Formal-Informal
1. Greetings and Farewells
Formal Informal
Good morning Hey
Good evening Hi
How do you do? What's up?
It’s a pleasure to meet you Nice to meet you
Farewell Bye
Goodbye See you
2. Requests and Offers
Formal Informal
Could you please...? Can you...?
Would you mind...? Do you mind...?
I would appreciate it if... I’d like...
Might I suggest...? How about...?
Would you be so kind as to...? Can you do me a favor?
3. Apologies
Formal Informal
I apologize for the inconvenience. Sorry about that.
I sincerely regret... My bad.
Please accept my apologies. Sorry!
I beg your pardon. Oops, my mistake.
4. Asking for Permission
Formal Informal
May I...? Can I...?
Would it be possible to...? Is it okay if...?
Could I possibly...? Mind if I...?
Would you mind if...? Is it alright if...?
5. Giving and Receiving Compliments
Formal Informal
You look very professional. You look great!
Your work is exceptional. Nice job!
I am impressed with your efforts. That’s awesome!
You did a remarkable job. You nailed it!
6. Expressing Gratitude
Formal Informal
I sincerely appreciate it. Thanks a lot!
I am very grateful. Thanks so much!
Thank you for your kind assistance. Thanks for your help.
I cannot thank you enough. I really appreciate it.
7. Providing Information
Formal Informal
I would like to inform you that... Just so you know...
I would like to bring to your attention... FYI...
Please be advised that... Heads up, ...
This is to notify you that... Just telling you...
8. Asking for Clarification
Formal Informal
Could you kindly elaborate? Can you explain that?
Would you mind clarifying...? What do you mean?
I would appreciate further explanation. What’s that supposed to mean?
Could you provide more details? Say that again?
9. Ending Conversations
Formal Informal
It was a pleasure speaking with you. Talk to you later.
I look forward to our next meeting. Catch you later.
Thank you for your time. Gotta go!
I appreciate your attention to this matter. See ya!
10. Expressing Disagreement
Formal Informal
I respectfully disagree. I don’t think so.
I have a different opinion. I don’t agree.
I’m afraid I don’t agree with that. That’s not right.
I must beg to differ. No way!
1. Informal & Formal Verbs (General Usage)
Informal Verb Formal Verb
Ask Inquire
Help Assist
Tell Inform
Get Obtain
Want Desire
Look Examine
Find Discover
Show Demonstrate
Think Consider
Make Create
2. Informal & Formal Verbs (Speaking and Communicating)
Informal Verb Formal Verb
Say State
Tell Inform
Talk Converse
Speak Articulate
Shout Exclaim
Ask Inquire
Answer Respond
Reply Acknowledge
3. Informal & Formal Verbs (Movement)
Informal Verb Formal Verb
Go Proceed
Come Approach
Move Transfer
Walk Perambulate
Run Sprint
Jump Leap
4. Informal & Formal Verbs (Processes and Actions)
Informal Verb Formal Verb
Get Receive
Give Provide
Make Establish
Fix Repair
Change Alter
Use Utilize
5. Informal & Formal Verbs (Negations and Cancellations)
Informal Verb Formal Verb
Cancel Rescind
Stop Cease
Quit Terminate
Break Discontinue
End Conclude
6. Informal & Formal Verbs (Emotions and Reactions)
Informal Verb Formal Verb
Like Appreciate
Love Adore
Hate Loathe
Want Desire
Fear Dread
Enjoy Relish
7. Informal & Formal Verbs (Requests and Permissions)
Informal Verb Formal Verb
Ask Request
Tell Direct
Give Grant
Let Permit
Help Assist
Borrow Obtain on loan
1. Adding Information
Informal Transition Formal Transition
And Moreover
Also Furthermore
Then In addition
Plus Additionally
Another thing Another point to consider
2. Contrasting Ideas
Informal Transition Formal Transition
But However
Although Nevertheless
Yet On the other hand
Still Notwithstanding
But then again That being said
3. Giving Examples
Informal Transition Formal Transition
For example For instance
Like Such as
You know Namely
For one thing In particular
Take … for example To illustrate
4. Showing Cause and Effect
Informal Transition Formal Transition
So Therefore
Because As a result
That's why Consequently
For that reason Thus
Hence As a consequence
5. Giving Emphasis
Informal Transition Formal Transition
Really Indeed
Especially In particular
Just Particularly
Mainly Primarily
Definitely Unquestionably
6. Showing Comparison
Informal Transition Formal Transition
Like Similarly
Just like In the same way
As Equally
In the same way Correspondingly
In comparison By comparison
7. Summarizing or Concluding
Informal Transition Formal Transition
So, anyway In conclusion
To sum up To summarize
In short In brief
Anyway Ultimately
All in all In summary
8. Expressing Agreement
Informal Transition Formal Transition
Yeah Indeed
I agree I concur
You're right I am in agreement
That's true It is accurate to say
Exactly Precisely
9. Introducing an Alternative
Informal Transition Formal Transition
Or Alternatively
Otherwise In the alternative
On the other hand In contrast
If not If otherwise
10. Giving a Condition
Informal Transition Formal Transition
If Provided that
Unless In the event that
As long as Contingent upon
In case Should it be the case that
when communicating with colleagues in teams
1. Greetings and Opening Lines
Informal Phrase Formal Phrase
Hi [Name], Dear [Name],
Hey [Name], Good morning/afternoon [Name],
How’s it going? I hope you are doing well.
I trust you are having a productive
What's up?
day.
Hope all is well. I hope this message finds you well.
2. Asking for Help or Information
Informal Phrase Formal Phrase
Can you help me with this? Could you kindly assist me with this?
Would you be able to assist with this
Could you do this for me?
task?
I need your help. I would appreciate your assistance.
Would it be possible to schedule
Do you have time to chat?
some time to discuss this?
Can I ask you a question? May I kindly inquire about...?
3. Making Requests
Informal Phrase Formal Phrase
Could you please forward this to
Can you send this to me?
me?
I would appreciate it if you could
Please send it over when you can. send this at your earliest
convenience.
Please do not hesitate to contact me
Let me know if you need anything. should you require further
assistance.
Would it be possible to receive the
Can I have the document?
document?
Could you kindly provide an update
Could you give me an update?
on the status of...?
4. Offering Help or Assistance
Informal Phrase Formal Phrase
I can help with that. I would be happy to assist with that.
Please feel free to reach out if I can
Let me know if you need anything.
be of any assistance.
I will ensure that this matter is
I’ll take care of it.
handled.
I am available to provide assistance
I’ll help you out.
should you require it.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if
Let me know if you need help.
you need any further support.
5. Giving Feedback
Informal Phrase Formal Phrase
Good job! Well done on your efforts.
That’s great! Your work is greatly appreciated.
Your performance on this project is
Nice work on this!
commendable.
Your suggestion has been noted,
I like your idea!
and I believe it is valuable.
Your progress on this task is
You’re doing well.
commendable.
6. Expressing Appreciation or Gratitude
Informal Phrase Formal Phrase
Thanks a lot. I greatly appreciate your efforts.
Thanks so much! Thank you for your cooperation.
I sincerely appreciate your
Thanks for your help.
assistance.
I appreciate it. Your support is greatly appreciated.
I would like to express my gratitude
I’m grateful for your help.
for your contribution.
7. Giving Instructions or Guidance
Informal Phrase Formal Phrase
Just do this. Please proceed with this action.
Make sure to do this. Kindly ensure that this is completed.
I recommend following these
You should follow these steps.
procedures.
It would be beneficial to consider
Try doing it this way.
this approach.
Please review this at your earliest
Check this out.
convenience.
8. Apologizing or Acknowledging Mistakes
Informal Phrase Formal Phrase
I apologize for the inconvenience
Sorry about that.
caused.
Oops, my mistake. I sincerely regret any oversight.
Please accept my apologies for this
That won’t happen again.
error; it will not be repeated.
Sorry for the delay. I apologize for the delayed response.
My bad! I regret the misunderstanding.
9. Closing Lines
Informal Phrase Formal Phrase
Talk soon! I look forward to your response.
Catch you later. I await your reply.
See you soon! I anticipate hearing from you soon.
Take care! Wishing you a productive day ahead.
I look forward to continuing our
Let’s chat soon!
discussion.
10. Sign-Offs
Informal Sign-Off Formal Sign-Off
Cheers, Kind regards,
Thanks, Best regards,
Best, Sincerely,
Take care, Yours faithfully,
Talk soon, Best wishes,
The phrase "let" can be used in different contexts
1. Let (Allow/Permit)
Informal Formal
Let me Allow me
Let it happen Permit it to occur
Let me know Inform me
Let’s go Allow us to proceed
Let him do it Permit him to do it
2. Let (Suggest/Propose)
Informal Formal
Let’s do that I propose we do that
Let me suggest I would like to suggest
Let’s have a meeting I suggest we schedule a meeting
Let me tell you I would like to inform you
3. Let (Allowing Permission)
Informal Formal
Let him in Allow him to enter
Let me in Grant me access
Let her leave Permit her to leave
Let me out Grant me permission to exit
4. Let (Let’s as a Suggestion)
Informal Formal
Let’s discuss it I suggest we discuss it
Let’s take a break I propose we take a break
Let’s begin Allow us to begin
Let’s talk later I suggest we converse at a later time
5. Let (Give Permission to Do Something)
Informal Formal
Let them speak Allow them to speak
Let her try Permit her to attempt
Let me see Allow me to review
Let us know Kindly inform us
when talking to colleagues in a work context,
1. Common Words Used in Workplace Conversations
Frequent Word (Informal) Formal Alternative
Help Assist
Work Task
Job Position
Get Obtain
Do Perform
Make Create
Give Provide
Fix Repair
Talk Discuss
Tell Inform
Ask Inquire
Agree Concur
Send Transmit
Meet Convene
Update Inform
Call Contact
Check Verify
2. Words for Collaboration/Teamwork
Frequent Word (Informal) Formal Alternative
Work together Collaborate
Share ideas Exchange ideas
Help out Provide assistance
Get together Meet
Team up Partner
Join forces Cooperate
Join in Participate
Work on Focus on
Give feedback Provide input
3. Words for Progress/Completion
Frequent Word (Informal) Formal Alternative
Finish Complete
Start Commence
Begin Initiate
Continue Proceed
Do well Succeed
Get done Achieve
Wrap up Conclude
Take care of Handle
Deal with Address
4. Words for Requests and Instructions
Frequent Word (Informal) Formal Alternative
Ask Request
Tell me Kindly inform me
Give me Provide me with
Let me know Kindly notify me
Show me Demonstrate
Help me Assist me
Call me Contact me
Do this Perform this task
Can you? Would you be able to?
5. Words for Scheduling/Organizing
Frequent Word (Informal) Formal Alternative
Meet Schedule a meeting
Talk Discuss
Set up Arrange
Catch up Follow up
Check in Touch base
Confirm Verify
Plan Coordinate
Reschedule Rearrange
Postpone Defer
6. Words for Acknowledging or Responding
Frequent Word (Informal) Formal Alternative
Okay Understood
Got it Acknowledged
Fine Approved
Thanks Thank you
Sure Certainly
No problem It's my pleasure
I see I understand
I’ll check I will verify
7. Words for Feedback
Frequent Word (Informal) Formal Alternative
Good Satisfactory
Great Exceptional
Nice Commendable
Okay Adequate
Bad Unsatisfactory
Wrong Inaccurate
Fix it Correct
Improve Enhance
8. Words for Problem Solving
Frequent Word (Informal) Formal Alternative
Fix Resolve
Solve Address
Deal with Manage
Handle Tackle
Work out Determine
Figure out Ascertain
Clear up Clarify
Repair Rectify
