Formal writing follows strict rules of grammar, avoids contractions and slang, uses sophisticated vocabulary, and maintains an objective tone. It is used in academic, professional, and official contexts.
Informal writing is more conversational, uses contractions and colloquial expressions, and may be more personal. It is used with friends, family, and casual situations.
💡 Formal: "I would be grateful if you could send me the documents."
💬 Informal: "Can you send me the stuff? Thanks!"
💡 Choosing the right register is a key skill at B2-C1 levels.
📚 2. Vocabulary Differences (Phrasal Verbs vs Single Verbs)
Informal (phrasal verbs) → Formal (single verbs):
go up → increase
find out → discover
put off → postpone
give out → distribute
look into → investigate
get better → improve
cut down on → reduce
set up → establish
carry out → execute / perform
Other vocabulary substitutions:
buy → purchase
need → require
help → assist
ask → request / enquire
start → commence
end → terminate
sorry → apologise
but → however
so → therefore / consequently
Contractions: Informal uses contractions; formal does not.
❌ Informal: "It's important that we don't forget."
✅ Formal: "It is important that we do not forget."
Passive voice: Formal writing uses more passive constructions.
Informal: "We conducted the experiment."
Formal: "The experiment was conducted."
Sentence length: Formal tends to have longer, more complex sentences.
👤 4. Use of Personal Pronouns and 'I'
Informal: Uses 'I', 'you', 'we' freely.
"I think that you should try again."
Formal: Often avoids 'you' and can use impersonal constructions.
Instead of "You can see that..." → "It can be seen that..."
Instead of "I believe..." → "It is believed that..." / "The evidence suggests..."
Exceptions: Some academic writing accepts 'I' in certain disciplines (reflective writing, methodology sections).
✅ 5. Formal Writing Tips: 10 Rules
No contractions (don't → do not).
No slang or colloquialisms (awesome → excellent).
No phrasal verbs where a single verb exists (find out → discover).
Avoid 'very', 'really', 'so' as intensifiers (very good → excellent).
Use passive voice where appropriate.
Avoid direct questions in academic prose (use indirect).
Use formal vocabulary (help → assist).
Use appropriate transition words (so → therefore, but → however).
Use exclamation marks for emotion (but sparingly).
Use ellipses ( ... ) for pauses.
Use informal discourse markers (well, you know, actually).
Don't worry too much about perfect grammar.
🎯 7. Choosing the Right Register (When to Use Which)
Always Formal:
- Academic essays and research papers
- Job applications and CVs
- Business proposals and official letters
- Legal documents
- Reports for superiors
Mostly Formal:
- Professional emails (to clients or unknown persons)
- Newspaper articles (except opinion pieces)
- Official announcements
Informal allowed:
- Emails to colleagues you know well
- Social media posts
- Text messages and chat
- Personal blogs
- Creative writing (dialogue)
🔄 8. Transforming Informal to Formal
Example 1:
Informal: "I'm sorry, but I can't come to the meeting tomorrow."
Formal: "I regret to inform you that I will be unable to attend the meeting tomorrow."
Example 2:
Informal: "We need to look into this problem asap."
Formal: "It is necessary to investigate this matter as soon as possible."
Example 3:
Informal: "Thanks for your email. I'll get back to you soon."
Formal: "Thank you for your email. I will respond at my earliest convenience."
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.When should I use formal writing?▼
Use formal writing for academic essays, business letters, official reports, job applications, professional emails to superiors, legal documents, and research papers. Use informal writing for emails to friends, text messages, social media posts, personal blogs, and casual conversations.
Q2.Can I use contractions in formal writing?▼
Avoid contractions (don't, can't, won't, it's) in formal academic and business writing. Write full forms: do not, cannot, will not, it is. However, some professional contexts (like internal emails) may accept limited contractions.
Q3.What is the difference between formal and informal vocabulary?▼
Formal vocabulary often uses longer, Latin-derived words (e.g., 'commence' instead of 'start', 'require' instead of 'need', 'assist' instead of 'help'). Informal vocabulary uses common, everyday words and phrasal verbs.