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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