PE-91: Formal vs Informal English
The same message in two registers — how to sound right in an exam essay and right in a message to a friend.
PE-91: Formal vs Informal English
Two sentences, one meaning:
"I'm really sorry, but I can't make it." — perfect for a friend.
"I regret that I shall be unable to attend." — perfect for an official letter.
Use the first in a formal letter and you sound careless; use the second with a friend and you sound strange. Choosing the right register is a skill, and it costs marks in every writing exam.
In this lesson you will learn
- The four features that make English formal or informal
- Formal alternatives for everyday verbs
- What to avoid completely in formal writing
- How to judge which register a task needs
1. The four dials
| Feature | Informal | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| contractions | I'm, don't, can't | I am, do not, cannot |
| verbs | find out, put off, get | discover, postpone, receive |
| voice | They cancelled the match. | The match was cancelled. |
| words | kids, a lot of, stuff | children, a great deal of, items |
| openers | Hi Jasur, | Dear Mr Karimov, |
| closings | See you! Bye! | Yours sincerely, |
Informal: Sorry, I can't come — I've got loads of homework.
Formal: I am afraid I will be unable to attend, as I have a great deal of work to
complete.
Kechirasiz, kelolmayman — uy vazifam koʻp. — Afsuski, qatnasha olmayman, chunki bajarishim kerak boʻlgan ish juda koʻp.
2. Formal alternatives worth knowing
| Informal | Formal | Informal | Formal |
|---|---|---|---|
| get | receive / obtain | find out | discover |
| put off | postpone | go up | increase |
| go down | decrease | ask for | request |
| help | assist | need | require |
| show | demonstrate | tell | inform |
| think about | consider | get better | improve |
| a lot of | a great deal of / numerous | but | however |
| so | therefore | also | in addition |
Informal: We found out that prices went up a lot.
Formal: We discovered that prices had increased significantly.
Narxlar ancha oshganini bilib oldik. — Narxlar sezilarli darajada oshganini aniqladik.
3. Avoid these in formal writing
- Contractions: write do not, cannot, it is.
- Slang and very casual words: kids, guys, stuff, cool, awesome.
- Most phrasal verbs: prefer the single-word alternative (PE-78).
- Exclamation marks and emoji — never in an essay or official letter.
- Starting with And or But: use In addition or However.
4. Which register does the task need?
Formal
- essays and exam writing
- letters to a school, company or official
- reports and applications
- people you don't know
Informal
- messages to friends and family
- personal emails
- social media
- speaking with people your own age
To a friend: Hi Afsona! Fancy coming to the cinema on Friday?
To a teacher: Dear Ms Ahmedova, I would like to ask whether the deadline could be
extended.
Salom Afsona! Juma kuni kinoga borasanmi? — Hurmatli Ahmedova opa, muddatni uzaytirish imkoni bormi, deb soʻramoqchi edim.
5. The middle register
Most real English sits between the two extremes — polite but not stiff. This is the safest style for an email to a teacher, a colleague or a shop.
Dear Mr Karimov, I am writing to ask about the course. Could you tell me when it starts? Thank you for your help. Best regards, Sherbek.
Hurmatli Karimov aka, kurs haqida soʻramoqchi edim. Qachon boshlanishini ayta olasizmi? Yordamingiz uchun rahmat. Hurmat bilan, Sherbek.
No contractions, no slang, but not heavy either. This is the register you will use most in real life.
6. Common mistakes
Dear Sir, I wanna ask about the job.
Dear Sir, I would like to ask about the position.
In conclusion, the film was awesome!
In conclusion, the film was excellent.
Hi Mr Karimov, Yours sincerely, Jasur
Dear Mr Karimov, … Yours sincerely, Jasur
The government didn't do nothing about it.
The government did not take any action.
But there are also many good things. (essay)
However, there are also many advantages.
Practice
1 Make it formal: We found out that a lot of students didn't come.
Show answer
We discovered that numerous students did not attend.
Three changes: phrasal verb → single verb, a lot of → numerous, and no contraction.
2 Make it informal: I regret that I am unable to assist you.
Show answer
Sorry, I can't help you.
3 Which is wrong for an essay? (a) However, (b) But, (c) In addition,
Show answer
(b) But at the start of a sentence is too informal for an essay — use However,.
4 Formal alternatives for: put off · ask for · get better
Show answer
postpone · request · improve.
5 Which register for a message to your classmate about homework?
Show answer
Informal. Hi! What's the maths homework for tomorrow? Writing Dear Sir/Madam to a classmate would be strange.
Key words — Kalit soʻzlar
- Registeruslub, nutq darajasi
- Formalrasmiy
- Informalnorasmiy
- Contractionqisqartma
- Slangjargon
- To postponekeyinga qoldirmoq
- To requestsoʻramoq
- To attendqatnashmoq
- Appropriatemos, oʻrinli
- Deadlineoxirgi muddat
🎯 Remember this
- Four dials: contractions, phrasal verbs, passive voice, vocabulary.
- Formal: discover, postpone, request, however, therefore.
- Avoid in formal writing: contractions, slang, exclamation marks, opening But.
- Formal ≠ complicated. Clear and appropriate beats impressive.
- Never mix registers inside one text.