What Is the Difference Between Casual and Academic English?

A new school year is about to start in many parts of the northern hemisphere (although academic calendars vary widely). If you are attending an English-speaking school for the first time, you may be a little confused about the different styles of communication around you. The English in your reading materials and your instructors’ lectures is likely to be very different from the English you hear in the dormitories, the student center, or the gym.

In this article, we will explore the differences between casual English, academic English, and a middle-ground style we refer to as “business casual” English. Knowing when and how to use each style of English can help you communicate more effectively and appropriately when you’re writing a paper, sending an email to a professor, or socializing with friends.

What is casual English?

Hey, what’s up? Wanna head over to Starbucks after the exam and grab a coffee? I gotta tell you about some crazy frat boys I met at the party last night.

Casual English is what people use in their everyday conversations with friends, family, and even coworkers in relaxed settings such as office parties or coffee breaks. In terms of writing, casual English is the language of text messages, most social media posts, and some emails.

Compared to formal English, casual English is actually harder for many non-native speakers to master. It can also be a challenge for native speakers with autism, ADHD, and language-related learning disabilities. You’re allowed to disregard some of the spelling and grammar rules, but not all. And your writing still needs to sound natural.

Casual English writing often includes:

• Contractions (e.g., “I’m” instead of “I am” or “they’ve” instead of “they have”)
• Idioms, acronyms, and slang (e.g., LOL, wanna, gonna, hang out, meh, sus, TTYL)
• Simple sentence structures
• Sentence fragments instead of full, complete sentences
• Personal tone (e.g., frequently using “I” or “you”)

What Is Academic English?

According to Smith, Jones, and Smythe (2023), rates of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, increased by 35% within the first five years after the incinerator began operations in the city.

Academic English is the style used in university admissions, scholarly writing, and professional communications across campus. It shows that you have taken the time to structure your thoughts and support them with evidence or logic.

While academic English is a type of formal English, the two are not exactly the same. Formal English is a broad category that includes any style of English used in serious, professional, or ceremonial contexts, including legal documents, official speeches, business reports, and even invitations to certain social events. Academic English, on the other hand, is formal language tailored specifically for educational and research settings. It emphasizes clarity, evidence-based arguments, and discipline-specific vocabulary.

To put it simply, all academic English is formal, but not all formal English is academic.

Key features of academic English include:

• Formal vocabulary (e.g., “conduct research” rather than “look into”)
• Complex sentence structures (including lengthy sentences that would not be acceptable even in many other formal contexts)
• Objective tone (e.g., “research shows…” rather than “I think…”)
• Few contractions
• Field-specific jargon
• No slang or text talk

 

What about “business casual” English?

Since I have another class during your usual office hours, could we meet and discuss the project on either Tuesday or Thursday afternoon? I would really appreciate it.

Here on the TextRanch blog, we often talk about “business casual English”, a third style that falls between casual and formal English. Despite the name, this tone is not strictly for business. It is also ideal for academic contexts where you want to sound professional and respectful, but not overly formal.

Business casual English is:

• Polite, but approachable
• Clear and concise
• Professional without being stiff
• Friendly, but free of slang
• Plain, without a lot of jargon

Think of the way you would write an email to a professor requesting a meeting about a class project. You wouldn’t use academic vocabulary, but you also wouldn’t use slang or text talk. Your email would be polite, respectful, and serious, yet at the same time, you would use normal, everyday language.

Need more examples? Most of our TextRanch blog articles are written in business casual English!

What difference does it make?

Using the wrong type of English in the wrong setting can cause confusion. Unless you are all working on a class assignment together, you will sound odd if you use academic English with your friends. However, if you use ultra casual English with your professors, they might think you aren’t taking your studies seriously.

Imagine submitting an essay that begins with “So, basically, I think this book was kinda hard to get into and the family relationships freaked me out…” Would you get a good grade on this paper? Probably not.

When you’re unsure, here’s a table to help you figure out when to use each style of English.

Situation	Use
Chatting with friends or family	Casual English
Posting on social media	Casual English Business casual English for more serious topics
Participating in an online discussion for a class	Academic or business casual English, depending on the nature of the class/topic
Writing an academic essay or thesis	Academic English
Writing an article for a professional publication	Academic English
Giving an oral presentation in class	Academic English or business casual English, depending on the topic/class
Writing an email to your professor	Business casual English for most everyday situations Academic English when you are referring to material you are learning in class
Applying to graduate school	Academic/formal English

Always keep your audience and your purpose in mind. If your goal is to inform or persuade in a formal setting, academic English is the way to go. If you’re building relationships or communicating in a more personal or professional-but-friendly context, business casual English is probably your best choice.

Many of our TextRanch customers are students and professors who want to make sure their English is correct, clear, and appropriate. Click the blue button below, type or upload your text, and we’ll let you know if something sounds too informal, too stiff, or just right.

We have editors in different time zones throughout the world, which means we’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So if it’s 3AM and you need someone to help you with your English, you don’t have to wait until morning!