Formal and Informal Vocabulary: English ЕГЭ 2025 Preparation

Understanding the differences between formal and informal vocabulary is essential for effective communication in English. Knowing when and how to use different registers of language can significantly improve your language proficiency and help you achieve a higher score in the ЕГЭ English exam. This guide will help you master formal and informal vocabulary for more appropriate and effective communication in different contexts.

Theory for Exam Preparation

Register in language refers to the level of formality or informality used in different situations. Formal language is typically used in academic writing, business correspondence, official documents, and other professional contexts. Informal language, on the other hand, is used in everyday conversations, personal emails, social media, and casual interactions. Understanding the appropriate register to use in different contexts is crucial for effective communication. In the ЕГЭ English exam, you may be tested on your ability to recognize and use appropriate vocabulary for different situations, particularly in the writing and speaking sections. This guide will explore the characteristics of formal and informal vocabulary, provide examples of both registers, and offer strategies for choosing the appropriate register in different contexts.

Understanding Language Register

Language register refers to the level of formality in language use. It is determined by several factors:

Factors Affecting Register Choice

Context: The situation or setting in which communication takes place (e.g., academic, professional, social)
Audience: The person or people you are communicating with (e.g., professor, employer, friend)
Purpose: The reason for communication (e.g., to inform, to persuade, to entertain)
Medium: The channel of communication (e.g., written, spoken, digital)

Levels of Formality

Language register exists on a spectrum from very formal to very informal:

Register	Context	Examples
Very formal	Legal documents, academic papers, official ceremonies	"I hereby request your attendance at the aforementioned event."
Formal	Business correspondence, job applications, essays	"I would like to apply for the position advertised in The Times."
Neutral	News reports, general information, professional conversations	"The meeting will be held at 3 PM in the conference room."
Informal	Conversations with friends, personal emails, social media	"Let's meet up later for coffee."
Very informal	Close friends, family, text messages	"Sup? Wanna hang out?"

Note!

For the ЕГЭ English exam, you should focus primarily on formal, neutral, and informal registers, as these are the most commonly tested. Very formal and very informal registers are less likely to appear in the exam.

Characteristics of Formal Vocabulary

Formal vocabulary is characterized by several features that distinguish it from informal language:

General Features of Formal Vocabulary

Precision: Formal language uses specific and precise terms rather than general ones.
Complexity: Formal vocabulary often includes longer words, often of Latin or Greek origin.
Objectivity: Formal language avoids personal opinions and emotions unless they are explicitly stated as such.
Completeness: Formal language uses complete sentences and avoids contractions and abbreviations.
Impersonality: Formal language often uses passive voice and avoids direct references to the writer or reader.

Common Formal Words and Phrases

Formal	Informal Equivalent
acquire	get
commence	start, begin
sufficient	enough
request	ask for
inform	tell
purchase	buy
obtain	get
require	need
assist	help
utilize	use

Formal Linking Words and Phrases

Function	Formal Expressions
Addition	furthermore, in addition, moreover, additionally
Contrast	however, nevertheless, nonetheless, conversely
Cause and effect	consequently, therefore, thus, as a result
Example	for instance, for example, such as, namely
Conclusion	in conclusion, to summarize, in summary, ultimately

Formal Expressions for Different Functions

Function	Formal Expressions
Giving opinions	In my opinion, I believe that, It is my view that
Making suggestions	I would suggest that, It would be advisable to, I recommend that
Agreeing	I agree with the statement that, I concur with, I am in agreement with
Disagreeing	I disagree with the view that, I am not convinced that, I take issue with
Asking for information	I would be grateful if you could, Could you please inform me, I am writing to inquire about

Characteristics of Informal Vocabulary

Informal vocabulary is characterized by features that make it more relaxed and conversational:

General Features of Informal Vocabulary

Simplicity: Informal language uses simpler, shorter words, often of Anglo-Saxon origin.
Directness: Informal language is more direct and personal.
Contractions: Informal language frequently uses contractions (e.g., don't, can't, I'm).
Phrasal verbs: Informal language often uses phrasal verbs instead of their more formal single-word equivalents.
Colloquialisms: Informal language includes idioms, slang, and colloquial expressions.

Common Informal Words and Phrases

Informal	Formal Equivalent
get	obtain, acquire
start	commence, initiate
enough	sufficient, adequate
ask for	request
tell	inform, notify
buy	purchase
need	require, necessitate
help	assist, aid
use	utilize, employ
find out	discover, ascertain

Informal Linking Words and Phrases

Function	Informal Expressions
Addition	also, plus, and, what's more
Contrast	but, though, still, anyway
Cause and effect	so, that's why, because of that
Example	like, for example, say
Conclusion	so, anyway, in the end

Informal Expressions for Different Functions

Function	Informal Expressions
Giving opinions	I think, I feel, I reckon, if you ask me
Making suggestions	Why don't you, How about, Let's, You could
Agreeing	Yeah, sure, absolutely, that's right
Disagreeing	I don't think so, no way, I'm not sure about that
Asking for information	Can you tell me, Do you know, I was wondering

Phrasal Verbs vs. Single-Word Verbs

One of the key differences between formal and informal vocabulary is the use of phrasal verbs versus their single-word equivalents.

Informal Phrasal Verbs and Their Formal Equivalents

Informal (Phrasal Verb)	Formal (Single-Word Verb)
put off	postpone
look into	investigate
come up with	devise, create
find out	discover
give up	surrender, abandon
put up with	tolerate
turn down	reject, decline
go on	continue
break down	collapse, fail
set up	establish

Note!

Phrasal verbs are generally more informal and are commonly used in spoken English and informal writing. In formal contexts, it is usually better to use the single-word equivalent if one exists.

Contractions and Full Forms

The use of contractions is another important distinction between formal and informal language.

Common Contractions and Their Full Forms

Contraction (Informal)	Full Form (Formal)
I'm	I am
don't	do not
can't	cannot
won't	will not
it's	it is / it has
they're	they are
we've	we have
you'd	you would / you had
she'll	she will
I've	I have

Note!

In formal writing, such as academic essays or business letters, contractions should generally be avoided. In informal contexts, such as personal emails or casual conversations, contractions are common and appropriate.

Choosing the Appropriate Register

Selecting the appropriate register depends on several factors:

When to Use Formal Language

Academic writing: Essays, research papers, dissertations
Business communication: Job applications, business letters, reports
Official documents: Contracts, legal documents, formal complaints
Professional settings: Job interviews, presentations to clients or superiors
Communication with authority figures: Teachers, professors, employers

When to Use Informal Language

Personal communication: Conversations with friends and family, personal emails
Social media: Posts, comments, messages on social platforms
Casual writing: Personal blogs, informal notes
Everyday conversations: Chatting with colleagues during breaks, talking with classmates
Creative writing: Fiction, dialogue in stories

Guidelines for Register Switching

Sometimes you need to switch between registers within the same piece of communication:

Be consistent: Maintain the same register throughout a single piece of writing or conversation unless there is a specific reason to switch.
Consider your audience: If you are addressing multiple audiences, you may need to adjust your register accordingly.
Be aware of context shifts: If the context changes (e.g., from discussing personal matters to professional ones), your register may need to change as well.
Use quotations appropriately: When quoting someone in formal writing, you can maintain their informal language if it is relevant to your point.

Common Contexts and Their Appropriate Registers

Academic Context

Situation	Appropriate Register	Example
Essay writing	Formal	"The research indicates that there is a correlation between the two variables."
Class discussion	Neutral to formal	"I believe that the author's intention was to highlight the social issues of that period."
Email to professor	Formal	"Dear Professor Smith, I am writing to request an extension for my assignment due to unforeseen circumstances."
Study group with classmates	Informal to neutral	"Hey guys, should we go over the notes from yesterday's lecture?"

Professional Context

Situation	Appropriate Register	Example
Job application	Formal	"I am writing to apply for the position of Marketing Manager as advertised on your website."
Business meeting	Formal to neutral	"We need to discuss the quarterly results and plan our strategy for the next quarter."
Email to colleague	Neutral	"Could you please send me the report by the end of the day?"
Office chat	Informal	"Did you catch the game last night? It was amazing!"

Social Context

Situation	Appropriate Register	Example
Meeting someone for the first time	Neutral	"It's nice to meet you. How do you know Sarah?"
Talking with close friends	Informal	"Hey! What's up? Wanna grab a coffee?"
Social media post	Informal	"Just had the best pizza ever! #foodie #yum"
Formal event (wedding, ceremony)	Formal to neutral	"I would like to congratulate the couple on their special day."

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

Register Confusion

Mixing formal and informal language inappropriately is a common error.

Examples:

Incorrect: "I am writing to inform you that I can't make it to the meeting." (Mixes formal "I am writing to inform you" with informal contraction "can't")
Correct (formal): "I am writing to inform you that I cannot attend the meeting."
Correct (informal): "Just letting you know I can't make it to the meeting."

Overformality

Using unnecessarily formal language in informal contexts can sound awkward or pretentious.

Examples:

Incorrect: "I would like to inquire as to whether you would be amenable to joining me for a beverage this evening." (Too formal for a casual invitation)
Correct: "Would you like to go for a drink tonight?"

Excessive Informality

Using overly casual language in formal contexts can appear unprofessional or disrespectful.

Examples:

Incorrect: "Hey prof, I'm gonna need some extra time for that paper, cool?" (Too informal for communication with a professor)
Correct: "Dear Professor Johnson, I am writing to request an extension for my essay submission. Would this be possible?"

Inconsistent Register

Switching between formal and informal language within the same piece of communication without a clear reason can be confusing.

Examples:

Incorrect: "I hereby request your attendance at the meeting. It's gonna be super important!" (Inconsistent register)
Correct (formal): "I hereby request your attendance at the meeting. It will be of significant importance."
Correct (informal): "Please come to the meeting. It's going to be really important!"

Practice Examples

Identify whether each sentence is formal (F) or informal (I).

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service I received.
Hey, can you give me a hand with this?
The aforementioned issues require immediate attention.
We've got to finish this project by Friday.
I would be grateful if you could provide me with further information.

Answers:

1. F (Formal) - Uses formal phrases like "I am writing to express" and "dissatisfaction" instead of simpler alternatives.

2. I (Informal) - Uses informal greeting "Hey" and the phrasal verb "give me a hand" instead of "assist me."

3. F (Formal) - Uses formal vocabulary like "aforementioned" and "require immediate attention."

4. I (Informal) - Uses contraction "We've" and informal phrase "got to."

5. F (Formal) - Uses formal expression "I would be grateful if you could" instead of a simpler request.

Rewrite each informal sentence in a formal style.

We need to look into this problem right away.
They've put off the meeting till next week.
I can't make it to the conference.
Let me know what you think about my idea.
Thanks for your help with the project.

Answers:

1. Formal: "We need to investigate this problem immediately."

2. Formal: "They have postponed the meeting until next week."

3. Formal: "I am unable to attend the conference."

4. Formal: "Please inform me of your opinion regarding my proposal."

5. Formal: "I appreciate your assistance with the project."

Rewrite each formal sentence in an informal style.

I would like to request your assistance with this matter.
The event will commence at 7 PM.
I am unable to attend the gathering due to prior commitments.
Please inform me of your decision at your earliest convenience.
I wish to express my gratitude for your support.

Answers:

1. Informal: "Can you help me with this?"

2. Informal: "The event starts at 7 PM."

3. Informal: "I can't come to the party because I've already got plans."

4. Informal: "Let me know what you decide as soon as you can."

5. Informal: "Thanks a lot for your support."

Choose the appropriate expression for each context.

In a job application: "I am writing to _______ for the position of Marketing Manager." (apply / try to get)
In a text message to a friend: "_______ go to the movies tonight?" (Would you like to / Wanna)
In an academic essay: "The research _______ that there is a correlation between the two variables." (shows / indicates)
In a casual conversation: "I _______ what you mean." (comprehend / get)
In a formal letter of complaint: "I am _______ with the service I received." (not happy / dissatisfied)

Answers:

1. In a job application: "I am writing to apply for the position of Marketing Manager." (formal context)

2. In a text message to a friend: "Wanna go to the movies tonight?" (informal context)

3. In an academic essay: "The research indicates that there is a correlation between the two variables." (formal context)

4. In a casual conversation: "I get what you mean." (informal context)

5. In a formal letter of complaint: "I am dissatisfied with the service I received." (formal context)

Key Points to Remember

Register awareness: Understanding the appropriate level of formality for different contexts is essential for effective communication.
Formal vocabulary is characterized by precision, complexity, objectivity, completeness, and impersonality. It is appropriate for academic writing, business communication, and official documents.
Informal vocabulary is characterized by simplicity, directness, contractions, phrasal verbs, and colloquialisms. It is appropriate for personal communication, social media, and everyday conversations.
Phrasal verbs are generally more informal than their single-word equivalents (e.g., "look into" vs. "investigate").
Contractions (e.g., don't, can't, I'm) are appropriate in informal contexts but should be avoided in formal writing.
Consistency in register is important within a single piece of communication unless there is a specific reason to switch.
Common errors include register confusion, overformality, excessive informality, and inconsistent register.

Exam Tip!

In the ЕГЭ English exam, you may be tested on your ability to:

Identify the appropriate register for a given context
Transform sentences from formal to informal or vice versa
Use appropriate vocabulary and expressions in writing tasks such as essays, letters, or emails
Recognize the level of formality in reading comprehension texts

Pay attention to the context and audience when deciding which register to use. In the writing section, make sure your language matches the required format (e.g., formal for an essay or letter of complaint, informal for a personal email or blog post).