Research on formulaic sequences in speech production has been an important aspect in the speaking research area since 1983. It has been done in four dimensions: 1) the exploration of the relationship between formulaic sequences and speaking ability; 2) research on the processing and retrieval of formulaic sequences during speech production; 3) corpus-based research on the characteristics of formulaic sequences in speech production; 4) research on the teaching of formulaic sequences and its effects on learners’ speaking proficiency. The paper reviews research on these issues from 1983 to 2010, analyzes the existing problems in previous studies, and discusses prospective research trends.