Use formal Words to be smart in English

Generally, there are no specific definitions about formal and informal words.

We use formal words in serious situations such as writings for publishing assistance, essays for school, cover letters to apply for jobs, or emails and letters at work and with people we don’t know well.

On the other hand, We use informal words in general writings, with known people.

From above discussion, we can identify when we use formal words and informal words:

1. Formal words: writings for publishing assistance, essays for school, cover letters to apply for jobs, or emails and letters at work and with people we don’t know well
2. Informal words: general writings, with known people (friends, children, and relatives).

Read: List of Important Word Pairs Digital Study Center

By using formal words, we can be smart in English. All professional writings/ speaking (for IELTS) must used formal words. In this case, we must know followings formal words so that we can use its as well.

INFORMAL words <=: :=> FORMAL words

A

• A bit <= : : => A little
• A lot of <= : : => Numerous
• Afraid <= : : => Fearful
• Again & again <= : : => Repeatedly
• Also <= : : => In addition, additionally
• Anyways <= : : => Nevertheless
• Ask for <= : : => Request
• Ask out <= : : => Invite
• Ask <= : : => Esquire
• At first <= : : => Initially
• At once <= : : => Immediately
• Avoid <= : : => Evade
• Away <= : : => Absent

B

• Bad <= : : => Negative
• Beat up <= : : => Assault
• Better <= : : => Improved
• Big/Large <= : : => Enormous
• Block <= : : => Undermine
• Blow up <= : : => Explode
• Book <= : : => Reserve
• Boss <= : : => Employer
• Brave <= : : => Courageous
• Break down <= : : => Fail/ Collapse
• Break off <= : : => Suspend/ Adjourn
• Break out <= : : => Erupt
• Bright/smart <= : : => Intelligent
• Bring in <= : : => Introduce
• Build <= : : => Construct
• But <= : : => However
• Buy <= : : => Purchase
• By <= : : => By means of

C

• Call off <= : : => Cancel
• Call on <= : : => Visit
• Can <= : : => Is capable of
• Catch up <= : : => Understand
• Chance <= : : => Opportunity
• Cheap <= : : => Inexpensive
• Check <= : : => Verify
• Childish <= : : => Immature
• Childish <= : : => Infantile
• Choose <= : : => Select
• Clear <= : : => Transparent
• Climb <= : : => Ascend
• Clothes <= : : => Garment
• Come after <= : : => Follow
• Come in <= : : => Enter
• Come up to <= : : => Reach/attain
• Complex <= : : => Convoluted

D

• Dad <= : : => Father
• Danger <= : : => Peril
• Dare <= : : => Challenge
• Deal with <= : : => Handle
• Deal with <= : : => Manage
• Death <= : : => Demise
• Describe <= : : => Depict
• Dim <= : : => Indistinct
• Dirty/ polluted <= : : => Contaminated
• Drop out of <= : : => Withdraw (from)

E

• Eager <= : : => Avid
• Ease <= : : => Facilitate
• Eat <= : : => Consume
• Empty <= : : => Vacant
• End <= : : => Terminate
• End <= : : => Terminate/ Finish
• Enjoyment <= : : => Gratification
• Enough <= : : => Sufficient
• Expect <= : : => Anticipate
• Explain <= : : => Disclose

F

• Fall out <= : : => Quarrel
• Fight <= : : => Combat
• Find out <= : : => Learn/Discover
• Fork out  <= : : => Pay (money)
• Free <= : : => Liberate
• Free <= : : => Release
• Friendly <= : : => Amiable
• Funny <= : : => Humorous, amusing

G

• Get away <= : : => Elude
• Get by <= : : => Survive
• Get out <= : : => Escape
• Get <= : : => Obtain
• Get <= : : => Receive
• Give out <= : : => Distribute
• Give up <= : : => Quit
• Give <= : : => Donate
• Give <= : : => Provide
• Go after <= : : => Pursue
• Go against <= : : => Oppose
• Go ahead <= : : => Proceed
• Go away <= : : => Leave/ depart
• Go before <= : : => Precede
• Go down <= : : => Decrease
• Go on <= : : => Continue
• Go out of <= : : => Exit
• Go through <= : : => Examine
• Go up <= : : => Increase
• Go <= : : => Depart
• Good for <= : : => Beneficial
• Good looking <= : : => Attractive
• Good <= : : => Positive

H

• Happy <= : : => Pleased
• Help <= : : => Aid/ Assist
• Help <= : : => Assist
• Here <= : : => Present
• Hit out at <= : : => Criticize
• Hopeless <= : : => Futile
• Hungry <= : : => Famished
• Hurry <= : : => Haste, hasten
• Hurt <= : : => Damage, Harm

I

• Idea <= : : => Notion
• Imagine <= : : => Envisage
• In charge of <= : : => Responsible
• In the end <= : : => Finally
• Iron out <= : : => Solve/overcome (a problem/difficulty)

J

• Job <= : : => Occupation

K

• Keep <= : : => Preserve
• Kidding <= : : => Jesting
• Kids <= : : => Children

L

• Lack  <= : : => Deficiency
• Laid back <= : : => Relaxed
• Lead to <= : : => Cause
• Leave out <= : : => Omit
• Let <= : : => Allow
• Let <= : : => Permit
• Link up <= : : => Connect
• Live <= : : => Reside
• Lively <= : : => Energetic
• Look at <= : : => Regard
• Look for <= : : => Seek
• Look into <= : : => Investigate
• Look like <= : : => Resemble
• Look up to <= : : => Respect
• Lucky <= : : => Fortunate

M

• Mad <= : : => Insane
• Mainly <= : : => Principally
• Make out <= : : => Discern
• Make up <= : : => Fabricate
• Make up <= : : => Invent
• Marvelous <= : : => Exceptional
• Maybe <= : : => Perhaps
• Mend <= : : => Repair

N

• Naked <= : : => Nude
• Need <= : : => Request
• Need <= : : => Require
• Next/later <= : : => Subsequently

O

• Okay/ OK <= : : => Acceptable
• Old <= : : => Elderly
• Older <= : : => Senior
• Over <= : : => At an end

P

• Pay back <= : : => Repay
• Pick up <= : : => Collect
• Pin down <= : : => Determine
• Point out <= : : => Indicate
• Put in <= : : => Insert
• Put off <= : : => Postpone
• Put up with <= : : => Tolerate
• Put/ set down <= : : => Deposit

R

• Rack up <= : : => Accumulate
• Really big <= : : => Considerable
• Refer to <= : : => Consult
• Remove <= : : => Eliminate
• Rich <= : : => Wealthy
• Right <= : : => Correct
• Round <= : : => Circular

S

• Say no <= : : => Reject
• Say sorry <= : : => Apologize
• Say <= : : => Express
• See <= : : => Observe
• See <= : : => Perceive
• Seem <= : : => Appear
• Set out <= : : => Display
• Settle for <= : : => Choose
• Show <= : : => Demonstrate
• Sick <= : : => Ill
• Sight <= : : => Vision
• Small <= : : => Diminutive
• So <= : : => Therefore
• Speed up <= : : => Accelerate
• Start/ Begin <= : : => Commence
• Stop <= : : => Cease
• Stubborn <= : : => Obstinate
• Sweat <= : : => Perspiration

Use formal Words to be smart in English

T

• Take out <= : : => Remove
• Talk about <= : : => Discuss/ Consider
• Talk into <= : : => Persuade
• Tell <= : : => Inform
• Test <= : : => Experiment
• Thanks <= : : => Gratitude
• Think about <= : : => Consider
• Think of <= : : => Conceive
• Throw away <= : : => Discard
• Throw out <= : : => Eject
• Tired <= : : => Exhausted/ Fatigued
• Tough <= : : => Difficult
• Try out <= : : => Test
• Try <= : : => Endeavor

U

• Use <= : : => Utilize

W

• Wait for <= : : => Await
• Want/ hope  <= : : => Desire
• Whole <= : : => Entire/ Complete
• Wood <= : : => Timber
• Worse <= : : => Inferior
• Wrong <= : : => Incorrect

Y

• Young <= : : => Youthful