English Vocabulary in Use Advanced » Unit 97: Register: degrees of formality
| neutral | formal | informal |
| _____ | offspring | _____ |
| sunglasses | _____ | |
| policeman/woman | police officer | _____ |
| _____ | brolly | |
| invaluable | _____ | |
| make sure | _____ | |
| try | _____ | |
| use | _____ |
| word | ratio spoken : written |
| 1 frequently _____ | _____ |
| 2 start _____ | _____ |
| 3 begin _____ | _____ |
| 4 maybe _____ | _____ |
| 5 moreover _____ | _____ |
Some words are formal or informal, and others are quite neutral.
Is your partner (neutral) / other half (informal) not with you today? [husband/wife]
Rick’s a really nice bloke/guy. [man; informal]
She is able to converse with everyone, which is a great gift. [have a conversation; formal]
Sometimes it is possible to arrange words into sets of neutral, formal and informal words.
| neutral | formal | informal |
| TV/television | the box / (the) telly | |
| glasses | spectacles | specs |
| clothes | clothing/garments | gear |
| use | employ/utilise | |
| try | endeavour/attempt | have a go/stab/bash/crack/shot at |
Some words are more associated with either spoken or written language. It is worth noting if a word has a particularly strong association with speech (S) or writing (W).
| word/phrase | S/W | comment and example |
| subsequently | W | Linking adverb: (in speech, more likely to be ‘later’ or ‘afterwards’) e.g. The police found some important clues. Subsequently, three people were arrested. |
| in sum | W | Linking expression: means ‘to sum up’, e.g. In sum, we may say that most, but not all, English adverbs end in -ly. |
| whatsisname/whatsername | S | vague word: used when we cannot remember the name of a person, e.g. I met whatsername at the party, you know, the woman who works at the university. |
| thingy | S | vague word: used as a noun, of people and things whose name one cannot remember, e.g. Give me that thingy there, yes, that bottle opener. |
| mind you | S | discourse marker: used to bring attention to an important point, e.g. He’s a good actor. Mind you, he should be – he went to the best drama college. |
| now then | S | discourse marker: used to get people’s attention when you want to ask or tell them something, e.g. Now then, is everybody’s luggage here? |
Some words and expressions may be correct, but may sound archaic (outdated) or old-fashioned, e.g. asylum [hospital for the mentally ill], frock [dress], wireless [radio], consumption [tuberculosis/TB], eyeglasses [glasses].
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