Formal and Informal Language

Formal vs. Informal

Language

What is the difference?

Open Ended

What is the difference between formal and informal speech?

Characteristics of formal language:

• Serious
• Objective
• Specific vocabulary
• No contractions
• More complex sentences
• Controlled
• Impersonal

When do we use formal language?

• Job interview
• Principal's office
• Class essay
• Business letter

Characteristics of informal language:

• Slang vocabulary
• Funny
• Casual
• Simple
• Plain spoken
• Punctuation (exclamation points)

When do we use informal language?

• Text message
• Journal writing
• Friendly letter
• Jotting a note

When we are speaking to a principal we
might say: “Good morning.”
When we are speaking to our best
friend we might say: “Howdy!”

When we are speaking to an adult we
might say: “I am confused.”
When we are speaking to a friend we
might say: “I don’t get it.”

When we are speaking to a teacher we
might say: “Please show me where the
cafeteria is.”
When we are speaking to a classmate
we might say: “Show me where it is.”

When we are speaking to an adult we
might say: “Will the nurse assist the
doctor?”
When we are speaking to a friend we
might say: “Who helps the doctor?”

How do we know when to use formal or
informal language? We need to think
about…..

•What is the event?
•What is the size of the audience?
•Who is the audience?
•What is the relationship of the speaker
to the audience?
•What is the task you have been
assigned?

Let’s practice…

Read each sentence and tell
whether it is a formal
sentence oran informal
sentence.

The project will be
completed next year.

The project will be
completed next year.

Formal

We’ll finish this job next

year.

We’ll finish this job next

year.

Informal

We did some experiments.

We did some experiments.

Informal

The students conducted an

experiment.

The students conducted an

experiment.

Formal

Your decision will be
expected by 9:00 AM.

Your decision will be
expected by 9:00 AM.

Formal