Formal and informal style
Formal and informal style in English is an essential skill for adapting your language to the right context: professional, academic or casual.
Formal Style is used in serious situations, such as interviews, work emails, articles or presentations.
Example:
I would like to inform you that the meeting has been postponed.
(I would like to inform you that the meeting has been postponed.)
Informal Style is used with friends, family or in casual conversation.
Example:
Hey! Just letting you know the meeting’s off.
(Hi! Just to let you know the meeting’s off.)
Here are some common comparisons:
Formal: Request - Informal: Ask
Formal: Purchase - Informal: Buy
Formal: I apologize - Informal: I’m sorry
Formal: Therefore - Informal: So
In addition to vocabulary, sentence structure also changes. Formal tends to be more complete and impersonal. The informal is more direct, with contractions (I’m, don’t, gonna).
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