Formal word for only

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Many informal English words have a formal synonym, often of Latin origin

THE NATURE & USE OF FORMAL WORDS

Sometimes the difference between two words of similar meaning is not so much what they mean as where they are used (see 16. Ways of Distinguishing Similar Words, #1). This is the case, for example, with scapulas and shoulder blades, the former being common in medical English, the latter in everyday speech (see the end of 77. Apposition). Choosing the wrong alternative in a particular type of writing is often called an error of “appropriacy” (see 166. Appropriacy in Professional English).

A broad area of English that often expresses meanings with different words from those of ordinary speech (and occasionally with different grammar too) is professional, including academic, writing. Its special language is, in fact, the basis of the “formal style” that it is said to normally need. A very important point about this language is that it is not something impressive to achieve, but rather a means of avoiding certain kinds of undesirable language.

This nature of professional writing means that its mastery requires a knowledge of both words to avoid and words to replace them with. Some other posts within these pages offer a few suggestions in this area (see especially 46. How to Avoid “I”, “We” and “You” and 57. Indirect Questions in Formal Writing), but here I want to be more wide-ranging. Readers who are not sure how well they already know this topic can test their knowledge in the post 193. A Test of Formal Language Use.

An interesting feature of formal substitutes for unacceptably informal words is that they are very often derived from Latin, the language of the ancient Roman rulers of Europe 2000 years ago, rather than Old English. Most were imported into English via French after England came under French-speaking monarchs 1000 years ago (see 135. French Influences on English Vocabulary). This link between formal language and historical rulers of England makes sense because both represent power.

Thus, the focus here on usable words in formal writing involves a large number of words that come from Latin. Elsewhere within this blog, there is information about the spelling of “Latinate” words in English (in 45. Latin Clues to English Spelling), common abbreviations of Latin origin (130. Formal Abbreviations), common Latinate word beginnings (146. Some Important Prefix Types) and common word endings (172. Multi-Use Suffixes and 249. Action Noun Endings).

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FORMAL EQUIVALENTS OF TWO-WORD VERBS

A very large category of formal English words is verbs of a mostly Latinate nature that mean the same as everyday two-word verbs. Two-word verbs combine a simple English verb with either a preposition (making a “prepositional” verb like LEAD TO or COPE WITH – see 84. Seven Things to Know about Prepositions, #6) or an adverb (making a “phrasal” verb like MAKE OUT or GIVE UP – see 139. Phrasal Verbs). Prepositional verbs always have a following noun (”object”), which must follow the preposition, whereas phrasal verbs may have no object, and if there is one, it may come before the adverb as well as after.

Latinate verbs have various recognizable features. Many are combinations of a Latin preposition, such as ex-, con- or ab-, and a simple Latin verb like -duc , -tain or -pel (see 45. Latin Clues to English Spelling). Ability to be made into a noun with -ment, -ence, -ance, -al, -sion, -tion or -ation (see 249. Action Noun Endings) is also a good clue.

Here are some common two-word verbs and their more formal equivalents. Highlighting shows links to additional information elsewhere.

1. Prepositional Verbs

ASK FOR = REQUEST
COME AFTER = SUCCEED
COME UP TO = REACH / ATTAIN
DEAL WITH = MANAGE
GO BEFORE = PRECEDE
GO OUT OF = EXIT
LEAD TO = CAUSE
LOOK AT = REGARD
LOOK FOR = SEEK
LOOK INTO = INVESTIGATE
LOOK LIKE = RESEMBLE
MAKE UP = COMPRISE
PUT UP WITH = TOLERATE
REFER TO = CONSULT
SETTLE FOR = CHOOSE
SPEAK TO = ADDRESS
TALK ABOUT = DISCUSS / CONSIDER (see 42. Unnecessary Prepositions)
THINK ABOUT = CONSIDER / PONDER
THINK OF = CONCEIVE
WORK ON = DEVELOP

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2. Phrasal Verbs

BREAK DOWN = FAIL / COLLAPSE
BREAK OFF = SUSPEND / ADJOURN
BREAK UP = DISINTEGRATE
BRING IN = INTRODUCE
COME BACK = RETURN
COME/GO IN = ENTER
FIND OUT = DISCOVER / DETERMINE / IDENTIFY
GET AWAY = ESCAPE
GIVE/BRING BACK = RETURN
GIVE IN = YIELD
GIVE OFF = EXUDE
GIVE OUT = DISTRIBUTE
GIVE UP = QUIT
GO AHEAD = PROCEED
GO AWAY = DEPART
GO ON = CONTINUE
LINK UP = CONNECT
LOOK OVER = PERUSE (see 284. Words with a Surprising Meaning, #14)
MAKE OUT = DISCERN
MAKE UP = INVENT
PUT/SET DOWN = DEPOSIT
PUT ON = APPLY
SET OUT (1) = DISPLAY
SET OUT (2) = DEPART
SLOW DOWN = DECELERATE (See 254. Tricky Word Contrasts 10, #3)
TAKE AWAY = REMOVE
TAKE IN = DECEIVE / ABSORB
TAKE ON = OPPOSE
THROW AWAY = DISCARD
THROW OUT = EJECT

A notable trend among phrasal verbs is the likelihood of those with back to match Latinate verbs with re-. Thus, GO BACK = RETURN, GET BACK = REGAIN, LOOK BACK = REVIEW, PUSH BACK = REPEL and GIVE/ SEND / TAKE BACK = RETURN.

English has many other two-word verbs with a formal equivalent. If in formal writing you can think only of a two-word verb for the meaning you want, you can try consulting a thesaurus for a one-word equivalent. Note, though, that some two-word verbs contain a Latinate verb and are likely as a result not to be informal. Examples are ALLUDE TO, APPROVE OF, DEPEND ON, DISPENSE WITH, DISPOSE OF, INSIST ON and RESULT IN.

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FORMAL QUANTITY WORDS

Quantity words are another area of English with multiple formal and informal equivalents. One major subgroup is “degree” adverbs, which show the strength of an accompanying verb, adjective or adverb, as in the following informal use of pretty with the adjective difficult:

(a) Language learning is pretty difficult.

In formal writing, this use of pretty can be replaced by the neutral quite or the formal-sounding Latinate word moderately. Other informal degree adverbs are a bit, a lot and really. Their respective equivalents in formal writing include a little, considerably and extremely (for a fuller discussion, see 194. Adverbs that Say How Much and 193. A Test of Formal Language Use, #26).

There is also a pronoun use of a bit and a lot, e.g. earns a bit/a lot. Here, a bit is replaceable by a little or a small amount, while a lot has different alternatives depending on whether it represents a plural or uncountable noun: very many or a great many in the first case, very much or a great deal in the second. Here is an example of a plural equivalent:

(b) Poisonous snakes are abundant, but a great many are very shy.

A lot is additionally used informally with of as a kind of vague number before a noun (see 95. Making Statements More Uncertain 1). In formal writing, it can be replaced by many or various, or the very formal-sounding Latinate word numerous.

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OTHER FORMAL EQUIVALENTS

The verb GET is another informal word that is especially productive of formal alternatives. This is because it has so many different meanings. In the following sentences, a different formal equivalent of GET is needed each time:

(c) The atmosphere seems to be getting hotter all the time.

(d) Visitors can get a pass from the main office.

(e) British citizens get a letter from the Monarch when they reach 100.

(f) It is easy to get a flight from Jakarta to Australia.

(g) The treatment of cancer is getting better all the time.

In (c), one can use becoming or growing, neither of which is Latinate. In (d), the word is obtain, in (e) receive, in (f) catch or arrange and in (g) improving. For comparisons of GET and HAVE, see 116. Rarer Uses of HAVE.

Adverbs that have dropped their -ly ending – for example go slow instead of go slowly (see 120. Six Things to Know about Adverbs, #6) – are also too informal for professional writing. Restoring the -ly is simple enough. One other informal adverb is maybe, more formally rendered as perhaps or possibly (see 26. One Word or Two? under “Other Choices that Depend on Word Class”).

Care should be taken to choose the right alternative to the informal adjective big. Speakers of Latin-derived languages – Catalan, French, Italian, Portuguese, Rumanian, Spanish – tend to replace it incorrectly with important or significant because similar-looking words in those languages can have the meaning of big. In English, these words are more about role than size (see 198. Indicating Importance). The main formal synonyms of big are large, great and major (not huge, which means very big – see 16. Ways of Distinguishing Similar Words, #3).

Large seems to be preferred with concrete nouns like room, vehicle or animal, and great must be used when there is a suggestion of “imposing”, “special”, “famous” or “wonderful” (e.g. Alexander The Great, great amenities). Otherwise, with non-concrete (abstract) nouns, a choice between large and great often seems to depend on the noun being described, in other words to be a matter of “collocation”. Here are some typical abstract partners of large and great (the underlined ones also allow major):

Abstract Nouns Requiring “large”

 a factor, a group, a kind, a number, a quantity, a role, a scale, a space, a surplus, a value.

Abstract Nouns Requiring “great”

accuracy, an achievement, charm, a deal, a difference, dignity, a discovery, an effect, importance, interest, a loss, meaning, a mistake, a need, relevance, resolve, responsibility, significance, success, a success, understanding, value, a welcome.

Abstract Nouns Allowing Either

an amount, an extent, a part, a range, a rate, a step.

Two nouns that sometimes need to be avoided in formal writing are thing (countable) and stuff (uncountable). Replacements often depend on context, but common thing words include object, item and idea, and stuff words include material, substance and matter. For a discussion of where thing can be used in formal writing, see 260. Formal Written Uses of “Thing”.

Lastly, the words good and bad, which each possess numerous meanings, are often replaced with more precise Latinate equivalents. Words meaning good include appropriate, attractive, beneficial, desirable, effective, enjoyable, pleasant, suitable and virtuous, while equivalents of bad include damaging, harmful, problematic, troublesome, undesirable, unhealthy, unpleasant and unwanted. More can be found with a thesaurus.

It is extremely important to know when to use either formal or informal language. This will depend on the business you are working in, the industry you are in, the people you are speaking with, and the topic you are talking about. Learning the formal and informal way to speak is also a great way to master and learn the language.

Both formal and informal languages serve different individual purposes. The two styles vary depending on the tone you use, the words you choose to use, and the way you construct the words together. Using formal language is less personal than using informal language. Always remember that the type of language you decide to use in writing or speaking will solely depend on your purpose and the audience you are speaking to. Here are some tips you must remember to help you know when to use either formal or informal language.

Formal Language

As mentioned above, formal language is less personal than informal language. This is commonly used when writing or speaking for professional or academic purposes like emails for business, formal letters, academic write-ups, professional academic circumstances, presentations, reports, official and or legal documents, job interviews, and any scenario where formal language is appropriate. Since it is less personal, this can be used when you are communicating with a person you do not personally know well, like public speeches and tenders.

Note that very formal English in everyday situations may sound pompous at times, so always consider the context and the audience you are targeting. In situations that are more serious like job interviews or emailing your university professor, using formal language is highly encouraged. This can help you avoid sounding disrespectful and inappropriate and help you sound polite and professional instead. Remember that formal language has a more complex grammar where the sentences are generally phrased longer and use modal verbs. In pronunciation, speech is slower when using formal language and the tone should be serious.

Informal Language

Informal language is more casual and laid back. This is commonly used with people you know well as your family and friends. You usually use this when you are in a relaxed environment. When your agenda is to share your personal thoughts or you are telling a story, you should use language that is appropriate to the scenario. Informal language has a more conversational tone, frequently using personal pronouns, informal expressions, sentences are shorter, and the feelings are more personal.

This type of language is best suited to use when telling a story, personal narrations, and social forms like blogs and personal emails. This can also be used in advertising, spontaneous speeches, networking, or socializing with your clients, meetings with your teams, text messages, and everyday conversations with your family and friends you know well. Contractions are used in informal languages to ease the flow and make the speech faster. Abbreviations and acronyms are also used to shorten the words. Colloquial language is also used to allow the casual flow of conversation. You can even insert an emoji here and there when using informal language!

Examples of Differences between Formal and Informal Language

Here are some examples of formal and informal languages used below in terms of:

Contractions

Informal: It won’t turn on.

Formal: The device will not turn on.

Phrasal Verbs

Informal: I don’t want to drop out of school.

Formal: I have no intention of leaving the school.

Slang

Informal: Imma go hit him up.

Formal: I am going to contact him.

Collocations

Informal: My business is going bankrupt.

Formal: My business has now officially ceased to trade.

Acronyms

Informal: I will send the files asap.

Formal: I will send the files as soon as I can.

First-Person Pronouns

Informal: I think my study is very useful.

Formal: The researcher is certain that the research conducted serves a lot of purposes.

Formal language is commonly used when writing. Informal language is usually used when speaking. However, this is always not the case. Always refer to the situation you are in upon deciding when to use either formal or informal language. If you are ever uncertain about whether what type of language you should use in a conversation, especially when speaking to someone older than you are or in a work environment, pay close attention to how they talk to you and try to follow their lead. However, when you are emailing someone you do not know, it is best to use formal language to be respectful and polite to the person you are emailing to.

Formal vs. Informal Words/Phrases

Learn an extensive list of 400+ formal vs. informal words and phrases in English.

Ask >>——-<< Enquire

Ask for >>——-<< Request

Book >>——-<< Reserve

Check >>——-<< Verify

Get >>——-<< Receive

Help >>——-<< Assist

Need >>——-<< Request

Say sorry >>——-<< Apologise

Start/ Begin >>——-<< Commence

End >>——-<< Terminate/ Finish

Try >>——-<< Endeavour

Deal with >>——-<< Handle

Tell >>——-<< Inform

Wait for >>——-<< Await

Fight >>——-<< Combat

Use/Eat >>——-<< Consume

Go >>——-<< Depart

Tough >>——-<< Difficult

Small >>——-<< Diminutive

Explain >>——-<< Disclose

Set out >>——-<< Display

Throw out >>——-<< Eject

Old >>——-<< Elderly

Say >>——-<< Express

Afraid >>——-<< Fearful

In the end >>——-<< Finally

Lucky >>——-<< Fortunate

But >>——-<< However

Wrong >>——-<< Incorrect

Go up >>——-<< Increase

Cheap >>——-<< Inexpensive

At first >>——-<< Initially

Mad >>——-<< Insane

Formal Words vs. Informal Words in English | Image 1

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Bright/smart >>——-<< Intelligent

Big/Large >>——-<< Enormous

Right >>——-<< Correct

A bit >>——-<< A little

Away >>——-<< Absent

Speed up >>——-<< Accelerate

Okay, ok >>——-<< Acceptable

Help >>——-<< Aid/ Assist

Let >>——-<< Allow

Call off >>——-<< Cancel

Friendly >>——-<< Amiable

Expect >>——-<< Anticipate

Seem >>——-<< Appear

Climb >>——-<< Ascend

Beat up >>——-<< Assault

Fall out >>——-<< Quarrel

Eager >>——-<< Avid

Stop >>——-<< Cease

Dare >>——-<< Challenge

Kids >>——-<< Children

Settle for >>——-<< Choose

Round >>——-<< Circular

Pick up >>——-<< Collect

Think of >>——-<< Conceive

Link up >>——-<< Connect

Think about >>——-<< Consider

Build >>——-<< Construct

Refer to >>——-<< Consult

Hurt >>——-<< Damage, harm

Go down >>——-<< Decrease

Want/ hope  >>——-<< Desire

Lack  >>——-<< Deficiency

Show >>——-<< Demonstrate

Brave >>——-<< Courageous

Pin down >>——-<< Determine

Put/ set down >>——-<< Deposit

Throw away >>——-<< Discard

Make out >>——-<< Discern

Talk about >>——-<< Discuss/consider

Give out >>——-<< Distribute

Give >>——-<< Donate

Remove >>——-<< Eliminate

Imagine >>——-<< Envisage

Break out >>——-<< Erupt

Get out >>——-<< Escape

Avoid >>——-<< Evade

Go through >>——-<< Examine

Make up >>——-<< Fabricate

Test >>——-<< Experiment

Ease >>——-<< Facilitate

Come after >>——-<< Follow

Sick >>——-<< Ill

Ask out >>——-<< Invite

Go away >>——-<< Leave/ depart

At once >>——-<< Immediately

Free >>——-<< Liberate

Deal with >>——-<< Manage

Bad >>——-<< Negative

Look into >>——-<< Investigate

Chance >>——-<< Opportunity

See >>——-<< Perceive

Happy >>——-<< Pleased

Give up >>——-<< Quit

Older >>——-<< Senior

Use >>——-<< Utilize

Enough >>——-<< Sufficient

End >>——-<< Terminate

Empty >>——-<< Vacant

Rich >>——-<< Wealthy

Mend >>——-<< Repair

Idea >>——-<< Notion

Mainly >>——-<< Principally

See >>——-<< Observe

Leave out >>——-<< Omit

Go against >>——-<< Oppose

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Hungry >>——-<< Famished

Childish >>——-<< Immature

Maybe >>——-<< Perhaps

Good >>——-<< Positive

Give >>——-<< Provide

Buy >>——-<< Purchase

Say no >>——-<< Reject

Free >>——-<< Release

Look for >>——-<< Seek

Choose >>——-<< Select

Get by >>——-<< Survive

So >>——-<< Therefore

Put up with >>——-<< Tolerate

Block >>——-<< Undermine

Catch up >>——-<< Understand

Sight >>——-<< Vision

Young >>——-<< Youthful

Get >>——-<< Obtain

Need >>——-<< Require

Pay back >>——-<< Repay

Live >>——-<< Reside

Point out >>——-<< Indicate

Find out >>——-<< Learn/Discover

Get away >>——-<< Elude

Come in >>——-<< Enter

Lively >>——-<< Energetic

Clear >>——-<< Transparent

Whole >>——-<< Entire/Complete

Blow up >>——-<< Explode

Break down >>——-<< Fail/Collapse

Hopeless >>——-<< Futile

Hit out at >>——-<< Criticise

Tired >>——-<< Exhausted/ Fatigued

Clothes >>——-<< Garment

Go before >>——-<< Precede

Thanks >>——-<< Gratitude

Hurry >>——-<< Haste, hasten

Funny >>——-<< Humorous, amusing

Better >>——-<< Improved

Dim >>——-<< Indistinct

Worse >>——-<< Inferior

Put in >>——-<< Insert

Bring in >>——-<< Introduce

Make up >>——-<< Invent

Kidding >>——-<< Jesting

Naked >>——-<< Nude

Childish >>——-<< Infantile

A lot of >>——-<< Numerous

Stubborn >>——-<< Obstinate

Danger >>——-<< Peril

Put off >>——-<< Postpone

Here >>——-<< Present

Keep >>——-<< Preserve

Go ahead >>——-<< Proceed

Go after >>——-<< Pursue

Anyways >>——-<< Nevertheless

Let >>——-<< Permit

Sweat >>——-<< Perspiration

Look at >>——-<< Regard

Laid back >>——-<< Relaxed

Take out >>——-<< Remove

Rack up >>——-<< Accumulate

Over >>——-<< At an end

Good looking >>——-<< Attractive

Good for >>——-<< Beneficial

By >>——-<< By means of

Lead to >>——-<< Cause

Complex >>——-<< Convoluted

Go out of >>——-<< Exit

Death >>——-<< Demise

Break off >>——-<< Suspend/adjourn

Also >>——-<< In addition, additionally

Wood >>——-<< Timber

Describe >>——-<< Depict

Go on >>——-<< Continue

In charge of >>——-<< Responsible

Enjoyment >>——-<< Gratification

Dirty/ polluted >>——-<< Contaminated

Again & again >>——-<< Repeatedly

Marvelous >>——-<< Exceptional

Really big >>——-<< Considerable

Can >>——-<< Is capable of

Fork out  >>——-<< Pay (money)

Talk into >>——-<< Persuade

Come up to >>——-<< Reach/attain

Iron out >>——-<< Solve/overcome (a problem/difficulty)

Next/later >>——-<< Subsequently

Try out >>——-<< Test

Call on >>——-<< Visit

Drop out of >>——-<< Withdraw (from)

Look up to >>——-<< Respect

Look like >>——-<< Resemble

Job >>——-<< Occupation

Dad >>——-<< Father

Boss >>——-<< Employer

Formal and Informal Words | Images

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List of Formal Words & Informal Words in English | Image 4

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Useful Formal Words & Informal Words in English | Image 5

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Formal vs. Informal Words Video

Last Updated on September 27, 2022