Spoken English vs Written English: Know the Difference
One of the most common difficulties that students encounter in English is the distinction between oral and written English. Each form of language has its role and is used in different contexts. Distinguishing the two forms of language is not only important for your learning of the language but also in order to communicate appropriately in the given context. For example, there is a huge difference between chatting with friends in an informal situation and writing a formal report for work.
Oral English is used for day-to-day conversations, either face-to-face, over the phone, or via videoconference. It is casual and natural, flowing rather organically based on the pace of the conversation. You do not have the opportunity to deliberately choose your words carefully, so more oral English is faster, with more contractions/slang, proprietary, and everyday expressions. Written English also means to convey a formal and intended message. Written English is used in workplaces, essays, formal documents, and emails. In these examples where written English is more formal , you have time to think about how you want to convey your message, and a coherent message is produced for the readers. Written English generally has more complex, longer sentences and requires proper punctuation, structure, and grammar.
1. Purpose & Context: Spoken English vs. Written English
Knowing the purpose and context of spoken and written English is critical to mastering each in its own way. Although both forms of English are used to communicate ideas, the other purposes for which they are used depend on the context in which you use them (the situation), the audience you intend to convey messages to, and the purpose/message(s). In this section, we will look at how we use spoken and written English, considering purpose and context.
Spoken English
Purpose: The primary purpose of spoken English is interactively, so if you are using it when having a discussion with family or friends, seeking a job, or giving a public speech, the nature of the purpose is to transfer or communicate some information. In general/typical use, you want to:
- Communicate some thoughts, ideas, or feelings spontaneously.
- Clarify or respond instantly to a question/topic.
- Engage with an audience, whether it’s social or professional.
- Establish personal relations or show empathy.
For example, when in a discussion with a friend, you may have a purpose of offering a personal experience, obtaining advice, or reacting in an enthusiastic manner. In a work/semi-formal scenario, spoken English is typically used to give instructions, clarify abstract concepts, or give feedback in meetings.
Context: Spoken English tends to be used in informal or semi-formal contexts.
For example,
- Daily conversations with family and friends.
- Workplace-type social meetings or brainstorming.
- Presentations or speeches, where the speaker speaks to the audience
- Social occasions or situations where the situation is more relaxed
The context of spoken English is fluid. Things can change quickly, particularly in informal contexts, where the speaker may be influenced by their own emotional state or the immediate context. In more formalized professional contexts or public contexts, the tone of the spoken English may change to become more formal, but the spontaneous characteristics of spoken interaction are still critical.
Key Features:
- Real-time, immediate exchange of ideas or responses
- More interactive and dynamic. Often involves both body language and emotions.
- Utilized in informal and semi-formal contexts.
Written English
Purpose: The purpose of written English is to create permanent, structured communication that can be referred to later. Written English has advantages over spoken English because it allows the writer time to think through their ideas and represent them more formally and precisely. The primary purposes of written English are to:
- Record information for future reference.
- Share ideas or express arguments more clearly and structurally.
- Represent complex ideas or detailed instructions.
- Create a formal record for legal, academic, or professional purposes.
An email to a colleague may have a greater level of formality compared to a more casual telephone conversation. Also, when writing an essay or report, where the development of ideas or argumentation must be stated in a structured manner – often using evidence.
Context The use of written English is mostly in more formal contexts that require clarity and precision, for example:
- Academic writing: essays, research papers, and dissertations
- Business communication: emails, reports, contracts, and proposals.
- Publications: books, articles, newspapers, and blogs
- Legal and formal documentation: contracts, legal notices, and policies.
The context of written English is generally more organized than spoken English. When communicating through writing (particularly formally), the focus is on:
- Correct grammar and sentence structure.
- Punctuation and organization
- The tone can range from formal to semi-formal, but it is more impersonal than spoken English.
Key points:
- Communication is permanent and can be reviewed in the future.
- More thought and planning must happen before sending and/or publishing.
- Formal contexts such as writing reports, essays, or emails
2. Grammar and Sentence Structure
When you are learning English as a second language, one of the biggest differences that learners notice between spoken communication and written communication is how the grammar and sentence structures function. This difference is fundamental for learners to understand, particularly those students attempting to achieve fluency, develop a personality, or succeed on assessments like the IELTS or PTE.
Spoken English
In spoken English language, individuals tend to use:
- Shorter sentences
- Incomplete grammatical structures
- Contractions and slang
- Expressions used in everyday communication that do not follow strict grammatical rules
For example:
“I dunno, maybe I’ll go later.”
(Instead of: “I do not know. Maybe I will go later.”)
In conversations, most speakers are actually concerned with speed, clarity, and connection, not perfecting grammar. Thus:
- Individuals often take out the subject (“Coming?”).
- Individuals use fillers (“um,” “you know,” “like”).
- Individuals can begin sentences with ‘And’, ‘But’ and ‘So’, which are generally avoided in conventional writing.
This is what makes spoken English fluid and natural, which is especially helpful to learners who are aiming to develop their personality in real-life communicational situations.
Written English
Written English, particularly for professional, academic, or assessment purposes, you are expected to use:
- Complete sentence structures.
- Correct punctuation.
- Correct tense, subject/verb agreement, and transitional words.
- Do not use contractions, slang, or casual expressions.
For example:
“Even though he was tired, he kept studying for the exam.”
In written English, compound or complex sentences are common for expressing relationships between ideas because they are generally more purposeful and proofed since readers expect clarity and correctness.
3. Vocabulary Choice
One of the biggest differences between spoken and written English is the type of vocabulary used. For example, do we use informal or formal words? Knowing how to use informal and formal vocabulary can make you much more effective at communicating, whether you’re sitting with friends or writing a convincing IELTS essay.
Spoken English
In most conversations, we simply use words that are
- Simple.
- Informal.
- Easy to say aloud.
- Contextual or emotional.
Examples:
“Kids” instead of “children.”
“Gonna” instead of “going to.”
“Cool” instead of “interesting.”
“Wanna hang out?” instead of “Would you like to meet?”
This type of vocabulary is excellent when working with:
- Spoken language classes.
- Personality development.
- Creating fluency in real life.
Written English
Written language: formal, academic vocabulary
- When we write, especially when writing in an academic or professional environment (IELTS, reports, emails), we must be more deliberate about our word choice.
- More exact and formal.
- Often domain-specific or academic.
- Rarely uses contractions or slang.
- Utilizes collocations (e.g., “take responsibility,” “make a decision”).
Some examples:
“Children” instead of “kids.”
“Therefore” instead of “so.”
“Acquire knowledge” instead of “learn stuff.”
In IELTS Writing or PTE essays, vocabulary choice can make a big difference in your band score or overall clarity.
4. Tone & Style
Another key difference between spoken English and written English is in terms of tone and style. These different aspects can also have a huge impact on how your message is perceived—whether you’re chatting casually with a friend or you’re laying out a formal idea in writing.
Spoken English
In conversations, the tone is:
- Friendly and informal
- Often emotional or expressive
- Sometimes interrupted by pauses or reactions
- Can contain humor, sarcasm, and slang
One example could look like:
“You’re not going to believe what happened today!”
“No way! Are you serious?”
“I mean… it was completely unexpected!”
Spoken English has action, interaction, and immediacy. You can see someone’s reaction and change your tone accordingly, right then and there!
Written English
When you speak, your tone and style may be:
- Casual, informal, and neutral (particularly in exams like IELTS)
- Not structured with no logical flow
- Riddled with personal interjections or distractions
For an immediate response, it doesn’t matter how you speak.
In English, for example, I could say:
“That was surprising and suggested another call might be worthwhile.”
(Instead of: “That was super shocking and weird!”)
Well-written content reflects professionalism, crispness, and ease with language. It is not just what you write; rather, it is how you write it on a paper.
5. Punctuation & Pauses
Although it may seem insignificant, punctuation in writing and pauses in speech dramatically influence how ideas translate or come across. Let’s break it down:
Spoken English
Punctuation allows the reader to hear your voice on the page. Written English does not have vocal tone or a face, so punctuation is your device to create:
- Rhythm
- Emphasis
- Clarity
Punctuation marks you would be familiar with:
- Period (.) to end a sentence
- Comma (,) for pauses or separating ideas
- Colon (:) / Semicolon (;) to introduce or connect related ideas.
- Question mark (?) for questioning a statement
- Quotation marks (” “) for direct speech
Example:
I was excited, nervous, and also a little scared, but I knew I had to try.
When writing for IELTS or PTE, using standard punctuation is of critical importance to
Achieve high scores on coherence and cohesion.
Avoid sentence fragments or run-on sentences.
Make your ideas clearer to read.
At GILP, we are teaching punctuation in our writing and grammar workshops to make writing more professional for students and improve scores.
Written English
In spoken English, a pause functions as a punctuation mark. We do not use a symbol; instead, we use:
- Breath and rhythm
- Voice inflection
- Strategic silence
A spoken example (with a natural pause):
“Honestly, I didn’t expect that. But it turned out to be amazing.
6. Use of Contractions and Abbreviations
The way we talk is much more informal and spontaneous than how we write. One of the clearest examples is our use of contractions (I’m, don’t, won’t) and abbreviations (ASAP, FYI, LOL) when we speak vs. the longer, formal style often used in writing.
Spoken English
When we are engaged in conversations, contractions are used naturally. We use contractions because:
- They are quicker to produce.
- They sound less stiff and formal.
- They mirror the rhythm of everyday spoken English.
Spoken English Examples:
“I’m going to the market.” (Instead of: I am going to the market.)
“He doesn’t like spicy food.” (Instead of: He does not like spicy food.)
We also use abbreviations and other informal phrases:
“FYI, we are leaving at 6.”
“I will ping you later.”
“TBH, I didn’t get it.”
Written English
Formal and Precise Language Contractions are typically not appropriate in academic and professional letter writing (IELTS Writing Task 2, emails, reports, or essays); therefore, you should use full forms instead because:
- They appear more formal.
- They provide clarity and emphasize your point.
- They demonstrate that you pay attention to detail.
Written examples:
“I am interested in applying for the position.”
“They do not agree with the findings.”
“Please respond as early as possible.” (not ASAP)
You should also be careful with abbreviations in writing. In formal contexts, you should only use recognized abbreviations (etc., e.g., ie).
7. Vocabulary Choice
A primary distinction in spoken versus written English is the type of vocabulary we use. In spoken English, we are normally in more simple and more familiar vocabulary; however, in written English, especially in its more formal expression, this is often in a more formal, more specific, and often sophisticated vocabulary. Correspondingly, we can differentiate between informal spoken English and more formal written English vocabularies.
Spoken English
In spoken English, we often use what are often very basic, commonly accessible vocabulary so the conversation can flow well and easily, especially in informal situations or casual banter with friends.
Examples:
“It was really good.”
“He is a nice guy.”
“I was super tired yesterday.”
“She is mad at me.”
In addition to everyday language, we also use common words and phrases such as idioms, phrasal verbs, and colloquial language:
- “I ran into him at the mall.” (met him by chance)
- “Let’s hang out tomorrow.” (spend time with)
- “This party is lit!” (amazing, great fun)
Written English
By contrast, written English—especially for purposes such as exams like IELTS, formal emailing, report writing, etc.—is often precise and expected to be in more formal or higher-level vocabulary.
Examples:
Instead of very good use: exceptional, remarkable, outstanding.
Instead of a nice guy, use “an amiable person.
Instead of super tired, use “exhausted or fatigued.
Now that you understand the key differences between spoken and written English, it’s time to put that knowledge into action!
Conclusion
In today’s world, communication entails utilizing both spoken and written English and switching between the two with confidence. Spoken English is more casual, expressive, and spontaneous and is often used in face-to-face conversation, interviews, or discussions, while written English is more structural, clear, and formal. The differences between spoken and written English learning skills will allow you to communicate your ideas with clarity in whichever context you are communicating. Whether you are preparing for an English exam like IELTS or simply want to sound more fluent in everyday interactions, developing both your spoken and written skills is important. One form of the language helps you build a natural connection with other people in real time, while the other helps you to think and express your ideas carefully and in the right way. Ultimately, with consistent practice and focus on grammar, vocabulary, and tone, you can learn both forms.