Formal and informal dialogues in English. Some features of formal and informal communication in English

In English, as in other languages, two stable forms of communication coexist - formal and informal language. And if the formal version is useful only for business letters, documentation or official news, then the field for using informal language is much wider. Why is it worth communicating in Informal English if you don’t want to give the impression of being a “cracker” and an obvious foreigner?

How to become “one of us”?

Some languages of the world have certain rules to address elders (by age or social status). English does not have very strict requirements of this kind, but it still has some words and constructions for formal speech. But informal English is the best option for everyday situations, friendly conversations over a glass of tea, and private chat on the Internet.

If you address an English-speaking friend with the phrase “Dear sir!”, you will look at least strange, unless you just decided to make him laugh. Agree that the greeting “Hi!” fits much more organically into the format of a friendly dialogue.

Of course, the bulk of words and expressions in the English language have a “neutral” connotation. But knowing the common tricks of the informal option will play into your hands - you will look natural among English-speaking friends and will not cause confusion in them with the formality of your speech.

Differences Informal English

Formal and informal versions of the language differ in both grammar and vocabulary. As for grammar, nuances such as:

Reduction negative forms and auxiliary verbs. Compare: “It is possible! We have done it” (form.) and “It’s possible! We’ve done it” (informal).
Prepositions in the informal version are moved to the end of the sentence, and in the formal version they are used at the beginning: “At what sport are you good?” (form.) and “What sport are you good at?” (informal).
The so-called relative constructions also differ: “The guy whom she asked” (formal) and “The guy she asked” (informal).
After qualifying words (such as “neither”), verbs come in different numbers: “Neither of the boys wants to participate” (formal, singular verb) and “Neither of the boys want to take part” (informal, verb in the plural).
According to the style, the form of some pronouns also changes, for example: “Whom did you ask to come?” (form.) and “Who did you ask to come?” (informal).
Some words in informal English are completely dropped: “Have you done that?” (form.) and simply “Done that?” (informal).

And in the vocabulary of informal English there are a bunch of specific words and expressions that have practically nothing in common with formal language, For example:

Of course, the specific features of informal English include not only individual words, but also entire expressions. For example:

to wolf something down- swallow (about food): I wolfed down that ice-cream so quickly. - I quickly swallowed (like a wolf) this ice cream;
to go- take food to go (in a restaurant, cafe): Would you like (your food) to go? - Do you (go) with you?;
you gotta be kidding me- it can’t be (in the sense of “You’re kidding, I guess”).

The examples given will be useful for communication in real life, Facebook, blogs, etc. And in modern English there are some accepted norms for correspondence over e-mail. For formal and informal correspondence, this sign may be useful to you at first:

Formal style	Informal style
Greetings
Dear Sir/Madam, Dear Mr./Mrs. (surname)	Dear (name), Hi, Hello
Starting a conversation
With reference to our telephone conversation yesterday (about)	It was nice to hear from you
Thank you for your email regarding	It’s been ages since I’ve heard from you
I am writing on behalf of	How are you? Hope you and your family are doing well
I am writing to draw your attention to	I am writing to let you know
Request
I would appreciate if you could	You don’t mind …ing (…) (for me), do you?
I would be most grateful if you would	Do I have a favour, will you?
Would you be so kind and	Would it be possible for you to?
I was wondering if you could	Can/Could I ask you to?
Apologies
We apologize for any inconvenience caused	Sorry for any trouble caused
Please accept our sincere apologies	We are very sorry
Dispute
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with	I'm fed up with (someone/something)
I find it most unsatisfactory that	I am not happy with
I'd like to complain about	I'm rather annoyed with
Ending a conversation
I look forward to hearing from you	Give my love to
If you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me	Hope to hear from you soon
Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions	Just give me a call if you have any questions
Signature
Yours sincerely	Lots of love
Yours faithfully	All the best(Best wishes)

Of course, the best way to effectively master all the intricacies of informal English is to study the language with native speakers. Nowadays, there are many opportunities for this, the main thing is not to be lazy, choose the best preparation option for yourself, and “with feeling, with sense, with alignment” move towards your goal. Good luck!

While it may be acceptable to use informal language in chats or emails, there is too much colloquial vocabulary may reduce the quality of the text in formal business style. By reducing the quantity colloquial speech in written texts, you will seem smarter. Using vocabulary incorrectly can result in you being considered ignorant. To improve your writing, become fluent in English so you know what words you shouldn't use and what is acceptable for formal text communication.

Steps

Difference between formal and informal English

What to Avoid in Formal Speech

Use punctuation correctly. For example, in American English, a colon (“Dear John:”) is used at the beginning of a formal letter, while in British English a comma is used instead. Limit the use of parentheses, exclamation points, and hyphens in a formal style. Do not use the & sign, use the conjunction “and” instead. Place punctuation marks as you write so you don't forget anything.

Avoid using informal language and expressions, instead of "cute" use "adorable", instead of "yeah" - "yes"), instead of "movie" - "film", if you are not sure which form is correct, consult a dictionary for help . Also avoid using slang expressions like "cool," "dude," and "humongous." It is also worth removing phrases like “you know”, “perhaps you thought that...” from the text. You will not be able to read the thoughts of your readers at the moment when they get acquainted with your text. The expression “Think about it.” is also useless. You can assume that your readers already think about what they read, so instead of using such phrases, you should clearly express your thoughts. The adverb “pretty,” meaning “relatively, practically or quite” is not used in formal speech and is generally unnecessary and inappropriate.

Don't use abbreviations. Note that the full form of the word "can't" is "cannot", not "cannot."

Try not to write in first or second person. In a formal style, objectivity is important, and the pronouns “I” and “You” will introduce elements of subjectivity. Phrases like “I believe that” should be removed from the context of the phrase if it is already obvious that this is the opinion of the author. The pronoun “I” is more acceptable and typical for blogs, while “you” is suitable for letters and manuals. In formal speech, the pronoun “I” is replaced by “We”, but it does not mean the familiar “we”, but a kind of collective unconscious that symbolizes a large number of people. In formal style, the pronoun you is not used when it refers to people in general.

You should sleep at least eight hours every night. (Informal option)
You should sleep at least eight hours a day. (Formal style)
Most people need at least eight hours of sleep at night to get enough sleep. (Formal style)

Don't start sentences with linking words. In writing, you should not use conjunctions “and,” “but,” “so,” or “or” at the beginning of a sentence. Conjunctions are created to connect words, phrases, and parts of a sentence, so at the beginning of a sentence it cannot play its role. Best of all connect such a sentence with the previous one by replacing the period with a comma.In place of the conjunction, you can use traditional adverbs such as “additionally” (or “moreover”), “nevertheless” (or “however”), “therefore” (or “thus”), and “alternatively” (or “instead”, “otherwise”). “Though” can be used at the end of a sentence. For example: This product here is much cheaper. It will last only half as long, though. In informal speech, you can start a sentence with “also”, but in formal speech it should not be used, except to complement the verb (In the imperative mood or in indirect order words) : "Also read Chapters Two and Three;" "Also included is a free ticket." In a paragraph where sentences begin with connective conjunctions, there may be a lack of smooth transitions of thoughts from one to another.

Avoid clichés in formal speech. The formal style is close to literary language, which will be understandable and unambiguous for all readers. Clichés make what is written unoriginal, but despite this, they can look funny in colloquial speech, especially when some established phrases or expressions are played on. Here are some clichés to avoid:
- Hercules was strong as a bull.
- I would give an arm and a leg to find a parking spot during the holiday season.
- She was as beautiful as a picture.
Avoid remarks. You shouldn't start a letter with a summary, just as you shouldn't start an essay with a message about the topic of discussion. Do not use phrases:
- "I am writing to you to ask you to. . . ."
- "This paper is going to talk about how...
Avoid vague words. Vague words are less formal and leave room for interpretation. They don't express your ideas the way more specific phrases do. It is better to replace the words “a little” or “enough” with something more precise.

What is appropriate in formal speech

The rules for using separator words are based on Latin, so it is not surprising that the speech in which they are used sounds like Latin. The Romans tried to use adverbs together with verbs, so adverbs often came before verbs. In Latin, Captain Kirk would say audacter ire, which would translate to “go boldly.” A similar phrase is often found in Latin texts and in fan fiction. Star Wars, such as Audacter Ire and Justice for All. The Oxford Dictionary says that the phrase “boldly to go” is more formal than “to go boldly”, due to Latin order words The effectiveness of separator words comes from the fact that the particle to and the verb are, as it were, a single whole. After all, “to go” in Latin would sound like one word, “ire.” To place accents, the artist places a large painting between two small ones. By analogy, an adverb allows you to place stress when it comes after the particle to before the verb.
1. Don't be afraid to share auxiliary with the main one.
  
  Learn when to end a sentence with a preposition (even in the most formal speech). Check out the article on How to Learn English to Native Level for more detailed information.
  
  Always use relative pronouns. In formal English, it is very important to always use "whom" or "which", even if they do not carry additional meaning. The relative pronoun can be omitted if only the participle is used. In this case there will be no relative clause. You should also not use the word “that” as a relative pronoun. It should be replaced with "which", "whom" or "who".
  - This is the paper I wrote. (Informal speech)
  - This is the paper which I wrote. (Formal)
  - That was the paper written by me. (formal) (This version uses the past participle and does not contain a relative clause. This version uses the third form of the verb, and no relative offer. This is the most formal option because it does not contain verbs in the active voice).
  - The bear which was dancing was graceful. (Formal style)
  - The bear dancing was graceful. (more formal) (“Dancing” is not used in the active voice and in fact is not even a verb in the full sense of the word, since in this case it is used as an adjective. This is more obvious if the sentence is rephrased this way: “The dancing bear was graceful.”)
2. Develop short sentences into longer, more coherent ones. Formal style involves the use of longer sentences: comparative, complex, and comparatively complex. You can connect two or more simple sentences into one of the above speech structures. Long sentences add variety to text and can be especially effective when paired with in short sentences. Contrasts always attract readers' attention. An illustration of the previous sentence is that you can also use a semicolon to connect two clauses that are close in meaning to each other.
Examples

Informal letter:

John, I’m looking for a job, and I’ve heard through the grapevine that you need a workhorse for your shop. Well, I’m the man of the hour, as I’ve got a lot to offer. I’m pretty hard-working, and I’m really good about being on time. I’m also used to working by myself. Anyway, tell me whether you want to get together for an interview, okay?

Formal letter from a professional: Dear John: I understand that you are looking for a strong worker to assist you in your shop. I would appreciate consideration because I am diligent, punctual, and accustomed to working with minimal supervision.

Please contact me if you are interested in arranging an interview. I thank you for your time.

Professional Joe

Warnings
- You can get a lot out of a good thing. As stated earlier, you should tailor your formal style to suit your audience. A strong formal style may be necessary in some situations, but in others it may be completely unhelpful. Formal speech without active voice can bore your listeners if the focus is not on human action. It’s not for nothing that teachers have divided opinions about the positive and negative passive voice. Make sure your speech is suitable for this audience. And always try to write what readers will like.
- Looking up words in a thesuarus greatly increases the formality of your writing, but make sure you use the words correctly. Some words contain footnotes that the dictionary does not explain. For example, the California Prune Board changed its name to the California Dried Plum Board because the word “prune” brings to mind constipation. Consider what the connotation of the word “minor” and its synonyms might be.

If you have to write a letter in English, the first thing you should think about is the style or register of writing your letter (register). How to determine register? Think about three aspects:

The less you know the recipient, the more formal your style should be. Exist following styles writing letters in English: formal and informal. There is also a semi-formal or neutral style, but in nature it is closer to formal. Determining the style of the letter will be very simple - it depends on who you are addressing it to. If a letter is written to a stranger, and you don’t know his name, then this will be a formal letter. If the name of the person you are sending the letter to is known to you, for example, it is your boss or teacher, then it will be a “semi-formal letter”. If, in addition, you are connected with a person by friendly or family feelings, then this will be an “informal letter”. Some authors identify the following styles depending on the type of communication, addressee, and linguistic means:

The formal style is inherent in documents (for example, legal), high-level business letters; in the formal style, all the rules of punctuation and grammar are observed. Semi-formal style is used for business correspondence, professional communication. Because the writer and recipient of the letter are typically busy business people, letters of this style are specific, fact-focused, and include standard, boilerplate language. And finally, the informal style is typical for correspondence between friends and communication on social networks. It involves the use of colloquial expressions, abbreviations, rules of grammar and punctuation are not always observed.

However, these are only general differences between styles. In this article we will look at more fundamental distinctive features, which will help you write quality letters in English.

1. Vocabulary.

If you compare two letters of the same content, but written in different styles, then the informal letter will be shorter. Do you know why? Because the formal style involves the use of longer words, words of Latin origin. In contrast to the informal style, phrasal verbs are hardly used in the formal style, except those that cannot be replaced by a longer equivalent. The same goes for nouns: if, when writing a formal letter, you have a choice between a short word and a long one, choose the longer one.

Let's look at some differences between formal and informal vocabulary:

Verbs
Informal		Translation
		ask, request
		be the cause of
		check
		deal with something
		find out
		repair
		receive
get in touch with		to contact
		give, provide
		decrease
		increase

		leave, miss
		allow
		need

		apologize
		seem
		install
		show
		inform

Nouns
Informal		Translation
		boss
		opportunity


		facilities
		aged people

In an informal letter writing style, the use of the active voice prevails over the use of the passive voice. Informal letters are more personalized, while formal letters and documents are factual. Let's look at this with examples:

I invite you to come to my party on Friday evening. –I I invite you you come on mine party V Friday In the evening.
You are invited to attend the annual conference. –You invited visit annual conference.

The teacher told us to complete the test papers. – Teacher said us finish test tasks.
The students were told to complete the test papers. –For students they said finish test tasks.

The camera you delivered to me yesterday is broken. – Camera, which You to me delivered yesterday, broken.
The camera which was delivered to me yesterday is flawed. –Camera, which was delivered yesterday, defective.

In each pair of sentences, the first one refers to the informal register. As you can see, every second sentence, written in a formal style, talks about facts and sounds more neutral and formal.

3. Appeals and stereotypes.

A characteristic feature of the informal style is addressing in the first person, using the pronoun “I”: I am sorry ..., I think ... and so on.

While official letters are based on clichés, standard phrases business communication. The informal style allows for improvisation, while the formal style is more stereotypical.

I am sorry for my being late. –I I'm sorry, What I'm late.

I am glad to tell you that I am coming soon. –I glad to report to you, What I soon I'm coming.

is the use of the pronoun “we”. When a representative of one company writes a letter to another company, the letter is written not in the first person singular (I), but in the first person plural (we).

4. Slang expressions.

Slang expressions are absent in the official style; they simply are not there. The same goes for most idiomatic expressions. Formal style is the language of specifics and business vocabulary, so the use of slang is unacceptable, it is a sign of unprofessionalism and disrespect for the recipient:

5. Abbreviations.

The informal style, along with slang expressions, allows the use of abbreviated forms of the verbs to be, have, has, would, will and others: I"m, we"ve, he"s and so on.

In the official style, abbreviations are never used; all forms must be written in full: I am, we have, he is, they will, she would, and so on.

In informal letters, to a friend, for example, we address a specific person, calling him by name in our letter. Official letters are impersonal, they are not addressed to anyone, the addressee's name is not used in the main part of the letter, only at the beginning. Imperative constructions in official letters and documents are replaced by passive ones, that is, you do not give instructions, but formulate a rule:

If you have questions, feel free to ask me. – If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
You will be contacted for further information. –WITH you will contact For further information.

7. Coordination of ideas.

Even unions of formal and informal styles have their differences. In informal communication, we use a familiar set of phrases and expressions to unite our ideas. Most of them are short: and, but, also, because. Conjunctions that are used in the formal register are usually long words or phrases. Let's look at the table and compare some of them:

Informal		Translation


	due to (the fact that)	as a result because of

		in addition
		Thus
		otherwise

		provided that
		moreover

The word also as a conjunction should be avoided in formal style, but is perfectly acceptable when it refers to a verb (in imperative constructions or inverse sentences):

vocabulary

coordination of ideas

Thus, when starting to write a letter in English, remember the differences in registers, pay attention to vocabulary, grammar, etc. language means so that your letter is in the same style.

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Comparative characteristics of formal and informal letter styles.

If you have to write a letter in English, the first thing you should think about is the style or register of writing your letter (register). How to determine register? Think about three aspects:

The less you know the recipient, the more formal your style should be. There are the following styles of writing letters in English: formal and informal. There is also a semi-formal or neutral style, but in nature it is closer to formal. Determining the style of the letter will be very simple - it depends on who you are addressing it to. If the letter is written to a stranger and his name is unknown to you, then it will be a formal letter. If the name of the person you are sending the letter to is known to you, for example, it is your boss or teacher, then it will be a “semi-formal letter”. If, in addition, you are connected with a person by friendly or family feelings, then this will be an “informal letter”. Some authors identify the following styles depending on the type of communication, addressee, and linguistic means:

The formal style is inherent in documents (for example, legal), high-level business letters; in the formal style, all the rules of punctuation and grammar are observed. Semi-formal style is used for business correspondence and professional communication. Because the writer and recipient of the letter are typically busy business people, letters of this style are specific, fact-focused, and include standard, boilerplate language. And finally, the informal style is typical for correspondence between friends and communication on social networks. It involves the use of colloquial expressions, abbreviations, rules of grammar and punctuation are not always observed.

However, these are only general differences between styles. In this article, we will look at more fundamental features that will help you write quality letters in English.

1. Vocabulary.

Let's look at some differences between formal and informal vocabulary:

Verbs
Informal	Formal	Translation
ask for	enquire	ask, request
bring out	cause	be the cause of
check	verify	check
deal with	handle	deal with something
find out	discover	find out
	repair	repair
	receive	receive
get in touch with	contact	to contact
give	provide	give, provide
go down	decrease	decrease
go up	increase	increase
have	possess	have
leave out	omit	leave, miss
	permit	allow
need	require	need
ring up	call	call
say sorry	apologize	apologize
seem	appear	seem
set up	establish	install
show	demonstrate	show
tell	inform	inform

Nouns
Informal	Formal	Translation
boss	employer	boss
chance	opportunity	opportunity
help	assistance	help
	occupation	Job
money	funds	facilities
old people	senior citizens	aged people
place	location	place
quarrel	debate	dispute
	manner	way
workmate	colleague	colleague

2. Use of passive voice.

I invite you to come to my party on Friday evening. – I invite you to come to my party on Friday evening.
You are invited to attend the annual conference. – You are invited to attend the annual conference.

The teacher told us to complete the test papers. – The teacher told us to finish the test assignments.
The students were told to complete the test papers. – The students were told to finish the test assignments.

The camera you delivered to me yesterday is broken. – The camera you delivered to me yesterday is broken.
The camera which was delivered to me yesterday is flawed. – The camera that was delivered yesterday is defective.

In each pair of sentences, the first one refers to the informal register. As you can see, every second sentence, written in a formal style, talks about facts and sounds more neutral and formal.

3. Appeals and stereotypes.

A characteristic feature of the informal style is addressing in the first person, using the pronoun “I”: I am sorry..., I think... and so on.

While official letters are based on clichés, standard phrases of business communication. The informal style allows for improvisation, while the formal style is more stereotypical.

I am sorry for my being late. - I'm sorry I'm late.
We apologize for the delay. – We apologize for the delay.

I am glad to tell you that I am coming soon. – I am glad to inform you that I am coming soon.
We take pleasure in informing you about our upcoming visit. – We are pleased to inform you about our upcoming visit.

Typical for formal style Iis the use of the pronoun “we”. When a representative of one company writes a letter to another company, the letter is written not in the first person singular (I), but in the first person plural (we).

4. Slang expressions.

He wrote us about lots of stuff. “He wrote to us about a lot of nonsense.”
He sent us some information on the question. – He sent us information on this issue.

5. Abbreviations.

The informal style, along with slang expressions, allows the use of abbreviated forms of the verbs to be, have, has, would, will and others: I"m, we"ve, he"s and so on.

In the official style, abbreviations are never used; all forms must be written in full: I am, we have, he is, they will, she would, and so on.

6. Specific appeals and impersonal constructions.
In informal letters, to a friend, for example, we address a specific person, calling him by name in our letter. Official letters are impersonal, they are not addressed to anyone, the addressee's name is not used in the main part of the letter, only at the beginning. Imperative constructions in official letters and documents are replaced by passive ones, that is, you do not give instructions, but formulate a rule:

If you have questions, feel free to ask me. – If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
You will be contacted for further information. – You will be contacted for further information.

7. Coordination of ideas.

while

whereas

But

however

also

additionally

in addition

Also

therefore

thus

Thus

alternatively

instead

otherwise

instead of

however

provided that

in case

unless

provided that

when

if not

what's more

moreover

The word also as a conjunction should be avoided in formal style, but is perfectly acceptable when it refers to a verb (in imperative constructions or inverse sentences):Also see the agenda attached. – Please also review the attached event plan.

Also covered accommodation expenses. – Accommodation expenses are also reimbursed.

As you can see, formal and informal styles in English are fundamentally different from each other.

The main distinctive features are:
vocabulary

grammar, use of active and passive voice

use of phrasal verbs, slang expressions

use of speech patterns, clichés

use of abbreviated forms

coordination of ideas

Thus, when starting to write a letter in English, remember the differences in registers, follow the vocabulary, grammar, and other language means so that your letter is in the same style.

So, below we will look at what you can and cannot write in business, formal (Formal) and everyday, informal (informal) letters:

What can be used in informal letters.

Contractions (abbreviations)– this refers to abbreviated forms of negations, etc., for example didn’t, can’t, I’d like to etc.

Paul doesn't want to go to California now.

(Paul doesn't want to go to California now)

She didn't cook cupcakes.

(She didn't make cupcakes)

Idioms (idioms)– in informal letters you can use idioms and idioms. For example, hit the books (study hard), sleep like a log (sleep very soundly)…

I’ll sleep over in my friend’s house about a week.

(I'll be staying with a friend for almost a week)

Phrasal verbs– we mean verbs that consist of a verb (verb) and a preposition (preposition). For example, give up (give up), shout up (shut up), etc.

We want to order in some Mexican food.

(We want to order some Mexican food)

I’m dressing up for my prom.

(I'm dressing up for my prom)

Imperatives. Also, in informal letters the imperative mood is allowed.

Don't write me!

(Do not write to me!)

(Go to sleep!)

Really (actually), very (very), totally (absolutely)– in an informal letter you can safely use these words.

I can totally agree with you r opinion.

(I can completely agree with your opinion)

We really enjoyed this vacation.

(We really enjoyed these holidays)

On top of it all/To top it all off(Besides all this / to complete all this) - similar expressions are often used in life when writing informal letters.

On top of it all John also quarreled with me.

(In addition to all this, John also had a fight with me)

Abbreviations- exists in English huge variety abbreviations specifically for informal messages and letters. For example, Lol (laugh out loud), RIP (rest in peace), etc.

We are hanging out tomorrow in my house. BYOB (bring your own booze/beer) if you’re coming.

(We're hanging out at my house tomorrow. If you come, take your drink with you)

A lot(many), this is an informal, colloquial form of (much) and (many).

I've got a lot of toys. Let's go! We will play something!

(I have a lot of toys. Let's go! Let's play something!)

Non Latin based words(no words with Latin roots), since, as a rule, these are official and scientific formulations. For example, the word intelligent is a word with Latin roots and is synonymous with more everyday words like “smart, clever.”

Emma is such a smart girl! She’s only 3 years old, but already can read.

(Emma is like that smart girl! She is only three years old, but she can already read)

What can be used in formal letters.

No contractions (no abbreviations)– if in informal letters you can, for example, write “can’t”, then in this case you need to write it in full, that is, “can not”.

I would like to have my tea after 10 minutes, because at that time it will be directly 5 o’clock.

(I would prefer to drink my tea in 10 minutes because then it will be exactly 5 o'clock in the afternoon)

No idioms (no idioms)– It is inappropriate to use such expressions in business letters.

I tossed and turned last night, so I couldn’t come to work on time.

(I was up all night and couldn’t sleep, which is why I couldn’t come to work on time)

You can't say that! And you need this:

I could not come to work on time, because of my feeling unwell in the last night.

(I couldn't come to work on time due to my poor health last night)

No Phrasal Verbs (no phrasal verbs)– it is necessary to replace them with more official words.

Our group of scientists discovered (instead of “find out” (instead of “find out”)) this new kind of butterfly.

(Our group of scientists has discovered a new species of butterfly)

No imperatives! (No imperative!)– this is considered incorrect and is not allowed in business and strict letters.

You may send the cargo at your earliest convenience.

(It is necessary that you send the goods at your earliest opportunity)

Strongly (very, urgently)– instead of the words “vary, totally, really”, you must use this word.

I strongly advise to expand the range of goods.

Furthermore, moreover (besides, moreover)– such wording is very suitable for business style. Using them, you can't go wrong.

We do not change our position. Moreover, we are going to develop our projects.

(We are not changing our position. In addition, we will develop our projects)

No abbreviations– if these are not the names of companies or organizations, then there is no need to use abbreviations. For example, you need to write “Television” (TV), not “TV”.

Our channel will produce new television show.

(Our channel will release a new television show)

No “a lot” (no “a lot”)– the words “much/many” must be used.

Many employees will participate in meetings.

(Many employees will participate in rallies)

Latin based words (words with Latin roots)– as already mentioned, these are scientific and official words.

You are all intelligent gentlemen and you clearly understand what we intend to do.

(You are all smart gentlemen and clearly understand what we intend to do)

Learn English, friends, and take care of yourself!

» How to write formal and informal letters in English?

English, as an international language, is applicable in almost any situation, area and industry. Whatever your goals, when visiting a foreign country or communicating with representatives of another culture, you will one way or another have to conduct a conversation in English in an informal setting.

In this article you will find a long list of terms and phrases from American slang and the Internet. You will learn how cool it is to say hello or goodbye in an informal way, and you will also learn a lot of cool abbreviations and phrases from the everyday life of American youth and beyond. The language of streets and neighborhoods awaits you!

Informal greetings and farewells

How to start a conversation in English? As in any other language, dialogue begins with greetings. It would be somewhat funny and even ridiculous if a dialogue in English between friends began with a phrase like “Good afternoon” or “Good day”, it sounds quite formal, so it makes sense to remember a few phrases for starting a conversation in English, applicable specifically in informal setting.

By the way! We recommend reading our article on spoken English, which will help you understand how to learn to speak English.

When meeting, they usually say:

How is it going?- How are things going?
How's life?- What's up?
How are things?- How is it?
What are you up to?- What are you doing?
Greets!- Hello!
Hello! / Yo! / A-yo!- Hey!
What's up? / "Sup! /Wassup! / Wussup!- How are you?
How does it go? / Howzit?- How is it?
How's it hanging?- How are you?
How's everything? / How are things?- How is everything in general?
What's happening? / What's happening?- What's going on?
What's crackin'? / What's crack-a-lackin'?- How is life?
What's poppin' /clicking /cooking /the rumpus /shaking/shakingthe dilly /the dizzle?-How are you?
What's in the bag?=What's up?

Almost like in that movie “Seven” with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman: “Awwww! What's in the booooooox?!!!"

As a farewell, you can arm yourself with the following popular and stylish phrases:

See you soon.-See you later.
See you later.- See you later.
Till next time.- Until next time.
Good luck.- Good luck.
Take care. / Take it easy.- Take care of yourself.
Talk to you later. / Talk to you soon!- We'll talk to you later/soon.
Until we meet again.- See you.
Have a nice day. - Have a good day.
Have a good weekend.- Good weekend.
Gotta go!- Time to go!
Catch ya later! / See ya later! / Later! / Later on!- See you!
Have a good one! / Have a nice one! / Have a nice day!- Have a good day!
I"m taking off! / I’m off!- I'm leaving!
I"m splitting.- I'm cleaning.
I"m outta here! / I"m out!- That's it - I'm not here.
Peace out!- Come on. See you.
I"ll holler (holler=scream) at ya later!- See you later!
Catch you on the flipside.- See you!
Till next time/tomorrow!- Until next time!
I need to shoot the gap!- It's time to run away.
I"m hitting the bricks!- I'm going outside!
I'm heading out!- I'm out!
I need to jet! / Gotta jet!- We must run away!
I'm gonna hit the road!- I'm curling up!
I gotta run!- It's time to run!
I"m bouncing outta here!- I'm getting out of here (bounce - jump)!
I'm gonna make like a tree and leaf!- I'm leaving!
Stay in touch!- Stay in touch!
Sleep on it!- Sleep with this thought! / Think about it! / The morning is wiser than the evening.

Introductory words and answers in informal communication

In order for your speech to be logically coherent and colorful, you will need some introductory words that are used quite often, usually at the beginning of a sentence. Introductory words and expressions help show your attitude towards what you are saying. For example, if you don't want to drag out the conversation, you can say:

In short... / In brief...- in short.
Long story short... / Bottom line is...- Briefly speaking.
In a word... / Simply put... / In short...- in a nutshell.
To cut a long story short... / To cut it short...- in short.

Usually, when they want to present some information or list some facts, they say:

As for... / As to...- Concerning...
Not to mention...- Not to mention...
First of all... / Above all...- First of all...
What's more...- Besides, ...
By the way...- By the way, ...
After all...- In the end, after all...
And so on and so forth...- And so on...
If I'm not mistaken...- If I'm not mistaken...
In other words...- In other words...
On the contrary...- Quite the opposite... / In fact...
The thing is...- The fact is that...
On one hand...- On the one side...
On the other hand...- On the other side...

Use these expressions, and your speech will not only be more coherent, but also much richer, richer and more expressive. But how can you answer questions like “How are you?” or others, more general:

Not much.- Quietly. Nothing special.
Can't complain!- Not complaining!
Chillin". - I’m letting go; I'm hanging out.
Staying out of trouble. - I stay away from sin (problems).
Sure! Sounds great!- Certainly! Sounds great!

I hear ya!= I empathize with your point of view. - I heard you (but there may not be agreement).
I got (get) it. - I understand.
No kidding!= I know that. - Come on! Can't be! Are you kidding (can I use sarcasm)?!
It slipped my mind. - It slipped my mind.
I owe you one. - I owe you a favor.
It's up to you. - It's up to you to decide; Everything depends on you.
I feel you.= I understand / empathize with you. - I understand you; I feel for you.
It is what it is.= It’s a fact that cannot be changed. - It is what it is.
Wanna come over for dinner tonight? -Want to come over for dinner today?

The ABCs of politeness in informal communication

If you consider yourself a polite person, then you will definitely need “magic” words, which are especially often used in English speech (not very often in American speech). The British themselves are very polite people and, no matter what they think of you, they will always remain civil and behave well with you and, naturally, expect the same from you. Don't disappoint their expectations and stock up on appropriate phrases in English.

If you want to thank someone, you can use phrases like:

It's very kind of you.- It is very kind of you.
Thanks anyway.-Thanks anyway.
Thank you in advance.- Thanks in advance.
Thanks a bunch / a ton / a lot / a million / many thanks.- Thank you very much.
Much obliged.- Much obliged.
You're too kind.- You are too kind.
You shouldn't have.- Not worth it.
Please accept my best thanks.- Please accept my gratitude.
I"m most grateful.- I'm very grateful.

If someone expresses gratitude to you, you can respond by saying:

Don't mention it.- Do not mention it.
No problem/worries. That's ok.- Everything is fine.
Don't worry about it.- Don't worry about it.
It's a pleasure.-Do not mention it. / Glad to!
No worries/problem.- No problem.
You're welcome.- Please.
Sure thing.- Certainly. / Of course.

Phrases for informal communication

If you want to express your emotions in a conversation, there are also many ways to do this that are acceptable in an informal setting. The most popular phrases, as a rule, can be considered the following:

Don't take it to heart.- Don't take it to heart.
Let's hope for the best.- Let us hope for the best.
It doesn't matter.- It does not matter.
Just let it go.- Just forget it.
Lucky you!- Lucky!
Things happen. / It happens.- Anything can happen.
Good for you.- So much the better for you.
I'm so happy for you. - I am so happy for you (But this is said absolutely sincerely).
You must be very proud of yourself.-You must be proud of yourself.
Whatever. - I do not care.

Americans often use " like” in sentences between words to fill pauses while they think about what to say next. Or simply when comparing or approximate data. For example: “We have like 5 minutes until the exam.”

You can say that again!= I agree with you completely. - Totally agree with you!
You"re telling me!= I know exactly what you mean. - Do not speak. / You are still speaking (expression of complete understanding).
My bad= my fault or my mistake. - My fault! / It's my fault! / I made a mistake!
That hit the spot.- It was very tasty (about food, drinks); this is what you need;
That's what she said!- If you know what I mean! / That’s what she said (a phrase to give a basically innocent statement a sexual connotation)!
It's not rocket science.= It "s easy to understand. - This is not rocket science (this is easy to understand).
Don't cry over spilled milk. = Don"t be upset over something you can"t fix. - There is no need to grieve over the irreparable. / After a fight they don’t wave their fists.
To jump on the bandwagon= to join a popular activity or supporting a popular cause. - join the popular process.
If something " has fallen through the cracks", then it went unnoticed.
If they say " it's all downhill from here“, which means the hardest part is already behind us (now it’s like rolling down a mountain).
If somebody " throws you under the bus", then you are betrayed.

Abbreviations in informal communication

Everything is simple here. Why drag your feet when it’s more convenient to say everything briefly and look talented?

going to = gonna. I"m gonna break you! - I will destroy you!
let me = lemme. Lemme put it this way... - Let's put it this way...
kind of = kinda. I feel kinda tired. - I'm kind of tired.
don't know = dunno. I dunno where this is going. - I don't know what you're getting at.
don't you = dontcha. Why d ontcha join us? - Why don't you join us?
didn't you = didntcha. Didntcha like that girl? -Didn't you like that girl?
won't you = wontcha. Wontcha gimme the chance? - Won't you give me a chance?
what are you = whatcha or watcha. Whatcha doing? - What are you giving?
got you = gotcha. I gotcha! - I'm with you!
bet you = betcha. Betcha don"t know the answer! - Bet you don’t know the answer?
got to = gotta. You gotta see it to believe it.- You have to see it to believe it.
need to = needa. I needa go shopping soon. - I'll have to go shopping soon.
want to = wanna. I wanna blue hat - I want a blue hat.
have to = hafta. I hafta save some money. - I have to save some money.
has to = hasta. Tim hasta work today. - Tim has to work today.
ought to = oughta. She oughta work two jobs. - She must be working two jobs.
supposed to = supposeta. I"m supposeta start the job Monday. - I'm supposed to start working on Monday.
used to = useta. She useta work there too. - She worked here too.
tell them = tell"em. Tell"em I"ll be there soon. - Tell them that I will be there soon.
am not / are not / is not = ain"t. I ain"t gonna be there. - I won't be there.
come on = c"mon. C"mon! We don"t want to be late. - Come on! We don’t want to be late.
some more = s"more. Can I have s"more water? -Can I have some more water?

Dictionary of slang expressions for informal communication

all-ears- be in attention, completely and completely. I"m all ears.
a crapella- singing (usually terrible) while listening to music on headphones;
askhole- a person who constantly asks stupid, ridiculous, inappropriate or intolerable questions;
awesome sauce- something more than just awesome (awesome + sauce on top);
bail- dump, merge, suddenly (sharply) leave;
badassery- cool, cool, awesome. Incredibly cool actions or behavior; being a badass is cool. And the butt has nothing to do with it;
baby bump- belly, paunch, protruding, rounded belly (like pregnant women);
beer me- please pass (buy) me a beer (foam); can be used figuratively, as a request to transfer something or return it;
be about it- can be a verb (to be about it) or a command (be about it); means that a person is not afraid and is ready to start something;
behind the eight ball- in a losing position; without money; out on a limb;
bent out of shape- offended; angry; angry; inflated;
binging- obsessive desire to consume food, drink or drugs in large quantities; eating disorder, bulimia;
bitchy resting face- a lean face, a constantly dissatisfied face, bitchy face syndrome, in which a person (usually a girl) looks rather hostile (hostile) and judgmental (judgmental);
blamestorming- Debriefing; group search for the guilty person; a public search for the culprit instead of searching for a solution to the problem (usually at business meetings);
blow or bomb- do something very unsuccessfully; to fail at something or be unsuccessful at something; obvious failure (especially creative failure);
boomerang child- “boomerang child” - an adult child who returns to live with his parents due to his inability to live independently;
bruh- "are you serious?"; expression of surprise; another way to say “really? or “seriously?;
buy the farm- play the box; give oak; die (when pilots crashed in the middle of the 20th century, their planes often fell on someone’s farm - and the state had to pay compensation to the owners of the farm. He bought the farm last Monday;
bropocalypse- a large gathering of adult men with the sole purpose of getting drunk. In other words, arrange a “fraternity party” - a drinking session, drinking session, “drinking party” or a party in student dormitory(fraternity party);
boomer/boomed- bad luck, failure, unpleasant situation; a worthless young man; Very bad situation or position; “fur coat” (a painful state of a drug addict under the influence of hallucinogens, which, as a rule, cannot be foreseen; poses a danger to himself and to others. Bummed = depressed;
by the skin of your teeth- almost got into trouble; almost got it; escape danger miraculously. Seems you"ve passed the exam by the skin of your teeth?;
сheesy- cheap, tasteless, dubious, boring, funny, low-grade, unfashionable (tacky) “A cheesy pick-up line” - a cheap pick-up line like “There are 8 planets in the universe, but only 7 after I destroy Uranus.” “A cheesy song” - a stupid song;
catch on- enter; move in; You catch on pretty quick!
cold turkey- in one fell swoop, tie it off sharply and completely, right off the bat; sudden decision; I"m fed up with smoking! So, I quit cold turkey;
crackberry- a mobile phone (BlackBerry company), which causes addiction in its owner;
сram- “cramming” before the exam; “crammed”, “bookworm”;
dead- empty, quiet (for example, a bar, club or restaurant). “It"s really dead in here tonight (It"s empty in here tonight/there are very few people here tonight)";
creep- an unpleasant or strange person, a disgusting person, a vile type;
сrunk- cheerful, excited; replacement of swear words (in the show Conan "a O"brien"a); a combination of the words “crazy” and “drunk”; substyle of hip-hop music; have a good time; something disgusting;
drive up the wall- irritate, enrage. “He is driving me up the wall.”;
go dutch- everyone pays for themselves; when the amount from the check is divided equally among everyone - “split the bill”;
earmuffs- headphones, but the word is also used as a command to cover someone’s ears before something is said, be it a secret or profanity, For example;
ego-surfing(vanity search, ego searching) - egosurfing; searching for any information about yourself on the Internet using a search engine;
extra- excessive (excessive) attention-seeking behavior, overdoing it with emotions; His behavior was extra at that party yesterday;
fauxpology- insincere apology;
finesse- sophistication in manners, elegance, the ability to speak beautifully, to persuade or manipulate people for one’s benefit;
frankenfood- GMO products;
freak flag- a particular characteristic, manner or way of dressing, looking and thinking. Self-expression in an open and often eccentric manner. Let your freak flag fly! - Let your eccentricity out!;
froyo- frozen yogurt;
gaydar- gay radar - the ability to quickly distinguish a gay from a person of heterosexual orientation, or the ability of homosexuals to identify “their own” among other people;
hangry= hungry + angry;
hang tight- wait a minute!; Calm!; Hang tight, I"ll be with ya in a minute!;
helicopter parent- “helicopter parent” - a parent who is excessively “shaking” over the well-being of his child, “hovering” over him in the form of round-the-clock surveillance using communication means (mobile phone, email, etc.);
for the birds- to make the chickens laugh; "This is not for me"; “It doesn’t suit me”; anything trivial, unnecessary, empty or worthless;
for real- “iron”; "actually"; for real; seriously; Indeed; really. You can also say it with a questioning intonation - “exactly?” or “really?” or “come on?!”;
get under one's skin- to bother someone, to “bother” someone;
give the cold shoulder- ignore; do not mention it; pointedly ignore; cold greeting; show no interest;
give props to someone- pay tribute to; express your respect to someone through words; express respect (short for “proper respect”); Props to my homies!;
gross- something disgusting, vile; disgusting; ugh!;
hit the books- study;
hit the road- hit the road; go on a campaign; set sail; move; dump; get away from somewhere; go out;
hold your horses= wait a minute - wait a minute; wait a minute!;
hyped= excited - in anticipation, excited. We"re all so hyped about the concert next weekend!;
jacked- very strong, muscular, pumped up. He's jacked;
jack up- price increase; raise the price;
jailbait- seductive girl; pure temptation; a teenage girl whose relationship is punishable by law; youngster;
jonesing- a strong need for something, wanting something unbearable; withdrawal I’m jonesing for a coffee;
kicks-shoes (sneakers, sneakers, boots);
knosh- There is; food consumed;
lemon- an unsuccessful purchase, something low-quality, worthless;
light up- relax, don't take it seriously. You gotta learn to lighten up a bit!;
lit= awesome, excellent - awesome; in more obsolete meaning- drunk;
make it rain- pathetically throwing paper money into the air (holding a wad of bills in one hand and swiping the banknote with the other hand), boasting of your capital;
man cave- “den” - a room or any other living space, protected by a man from any female influence and presence, which he decorates and furnishes at will. TV, console, posters, minibar, slot machines, pool table, sofa, etc. - this kind of thing is usually found in the “den”;
meat sweats- the process of sweating due to the consumption of copious amounts of meat. I get the meat sweats;
MILF- (“Mother I”d Like to F*ck”) - “milf” - a mother with children who makes you want to have sex with her; an older woman who makes a young man (and not only) want;
Monday-morning quarterback- an improvident person, strong in hindsight, a person who comes to his senses late.
nasty woman- an educated woman, an expert at showing ill-mannered men in their place; bitch;
Netflix and chill - code words for an offer to have sex;
once in a blue moon- rarely;
one-upper- a person who is never enough of what he has; always striving to be ahead of others; always striving to outdo others;
off the hook / off the chain / off the hinge- very funny, exciting, unrestrained (in a good way);
phat= Pretty Hot And Tempting (usually about a girl) = awesome; cool - cool, awesome (now the word has lost its relevance);
plastered / sloshed / smashed / wasted- very drunk;
pregret- realize that you shouldn’t do something, otherwise you will regret it, but do it anyway;
pwned= to own - to defeat and humiliate an opponent (usually in video games);
pass the buck- shift responsibility to someone;
pig out- overeat;
put up a front- show off and try to look strong, dangerous and cool; show off;
Put up your dukes!= ready Get for a fight! - Get ready for a fight!; Well, now let’s “dance”!;
ratchet- a diva, usually from the slums, low socio-economic status, who mistakenly believes herself to be every man's dream;
recap- sum up, summarize;
rip-off- exaggerate, overcharge, cheat;
said no one ever- an expression to emphasize the absurdity of a statement, usually with a pause before “ever.” For example, when talking about a T-shirt that the speaker considers terrible, it is said: “What an awesome shirt! Said no one... ever.”;
salmon (trout) - a man who likes to date girls younger than himself;
savage- cool, daring; just a beast. You can say it as a compliment when a person, for example, does dangerous but cool things.
salty- upset; hostile, angry;
score- get what you want;
screw up- make a mistake, do something bad. I really screwed up my audition;
shoot the breeze- chatter, chat about nothing;
skrill- money, capital;
snag/nab- take someone else’s property without asking; steal, steal;
spill the beans- tell a secret, blab, divulge;
sure-fire- confident in success, faithful, win-win;
swag- a term for expressing approval of someone's style of clothing or behavior. Praising someone's self-expression. Cool; unreal steepness;
take a rain check / table an item- do something another time; postpound on later;
the bomb= awesome;
tight- cool, funny, in a loving relationship; getting along well;
turnt= drunk or excited/hyped;
typeactive- a person who becomes sociable only online, via email or chat, for example;
uptight- squeezed; antonym of the word "relaxed";
wicked= amazing = really - cool, excellent; serious; Amazing; brilliantly!;
wrap up- curl up. OK, let's wrap things up for today;
W00t!- exclamation when winning a large amount of money or when defeating another team;
word- true, I agree, it is so;
zonked- tired, exhausted.

Conclusion

That's it! Informal speech is wonderful because you can use a huge number of words and expressions, without feeling constrained by the strict etiquette of business language. Here you can use both slang and jargon expressions + abbreviations of various kinds.

But remember that there must be norm and balance in everything! Even when communicating in an informal setting, try to always show politeness and a sense of tact. This is why the expressions from this article will be useful to you.

Big and friendly EnglishDom family