Grade 7 English: Formal and informal language poster

1Formal or informal?

Formal language is polite and serious. We use it with people we do not know well and for official writing. Informal language is relaxed. We use it with friends and family.

2Informal language

• Short forms and contractions: gonna, don’t
• Slang: lekker, eish, cool
• Abbreviations and emojis: OMG, LOL
• Short sentences and exclamation marks

3Formal language

• Full forms: do not, I would like
• Polite words: please, thank you, I regret
• No slang and no emojis
• Titles and surnames: Mr Dlamini, Dr Mokoena

4A formal letter or email

• Your address and the date
• Greeting: Dear Mr Dlamini (or Dear Sir or Madam)
• Subject line: say what it is about
• Body: why you are writing, the details, thanks
• Closing: Yours sincerely (name known) or Yours faithfully (Dear Sir or Madam)

5From informal to formal

• wanna becomes would like to
• gimme becomes please give me
• thanks a lot becomes thank you very much
• stuff becomes items; get becomes receive
• Write contractions in full: do not, it is

6Know your audience

Ask: Who will read this? Why am I writing? Use informal language for friends. Use formal language for the principal, a job application or an assembly speech.