Language Registers

• The language register determines the vocabulary,

structure, and some grammar in your writing.
The three most common language
registers

•Formal
•Informal
•Neutral
• The formal register is more appropriate for
professional writing and letters to a boss or a stranger. 
• The informal register (also called casual or intimate) is
conversational and appropriate when writing to friends
and people you know very well.
• The neutral register is non-emotional and sticks to
facts. It is most appropriate for technical writings.
Formal writing includes:

•Business Letters     

•Letters of complaint
•Some essays
•Reports
•Official speeches
•Announcements
•Professional emails
1. Do not use contractions

• In formal writing, you should use:

• cannot instead of can’t
• have not instead of haven’t
• will not instead of won’t
• could not instead of couldn’t
• is not instead of isn’t
2. Spell out numbers less than one hundred

• Examples:
nineteen
• twenty-two
• seventy-eight
• six
3. Write in third person point of view

• In formal writing, we usually do not use first person or second person

unless it is a quote.

Avoid using:
I
• You
• We
• Us
• Examples:
You can purchase a car for under $10,000.

One can purchase a car for under $10,000.

 4. Avoid using too much passive voice

• In formal writing it is better to use an active voice.

Passive sentences:
• The bone was eaten by the dog.
• The research was completed by the students in 2009.

Active sentences:

• The dog ate the bone.

• The students completed the research in 2009. 
• In 2009, the students completed the research.
 5. Avoid using slang, idioms, exaggeration (hyperboles) and clichés

• Slang is common in informal writing and spoken English. Slang is particular to a

certain region or area. 

Examples of slang:
• awesome/cool
• okay/ok
• check it out

A cliché is a phrase that is overused (said too often).

Common clichés: 
• too much of a good thing
• moment of truth
6. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms

• If you use an acronym or abbreviation, write it out the

first time

When using acronyms, write the entire name out the

first time it appears, followed by the acronym. From
then on, you can use the acronym by itself.

Examples:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT)
• or abbreviations, write the complete word the first time,
then use the abbreviation.

Examples:
influenza => flu
• United States of America => U.S.A or USA
• tablespoon => tbsp.
• Kansas => KS
• Do not use slang abbreviations or symbols that
you would use in friendly emails and texts.

Examples:
LOL (laugh out loud)
• ttyl (talk to you later)
•
•&
• b/c (because)
• w/o (without)
• w/ (with)
7. Do not start sentences with words like and, so, but, also

• Here are some good transition words and phrases to

use in formal writing:
Nevertheless
• Additionally
• However
• In addition
• As a result of
• Although
8. Always write in complete sentences.

9. Write longer, more complex

sentences.
Informal
Language
Register
• Informal writing is written
in the way we talk to our
friends and family. We use
informal writing when we
are writing to someone we
know very well.

Some kinds of writing can

be written in an informal
style.
• Informal writing includes:

Personal e-mails
• Phone texts
• Short notes
• Friendly letters
• Most blogs
• Diaries and journals
 There are no major rules to
informal writing.
• With informal writing, you can include things such
as:
•First person, second person,
• Slang and clichés and third person
• Figurative language •Paragraphs or no paragraphs
•Jokes
• Symbols and abbreviations
•Personal opinions
• Acronyms •Extra punctuation (Hi
• Incomplete sentences Bob!!!!!!!)
• Short sentences •Passive and active voice
Neutral Language Register

• We use the neutral language register with non-

emotional topics and information.

Neutral writing is not necessarily formal or informal. It

is not usually positive or negative. A neutral register is
used to deliver facts. 

Some writings are written in a neutral register. This

means they are not specifically formal or informal. 
• Writing in the natural language register includes:
Reviews
• Articles
• Some letters
• Some essays
• Technical writing