This report will examine the difference between formal and informal language, the types of audiences for which you would use the two languages and the purpose of both styles of the interaction. Determining when to use formal and informal language forms a big part of mastering any situation.
The words that are chosen, the way they are spoken and put together differ between the two styles. Formal language will be less personal. It is used in official, literary and academic content such as reports, assignments, business emails or when interacting with people you don’t know or in a professional environment. The primary purpose of formal language is to achieve sophistication and clarity. In formal language the speaker will avoid using colloquial words or phrases, will avoid abbreviations, is usually written in the third person tense, will use specific words, avoid clichés and avoid addressing readers or people using second person pronouns.
Informal language is generally used when we are talking with family or friends or other people we know well. It is more impulsive and casual. We will use casual, colloquial language and the tone will be more personal.
