Spoken English versus Written English: Examples on how Spoken English is different from Written English

There are many differences between written English and how real English is spoken.  These can be confusing when learning English.  This is the reason why immersion in the language is required and learning to write English is as important as learning to speak English.  Here are examples on how real Spoken English is different from textbook English.

 Real Spoken English is informal

Writing, whether in newspapers, books or magazines can be far more structured and complex than conversational English.  This is because writing in a formal way has to include punctuation and proper sentence and paragraph structure.  Writing in instant messaging format can be more like spoken English.  Speaking is more general and requires a knowledge of intonation, stress, timing and pitch.

Spoken English has more simplicity

English spoken between 2 or more people and covers general English perhaps in a more general and simpler form than written English.  Written English needs to be formal when used for education and business.

English when spoken has rhythm 

In real English there is more rhythm, difference in speed of speaking together with pauses and gestures in body language and is based on mental thought and interaction with others.  In written English, there is more of a defined content.

Conversational English can be more transient

Writing is permanent and hence needs to be more structure.  Spoken English can be changed as one goes along, is immediate and so therefore is more transient.

Written English can use headings, colors and graphics which cannot be incorporated in real English.  Written English can be more articulate than real English and more precise.

Use of slang and colloquialism

There is certain vocabulary which is only used in spoken English for example slang and shortened forms like saying 2018 either as 20 18 or two thousand and eighteen.

Real spoken English is far more informal and/or spontaneous whereas written English is far more formal, complicated and/or planned.  Many of the 100 top spoken words are verbs compared to in the written form when the majority are prepositions and articles. 

Good and clear pronunciation is required for speaking whereas a good knowledge of grammar is required for written English.

Narrative form

Spoken English is face to face and is more in narrative form, event based, action based and story based.  Written English can be expository based, idea based, explaining ideas and describing future and past.

There are differences between speaking and writing American English and British English.  Decide which form of English you would like to learn and then practice reading, writing, listening and speaking.  Spoken language is very flexible in the way we talk and the word order is not as precise as when in the written form. By practicing all aspects of the English language, you will learn to converse with native speakers as well as learning the differences between real Spoken English and written English.  To sum up, real English is the casual way natives speak English.  Native speakers can speak quickly using idioms, phrasal verbs and even slang whereas written English is far more structured and the rules of written English need to be learnt.  Enjoy learning the differences between Spoken English and written English.