Formal and Informal Register

In the FSCE 11+ exam, you need to understand register — the level of formality in language. Being able to switch between formal and informal writing is a key skill that examiners look for. This lesson teaches you when and how to use each register effectively.

What Is Register?

Register is the level of formality in your language. Think of it like a dress code:

• A school uniform is like formal language — smart, appropriate for official settings.
• Weekend clothes are like informal language — relaxed and comfortable.
• You would not wear pyjamas to a job interview, and you would not write a letter to the headteacher using slang.

Choosing the right register means matching your language to the audience (who you are writing for) and the purpose (why you are writing).

The Register Scale

graph LR
    A["VERY INFORMAL<br/>Text messages<br/>Chatting with friends"] --> B["INFORMAL<br/>Personal letters<br/>Diary entries"]
    B --> C["NEUTRAL<br/>Most writing tasks<br/>School essays"]
    C --> D["FORMAL<br/>Letters to adults<br/>Reports, speeches"]
    D --> E["VERY FORMAL<br/>Legal documents<br/>Official contracts"]
    style A fill:#FFC107
    style E fill:#1565C0,color:#fff

Features of Formal Writing

Formal writing is used in serious, professional, or academic contexts. Here are its key features:

1. No Contractions

• Informal: I don't think it's a good idea.
• Formal: I do not think it is a good idea.

2. No Slang or Colloquial Language

• Informal: The film was awesome and totally epic.
• Formal: The film was outstanding and deeply impressive.

3. Complex Sentence Structures

• Informal: It rained so we stayed in.
• Formal: Due to the inclement weather, we remained indoors.

4. Passive Voice (Used Appropriately)

• Informal: They built the school in 1950.
• Formal: The school was built in 1950.

5. Technical or Academic Vocabulary

• Informal: The results were really good.
• Formal: The results were exceptionally favourable.

6. Third Person (He/She/They Rather Than I/You)

• Informal: I think you should recycle more.
• Formal: It is recommended that individuals increase their recycling efforts.

7. Impersonal Tone

• Informal: I reckon the school rules are pretty unfair.
• Formal: There are concerns that the school regulations may be inequitable.

Features of Informal Writing

Informal writing is used when communicating with friends, family, or in casual contexts.

1. Contractions

I've, don't, can't, won't, it's, they're

2. Slang and Casual Expressions

Loads of, sort of, kind of, a bit, stuff, cool, awesome

3. Short, Simple Sentences

That was great. We had fun. Can't wait to go back!

4. First and Second Person

I went to the park. You should come next time.

5. Exclamation Marks and Dashes

It was amazing! I couldn't believe it — it was the best day ever!

6. Rhetorical Questions

Know what I mean? Isn't that funny?

7. Personal Opinions Stated Directly

I love it. I think it's brilliant.

Formal vs Informal: Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Informal	Formal
Contractions	don't, can't, won't	do not, cannot, will not
Vocabulary	cool, loads, stuff, awesome	impressive, considerable, material, outstanding
Sentence length	Short and simple	Longer and more complex
Tone	Personal and chatty	Impersonal and professional
Pronouns	I, you, we	One, it, they (impersonal)
Greetings (letter)	Hi, Hey, Dear Sam	Dear Sir/Madam, Dear Mr Smith
Sign-offs (letter)	Love from, Cheers, See ya	Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely
Purpose	Friends, diary, messages	Business, reports, official letters

Common Words and Their Formal/Informal Equivalents

Informal	Neutral	Formal
kids	children	young people / minors
get	obtain	acquire
help	assist	facilitate
buy	purchase	procure
ask	request	enquire
start	begin	commence
end	finish	conclude
give	provide	furnish
need	require	necessitate
show	demonstrate	illustrate
think	consider	contemplate
go up	rise	escalate
fix	repair	rectify
loads of	many	numerous / a considerable number of
a bit	slightly	marginally
tell off	reprimand	admonish
got rid of	removed	eliminated
put up with	tolerate	endure
find out	discover	ascertain
make up	invent	fabricate

Worked Examples

Worked Example 1: Rewriting Informal to Formal

Informal: Hi Miss, I can't come to school tomorrow cos I've got a dentist appointment. Mum said to let you know. See ya Thursday!

Formal: Dear Mrs Thompson, I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend school tomorrow due to a dental appointment. My mother has asked me to notify you in advance. I shall return on Thursday. Yours sincerely, James Mitchell

Changes made:

• "Hi Miss" → "Dear Mrs Thompson" (proper formal greeting)
• "can't" → "will be unable to" (no contraction, more formal phrase)
• "cos" → "due to" (formal connective)
• "I've got" → "I have" (no contraction)
• "Mum said to let you know" → "My mother has asked me to notify you" (more formal vocabulary)
• "See ya Thursday" → "I shall return on Thursday. Yours sincerely" (formal sign-off)

Worked Example 2: Rewriting Formal to Informal

Formal: The committee has determined that the proposed alterations to the timetable would be detrimental to student welfare. Consequently, the changes will not be implemented.

Informal: The group decided that changing the timetable would be bad for students. So they're not going to do it.

Changes made:

• "The committee has determined" → "The group decided" (simpler vocabulary)
• "proposed alterations" → "changing" (everyday word)
• "detrimental to student welfare" → "bad for students" (simpler)
• "Consequently" → "So" (casual connective)
• "will not be implemented" → "they're not going to do it" (contraction, informal phrasing)

Worked Example 3: Matching Register to Audience

Task: Write about school lunches for (a) a friend and (b) the school governors.

(a) To a friend: The school dinners are rank at the moment. Seriously, the pasta is always soggy and the sandwiches are well boring. They need to sort it out!

(b) To school governors: I would like to raise concerns regarding the quality of school meals. The pasta is frequently overcooked, and the sandwich options lack variety. I respectfully suggest that the catering provision be reviewed.

Worked Example 4: Identifying Register in a Passage

Passage: It is with great regret that we must inform parents and carers that the annual sports day has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions. A revised date will be communicated in due course.

Register: This is very formal. Clues include: "It is with great regret" (formal phrase), "inform" (not "tell"), "adverse weather conditions" (not "bad weather"), "communicated in due course" (not "we'll let you know later"), and no contractions.

When to Use Each Register in the FSCE Exam