[0:00]Hi, Shan here from BBC Learning English. In this masterclass, we're going to look at some differences between formal and informal English.
[0:13]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've been working part-time in a shop and recently they promoted me to the role of manager. I'm enthusiastic. I work hard. I pay attention to detail. Okay. 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 inquire. Same with jobs. This is quite informal. So instead, let's use vacancies here. Instead, we have, I'm writing to inquire whether you have any vacancies. Number two, abbreviations. 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 okay when you're speaking, but not when you're writing. Here, we could 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 sentence, they promoted me, is quite informal. We 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 the passive one is more appropriate. Finally, in informal English, short simple sentences are much more common. Whereas in formal English, we use more complex 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'm an enthusiastic person who works hard and pays attention to detail.
[3:45]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 practice formal and informal English. See you soon. Goodbye.
