Formal and informal language

Formal language:

• less personal than informal language
• used when writing for professional or academic purposes like university assignments
• no colloquialisms, contractions or first person pronouns such as ‘I’ or ‘we’.

Informal language:

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

Examples of formal and informal language

Click on the blue "V" symbol to access all the examples. 

Contractions

Formal	Informal
Improvements cannot be introduced due to funding restrictions.	The improvements canʼt be introduced due to funding restrictions.
The results are not believed to be accurate.	I donʼt believe that the results are accurate.
The research project will not continue next year.	The research project wonʼt continue next year.

Phrasal verbs

Formal	Informal
The balloon was inflated for the experiment.	The balloon was blown up for the experiment.
The patient recovered from his illness.	The patient got over his illness.
The results of the study were confused.	The results of the study were mixed up.

Slang/colloquialisms

Formal	Informal
The crowd was very rowdy during the protest against the cuts to university funding.	The mob was very rowdy during the protest against cuts to university funding.
Lecturers expect students to use correct grammar and punctuation in essays.	Lecturers still count on students to use correct grammar and punctuation in essays.
It was raining very heavily.	It was raining cats and dogs.

 Tips

1. 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.
2. 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 resources

• UTS Publications Style Guide is available on SharePoint (requires login).