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.
@ToriRao10 years agoI 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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@syedarmaghanhassan46522 years agoI 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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@FernandoPicazoCervantes11 years agoThanks teacher, now i undestand better when i should use formal or informal writting letters. 7
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@AMBA5262 years agoWorking 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.2890last yearI am looking for helpful resources to improve my english and i had some issues with writings, but this video was the key to understand theyou! 4
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@ericko.j81087 years agoI' 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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@xBula5 years agoThank you for helping me doing informal and formal writing! This really helps! Youtube > school! 59
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@SoukainaAmaadour10 years agoAs a moroccan, i think you are the best english teacher i' ve ever known! Thank you. 16
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@pro3692 years agoA fabulous display of teaching. A great teacher, lucid and to the point. A great style. 26
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@paulsha95829 years agoInformal-gt; that' s what she said. formal- -> that is what she said. 659
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@connormcdonaldjones84737 years agoVery 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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@jimmoefoe14718 years agoDon' t go to school, youtube has everything we need. 1112
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@melinanazim_sebih14442 years agoThank you for understanding my work miss emma. 3
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@mizanurbhuiyan32024 years agoI 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.shahadathkhan89118 months agoGreat teacher! Great mentor! Great consultant!
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@roseajayifajuke3960last yearYou 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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@noorshawky73307 years agoThanks! That helped me more since my english exam is due tomorrow. 6
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@sharikzafar37335 years agoI 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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@abesapram93196 years agoThanks u so much i got 100% in my test. 8
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@marcospaulooliveira88133 years agoDear 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. ...Expand2
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@anndhhdikkka3 months agoThe 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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@arjuns1ngh8 years agoHi emma, your videos are absolutely perfect. thank you so much for these. I' ve literally been watching just your videos for tips and tricks god bless you! Thank you again. ...Expand32
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@rogeliomendoza53414 years agoThank you for helping me doing informal and formal writing. 2
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@wasimakramhaldercom11 years agoThanks 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 i thanks. ...Expand137
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@enzolezana6468last yearI strongly appreciate your learning content and way of teaching us. My english has increasingly improved because of you! 4
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@hadiyasyd61093 years agoYour 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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@jarrinitiseno57268 years agoI strongly agree with you. i really appreciate it. 14
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@taherelsayed80445 years agoYou are the best english teacher ever.
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@jackrobins87565 years agoThank 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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@sljeha73723 years agoThis is very useful video. Thank you very much! 2
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@aftabraja61903 years agoI 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-dx7di7 years agoReally this woman is so good and easy method of learning english. 1
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@avadheshtiwari90355 years agoVery thank you miss today is my exam you are very good tutor. 2
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@asplitpea20873 years agoThe phrasal verb bit really helped me. Thank you! 1
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@fahimeemadi33985 years agoDear emma hello i hope you well how are you? i would li best wishes, fahime. ...Expand26
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@PrinceandPariShow5 years agoI found the best english teacher fo me, thank you.
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@lochonmmarak2926last yearHi, 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-qz5sv5 years agoYou made me learn how to write informal letter thank you so much. 1
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@mmgm8687 years agoShe speaks vry clear english. We people of subcontinent can understand it easily. 1
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@madhugotti18 years agoDear emma, formal and informal letter writing very useful video to me, thanks a lot. 1
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@abdallahasaan66295 years agoThe best english teacher madam keep going.
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@MegaSahil056 years agoEmma 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-raphael65686 years agoMay god blessed you ma, i really enjoy it. 1
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@kouassihervekouadio28797 months agoYou' re just wow emma! So informative and helpful thanks.
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@RoshanKumar-pz7ow8 years agoU provide me a clear concept about formal and informal letters. 1
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@darkelfasian9 years agoI love your video a lots. big thank to you emma. 9
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@generalkryptonx34638 years agoThat was an outstanding videostill studying in school but vrry helpful. 1
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@anishsharma47777 years agoHey! Is it same for both academic and general? Is it compulsory to use contractions in informal? 5
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@-iamrik-55494 years agoThanks mam. This is really a helpful video. 1
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@differenttypesgaming55482 years agoHello i' m seeing your video from india you have a best teaching experience thank you emma mam. 1
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@samuroadventure12274 years agoThank you, it help me to write my letter! 1
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@molidzz10713 years agoI have learnt in 12 mins more than a whole scolastic year. 4
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@KieuNguyen-jz4rm3 years agoI have been watching your videos for years. Thank you very much.
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@charleslovehewitt439310 years agoThank you emma for the ielts reading test. Please more about this type of examination. 16
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@m-archlk6 years agoStrongly recommended your valuable session. Thank you.
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@Mygamergirlmayalast yearIf a great teacher and i have learned a lot of ur videos. 1
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@emmanuelttemoindor62842 years agoThanks a lot. an excellent teaching skills. 1
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@TawiahEmmanuel-pg3ns10 months agoThanks for time and you are the best online teacher.
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@ishanfriends27559 years agoThank you emma this helped me a lot in my exams. 9
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@khanhtruong87732 years agoActually, this video is so useful for me, thank you so much. 1
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@rohitdas27732 years agoYou are great lots of love from nepal. Tomorrow is my exam and i am watching it at almost 2 am.
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@blombusters69596 years agoI needed this for my exam thx for makin this vid. 3
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@user-xg8bt2so8blast yearThat' s great to learn english with you thank you very much.
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@mahmudemon51826 years agoEmma is the best in ielts teacher. Love you & go ahead.
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@sharmilaacharya22247 years agoExcellent! Teacher. I wish u were my english teacher.
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@salmanlabib18554 years agoTotally epic ma' am. This helped me a lot. 1
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@politicsandentertainment17086 years agoThank you so much, wonderfulfrom the philippines, i watched a lot of your english videos and its helpful. 3
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@craqueadrian11 years agoGood video, great teacher. And on top of it all, she' s super cute. 10
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@noneone.............6 years agoI do love what' s about letter is. It makes me figure out about a thing.
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@hatemsoliman263011 years agoYour teaching is very nice and easy to understand. Keep it up.
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@krishnap4784 years agoMam i have learned well english with you i' m from india. 3
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@SatishKumar-ps1vy9 years agoThis is really nice clip for telling the diffrence between formal & informal letters. 3
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@masoumehnorouzi40647 years agoThis program is so helpful, thank you emma, i like you so much, your teaching is well. 3
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-> 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 . ...Expand 2
thank you so much for these. I' ve literally been watching just your videos for tips and tricks god bless you! Thank you again. ...Expand 32
i really appreciate it. 14
hello
i hope you well
how are you?
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