Practice
English practice: formal and informal English
Sign in to saveYou would probably text a friend, "Can you send it?" You might write to a college office, "Could you please send me the document?" Both requests are clear, but they fit different situations.
Choose formal or informal English that fits the relationship, purpose, and setting.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Could you please send the receipt by Friday? /kʊd juː pliːz send ðə rɪˈsiːt baɪ ˈfraɪdeɪ/
The short answer
Use formal English for professional, official, or unfamiliar relationships. Use informal English with friends and people you know well. Choose polite, complete wording when the situation needs distance or care.
Could you confirm whether the meeting has been confirmed? A friend might instead ask, Do you know if the meeting is on?
Why it works: Both ask for the same information, but the first version suits a professional message.
5 more examples
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Formal: I am writing to ask for an appointment next week.
This opening clearly states the purpose and suits an official email.
Not this:Informal:
Can we meetnext week? What changes: This short question works well with someone you know. -
Formal: Could you please send the receipt by Friday?
Could and please make a request courteous without making it unclear.
Not this:Informal:
Can yousend me the receipt by Friday? What changes: Can you is natural with a colleague or friend when the relationship is familiar. -
Formal: I apologise for the delay in replying.
This is a suitable apology in a professional message.
Not this:Informal:
SorryI took so long to reply. What changes: Sorry is friendly and direct in an everyday message. -
Formal: Please find the attached report.
This traditional email phrase is formal, though a plain alternative is often easier to read.
Not this:Neutral:
I have attachedthe report for you. What changes: The neutral version is clear and works in many professional emails. -
Formal: I would be grateful for your advice.
This shows respect when asking a person you do not know well for help.
Not this:Informal: I would
really appreciateyour help. What changes: This is warm and polite without sounding official.
Read the full guide
Before choosing a phrase, ask three questions. Who will read or hear it? Why are you communicating? How much distance is there between you? An email to a manager, a message to a friend, and a note to a public service all need slightly different language.
Start with the situation
Tone depends on context. Think about whether you are speaking to a friend, a teacher, a customer, a manager, or an organisation. A request to change a booking needs more care than a chat message about lunch.
Formal: Dear Admissions Team, I would like to ask about the application deadline.
The sender does not know the reader personally, so a greeting and a clear purpose are useful.
Would Hey, when is this due? suit a first email to a course administrator?
Usually no. Write a greeting and a complete question, such as Could you tell me when the assignment is due?
Make requests polite and direct
Formal requests often use could, would, or would you mind. These forms give the other person room to respond. They are more suitable than commands when you are asking for help or action.
Could you confirm that you received my application?
Could you is polite and clear. Confirm receipt is more direct and may sound abrupt unless you have a close working relationship.
Would you mind moving our call to Thursday?
Would you mind is useful when the request may inconvenience the other person.
Use contractions with care
Contractions such as I'm, don't, and can't are normal in speech and friendly writing. They can also appear in many professional messages. For a very formal letter or a sensitive complaint, full forms may sound more measured.
Neutral email: I'm sorry that the attachment did not arrive.
This is polite and natural for most work emails. A formal letter could use I am sorry instead.
Which version is more formal: We can't accept the offer, or We cannot accept the offer?
We cannot accept the offer is more formal because it avoids the contraction.
Choose greetings and endings that fit
A greeting establishes the tone before the main message starts. Dear Ms Khan works for a formal email when you know the name. Hello Sam is friendly and professional for a colleague. Endings such as Kind regards and Best wishes are common in professional English; Thanks is often enough for a familiar message.
Dear Mr Patel, Thank you for your time. Kind regards, Mina
The greeting and closing make this suitable for a first professional contact.
Hi Maya, Thanks for sorting that out. See you tomorrow.
This sounds relaxed because the writers already know each other.
Avoid language that is too casual for the reader
Slang, texting abbreviations, and vague requests can confuse readers or make a message feel careless. Phrases such as gonna, ASAP without context, cheers mate, and lots of exclamation marks may be fine among friends but are risky in a formal setting.
Less suitable for a client: Hey! Need the figures ASAP!!!
The message is unclear and the punctuation can feel demanding.
Better: Could you please send the figures by 3 p.m. today, if possible?
This names the task and deadline while keeping a polite tone.
Aim for clear neutral English when unsure
You do not need old-fashioned phrases to sound professional. Clear neutral English is often the safest choice. State what you need, give necessary details, and use a polite closing. The reader should not need to guess what action you want.
I have attached the completed form. The application reference is EL-204.
This is polite, direct, and suitable for many professional situations.
What should a clear message include when you ask for help?
Say what you need, give the relevant detail or deadline, and use a polite request form.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose tone by looking at the reader, purpose, and relationship. Use complete, polite wording for official or unfamiliar situations. Use relaxed language with people you know, but keep requests clear and respectful.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "English practice: formal and informal English"
What is the difference between formal and informal English?
Formal English is usually used for official, professional, academic, or unfamiliar relationships. It tends to use complete sentences and careful request forms. Informal English is more relaxed and is common with friends, family, and close colleagues.
Formal: I am writing to ask for an appointment next week.
Can I use contractions in a professional email?
Often, yes. Contractions such as I'm and don't are normal in many professional emails. For a highly formal letter, a complaint, or a first contact where you want a more measured tone, full forms can be a better choice.
Informal: Can we meet next week?
How can I make an English request more polite?
Use a clear request form such as Could you please, Would you be able to, or Would you mind. Explain what you need and include a useful deadline if there is one. Polite language should still be easy to understand.
Formal: Could you please send the receipt by Friday?
Is Hello formal or informal?
Hello is flexible. It can be a friendly professional greeting in an email to a colleague or a person you do not know well. Dear plus a name is usually more formal, while Hi is more relaxed.
Informal: Can you send me the receipt by Friday?
What should I do if I am unsure about the right tone?
Use clear neutral English. Include a greeting, state your reason for writing, make the request politely, and add a suitable closing. Avoid slang, jokes, and abbreviations until you know the reader and the situation better.
Formal: I apologise for the delay in replying.