A letter to your friend and a cover letter for a job application are written very differently. Whether you work in business or are taking the general IELTS or CELPIP test, knowing the difference between informal and formal writing is a skill you should have. Watch this writing lesson, take our quiz, and check out our resource page to become a better writer.
- Use the resource: http://www.engvid.com/english-resource/formal-informal-english/
- Take the quiz: http://www.engvid.com/writing-letters-formal-informal-english/http://www.engvid.com/
TRANSCRIPT:
Hello, my name is Emma, and in today's lesson we are going to learn about writing. What kind of writing? Writing letters. Okay? So this is important for people who work in business. It's also important for people who like to write letters to their friends maybe or to their grandparents in English. Also, it is very... It is a very useful video for anyone who is taking the general IELTS test. So if you're taking not academic, but general, this is an important video. And also, if you plan to immigrate to Canada and you want to do the Canadian immigration test which is called: "the CELPIP", this video is also... It will also be useful and helpful to you. Okay?
So let's get started. What do I mean by "formal" and "informal"? "Informal" means something you would write to your friends, something you would write to your parents, - well, probably your parents unless you're afraid of your parents, then you might be more formal -, your classmates, your coworkers. Okay? So this is... It means it's not formal; it's for people you know well. On the other hand, "formal" English we use with strangers, we use with our boss, in the workplace, we use it in these different ways. So it's the English you really have to think about, whereas informal is kind of the relaxed English. So relaxed, serious. Okay?
So, sometimes you will have to write a letter formally, maybe to your boss or your company, other times maybe you're on holiday and you want to write a letter to your friend, you'll use informal English. So what is the difference? Let's see.
Informal English uses contractions. What are contractions? "Didn't", "wouldn't", "couldn't", "haven't", "hasn't". So if you see a verb with an apostrophe and then a "t", that is a contraction. Okay? It's very important to know this because in formal writing, you don't use contractions. "Didn't" would be: "Did not". I can write that for you. "Did not". Couldn't: could not, haven't: have not, can't: cannot. Okay? So that's one major difference.
Another major difference between formal and informal writing is the use of idioms; the use of certain expressions. If I'm writing to my friend, maybe I'll say: "Oh, you know, I've been very under the weather lately." Meaning: I've been very sick. If I'm writing to my boss, I won't use idioms. If I'm writing a formal letter, I will not use idioms. Those aren't good to use in formal writing.
Phrasal verbs, this is another thing we find in informal writing. What is a phrasal verb? It's a verb that has a preposition. Okay? So, for example: "find out", "find" is a verb, "out" is the preposition. "Go" is the verb, "up" is the preposition. So the... The preposition adds a different meaning to the verb. Phrasal verbs are very difficult to learn; we have so many of them in English. My students have told me phrasal verbs are one of the hardest parts of learning English, but it's possible, you can do it.
@ToriRaoمنذ 10 سنواتI know how to speak English. I thought I should watch this video since I speak and I am around people who speak informal English. This is a great video. :) 7
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@syedarmaghanhassan4652منذ 2 سنواتI would like to express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart, for this enlightening resource you presented among us today. 8
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@FernandoPicazoCervantesمنذ 11 سنواتThanks teacher, now I undestand better when I should use Formal or Informal writting letters. 7
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@AMBA526منذ 2 سنواتWorking as a teacher on my android phone because I watch many videos on youtube about grammar related Moreover I have benefited through this opportunuty . I would like thanks them for giving us a golden opportunity . 2
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@mihaelar.2890العام الماضيI am looking for helpful resources to improve my english and I had some issues with writings,but this video was the key to understand the differences.Thank you! 4
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@ericko.j8108منذ 7 سنواتI'm a native speaker of Portuguese (a Romance language) and I think learning phrasal verbs difficult. So now I have a reason to avoid to use them: I am a very serious person. hahaha 35
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@xBulaمنذ 5 سنواتThank you for helping me doing informal and formal writing! This really helps! YouTube > School! 59
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@SoukainaAmaadourمنذ 10 سنواتAs a Moroccan, I think you are the best English teacher I've ever known ! Thank you. 16
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@pro369منذ 2 سنواتA fabulous display of teaching. A great teacher, lucid and to the point. A great style 26
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@paulsha9582منذ 9 سنواتInformal-->That's what she said. Formal-->That is what she said. 659
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@connormcdonaldjones8473منذ 7 سنواتVery good pacing, the lesson was easy to follow. The link to the webpage is worth following; it has some very useful information and is easy to understand. A good resource, thanks. 6
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@jimmoefoe1471منذ 8 سنواتdon't go to school ,YouTube has everything we need 1112
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@melinanazim_sebih1444منذ 2 سنواتThank you for understanding my work miss Emma ❤️ 3
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@mizanurbhuiyan3202منذ 4 سنواتI thanks her, she tells in that way that I have spoke with her several times that is I can understand her every word. I do not face any problem to understand even a single word of her.
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@md.shahadathkhan8911قبل 8 أشهرGreat teacher! Great mentor! Great consultant!
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@roseajayifajuke3960العام الماضيYou are indeed a good teacher .You are so exact and your simplicity of teaching is one to none. I will subscribe your channel 1
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@noorshawky7330منذ 7 سنواتThanks! that helped me more since my English exam is due tomorrow 6
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@sharikzafar3733منذ 5 سنواتI hope you are doing well Am sharik from India am teacher your all videos i watch regularly now am preparing for fluently English i like your ideas and tips. 1
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@abesapram9319منذ 6 سنواتThanks u so much I got 100% in my test 8
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@marcospaulooliveira8813منذ 3 سنواتDear Emma ,24/11/2021 I have to tell you that I'm Brazilian, and I like to spend more time in my spare time, or when I'm upset, to watch id="hidden8" class="buttons"> your videos, you're amazing, if I could I would spend more time watching your videos. ....وسعت2
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@anndhhdikkkaقبل 3 أشهرthe materials you gave on this video is important and helpful. many resources do not mention it on their syllabus, but you do. i appreciate for this video and your way giving the material, totally easy to understand.
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@arjuns1nghمنذ 8 سنواتHi Emma, your videos are absolutely perfect. Thank you so much for these. I've literally been watching just your videos for tips and tricks id="hidden10" class="buttons"> in order to understand each section of the IELTS comprehensively. God bless you! Thank you again ....وسعت32
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@rogeliomendoza5341منذ 4 سنواتThank you for helping me doing informal and formal writing 2
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@wasimakramhaldercomمنذ 11 سنواتThanks ma'am, this is an easy to understand for any student like us. It is very helpful to me and hope to others. However, your efforts of teaching is good. May Allah bless you that you are going to make this world educated. Thanks ....وسعت137
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@enzolezana6468العام الماضيI strongly appreciate your learning content and way of teaching us. My English has increasingly improved because of you! 4
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@hadiyasyd6109منذ 3 سنواتyour accent is really very good i learn from you when ever i have english exam i watch your videos and you know this is my third english exam three of the exam i learn from you
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@jarrinitiseno5726منذ 8 سنواتI strongly agree with you. I really appreciate it. 14
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@taherelsayed8044منذ 5 سنواتYou are the best English teacher ever.
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@jackrobins8756منذ 5 سنواتThank you for this. Finally, a video with music in the background or no effects down with it. Thank you so much! My exam is Tuesday! Thanks for the help! 6
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@sljeha7372منذ 3 سنواتThis is very useful video .Thank you very much! 2
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@aftabraja6190منذ 3 سنواتI do not understand the dislikes on this video my english is not the best but in these 12 minutes I have learned many new things thank you mis I strongly appreciate what you have learned me thank you 1
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@NADEEMKHAN-dx7diمنذ 7 سنواتReally this woman is so good and easy method of learning English 1
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@avadheshtiwari9035منذ 5 سنواتvery thank you miss today is my exam you are very good tutor 2
@fahimeemadi3398منذ 5 سنواتDear Emma Hello I hope you well How are you? I would like to express my gratitude for your awesome teaching. Moreover I strongly know that you are tied up. Best Wishes, Fahime ....وسعت26
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@PrinceandPariShowمنذ 5 سنواتi found the best english teacher fo me , thank you
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@lochonmmarak2926العام الماضيHi, Emma, thank you so much. Occassionally I am watching your videos on grammar and today I have learnt more knowledge of letter writing both iin Formal and Informal. 3
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@BabitaSingh-qz5svمنذ 5 سنواتYou made me learn how to write informal letter Thank you so much 1
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@mmgm868منذ 7 سنواتShe speaks vry clear English. We people of subcontinent can understand it easily 1
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@madhugotti1منذ 8 سنواتDear Emma, Formal and informal letter writing very useful video to me, thanks a lot. 1
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@abdallahasaan6629منذ 5 سنواتthe best english teacher madam keep going
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@MegaSahil05منذ 6 سنواتEmma you are best ! I have seen alot of IELTS videos but it's you who always have something which others don't ! Keep up the good work ! 1
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@raph-raphael6568منذ 6 سنواتMay God blessed you ma,I really enjoy it 1
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@kouassihervekouadio2879قبل 7 أشهرYou're just wow Emma ! so informative and helpful thanks
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@RoshanKumar-pz7owمنذ 8 سنواتu provide me a clear concept about formal and informal letters 1
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@darkelfasianمنذ 9 سنواتi love your video a lots. Big thank to you Emma 9
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@generalkryptonx3463منذ 8 سنواتThat was an outstanding videostill studying in school but vrry helpful 1
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@anishsharma4777منذ 7 سنواتHey! Is it same for both Academic and General? Is it compulsory to use contractions in informal ? 5
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@-iamrik-5549منذ 4 سنواتThanks mam. This is really a helpful video. 1
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@differenttypesgaming5548منذ 2 سنواتHello I'm seeing your video from India you have a best teaching experience thank you Emma mam 1
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@samuroadventure1227منذ 4 سنواتThank you, it help me to write my letter! 1
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@molidzz1071منذ 3 سنواتI have learnt in 12 mins more than a whole scolastic year 4
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@KieuNguyen-jz4rmمنذ 3 سنواتI have been watching your videos for years. Thank you very much
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@charleslovehewitt4393منذ 10 سنواتThank you Emma for the IELTs reading test. Please more about this type of examination. 16
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@m-archlkمنذ 6 سنواتSTRONGLY RECOMMENDED YOUR VALUABLE SESSION. THANK YOU.
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@Mygamergirlmayaالعام الماضيIf a great teacher and I have learned a lot of ur videos 1
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@emmanuelttemoindor6284منذ 2 سنواتThanks a lot. An excellent teaching skills 1
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@TawiahEmmanuel-pg3nsقبل 10 أشهرThanks for time and you are the best online teacher
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@AnilKumarP4Uمنذ 11 سنواتThe Best English Teacher "EMMA" 31
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@ishanfriends2755منذ 9 سنواتThank you Emma this helped me a lot in my exams. 9
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@khanhtruong8773منذ 2 سنواتActually, this video is so useful for me, thank you so much 1
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@rohitdas2773منذ 2 سنواتYou are great lots of love from Nepal .tomorrow is my exam and I am watching it at almost 2 am .
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@blombusters6959منذ 6 سنواتi needed this for my exam thx for makin this vid 3
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@user-xg8bt2so8bالعام الماضيthat's great to learn english with you thank you very much
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@mahmudemon5182منذ 6 سنواتEmma is the best in ielts teacher. Love you & go ahead
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@sharmilaacharya2224منذ 7 سنواتexcellent! teacher. I wish u were my english teacher.
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@salmanlabib1855منذ 4 سنواتTotally epic ma'am. This helped me a lot 1
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@politicsandentertainment1708منذ 6 سنواتthank you so much, wonderful teacher.I'm from the philippines,I watched a lot of your english videos and its helpful. 3
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@craqueadrianمنذ 11 سنواتGood video, great Teacher. And on top of it all, she's super cute. 10
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@goldenwastatekaungvax6676منذ 5 سنواتThank you so much beautiful teacher .❤️ 1
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@noneone.............منذ 6 سنواتI do love what's about letter is.it makes me figure out about a thing
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@hatemsoliman2630منذ 11 سنواتyour teaching is very nice and easy to understand .keep it up
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@krishnap478منذ 4 سنواتMam I have learned well English with you I'm from India 3
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@SatishKumar-ps1vyمنذ 9 سنواتThis is really nice clip for telling the diffrence between formal & informal letters. 3
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@masoumehnorouzi4064منذ 7 سنواتthis program is so helpful, thank you Emma, I like you so much, your teaching is well 3
مقاطع الفيديو ذات الصلة على Writing Letters: formal & informal English:
Formal-
->That is what she said. 659I have to tell you that I'm Brazilian, and I like to spend more time in my spare time, or when I'm upset, to watch id="hidden8" class="buttons"> your videos, you're amazing, if I could I would spend more time watching your videos. ....وسعت 2
Thank you so much for these. I've literally been watching just your videos for tips and tricks id="hidden10" class="buttons"> in order to understand each section of the IELTS comprehensively.
God bless you! Thank you again ....وسعت 32
Thanks ....وسعت 137
I really appreciate it. 14
Hello
I hope you well
How are you?
I would like to express my gratitude for your awesome teaching. Moreover I strongly know that you are tied up.
Best Wishes,
Fahime ....وسعت 26
Thank you so much 1
Formal and informal letter writing very useful video to me, thanks a lot. 1
Big thank to you Emma 9
An excellent teaching skills 1
thx for makin this vid 3