Register: From Spoken to Formal

Reference

Common mistakes

1. Hey Sir, I am writing to complain. → Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to complain.
   formal letter → formal greeting
2. Got your email. Will reply soon. Yours faithfully, → Thanks for your email — I'll reply soon. Best wishes,
   match the sign-off to the register
3. One should check their work. → One should check one's work. / You should check your work.
   keep one or you consistent
4. This essay, it argues that… → This essay argues that…
   heads are spoken grammar

Register: From Spoken to Formal — Exercises

Choose the best option

Circle the correct answer.

1. Formal email: "We _____ if you could confirm by Monday." (would be grateful / want it / need you)
2. Which is spoken grammar (a "head")? (My sister, she's a doctor. / My sister is a doctor. / My sister works as a doctor.)
3. Which is the most formal? (One must consider all options. / You gotta think about everything. / Think about all the options.)
4. Which email opening matches "Yours faithfully"? (Dear Sir or Madam, / Hi there, / Hey,)
5. Which uses vague language? (We bought bread, cheese and stuff. / We bought bread and cheese. / We purchased bread and cheese.)
6. Academic: "As _____ saw in the previous section, …" (we / you guys / one)
7. Which sentence has a register clash? (Hey Professor, I would be most obliged if you could extend my deadline. / Dear Professor Lee, could I possibly have an extension? / Hi Sam, can I have a few more days?)
8. Which is ellipsis in speech? (Sounds great! / That sounds great! / It sounds great to me!)

Change the register

Write the missing word or words.

1. Informal: Can you send it? → Formal: I would be   if you could send it.
2. Spoken:   a minute? (Have you got a minute?)
3. Very formal:   must always check the facts.
4. Formal letter to an unknown person ends: Yours   ,
5. Spoken tail: It's really good,   film.
6. Academic: The   will note that the sample was small.

Register: From Spoken to Formal — Answer Key

Choose the best option

1. would be grateful — Formal request → would be grateful.
2. My sister, she's a doctor. — Head: noun first, then a pronoun.
3. One must consider all options. — One + must → very formal.
4. Dear Sir or Madam, — Yours faithfully → Dear Sir or Madam.
5. We bought bread, cheese and stuff. — and stuff = vague, spoken.
6. we — Inclusive academic → we.
7. Hey Professor, I would be most obliged if you could extend my deadline. — Informal greeting + very formal request = clash.
8. Sounds great! — Subject left out → Sounds great!

Change the register

1. grateful
2. Got
3. One
4. faithfully
5. this
6. reader