Formal and Informal Examples!
What is Formal and Informal Language?
Formal language often follows a specific structure of words or channels such as emails to the professional, whereas informal communication can often flow freely in any direction.
The tone of informal language is more personal than formal language. Examples of formal and informal language are shown below: Formal and Informal examples
Formal and informal Examples
Video Lesson
Informal |
Formal |
| Want/ hope | Desire |
| Want | Desire |
| Wait for | Await |
| Use | Utilize |
| Try out | Test |
| Try | Endeavor |
| Tough | Difficult |
| Stop | Cease |
| Start/ begin | Commence |
| Speed up | Accelerate |
| So | Therefore |
| Small | Diminutive |
| Sight | Vision |
| Sick | Ill |
| Rack up | Accumulate |
| Put/ set down | Deposit |
| Put up with | Tolerate |
| Put off | Postpone |
| Put in | Insert |
Informal and Formals Vocabulary Examples – Picture 1
| Informal | Formal |
| Point out | Indicate |
| Pin down | Determine |
| Job | Occupation |
| Iron out | Solve/overcome |
| In charge of | Responsible |
| Imagine | Envisage |
| Idea | Notion |
| Hurt | Damage |
| Hurry | Haste, hasten |
| Go up | Increase |
| Go through | Examine |
| Go out of | Exit |
| Go on | Continue |
| Go down | Decrease |
| Go before | Precede |
| Expect | Anticipate |
| Enough | Sufficient |
| Enjoyment | Gratification |
| End | Terminate/ finish |
| End | Terminate |
Formal and Informals Vocabulary Examples – Picture 2
| Informal | Formal |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Ease | Facilitate |
| Deal with | Handle |
| Deal | With manage |
| Dare | Challenge |
| Danger | Peril |
| Dad | Father |
| Complex | Convoluted |
| Call on | Visit |
| Call off | Cancel |
| Buy | Purchase |
| But | However |
| Build | Construct |
| Bring in | Introduce |
| Bright/smart | Intelligent |
| Break out | Erupt |
| Bad | Negative |
| Away | Absent |
| Avoid | Evade |
| Avoid | Evade |
| At once | Immediately |
| At first | Initially |
| Ask out | Invite |
| Ask for | Request |
| Think about | Consider |
Informal and Formals Vocabulary Examples – Picture 3
| Informal | Formal |
| Thanks | Gratitude |
| Test | Experiment |
| Tell | Inform |
| Talk into | Persuade |
| Talk about | Discuss/consider |
| Take out | Remove |
| Sweat | Perspiration |
| Stubborn | Obstinate |
| Young | Youthful |
| Wrong | Incorrect |
| Worse | Inferior |
| Wood | Timber |
| Whole | Entire/complete |
| Marvelous | Exceptional |
| Makeup | Fabricate |
| Mainly | Principally |
| Mad | Insane |
| Lucky | Fortunate |
| Look up to | Respect |
| Look like | Resemble |
| Look into | Investigate |
| Let | Permit |
| Leave out | Omit |
| Lead to | Cause |
| Laidback | Relaxed |
Formal and Informal Words Examples
Formal and Informal examples
| Informal | Formal |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Kids | Children |
| Hit out at | Criticize |
| Here | Present |
| Help | Assist |
| Happy | Pleased |
| Good looking | Attractive |
| Good for | Beneficial |
| Go against | Oppose |
| Go after | Pursue |
| Go | Depart |
| Give up | Quit |
| Give out | Distribute |
| Give | Donate |
| Get out | Escape |
| Get by | Survive |
| Getaway | Elude |
| Get | Obtain |
| Say sorry | Apologies |
| Say no | Reject |
| Say | Express |
| Round | Circular |
| Right | Correct |
| Rich | Wealthy |
| Tired | Exhausted/ fatigued |
| Throw away | Discard |
| Throw | Out eject |
| Think of | Conceive |
| Show | Demonstrate |
| Shorten | Decrease |
| Settle for | Choose |
| Set up | Establish |
| Set out | Display |
| Seem | Appear |
| See | Observe |
| Remove | Eliminate |
| Refer to | Consult |
| Really big | Considerable |
Formal and Informal examples
Informal and Formal Vocabulary
| Informal | Formal |
| Old | Elderly |
| Okay, ok | Acceptable |
| Next/later | Subsequently |
| Need | Require |
| Naked | Nude |
| Mend | Repair |
| Maybe | Perhaps |
| Look for | Seek |
| Look at | Regard |
| Lively | Energetic |
| Live | Reside |
| Go away | Leave/ depart |
| Go ahead | Proceed |
| Good | Positive |
| Kidding | Jesting |
| Keep | Preserve |
| Hungry | Famished |
| Hopeless | Futile |
| Friendly | Amiable |
| Free | Liberate |
| Fork out | Pay (money) |
| Fight | Combat |
| Fall out | Quarrel |
| Explain | Disclose |
| Eager | Avid |
| Drop out | Of withdraw (from) |
| Dirty/ polluted | Contaminated |
| Dim | Indistinct |
| Describe | Depict |
| Death | Demise |
| Come up | To reach/attain |
| Come in | Enter |
| Come after | Follow |
| Clothes | Garment |
| Climb | Ascend |
| Clear | Transparent |
| Choose | Select |
| Childish | Infantile |
| Check | Verify |
| Cheap | Inexpensive |
| Chance | Opportunity |
| Can is | Capable of |
| Break off | Suspend/adjourn |
| Break down | Fail/collapse |
| Brave | Courageous |
| Boss | Employer |
| Blow up | Explode |
| Block | Undermine |
| Big/large | Enormous |
| Better | Improved |
| Beat up | Assault |
| Ask | Enquire |
| Anyway | Nevertheless |
| Also in | Addition |
| Again & again | Repeatedly |
| Afraid | Fearful |
| A lot of | Numerous |
| A bit | A little |
| Pick up | Collect |
| Payback | Repay |
| Over at an | End |
| Older | Senior |
Download this lesson of “formal and informal examples” in pdf.
