Certain statements, by Mr Cheney in particular, tempt the thought that sometimes the administration could not even be bothered with this formality.

ECONOMIST: How the Americans and British got it all so wrong

The two sides dispensed with that formality after a mere 12 months.

FORBES: Seed money

Employees will turn up to work at predictable hours five days a week, and will comport themselves with greater formality than before.

ECONOMIST: Business

Normally this would be a formality, with the vice-chairman, Shawn Steel, a lawyer, stepping into the post.

ECONOMIST: California��s Republicans

Her daughters Jennifer and Lesley were looking for a simple funeral with a "lack of fuss and a lack of formality, because that was the sort of woman she was".

BBC: Green burials' growing popularity

The differences between these two schools of thought are large and evident: for dualists, the informal economy is marginal, residual and comprises those who are most disadvantaged, while for voluntarists, it is a much more complex sector with context-specific dynamics and numerous connections and implications in terms of formality and regulation.

FORBES: Informality: A Marker Of Opportunity

The reigning champions have cruised through the tournament so far with ominous-looking form, but Fitzgibbon insists the result is not a formality.

BBC: Aussies driven by fear of failure

And with Imran Tahir and Boyd Rankin offering little resistance, the follow-on was a formality.

BBC: Warwickshire blown away by Nottinghamshire attack

Weber also denied reports that an agreement had been reached with Renault boss Flavio Briatore "on all major issues" and a finalised contract was a formality.

BBC: Ralf 'keen to stay put'

United started the final, played in stifling heat, as if retaining their crown would be little more than a formality, creating a host of early chances against the nervous-looking Catalans, with Cristiano Ronaldo a constant threat.

BBC: Barcelona 2-0 Man Utd