KarakterløftetFormal and Informal English
Learn to control register: choose language that fits the purpose, the receiver and the situation – the exact skill the curriculum asks you to show.
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Just enough theory to use it
English changes with the situation. The level of formality is called register, and choosing the right one is a competence aim in itself: your language must fit purpose, receiver and situation. Formal English avoids contractions, prefers precise single verbs over phrasal verbs, and uses academic vocabulary. Informal English is personal and direct, and works in dialogue and social media. Neither is «best» – a formal letter written in slang fails, but so does a text message written like a legal document. Strong students switch register on purpose and can explain the switch.
Need more theory? See resources for this topic →
Click a term to see it used in a sentence, not just as a definition.
Real stories you can use in your answer
Read the whole story before you use it – then you can answer when the teacher follows up.
