Informal –> Formal

Ask –> Enquire

Ask for –> Request

Book –> Reserve

Check –> Verify

Get –> Receive

Help –> Assist

Need –> Request

Say sorry –> Apologies

Start/ Begin –> Commence

End –> Terminate/ Finish

Try –> Endeavour

Deal with –> Handle

Tell –> Inform

Wait for –> Await

Fight –> Combat

Use/Eat –> Consume

Go –> Depart

Tough –> Difficult

Small –> Diminutive

Explain –> Disclose

Set out –> Display

Throw out –> Eject

Old –> Elderly

Say –> Express

Afraid –> Fearful

In the end –> Finally

Lucky –> Fortunate

But –> However

Wrong –> Incorrect

Go up –> Increase

Cheap –> Inexpensive

At first –> Initially

Mad –> Insane

Bright/smart –> Intelligent

Big/Large –> Enormous

Right –> Correct

A bit –> A little

Away –> Absent

Speed up –> Accelerate

Okay, ok –> Acceptable

Help –> Aid/ Assist

Let –> Allow

Call off –> Cancel

Expect –> Anticipate
Seem –> Appear

Climb –> Ascend

Beat up –> Assault

Fall out –> Quarrel

Stop –> Cease

Dare –> Challenge

Kids –> Children

Settle for –> Choose

Round –> Circular

Pick up –> Collect

Think of –> Conceive

Link up –> Connect

Think about –> Consider

Build –> Construct

Refer to –> Consult

Hurt –> Damage, harm

Go down –> Decrease

Want/ hope –> Desire

Lack –> Deficiency

Show –> Demonstrate

Brave –> Courageous

Pin down –> Determine

Put/ set down –> Deposit

Throw away –> Discard

Make out –> Discern

Talk about –> Discuss/consider

Give out –> Distribute

Give –> Donate

Remove –> Eliminate

Break out –> Erupt

Get out –> Escape

Avoid –> Evade

Go through –> Examine

Make up –> Fabricate

Test –> Experiment

Ease –> Facilitate

Come after –> Follow

Ask out –> Invite

Go away –> Leave/ depart

At once –> Immediately

Free –> Liberate

Deal with –> Manage

Bad –> Negative

Look into –> Investigate

Chance –> Opportunity

See –> Perceive

Happy –> Pleased

Give up –> Quit

Older –> Senior

Use –> Utilize

Enough –> Sufficient

End –> Terminate

Empty –> Vacant

Rich –> Wealthy

Mend –> Repair

Idea –> Notion

Mainly –> Principally

See –> Observe

Leave out –> Omit

Go against –> Oppose

Hungry –> Famished

Childish –> Immature

Maybe –> Perhaps

Good –> Positive

Give –> Provide

Buy –> Purchase

Say no –> Reject

Free –> Release

Look for –> Seek

Choose –> Select

Get by –> Survive

So –> Therefore

Put up with –> Tolerate

Block –> Undermine

Catch up –> Understand

Sight –> Vision

Young –> Youthful

Get –> Obtain

Need –> Require

Pay back –> Repay

Live –> Reside

Point out –> Indicate

Find out –> Learn/Discover

Get away –> Elude

Come in –> Enter

Lively –> Energetic

Clear –> Transparent

Whole –> Entire/Complete

Blow up –> Explode

Break down –> Fail/Collapse

Hopeless –> Futile

Tired –> Exhausted/ Fatigued

Clothes –> Garment

Go before –> Precede

Thanks –> Gratitude

Hurry –> Haste, hasten

Funny –> Humorous, amusing

Better –> Improved

Dim –> Indistinct

Worse –> Inferior

Put in –> Insert

Bring in –> Introduce

Make up –> Invent

Kidding –> Jesting

Naked –> Nude

Childish –> Infantile

A lot of –> Numerous

Stubborn –> Obstinate

Danger –> Peril

Put off –> Postpone

Here –> Present

Keep –> Preserve

Go ahead –> Proceed

Go after –> Pursue

Anyways –> Nevertheless

Let –> Permit

Sweat –> Perspiration

Look at –> Regard

Laid back –> Relaxed

Take out –> Remove

Rack up –> Accumulate

Over –> At an end

Contractions

Informal: The improvements canʼt be introduced due to funding restric ons.

Formal: Improvements cannot be introduced due to funding restrictions.

Informal: I donʼt believe that the results are accurate.

Formal: The results are not believed to be accurate.

Informal: The research project wonʼt con nue next year.

Formal: The research project will not continue next year.

Phrasal verbs

Informal: The balloon was blown up for the experiment.

Formal: The balloon was inflated for the experiment.

Informal: The patient got over his illness.

Formal: The patient recovered from his illness.

Informal: The results of the study were mixed up.

Formal: The results of the study were confused.

Slang/Colloquialisms

Informal: The mob was very rowdy during the protest against cuts to university funding.

Formal: The crowd was very rowdy during the protest against the cuts to university funding.

Informal: Lecturers still count on students to use correct grammar and punctuation in essays.

Formal: Lecturers expect students to use correct grammar and punctuation in essays.

Informal: It was raining cats and dogs.

Formal: It was raining very heavily.

First person pronouns

Informal: I considered various research methods for the study.

Formal: Various research methods were considered for the study.

Informal: We believe the practice is unsustainable.

Formal: It is believed the practice is unsustainable.

Informal: During the interview, I asked students about their experiences.

Formal: During the interview, students were asked about their experiences.
Formal language

Informal language

When you are communicating with someone that you don’t know very well

Situations that are more relaxed and that involve people that you know well or know each other well

Business emails

Some business correspondence

Academic writing/ articles

In everyday conversations

Professional academic situations

Personal emails

Presentations

Social media

Reports

Advertising
Public tenders

Spontaneous speech

Official documents

Text messages

Talking to superiors

Talking to peers

Legal documents

Some meeting minutes

Public speaking (speeches, lectures, etc)

Networking or socialising with clients

Job interviews

Team meetings
2. Grammar

In formal language, grammar is more complex and sentences are generally longer. For example:

We regret to inform you that the delivery will be delayed due to adverse weather conditions [formal]
Sorry, but the delivery will be late because of the weather [informal]
Have you seen my glasses? [formal]
Seen my glasses? [informal]
I am sorry to have kept you waiting [formal]
Sorry to keep you waiting [informal]

3. Modal verbs

Formal language uses modal verbs. For example:

We would be grateful if….

Could you kindly inform us as as to whether..?

4. Pronouns
Formal language is less personal, and is more likely to use the ‘we’ as a pronoun rather than ‘I’: For
example:

We can assist in the resolution of this matter. Contact us on our help line number [formal]
I can help you solve this problem. Call me! [informal]
We regret to inform you that……[formal]
I’m sorry, but…. [informal]
We have pleasure in announcing….[formal]
I’m happy to say…[informal]

5. Vocabulary

In formal language, words are generally longer. For example:

Require [formal] vs need [informal]
Purchase [formal] vs buy [informal]
Acceptable [formal] vs okay [informal]
Assistance [formal] vs help [informal]
Require [formal] vs want [informal]