Formal vs Informal

vocabulary
Lecture 1

Formality vs Informality
Formality is all about your relation with the person
you are writing or speaking to. If you use formal
language it may be because you wish to show
respect, politeness, or to put yourself at a distance
(official language).
Informal language can show friendliness, equality, or
a feeling of closeness and solidarity with someone.
You should never use informal language just to sound
fluent or clever.

Scales of Formality
Very formal

Neutral

Very informal

offspring

children

kids

abode/ residence

house/ flat

place

alcoholic
beverages

drinks

booze

Short, monosyllabic informal

words
Informal variants of words are often short and monosyllabic.
They also include slang words.
It cost me ten quid. [?]
Ill help you peel the spuds. [?]
My bike's been stolen. [?]
I always go by tube. [?]
Come and meet my Mum and Dad. [?]
Hi! Cant stop; see you, bye! [ ?]
The milks in the fridge. [?]

Clippings
Shortening a word tends to make it less formal, as in the
fridge and bye.
Ill meet you in the lab(oratory).
Whats on telly tonight?
We should put an ad(vertisement) / an
advert(isment) in the (news)paper.
Shall I tele(phone) him?
Her sisters a vet(erinary surgeon).

Practice time!
Purchase, loo, quid, apprehend, guy, handy,
resume, terrific, commence, reckon, thus

Formal

Informal

Check your results

Now find a formal/ informal/neutral synonym for each of the
words from this list.

Therefore

toilet convenient catch/stop

start man start again
poundthink fantastic buy

Rewrite these sentences in more

informal English
When are you going to collect your bicycle?
Most of these children are very clever.
I think it'll commence quite soon.
Would you like to go out for a meal?
My flat is five minutes from where I work, thus it is very
convenient.
What's the matter?
The man in the market wanted twenty pounds for this ring.
Where did you purchase that book?
They'll never apprehend him.
I'm just going to the toilet.

Rewrite this letter in more

suitable formal English
Dear Mr Collins

We're really sorry to say that we can't lend you the sum of
five hundred quid that you need, but it may be possible to
give you a loan for some of the money. If you are still
interested, do you fancy getting in touch with our main
office to fix up an appointment with the assistant manager.
He will be happy to talk to you about it. Yours sincerely

Work with the monolingual

dictionary to find the neutral
equivalent
Kip

cheerio

A pal

A chap

swot
Ta!!
brainy

Say whether you feel the following remarks /

sentences are OK, too formal, or too informal
for each situation described.
Teenage boy to teenage girl at a disco:
Dyou fancy an appointment one night next weekend?
Parent to another parent at a school parents meeting:
How many offspring do you have at school?
Dinner guest to host/ hostess:
No thanks, I never consume alcoholic beverages when Im driving.
Student to university professor:
Will there be lab demonstrations next week?
Business letter to a newspaper office:
I should like to inquire about the current charges for ads in your
paper. My company is considering

Formality in notices, instructions, etc.

You would often see rather formal words in notices, instructions and suchlike.
Make sure you know the meaning of the words used so that you could tell
someone what the notice says, using less formal words.
This public house
is closed until
further notice.

Articles
deposited must
be paid for in
advance.

Do not alight
while the bus is
in motion.

We regret we
cannot accept
cheques.

Do not
address the
driver unless
the bus is
stationary.

Tickets must be
purchased
before boarding
the train.

Mini -quiz

The opposite of stationary, to board

Say otherwise: to be sorry- .., to buy -.., to speak to - .

Name some informal variants of greetings and farewells

Express the notices in neutral or informal language:

Children are
requested not to
deposit litter in the
play area

Expenses can
only be
reimbursed upon
production of
dated receipts