely | Definitely |
Eventually | Eventually |
Exactly | Exactly |
Frequently | Often |
Generally | Usually |
Gradually | Gradually |
Hence | So |
Hopefully | Hopefully |
However | However |
Immediately | Immediately |
Indeed | Indeed |
Instead | Instead |
Instantly | Right away |
Later | Later |
Meanwhile | Meanwhile |
Naturally | Naturally |
Nearly | Nearly |
Nevertheless | However |
Normally | Normally |
Obviously | Obviously |
Occasionally | Sometimes |
Often | Often |
Overall | Overall |
Particularly | Especially |
Precisely | Precisely |
Previously | Previously |
Probably | Probably |
Promptly | Promptly |
Quickly | Quickly |
Rarely | Rarely |
Rather | Rather |
Recently | Recently |
Regularly | Regularly |
Similarly | Similarly |
Simply | Simply |
Slightly | Slightly |
Specifically | Specifically |
Still | Still |
Suddenly | Suddenly |
Surely | Surely |
Therefore | So |
Thus | So |
Typically | Typically |
Ultimately | Ultimately |
Usually | Usually |
Virtually | Virtually |
Weekly | Weekly |
Whenever | Whenever |
Wherever | Wherever |
Yesterday | Yesterday |
Basically | Basically |
Totally | Totally |
Absolutely | Absolutely |
Entirely | Entirely |
Exactly | Exactly |
Completely | Completely |
Perfectly | Perfectly |
Utterly | Utterly |
Positively | Positively |
Incredibly | Incredibly |
Entirely | Entirely |
Truly | Truly |
Purely | Purely |
Terribly | Terribly |
Awfully | Awfully |
Exceptionally | Exceptionally |
Precisely | Precisely |
Excellently | Excellently |
Extraordinarily | Extraordinarily |
Wonderfully | Wonderfully |
Fantastic | Fantastic |
Amazingly | Amazingly |
Incredibly | Incredibly |
Greatly | Greatly |
Tremendously | Tremendously |
Remarkably | Remarkably |
Exceptionally | Exceptionally |
Incredibly | Incredibly |
Superbly | Superbly |
Exceptionally | Exceptionally |
Fabulously | Fabulously |
More:
Formal Vocabulary | Informal Vocabulary |
Begin | Start |
Proceed | Go ahead |
Terminate | End |
Acquire | Get |
Ascertain | Find out |
Approximately | About |
Consequently | So |
Demonstrate | Show |
Disseminate | Spread |
Evidently | Clearly |
Exceed | Go over |
Hence | Therefore |
Inquire | Ask |
Implement | Carry out |
In addition | Also |
Nonetheless | Nevertheless |
Nevertheless | However |
Nonetheless | Still |
Previously | Before |
Consequently | As a result |
Regarding | About |
Subsequently | Later |
Therefore | So |
Validate | Confirm |
Acknowledge | Recognize |
Ascertain | Make sure |
Consequently | Thus |
Exemplify | Show |
In the event that | If |
In light of | Because of |
In spite of | Despite |
Subsequently | After |
Accordingly | Therefore |
Nevertheless | Nonetheless |
Furthermore | Also |
In the meantime | Meanwhile |
Inasmuch as | Because |
Insofar as | As far as |
Likewise | Also |
As a result of | Because of |
In the vicinity of | Near |
As a consequence of | Because of |
At this point in time | Now |
At the present time | Now |
Due to the fact that | Because |
In light of the fact that | Because |
In the event that | If |
In the near future | Soon |
At the conclusion of | At the end of |
For the purpose of | To |
In order to | To |
Be able to | Can |
Be unable to | Can't |
In regard to | About |
On account of | Because of |
At the discretion of | By |
At the expense of | By |
At the request of | By |
At the conclusion of | After |
In light of | Because of |
In view of | Because of |
On the occasion of | When |
Prior to | Before |
With regard to | About |
In consequence of | Because of |
At this juncture | Now |
In the absence of | Without |
In the course of | During |
With the exception of | Except for |
Owing to | Because of |
Under the circumstances | If |
In a timely manner | Quickly |
At your earliest convenience | When possible |
As per | According to |
At the present moment | Now |
In the event of | If |
At your earliest convenience | When possible |
In the course of | During |
In the event of | If |
In the near future | Soon |
At your earliest convenience | When possible |
As per your request | As you asked for |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
At your leisure | When you have time |
As soon as possible | ASAP |
In the event of | If |
As far as possible | As much as possible |
As per usual | As usual |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
100 pairs of formal and informal vocabulary:
Formal Vocabulary | Informal Vocabulary |
At the present time | Now |
At this point in time | Now |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
At your leisure | When you have time |
As soon as possible | ASAP |
As far as possible | As much as possible |
As per usual | As usual |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
In the near future | Soon |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
In the event of | If |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
As soon as possible | ASAP |
As per usual | As usual |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
As soon as possible | ASAP |
In the event of | If |
As far as possible | As much as possible |
As per usual | As usual |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
As soon as possible | ASAP |
In the event of | If |
As far as possible | As much as possible |
As per usual | As usual |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
As soon as possible | ASAP |
In the event of | If |
As far as possible | As much as possible |
As per usual | As usual |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
As soon as possible | ASAP |
In the event of | If |
As far as possible | As much as possible |
As per usual | As usual |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
As soon as possible | ASAP |
In the event of | If |
As far as possible | As much as possible |
As per usual | As usual |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
At your earliest convenience | When it's best for you |
At your discretion | If you choose to |
At your leisure | When you have time |
As soon as possible | ASAP |
In the event of | If |
As far as possible | As much as possible |
As per usual | As usual |
As per your request | As you requested |
At your earliest convenience | When it suits you |
Formal and informal linkers:
Formal Linker | Informal Linker |
In addition | Also |
Furthermore | Also |
Moreover | Also |
Additionally | Also |
Consequently | So |
Therefore | So |
Thus | So |
Nonetheless | However |
Nevertheless | However |
However | But |
On the other hand | But |
In contrast | But |
Alternatively | But |
Furthermore | Plus |
In addition to | Plus |
For example | For instance |
Such as | Like |
Specifically | Specifically |
In particular | Specifically |
In summary | To sum up |
To conclude | To sum up |
As a result | So |
Due to | Because of |
Owing to | Because of |
For that reason | Because |
As a consequence | Because |
Consequently | Because |
Accordingly | Because |
Provided that | If |
As long as | If |
In case | If |
Assuming that | If |
Although | Though |
Even though | Though |
Despite | Though |
In spite of | Though |
Regardless of | Despite |
Nonetheless | Despite |
In the meantime | Meanwhile |
Meanwhile | Meanwhile |
During | While |
At the same time | While |
Whereas | While |
Nonetheless | Anyway |
Anyway | Anyway |
By contrast | On the other hand |
In the same way | Similarly |
Equally | Similarly |
Likewise | Similarly |
In view of | Because of |
In the light of | Because of |
Consequently | So |
Therefore | So |
Thus | So |
Nonetheless | However |
Nevertheless | However |
However | But |
On the other hand | But |
In contrast | But |
Alternatively | But |
Furthermore | Plus |
In addition to | Plus |
For example | For instance |
Such as | Like |
Specifically | Specifically |
In particular | Specifically |
In summary | To sum up |
To conclude | To sum up |
As a result | So |
Due to | Because of |
Owing to | Because of |
For that reason | Because |
As a consequence | Because |
Consequently | Because |
Accordingly | Because |
Provided that | If |
As long as | If |
In case | If |
Assuming that | If |







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