Formal English and informal English - BBC English Masterclass

Improve your English with the BBC. What's the difference between formal and informal English? How do you speak more informally? Watch this free online English lesson to find out how.
For more, visit our website: www.bbc.co.uk/l...
More in this series:
More advanced learner mistakes:
bit.ly/bbc_mor...
Advanced learner mistakes:
bit.ly/bbc_adv...
Linking words in English:
bit.ly/bbc_lin...
Using 'what' to give emphasis
bit.ly/bbc_usi...
5 ways to talk about the future:
bit.ly/bbc_mas...
Using 'which' to add information:
bit.ly/bbc_mas...
Linking words of contrast:
bit.ly/bbc_mas...
#learnenglish #bbcmasterclass #formalenglish
Transcript:
Hi, Sian here for BBC Learning English. In this Masterclass we're going to look at some differences between formal and informal English. Hey, how's it going? Good afternoon, how are you? Sometimes formal and informal can seem like two different languages. In the same way you wouldn't normally wear shorts and a t-shirt to a job interview, if you use language that's too formal or too informal, you can give a bad impression. Let's look at some differences between formal and informal English. Now, I received an email this morning. Have a look at this email - do you think the language is formal or informal - and why?
Dear Mrs Brown,
I'm writing to find out whether you have any jobs in your company this summer.
At the mo I'm studying Economics at uni.
I have been working part-time in a shop and recently they promoted me to the role of manager.
I am enthusiastic. I work hard. I pay attention to detail.
Ok, so that email used informal language and it's too informal for this style of letter. We're going to look at four features that make this informal and we're going to change it to make it more formal.
Number one: choice of vocabulary. In informal English we use more common words and more phrasal verbs. For example here we have a phrasal verb: find out. It would be better to use a more formal equivalent like enquire. Same with jobs, this is quite informal, so instead let's use vacancies here. Instead we have "I'm writing to enquire whether you have any vacancies."
Number two. It's more common in informal language to use abbreviations, contractions, shortened forms of verbs. Let's have a look. So, here we have at the mo, which is short for at the moment. This is OK when you're speaking, but not when you're writing. Here, we can use currently which is even more formal. Same here, uni is short for university, so don't use this short form in a letter. "Currently, I am studying Economics at university."
Quite often in formal language we choose passive structures over active. Let's have a look here. The active sentences they promoted me is quite informal - it'd be much better to use a passive form here to make it more formal: I was promoted. So, "Recently I was promoted to the role of manager." This doesn't mean don't use active structures in a formal letter, but have a think about whether a passive one is more appropriate.
Finally, in informal English, short, simple sentences are much more common. Whereas in formal English, we use more complex sentence structures. Take a look at this one. Here we have three short, simple sentences and this is fine in informal English, but in formal English it's better to use a complex structure. We can do this by adding relative pronouns or linkers. For example, "I am an enthusiastic person who works hard and pays attention to detail.
So, would you kindly visit our website... ah, we're friends, that's too formal. Go to our website bbclearningenglish.com for more information about this and to practise formal and informal English. See you soon - goodbye!

[@bbclearningenglish]

Hi there! You can learn some more informal English expressions with our series The English We Speak. Learn all about 'skeleton crew' here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKOnhmiGlrN1rNE

[@igki00]

Open university raise your hands raise your ✋

[@rohmaningwahyudi6642]

Me

[@disya104]

me😄

[@sinik2382]

Me

[@roihanhaliem352]

Me

[@roihanhaliem352]

Me

[@trangdangzhd]

it's nice that you use papers instead of slides. 😊

[@antoniomarcos5321]

What about the contracted form 'I'm writing'? Shouldn't it have been changed to 'I am writing'?

[@thefoxyredfox6739]

I like use "ya" and "ye" as "you" though at the right time .

[@Yeonp]

This is very helpful. Thank you!

[@OliverMacau]

I like formal English more.

[@indnzk9683]

what subject to use if the subject is plural in formal and informal language? But, thank you for the explanation

[@bbclearningenglish]

Can you give an example of what you mean?

[@akshitraj1019]

What is the best way to expand formal vocabulary ?

[@rafadoingles295]

i am new subscribe here and i loke your classes so much. Congratulations to you guys. i am from Brazil and in your site is a good way to improve more my English in all aspect, listening, a bit of speaking.

[@DeviSihotang]

Thank you for the information, it is very useful to be able to differentiate formal and informal sentences and increase my vocabulary too

[@howtoec3400]

Amazing emotions + gestures) Love you and the way you teach!

[@randautkendari]

Thank you very much, very satisfying for the videos I have watched, hopefully I can speak English with the BBC.and what is the difference between formal and informal English? I can understand. Hope I can speak more informally? by going through Watch these free online English lessons to find out how. thank you

[@dwinurlatifah3577]

Sangat membantu penjelasan penggunaan formal dan informal terimakasih

[@kayzamuiz5612]

Thank you for your knowledge, I'm from Indonesian Open University. 😊

[@IsarAzam]

it's​ very helpful..... I love this channel.

[@Fatafela33]

This material is very helpful... Thank you for providing the material

[@ratushifajnr6304]

Thank you for the knowledge given 💞

[@harveysp8683]

greatly great💜😊

[@sknurjahan5695]

Excellently differentiated.

[@AdeleydaSenduk]

It’s nice that you use papers instead of slides😊

[@ProjectFun540]

Thanks you for information Its helpfull

[@toyosejenaksaja2244]

I can learn the difference between formal and informal English

[@emrearslan1541]

very many thanks Sian,I gonna be more careful about that

[@sangtruong8833]

how about too formal language. Could you analyse it ?

[@edvardshubitidze6594]

hello, is it okay if I use your examples of letters in my school presentation?

[@bbclearningenglish]

Yes, it's ok.

[@Khalidabdalla-z8h]

Thank you sooo much for everything

[@edmundog.dosreispereira2088]

Thanks for this good explanation for differences between Informal and Formal writing words. This realy help me to understand more how to write good and sistematic. BBC learning English is the best one.👍💪💪💪💪👌👌👌

[@alimabdul4740]

Thank you very helpful ,thaks you

[@learneezy3615]

Thank you very much for this helpful information 🙏🏻

[@khairina4658]

Thank you for the information, this video is very helpful, I hope you are always successful...

[@savankumardurge4298]

Awesome

[@thorikhaikal3257]

Thanks for this vidio. From this vidoe I can make different lengauge formal and Informal. Thanks

[@ahmedhusham7728]

What about these words: 1-reduce 2-overcome 3-Include 4-contain 5-Indeed 6-purpose

[@irhammusafik2193]

Thanks for this good explanation for differences between Informal and Formal writing words. This realy help me to understand more how to write good and sistematic 🙏

[@sintha22]

very useful thank you for the video.

[@pathumanuradha5581]

Wow 👌 looking is good 👍 feeling is better that's great experience for me carry on...

[@restuhayati7281]

Thnks youu for information🫶🏻

[@usama57926]

very nice explanation

[@BimaFeyuRezaSufa]

thank you for the information

[@wanfaizal9042]

Thank you for the information,,,,

[@auliarahmakhoirunnisa6718]

hiii, i'm from open university❤

[@The5streetThe]

Is this australian accent?

[@KIKIHIDAYAT-w5u]

Thank you very much, for this helpful information..

[@savagekulung1276]

Wow! It's off the chain.

[@rudynandus3973]

Thank you very much for this helpful information 🙏🏻

[@usama57926]

thank u so much

[@kurniasianturi7127]

terima kasih pembelajarannya pak dan/ibu

[@usama57926]

its helpfull

[@dwiwahyulestari4526]

thank you for the explanation. it's very helpful for me.

[@bbclearningenglish]

Glad to hear that

[@kwonmj732]

Would you be kind to recommend a good English dictionary that can provide solutions on formal and informal usages? I would appreciate your efforts.

[@bbclearningenglish]

Hi Lee Charles. We can't recommend a particular product, I'm afraid. But there are many good dictionaries available.

[@silvisulistiawati6557]

Thank youuu , IM very understand for the information 🤩

[@rafinawiyanti6966]

thx

[@MuhammadIlhamsyah-hy6ni]

Thanks mom in information 😊

[@eginovianti2159]

Thank you for information

[@nailatasya9862]

Thankyou beautiful teacher for delivering the material

[@bilalahmad-bo9ge]

🎉🎉🎉🎉❤

[@toyosejenaksaja2244]

I can learn the difference between formal and informal English.

[@kejaritomeneticuantepe]

She looks so happy to teach, thanks.

[@رافدالعزاوي-ذ2ش]

Hi? Can you talk to me in English to learn the language?

[@aniq_chanel]

👍

[@Nenengsih-neva]

☝

[@juwonnnnn]

👍

[@AsepSaepudin-b7e]

Thank you for the explanation of the englis material

[@asepmd_kamojangrunners]

Thanks You

[@sportterkini6010]

Thank you

[@tomyadisa9570]

Good job sis

[@mikeylaatmarini9228]

Thank you for the scientific explannation

[@veenanarwani761]

🙏

[@sir_splix]

intro music be good

[@sanusi1284]

Amazing

[@elsarukhiyani]

thank you miss for the knowledge given

[@BellaHandayani-ou3ci]

Thank you mrs

[@رافدالعزاوي-ذ2ش]

Hi, is it possible for someone who can speak to me in English to talk to each other, thank you

[@Anara-h6h]

This was great

[@nurindahpermatasari8853]

Thank you for the information, and very good ☺️

[@karebetc]

Great❤

[@TEBAKBENDA]

Thank you for the material presented, it really helped me learn English

[@dinapujirahayu997]

Thank Youu. 🎉🎉🎉

[@sofaaliyasalma6344]

Thank you Miss

[@nurmala3177]

Thank yau

[@MuhammadRiksa-b3x]

I like to moment❤❤

[@rinimasrini2362]

Thanks you

[@adityaramadhan6525]

Thank you for the information and knowledge

[@sirinwijaya9434]

Thank you for this great learning material

[@eranlambangsaputra]

thank you

[@FrancisHector]

Thank you everytime a great video from BBC Learning English & I've shared it.

[@intanauliasari484]

Thank you🎉

[@MoeMukhtar]

Thank you for the information. So happy to watch your videos 🙌

[@alismart2867]

I went through several English tests,and I am classes as a professional according to them,however when I confront a new hit from a famous pop singer,I find my self lost within the lyrics(the speech doesn't match with the lyrics),is it the same thing for the native speakers?

[@Hermansyah31]

Thank you for the knowledge given

[@indap03]

Yeah, good 😫😂🤣

[@iniuram8231]

english is not my language. can i always use formal?

[@agusebian]

Thanks you

[@MuhtarPujananti-f4g]

Thank you for the knowledge given

[@yandesutawan]

thank you

[@Noviofficial162]

Thank you

[@aldihilmawan8499]

Thankyou❤

[@igedededyartho7181]

Thank you

[@humasbadung5548]

thank you

[@syednadal9142]

Thanks boss