Formal English Translator
Turn casual text into formal English style for emails and essays, with every change shown.
Casual English
5,000 character limit reached. Extra text was cut off.
Formal English style
Style rewrite by word swaps – not a grammar check. Read it over before you send it.
What changed
| Your word | Changed to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hey | Hello | Formal greeting or sign-off |
| free | available | More formal word |
| can't | cannot | Full form instead of a contraction |
| come to | attend | More formal word |
| Thanks a lot | Thank you very much | Formal greeting or sign-off |
No words changed. Try everyday words like gonna, kids, asap, thanks.
What Is a Formal English Translator?
A formal English translator rewrites casual writing in a more formal register: contractions are written out (can't becomes cannot), casual words are swapped for formal ones (buy becomes purchase, kids becomes children), and abbreviations like asap and btw are spelled out. Every change is listed so you can keep the ones you agree with.
It is a word swapper, not a grammar checker. It will not fix a sentence that is wrong, and it does not rearrange sentences. For the opposite direction, from plain to casual, see the slang translator.
How to Use the Formal English Translator
Paste your draft
An email, a cover letter paragraph or an essay sentence. Up to 5,000 characters.
Review each change
The table shows every swap; not all of them will suit your text.
Copy and proofread
Read the result once more before you send it.
Formal English Word Swaps
The main kinds of change the tool makes. The formal column is generated by the tool.
| Modern | Formal English style | Why it changes |
|---|---|---|
| can't | cannot | Write contractions in full in formal writing. |
| I'm | I am | I am. |
| gonna | going to | Going to. |
| hey | hello | Hello as a greeting. |
| thanks a lot | thank you very much | Thank you very much. |
| asap | as soon as possible | Spell out abbreviations. |
| btw | incidentally | Incidentally. |
| info | information | Information. |
| kids | children | Children. |
| buy | purchase | Purchase. |
| need | require | Require. |
| start | commence | Commence. |
| fix | resolve | Resolve. |
| problem | issue | Issue. |
| maybe | perhaps | Perhaps. |
| a lot of | a great deal of | A great deal of. |
| find out | determine | One verb instead of a phrasal verb: determine. |
| talk about | discuss | Discuss. |
| let me know | please inform me | Please inform me. |
| can you | could you | Could you is more polite. |
| I want | I would like | I would like. |
| yeah | yes | Yes. |
Formal English Translator Examples
Each example below was produced by this tool. Tap Try this to load it into the box above.
- Hey, can you send me the info asap?Hello, could you send me the information as soon as possible?Changed: Hey → Hello, can you → could you, info → information, asap → as soon as possible
- Let me know if you need anything.Please inform me if you require anything.Changed: Let me know → Please inform me, need → require
- I'm gonna be late tomorrow.I am going to be late tomorrow.Changed: I'm → I am, gonna → going to
- Btw, the boss wants an update.Incidentally, the manager wants an update.Changed: Btw → Incidentally, boss → manager
- We'll talk about it later.We will discuss it subsequently.Changed: We'll → We will, talk about → discuss, later → subsequently
- Maybe we can start soon.Perhaps we can commence shortly.Changed: Maybe → Perhaps, start → commence, soon → shortly
Will This Make My Writing Formal Enough?
It handles vocabulary and contractions, which is where most casual writing gives itself away. It does not change sentence structure, check grammar or know your reader. Some swaps can sound stiff in context: commence is formal, but start is often fine in a business email.
So treat the result as a checklist. Keep the swaps that fit, undo the ones that do not, and read the whole message once more before you send it.
Who the Formal English Translator Is For
- Students polishing an essay or an email to a teacher.
- Job seekers tidying up a cover letter or a follow-up email.
- English learners learning which everyday words have formal equivalents.
Other Style Translators
Historical English
Older English, from Chaucer's spelling to Shakespeare's thou and thee to a Victorian letter.
- Old English TranslatorHail, good friend, art thou coming home ere eventide?
- Shakespeare TranslatorGood morrow, good friend, thou art ever welcome here.
- Middle English TranslatorMy freend, the knyght rood hoom thurgh the nyght.
- Victorian TranslatorGood day, I am much obliged to you for the lovely soirée.
Runes
English letters written in rune alphabets, one letter at a time.
- Rune Translatorᚺᛖᛚᛚᛟ ᛗᛃ ᚠᚱᛁᛖᚾᛞ
Slang, Dialects and Tone
Everyday slang, regional speech and the formal or silly way of saying the same thing.
- Gen Z TranslatorNgl, my new fit is lowkey fire.
- Southern Accent TranslatorHey y'all, mama is makin' supper.
- Cowboy TranslatorHowdy partner, I reckon the trail is long.
- Slang TranslatorMy ride is busted, so I have no dough.
- Formal English TranslatorHello, are you available tomorrow? Thank you very much.
- Caveman TranslatorMe big hungry and me want food.
Formal English Translator FAQ
Does the formal English translator check grammar?
No. It swaps words and expands contractions. It does not correct grammar or rewrite sentences, so proofread the result.
Should I avoid contractions in formal writing?
In academic papers and very formal letters, usually yes. In everyday business email, contractions are often fine. The tool expands them all; undo the ones you want to keep.
Can it make text casual instead?
Not on this page. The slang translator goes the other way.
Is my text private?
Yes. The rewrite runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent or stored.
Why does it say commence instead of start?
It picks the more formal word. If it sounds too stiff for your message, keep start; the table shows exactly which word was swapped.
Key Points
- The formal English translator expands contractions, spells out abbreviations and swaps casual words for formal ones.
- It does not check grammar or rewrite sentences.
- Every swap is listed, so you can keep or undo each one.
- Proofread the result before sending.