Formal vs. Casual — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
Formal implies adherence to established rules or customs, often official or ceremonial; casual denotes a relaxed, informal, or unplanned manner or appearance.
Difference Between Formal and Casual
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Formal communication follows a structured approach, with attention to rules and procedures, while casual conversation is free-flowing and natural. Formal attire often includes suits and dresses, while casual wear encompasses jeans and t-shirts.
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In formal writing, one adheres to grammatical rules strictly, using complete sentences and precise vocabulary. Casual writing might involve slang, contractions, and a conversational tone. The formal setting may involve ceremonies or official meetings, contrasting with casual environments like home or coffee shops.
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Formal behavior is characterized by reserved and polite interactions that follow social etiquettes, as opposed to casual behavior that is more relaxed and less constrained by strict social norms. In a formal context, one might be more conscious of hierarchy and roles, whereas in a casual context, these boundaries are often blurred or less emphasized.
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Formal events are planned with specific details and often an agenda, while casual gatherings are typically spontaneous or loosely organized. The formal language is typically used in professional or official communications, whereas casual language is used in everyday conversation and personal correspondence.
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Comparison Chart
Tone
Structured and serious
Relaxed and friendly
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Language
Precise and grammatically strict
Colloquial and permissive
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Attire
Dressy, suits, and gowns
Comfortable, jeans, and tees
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Behavior
Reserved and polite
Open and spontaneous
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Settings
Ceremonial, official events
Informal gatherings, everyday settings
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Compare with Definitions
Formal
Following or being in accord with accepted forms, conventions, or regulations.
He sent a formal letter of complaint to the company.
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Casual
Relaxed and unconcerned.
It was just a casual get-together with a few friends.
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Formal
Characterized by strict or meticulous adherence to detail.
Her formal attire was appropriate for the gala.
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Casual
Happening by chance; not planned or expected.
They met through a casual encounter at a café.
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Formal
Suitable for events requiring high standards of dress and manners.
They held a formal dinner for the dignitaries.
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Casual
Relaxed and unconcerned
A casual attitude to life
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Formal
Having an orderly and conventional structure.
The document was written in a very formal style.
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Casual
Not regular or permanent.
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Formal
Relating to or involving outward form or structure, often in contrast to content or meaning.
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Casual
Happening by chance; accidental
He pretended it was a casual meeting
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Formal
Being or relating to essential form or constitution
A formal principle.
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Casual
Without formality of style or manner, in particular (of clothing) suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions
An ideal coat for casual occasions
A casual short-sleeved shirt
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Formal
Following or being in accord with accepted or prescribed forms, conventions, or regulations
Had little formal education.
Went to a formal party.
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Casual
A person who does something irregularly
A number of casuals became regular customers
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Formal
Characterized by strict or meticulous observation of forms; methodical
Very formal in their business transactions.
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Casual
Clothes or shoes suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions
She designs women's casuals
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Formal
Stiffly ceremonious
A formal greeting.
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Casual
A youth belonging to a subculture characterized by the wearing of expensive casual clothing and frequently associated with football hooliganism.
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Formal
Characterized by technical or polysyllabic vocabulary, complex sentence structure, and explicit transitions; not colloquial or informal
Formal discourse.
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Casual
Being without ceremony or formality; relaxed or informal
A casual evening with friends.
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Formal
Having the outward appearance but lacking in substance
A formal requirement that is usually ignored.
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Casual
Unpremeditated or offhand
A casual remark.
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Formal
Something, such as a gown or social affair, that is formal in nature.
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Casual
Suited for everyday wear or informal use
Casual clothing.
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Formal
Being in accord with established forms.
She spoke formal English, without any dialect.
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Casual
Not serious or thorough; superficial
A casual inspection.
A casual understanding of French.
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Formal
Official.
I'd like to make a formal complaint.
Despite efforts by limnologists and freshwater biologists to create a formal definition of “pond”, there is still no universal distinction between a “pond” and a “lake.”
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Casual
Showing little interest or concern; nonchalant
"speaks with casual aplomb about being shot at" (Janelle Brown).
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Formal
Relating to the form or structure of something.
Formal linguistics ignores the vocabulary of languages and focuses solely on their grammar.
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Casual
Occurring or being such by chance
"in the first months when I was pregnant, before it was obvious to the casual observer" (Anne Roiphe).
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Formal
Relating to formation.
The formal stage is a critical part of any child's development.
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Casual
Occurring at irregular or infrequent intervals; occasional
Casual employment at a factory.
A casual correspondence with a former teacher.
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Formal
Ceremonial or traditional.
Formal wear must be worn at my wedding!
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Casual
Employed on an irregular basis
Casual workers.
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Formal
Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual.
He's always very formal, and I wish he'd relax a bit.
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Casual
Socialized with only occasionally; not close or intimate
A casual acquaintance.
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Formal
Organized; well-structured and planned.
When they became a formal club the rowers built a small boathouse.
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Casual
Being or occurring between sexual partners who are not in an established relationship
Casual lovers.
Casual sex.
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Formal
(mathematics) Relating to mere manipulation and construction of strings of symbols, without regard to their meaning.
Formal series are defined without any reference to convergence.
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Casual
One that serves or appears at irregular intervals, especially a temporary worker.
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Formal
(clothing) An evening gown.
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Casual
Casuals Casualwear
Sent my casuals to the cleaners.
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Formal
An event with a formal dress code.
Jenny took Sam to her Year 12 formal.
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Casual
A soldier temporarily attached to a unit while awaiting permanent assignment.
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Formal
(programming) A formal parameter.
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Casual
Happening by chance.
They only had casual meetings.
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Formal
(Oxbridge slang) formal hall.
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Casual
Coming without regularity; occasional or incidental.
The purchase of donuts was just a casual expense.
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Formal
(uncountable) Formalin.
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Casual
Employed irregularly.
He was just a casual worker.
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Formal
An acetal formed from formaldehyde.
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Casual
Careless.
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Formal
See Methylal.
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Casual
Happening or coming to pass without design.
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Formal
Belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing.
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Casual
(of behavior, usage, or milieu) Informal; relaxed.
Tone in casual interactions
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Formal
Belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter composing it; having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential; pertaining to or depending on the forms, so called, of the human intellect.
Of [the sounds represented by] letters, the material part is breath and voice; the formal is constituted by the motion and figure of the organs of speech.
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Casual
(of clothing or utensils) Designed for informal or everyday use.
Business casual
Pants in the casual wear collection
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Formal
Done in due form, or with solemnity; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular; express; as, he gave his formal consent.
His obscure funeral . . . No noble rite nor formal ostentation.
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Casual
A worker who is only working for a company occasionally, not as its permanent employee.
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Formal
Devoted to, or done in accordance with, forms or rules; punctilious; regular; orderly; methodical; of a prescribed form; exact; prim; stiff; ceremonious; as, a man formal in his dress, his gait, his conversation.
A cold-looking, formal garden, cut into angles and rhomboids.
She took off the formal cap that confined her hair.
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Casual
A soldier temporarily at a place of duty, usually en route to another place of duty.
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Formal
Having the form or appearance without the substance or essence; external; as, formal duty; formal worship; formal courtesy, etc.
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Casual
A member of a group of football hooligans who wear expensive designer clothing to avoid police attention; see casual (subculture).
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Formal
Dependent in form; conventional.
Still in constraint your suffering sex remains,Or bound in formal or in real chains.
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Casual
One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.
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Formal
Sound; normal.
To make of him a formal man again.
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Casual
A player of casual games.
The devs dumbed the game down so the casuals could enjoy it.
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Formal
Being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress);
Pay one's formal respects
Formal dress
A formal ball
The requirement was only formal and often ignored
A formal education
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Casual
(fandom slang) A person whose engagement with media is relaxed or superficial.
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Formal
Characteristic of or befitting a person in authority;
Formal duties
An official banquet
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Casual
A tramp.
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Formal
(of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms;
The paper was written in formal English
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Casual
Shoes suitable for everyday use, as opposed to more formal footwear.
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Formal
Represented in simplified or symbolic form
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Casual
Happening or coming to pass without design, and without being foreseen or expected; accidental; fortuitous; coming by chance.
Casual breaks, in the general system.
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Formal
Logically deductive;
Formal proof
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Casual
Coming without regularity; occasional; incidental; as, casual expenses.
A constant habit, rather than a casual gesture.
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Formal
Refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court;
A courtly gentleman
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Casual
One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.
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Formal
Official and having a structured format or procedure.
The formal meeting was scheduled for nine o'clock.
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Casual
Marked by blithe unconcern;
An ability to interest casual students
Showed a casual disregard for cold weather
An utterly insouciant financial policy
An elegantly insouciant manner
Drove his car with nonchalant abandon
Was polite in a teasing nonchalant manner
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Casual
Without or seeming to be without plan or method; offhand;
A casual remark
Information collected by casual methods and in their spare time
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Casual
Suited for everyday use;
Casual clothes
Everyday clothes
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Casual
Occurring or appearing or singled out by chance;
Their accidental meeting led to a renewal of their friendship
Seek help from casual passers-by
A casual meeting
A chance occurrence
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Casual
Hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough;
A casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house's structural flaws
A passing glance
Perfunctory courtesy
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Casual
Employed in a specified capacity from time to time;
Casual employment
A casual correspondence with a former teacher
An occasional worker
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Casual
Characterized by a feeling of irresponsibility;
A broken back is nothing to be casual about; it is no fooling matter
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Casual
Natural and unstudied;
Using their Christian names in a casual way
Lectured in a free-and-easy style
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Casual
Not showing effort or strain;
A difficult feat performed with casual mastery
Careless grace
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Casual
Not regular or permanent, in terms of employment or commitment.
He took a casual job during the summer months.
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Casual
Informal in style or manner; suited for everyday use.
She wore her casual clothes to the picnic.
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Casual
Not serious or thorough; superficial.
He gave the report a casual read.
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Common Curiosities
Can a gathering be semi-formal?
Yes, semi-formal is a blend of formal and casual, often seen in dress codes for events.
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What defines formal language?
Formal language is structured, follows conventional rules, and avoids colloquialisms.
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Can casual attire be worn to a formal event?
No, casual attire is typically inappropriate for formal events.
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Are emails formal or casual?
Emails can be both; it depends on the context and the recipient.
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Are formal occasions always important or significant?
Typically, yes, formal occasions often carry a degree of importance.
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Can casual relationships evolve into formal partnerships?
Yes, casual business relationships can become formal as trust and involvement grow.
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Does formal mean uncomfortable?
Not necessarily, though formal situations can sometimes feel less relaxed.
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Is casual conversation appropriate in business meetings?
Generally, a more formal tone is expected in business meetings, though it depends on the company culture.
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Do formal documents require a signature?
Yes, formal documents usually require a signature to indicate agreement or acknowledgment.
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Is formal education necessary for professional success?
Not always, but formal education can provide a structured learning path and credentials.
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Is a handshake a formal or casual greeting?
A handshake is considered a formal greeting.
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Is it possible to write formally without being overly complex?
Yes, clarity and simplicity can be maintained even in formal writing.
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Does casual dress mean sloppy?
No, casual dress can be neat and tidy while being relaxed and informal.
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Can formal behavior be perceived as unfriendly?
Sometimes, as it may be interpreted as cold or distant.
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Are formal instructions better than casual ones?
Formal instructions are clearer and more detailed, which can be beneficial in certain scenarios.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content editor at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
