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Difference between formal and informal language.
3 October 2023 · 1 min read
Reviewed and updated by the TutorMunk team.
Knowing when to use formal language and when informal language is fine is a skill students need for school writing, and it is one that is easy to explain once the differences are laid out clearly.
Informal language
Informal language is relaxed and conversational, closer to how people actually speak. It typically includes:
- Contractions, such as "can't" instead of "cannot" and "I'm" instead of "I am".
- First-person language, using "I", "me" and "my" freely.
- A conversational tone, including humour or personal anecdotes.
- Abbreviations, such as "ASAP" or common shorthand.
It suits texts, personal emails, diary entries, and everyday conversation with friends and family.
Formal language
Formal language is more structured and precise. It typically includes:
- Full words, avoiding contractions like "don't" or "isn't".
- Third-person language, such as "he", "she", "it" or "they", used more than "I".
- A measured, respectful tone, without slang or humour.
- Standard vocabulary, avoiding colloquialisms.
It suits essays, school reports, formal letters and any writing task marked against a set of academic criteria.
Why it matters for school writing
Most school essay and report writing is assessed using formal language, so knowing when to switch out of the conversational tone that comes naturally in speech is a real skill. Using informal language in a formal piece of writing, or the reverse, often costs marks even when the underlying ideas are sound.
A simple check
Before submitting a piece of school writing, read it back and check for contractions, first-person asides and slang that crept in from everyday speech. Swapping these for their formal equivalents is usually a quick fix once a student knows to look for it.
