Informal English is the relaxed, everyday language we use when communicating with friends, family members, classmates, and people we know well. It often includes common expressions, contractions, phrasal verbs, slang, and conversational vocabulary that may not be appropriate in formal situations.
For example, instead of saying “I would like to inform you”, you might simply say “I just wanted to let you know.” Both communicate a similar idea, but the second sounds more natural and informal.
In this guide, you’ll learn the meaning of informal English, when to use it, and common informal words, phrases, and expressions with practical examples. You’ll also see how informal English differs from formal English so you can choose the right language for different situations.
Table of Contents
What Is Informal English?
Informal English is a relaxed and conversational style of English commonly used in everyday communication. It is most appropriate when speaking or writing to friends, family members, classmates, coworkers you know well, and other people in casual situations.
Informal English often sounds more natural and personal than formal English. Speakers may use contractions, phrasal verbs, abbreviations, idioms, slang, and shorter sentence structures.
For example:
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Formal: I apologize for being late.
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Informal: Sorry I’m late.
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Formal: Could you please assist me?
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Informal: Can you help me?
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Formal: I will contact you tomorrow.
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Informal: I’ll get in touch tomorrow.
Neither style is inherently better. The appropriate choice depends on the situation, audience, purpose, and relationship between the people communicating.
In general, informal English is suitable for everyday conversations, personal messages, casual emails, social media, and relaxed workplace communication. Formal English is usually more appropriate for academic writing, official documents, professional correspondence, and other situations that require a more professional tone.
Characteristics of Informal English
Informal English has several features that make it sound natural, relaxed, and conversational. These features are common in everyday speech, text messages, personal emails, and casual conversations.
1. Contractions
Contractions are extremely common in informal communication.
| More Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
| I am | I’m |
| cannot | can’t |
| do not | don’t |
| we will | we’ll |
| they are | they’re |
| I would | I’d |
Example:
I cannot attend tonight. → I can’t make it tonight.
2. Phrasal Verbs
Informal English frequently uses phrasal verbs instead of more formal single-word verbs.
| More Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
| discover | find out |
| continue | carry on |
| postpone | put off |
| tolerate | put up with |
| encounter | run into |
| investigate | look into |
Example:
We need to investigate the problem. → We need to look into the problem.
3. Everyday Words
Simple, conversational words are often preferred in informal situations.
Examples: help, ask, buy, get, tell, need, start, and end.
4. Idioms and Conversational Expressions
Informal conversations often include expressions such as:
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What’s up?
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No worries.
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Hang on.
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Sounds good.
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Give me a hand.
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It’s no big deal.
5. Slang
Slang is especially common among friends and in very casual communication. Examples include awesome, cool, dude, chill, and gonna.
Slang should be used carefully because some expressions are associated with particular age groups, regions, or communities and may quickly become outdated.
6. Shorter and Simpler Sentences
Informal communication often uses shorter sentences and a more conversational structure.
More formal: I would appreciate it if you could send me the information as soon as possible.
Informal: Can you send me the info when you get a chance?
These characteristics help make informal English sound more like natural everyday conversation than formal or academic writing.
Formal vs Informal English
The main difference between formal and informal English is the situation in which each style is used. Formal English is generally more structured, professional, and precise, while informal English is more relaxed and conversational.
Here are some common examples:
| Formal English | Informal English |
|---|---|
| I apologize. | I’m sorry. |
| Thank you very much. | Thanks a lot. |
| I would appreciate your assistance. | I’d appreciate your help. |
| Please contact me. | Get in touch with me. |
| I do not understand. | I don’t get it. |
| I am unable to attend. | I can’t make it. |
| Could you please wait? | Hang on a second. |
| I will investigate the matter. | I’ll look into it. |
| We should postpone the meeting. | We should put off the meeting. |
| Please inform me. | Let me know. |
| I agree with your suggestion. | Sounds good to me. |
| I am very tired. | I’m exhausted. |
When Should You Use Each Style?
Use formal English for situations such as academic writing, business reports, job applications, official correspondence, presentations, and communication with people you do not know well.
Use informal English for conversations with friends and family, personal messages, casual emails, social media, and relaxed conversations with familiar coworkers.
The appropriate level of formality can also fall somewhere between these two styles. For example, a workplace conversation may be friendly and conversational without using slang or extremely casual expressions.
Related: Read our complete guide to Formal vs Informal English for more examples and detailed comparisons.
Common Informal English Words
Many words used in everyday conversation have more formal alternatives. Learning these informal English words can help you understand natural conversations and choose vocabulary that matches the situation.
| Informal Word | More Formal Alternative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ask | inquire | I’ll ask about the schedule. |
| buy | purchase | I need to buy a new laptop. |
| help | assist | Can you help me with this? |
| get | obtain | Where can I get a copy? |
| tell | inform | Tell me when you’re ready. |
| need | require | We need more time. |
| start | commence | Let’s start the meeting. |
| end | conclude | Let’s end the discussion here. |
| check | verify | I’ll check the details. |
| fix | repair | Can you fix this computer? |
| show | demonstrate | I’ll show you how it works. |
| use | utilize | You can use my phone. |
| enough | sufficient | We have enough chairs. |
| wrong | incorrect | That answer is wrong. |
| cheap | inexpensive | We found a cheap hotel. |
| about | approximately | It’ll take about an hour. |
| so | therefore | I was tired, so I went home. |
| but | however | I wanted to go, but I was busy. |
| lots of | numerous | We have lots of options. |
| maybe | perhaps | Maybe we can meet tomorrow. |
A Note About Formal Alternatives
A formal word is not automatically better than an informal one. For example, use is often clearer and more natural than utilize, even in professional writing.
The goal is not to replace everyday vocabulary with complicated words. Instead, learn to choose words that sound appropriate for your audience, purpose, and situation.