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Contributor: Suzanne Riordan. Lesson ID: 14024
How you talk to your friends differs from how you speak to your teachers. If you gave a speech to a group, that would be a different style, too. How can you adapt your language to different groups?
Listen to a conversation between two friends discussing last night's basketball game.
Billy: "Hey Bruh, did you watch that game last night? It was bussin'!"
Oscar: "Yeah, Jackson is the GOAT!"
Billy: "Yeah, and did you see how Conner made all those free throws? He was lit!"
Oscar: "But those refs missed a bunch of calls for the Bulldogs in the last quarter. That was totally sus."
Billy: "Yeah, but Coach threw some shade on them after the game."
Oscar: "Oh man, he totally roasted them!"
The conversation above is obviously not formal language!
Formal language is used for formal occasions, such as when giving speeches, interviewing for a job, testifying in court, or writing essays or business letters.
There's nothing wrong with speaking in an informal style. But there are times when you have to be more formal.
Watch the following video to learn more about formal and informal language.
Here are some traits of formal language.
No Contractions
Example: it'll / they'll
Change to: it will / they will
No Abbreviations
Example: TV / ASAP
Change to: television / as soon as possible
No Clichés (or Overused Phrases)
Example: It would be a waste of time.
Change to: It would not be an efficient use of time.
No First-Person or Second-Person Point of View.
Example: You should follow your dreams to be an inventor.
Change to: Inventors are those who have followed their dreams.
Use More Formal Words
Example: kids / chow or grub
Change to: children / food
Use More Precise Language
Example: Henry Ford had an awesome idea about making cars.
Change to: Henry Ford discovered he could use machines to assemble automobile parts, creating the first affordable cars.
Move to the Got It? page to find out!
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