What Does Formal Mean In Writing

Formal and informal language

Learn the difference between formal and informal language and when to use them.

Studying from home?

Get everything you need to stay on top of uni this session - all in one spot!

Get uni sorted now

What is the difference between formal and informal language?

Formal and informal language serve different purposes. The tone, the choice of words and the way the words are put together vary between the two styles. Formal language is less personal than informal language. It is used when writing for professional or academic purposes like university assignments. Formal language does not use colloquialisms, contractions or first person pronouns such as 'I' or 'We'.

Informal language is more casual and spontaneous. It is used when communicating with friends or family either in writing or in conversation. It is used when writing personal emails, text messages and in some business correspondence. The tone of informal language is more personal than formal language.

Examples of formal and informal language are shown below:

Contractions

Informal: The improvements canʼt be introduced due to funding restrictions.

Formal: Improvements cannot be introduced due to funding restrictions.

Informal: I donʼt believe that the results are accurate.

Formal:The results are not believed to be accurate.

Informal: The research project wonʼt continue next year.

Formal:The research project will not continue next year.

Phrasal verbs

Informal: The balloon was blown up for the experiment.

Formal:The balloon was inflated for the experiment.

Informal: The patient got over his illness.

Formal: The patient recovered from his illness.

Informal: The results of the study were mixed up.

Formal: The results of the study were confused.

Slang/Colloquialisms

Informal: The mob was very rowdy during the protest against cuts to university funding.

Formal:The crowd was very rowdy during the protest against the cuts to university funding.

Informal: Lecturers still count on students to use correct grammar and punctuation in essays.

Formal: Lecturers expect students to use correct grammar and punctuation in essays.

Informal: It was raining cats and dogs.

Formal:It was raining very heavily.

First person pronouns

Informal: I considered various research methods for the study.

Formal:Various research methods were considered for the study.

Informal: We believe the practice is unsustainable.

Formal:It is believed the practice is unsustainable.

Informal: During the interview, I asked students about their experiences.

Formal:During the interview, students were asked about their experiences.

Acronyms

TAFE Technical and Further Education

ANZAC Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

QANTAS Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services

Initialisms

UTS University of Technology Sydney

ISO International Standards Organisation

OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

The first time an acronym or initialism is used in an essay, it is acceptable to write the name in full with the acronym or initialism in brackets after it. Every subsequent time it is used the acronym or initialism can be used on its own. Commonly known acronyms such as ANZAC and QANTAS do not need to be written in full. If an acronym or initialism needs to be made into a plural, add a small 's' to it without an apostrophe.

Do not use the acronyms 'ATSI' or 'TSI' to refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This must be written in full. Always capitalise the word 'Indigenous' when referring to Australia's Indigenous peoples.

Other academic style resouces

UTS Publications Style Guideis available on Staff Connect (requires UTS staff login).
RMIT's Academic style
UOW's Academic writing