What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal?

The main difference between formal and informal language lies in their purpose, tone, choice of words, and structure. Here are some key differences between the two:

1. Purpose: Formal language is used for professional or academic purposes, such as in university assignments, business correspondence, and academic writing. Informal language is used for casual communication with friends, family, and in some business situations.
2. Tone: Formal language is less personal and more objective, while informal language is more casual and spontaneous.
3. Choice of Words: Formal language avoids colloquialisms, slang, and colloquial vocabulary, while informal language may include these.
4. Structure: Formal language often uses more complex sentence structures, while informal language may use shorter sentences and simpler structures.
5. Contractions: Contractions (e.g., "can't," "won't") are not used in formal language, but they are commonly used in informal language.
6. Pronouns: Formal language avoids using first-person pronouns like "I" or "We," while informal language may use them.

Examples of formal and informal language:

• Formal: "Improvements cannot be made due to budget restrictions."
• Informal: "The improvements can't be introduced due to funding restrictions."
• Formal: "Various research methods were considered for the study."
• Informal: "I considered various research methods for the study."

In summary, formal language is characterized by its objectivity, complexity, and adherence to standard English, while informal language is more casual, spontaneous, and may include colloquialisms and nonstandard English forms.

Comparative Table: Formal vs Informal

Here is a table comparing the differences between formal and informal table settings:

In summary, formal table settings include multiple utensils and glasses for each course, separate plates for bread and butter, and a salad plate with a bread plate above it. Informal table settings, on the other hand, have minimal utensils, one glass for the entire meal, and dessert served directly on the dinner plate. The layout of the tableware is more casual in an informal setting.