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Formal vs. Informal — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 26, 2023
Formal language is structured, follows precise rules, and is used in official or professional contexts. Informal language is more casual, conversational, and is used in everyday or familiar settings.
Formal vs. Informal — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Formal and Informal

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Key Differences

The concepts of Formal and Informal describe opposing ends of the communication spectrum in terms of tone, structure, and appropriateness. Formal language adheres strictly to grammatical rules, lexical choices, and often includes more complex structures, conveying respect, professionalism, and objectivity. It’s predominant in professional, academic, and official settings where clarity, precision, and politeness are paramount. Informal language, on the other hand, is characterized by a more relaxed, conversational tone, employing colloquialisms, contractions, and slang, reflecting familiarity, ease, and personal connection, suitable for casual, everyday interactions.
Formality is embedded in various elements of language, including vocabulary, syntax, and discourse. Formal language tends to employ advanced, specific, and sometimes archaic vocabulary, avoiding contractions and opting for full forms, exuding professionalism and seriousness. Informal language embraces simplicity, directness, and personalization, utilizing everyday vocabulary, contractions, and even non-standard grammar, emanating warmth, accessibility, and relatability.
Formal and Informal language are selected based on the context, audience, and purpose of communication. Formal language is crucial for legal documents, academic papers, business correspondences, and official speeches, ensuring accuracy, credibility, and neutrality. Informal language is the go-to for friendly chats, personal emails, social media, and creative writing, allowing for expressiveness, creativity, and emotional connection.
The use of formal language implies a distance or respect between interlocutors, emphasizing the content over the relationship, often avoiding subjectivity and emotion. Informal language signifies closeness, equality, and spontaneity between communicators, prioritizing the relationship and emotion over the content, often being more empathetic and subjective.

Comparison Chart

Tone and Style

Structured, respectful, professional.
Casual, conversational, relaxed.
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Lexical Choices

Advanced, specific, avoids contractions.
Simple, everyday vocabulary, uses contractions.

Context of Usage

Professional, academic, official settings.
Casual, everyday interactions, familiar settings.

Grammar and Syntax

Strict adherence to grammatical rules, complex structures.
Relaxed rules, simpler structures.

Relation between Speakers

Implies distance or respect, emphasizes content.
Implies closeness, equality, emphasizes relationship.

Compare with Definitions

Formal

Formal language conveys respect and professionalism.
Her formal tone during the interview portrayed a sense of professionalism.

Informal

Informal language is casual and conversational.
The informal chat between friends was filled with laughter and joy.

Formal

Formal language is predominant in professional and academic settings.
Formal writing is a fundamental aspect of academic coursework.

Informal

Informal language is suitable for friendly and familiar settings.
The informal setting of the cafe allowed for relaxed and easy conversation.

Formal

Formal language emphasizes accuracy and neutrality.
The formal report maintained neutrality and avoided subjective opinions.

Informal

Informal language can employ non-standard grammar and syntax.
Informal notes often have fragmented sentences and relaxed grammar.

Formal

Relating to or involving outward form or structure, often in contrast to content or meaning.

Informal

Not formal or ceremonious; casual
An informal gathering of friends.
A relaxed, informal manner.

Formal

Being or relating to essential form or constitution
A formal principle.

Informal

Not being in accord with prescribed regulations or forms; unofficial
An informal agreement.

Formal

Following or being in accord with accepted or prescribed forms, conventions, or regulations
Had little formal education.
Went to a formal party.

Informal

Suited for everyday wear or use
Informal clothes.

Formal

Characterized by strict or meticulous observation of forms; methodical
Very formal in their business transactions.

Informal

Characterized by nontechnical vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and relatively few explicit transitions, as typified by spoken language
Informal discourse.

Formal

Stiffly ceremonious
A formal greeting.

Informal

Not formal or ceremonious.
An informal get-together

Formal

Characterized by technical or polysyllabic vocabulary, complex sentence structure, and explicit transitions; not colloquial or informal
Formal discourse.

Informal

Not in accord with the usual regulations.
An informal agreement

Formal

Having the outward appearance but lacking in substance
A formal requirement that is usually ignored.

Informal

Suited for everyday use.
Informal clothes

Formal

Something, such as a gown or social affair, that is formal in nature.

Informal

(of language) Reflecting everyday, non-ceremonious usage.

Formal

Being in accord with established forms.
She spoke formal English, without any dialect.

Informal

(gardening) Not organized; not structured or planned.

Formal

Official.
I'd like to make a formal complaint.
Despite efforts by limnologists and freshwater biologists to create a formal definition of “pond”, there is still no universal distinction between a “pond” and a “lake.”

Informal

Not in the regular, usual, or established form; not according to official, conventional, prescribed, or customary forms or rules; irregular; hence, without ceremony; as, an informal writing, proceeding, or visit.

Formal

Relating to the form or structure of something.
Formal linguistics ignores the vocabulary of languages and focuses solely on their grammar.

Informal

Deranged in mind; out of one's senses.
These poor informal women.

Formal

Relating to formation.
The formal stage is a critical part of any child's development.

Informal

Not formal;
Conservative people unaccustomed to informal dress
An informal free-and-easy manner
An informal gathering of friends

Formal

Ceremonial or traditional.
Formal wear must be worn at my wedding!

Informal

Not officially recognized or controlled;
An informal agreement
A loose organization of the local farmers

Formal

Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual.
He's always very formal, and I wish he'd relax a bit.

Informal

Used of spoken and written language

Formal

Organized; well-structured and planned.
When they became a formal club the rowers built a small boathouse.

Informal

Having or fostering a warm or friendly atmosphere; especially through smallness and informality;
Had a cozy chat
A relaxed informal manner
An intimate cocktail lounge
The small room was cozy and intimate

Formal

(mathematics) Relating to mere manipulation and construction of strings of symbols, without regard to their meaning.
Formal series are defined without any reference to convergence.

Informal

Informal language is characterized by the use of everyday vocabulary and contractions.
Informal writing often includes contractions and colloquial expressions.

Formal

(clothing) An evening gown.

Informal

Informal language allows for expressiveness and emotional connection.
Her informal tone conveyed her excitement and passion vividly.

Formal

An event with a formal dress code.
Jenny took Sam to her Year 12 formal.

Formal

(programming) A formal parameter.

Formal

(Oxbridge slang) formal hall.

Formal

(uncountable) Formalin.

Formal

An acetal formed from formaldehyde.

Formal

See Methylal.

Formal

Belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing.

Formal

Belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter composing it; having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential; pertaining to or depending on the forms, so called, of the human intellect.
Of [the sounds represented by] letters, the material part is breath and voice; the formal is constituted by the motion and figure of the organs of speech.

Formal

Done in due form, or with solemnity; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular; express; as, he gave his formal consent.
His obscure funeral . . . No noble rite nor formal ostentation.

Formal

Devoted to, or done in accordance with, forms or rules; punctilious; regular; orderly; methodical; of a prescribed form; exact; prim; stiff; ceremonious; as, a man formal in his dress, his gait, his conversation.
A cold-looking, formal garden, cut into angles and rhomboids.
She took off the formal cap that confined her hair.

Formal

Having the form or appearance without the substance or essence; external; as, formal duty; formal worship; formal courtesy, etc.

Formal

Dependent in form; conventional.
Still in constraint your suffering sex remains,Or bound in formal or in real chains.

Formal

Sound; normal.
To make of him a formal man again.

Formal

Being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress);
Pay one's formal respects
Formal dress
A formal ball
The requirement was only formal and often ignored
A formal education

Formal

Characteristic of or befitting a person in authority;
Formal duties
An official banquet

Formal

(of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms;
The paper was written in formal English

Formal

Represented in simplified or symbolic form

Formal

Logically deductive;
Formal proof

Formal

Refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court;
A courtly gentleman

Formal

Formal language is structured and adheres strictly to grammatical rules.
The formal language in the legal document left no room for ambiguity.

Formal

Formal language employs advanced and specific vocabulary.
The formal text used specialized vocabulary relevant to the field.

Common Curiosities

Is formal language used in professional and official settings?

Yes, formal language is predominantly used in professional, academic, and official settings where precision, respect, and professionalism are essential.

Are formal and informal language interchangeable?

No, the choice between formal and informal language depends on the context, audience, and purpose of communication.

Can informal language be more empathetic and subjective?

Yes, informal language often emphasizes emotion, subjectivity, and personal connection, being more empathetic and expressive.

Does formal language avoid contractions?

Indeed, formal language typically avoids contractions, opting for full forms and advanced, specific vocabulary.

Can informal language be used in creative writing?

Yes, informal language is often used in creative writing, allowing for more expressiveness, creativity, and emotional connection.

Is formal language more structured?

Yes, formal language is more structured, adhering strictly to grammatical rules and often employing complex structures.

Can informal language include slang and contractions?

Absolutely, informal language often includes slang, contractions, and colloquial expressions, reflecting a casual, conversational tone.

Is informal language suitable for casual interactions?

Absolutely, informal language is suitable for casual, everyday interactions, reflecting familiarity, ease, and spontaneity.

Does formal language emphasize content over relationship?

Yes, formal language often emphasizes the accuracy and neutrality of the content over the relationship between communicators.

Is formal language important for legal documents?

Absolutely, formal language is crucial for legal documents, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and professionalism.

Is formal language perceived as more respectful?

Yes, formal language is often perceived as more respectful and polite, conveying professionalism and objectivity.

Does informal language often have relaxed grammatical rules?

Yes, informal language often employs relaxed or non-standard grammar and syntax, prioritizing ease and relatability.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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