Formal and informal words
Formality is all about your relationship with the person
you’re speaking or writing to. If you use formal language,
it may be because you wish to show respect, politeness, or
to put yourself at a distance. Informal language can show
friendliness, closeness or solidarity with someone. Don’t
use informal language just to sound fluent or clever
A Scales of formality
Some groups of words can be put on a scale from (very)
formal to (very) informal
Very formal neutral very informal
Offspring children kids
Abode/residence house/flat place
Alcoholic beverages drink booze
B Short, monosyllabic informal words
Informal version of words are often short and
monosyllabic: they include slang words
It cost me ten quid. (pounds)
I’ll help you to peel the spuds. (potatoes)
My bike’s been stolen (Bicycle)
I always go by tube ( words used for the London Underground)
Come and meet my Mum and Dad (mother and father)
Hi! Can’t stop: see you,bye! (hello:goodbye)
The milk is in the fridge (refrigerator)
C Clippings
Shortening a word tends to make it less formal, as in fridge and
bye in B
I’ll meet you in the lab(oratory)
What’s on telly tonight ? (television)
We should put an ad(vertisment)/advert(isement) in the
(news)paper.
