Knowing when to use formal or informal language

Speaker 1: We need to change how we speak depending on the situation and who we're speaking to.

When we don't know people very well we need to use more formal language.

Speaker 2: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) Helen Thompson?

Doctor Campbell is still with another patient.

She’ll be with you as soon as she possibly can.

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) I’m a patient here and we don’t know each other so the receptionist talks to me in a formal way.

(TO OTHER PEOPLE) Thank you. I appreciate you letting me know.

(TO AUDIENCE) And I need to respond in a similar manner.

But with people you know well, you can be more informal.

(PHONE RINGS) My best friend.

Speaker 3: (ON PHONE) Where are you?

I’m sitting here all on my own! Are we still on for lunch?

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) This gives me the go-ahead to be more informal.

Chatty. And the language I use to apologise can be more informal too.

(TO PERSON ON PHONE) Yeah, soz, I’m stuck at the doctor’s.

Speaker 4: Helen Thompson?

Speaker 1: (TO PERSON ON PHONE) I’ll see you tomorrow, right?

Speaker 4: I’d rather see you now.

(SPEAKER 1 INDICATES PHONE)

Speaker 1: Sorry.

Speaker 4: Please, follow me.

Speaker: Every day we’re all reading lots of words all around us.

And everything we read is using a different kind of language.

(SPEAKER SEES NOTICE IN SHOP WINDOW)

Some language is formal. And some language is informal.

(SPEAKER SEES CHALK BOARD OUTSIDE CAFE)

This leaflet about opening a bank account uses formal language and a polite tone.

(PHONE BEEPS) This email is inviting me to a job interview, so it is structured and has perfect spelling.

And because the company doesn’t know me, the writer uses formal language.

So, for example, they don’t abbreviate words or use contractions.

'We would like to invite you,' they say. Rather than 'we’d like'.

(PHONE BEEPS) But when we know people well, we use informal language like this: 'Hiya, want to hang out tonite?' which is far more chatty.

We use abbreviations, contractions, slang. When we’re sending texts, we sometimes even misspell things like tonight or use numbers instead of letters.

Understanding the difference between informal and formal language is not just about knowing which language to use, it’s also about choosing the right language in a situation.

And we can learn a lot just by reading, listening and noticing the language all around us, every day.

Speaker: Dear Mr Webber, I saw your advertisement for the post of sports assistant.

I feel I’m well qualified for the role and would like to ask you…

(PHONE VIBRATES) Hiya, you free tonight?

To be honest, I’m really… Tbh I’m super busy.

(TO AUDIENCE) Here I’m writing an email applying for a job so I’m using formal, polite language.

(PHONE VIBRATES) (TO THEMSELVES) No worries.

(TO AUDIENCE) Over here I’m texting, so I can be chatty, because I don’t want to be formal with my friends.

I can use abbreviations like 'def' instead of 'definitely' and contractions like 'don’t', the shortening of 'do not'.

(TO THEMSELVES) OK so… 'Dear sir/madam' needs a 'Yours faithfully', so 'Dear Mr Webber' needs 'Yours sincerely'. Oops, (TO AUDIENCE) wrong message.

I’m still being me in both these messages but I’m just adapting my style and choice of words.

OK, this is ready to go.

(TO THEMSELVES) LOL. (TO AUDIENCE) Almost did it again.

This is why, whether you’re being informal or formal, re-reading before you hit send is so important.

So is just writing one thing at a time.