Formal writing

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 2

FORMAL VERSUS INFORMAL WRITING 

What do you think of when you hear 'formal language'?

Formal writing in a nutshell

• Formal language → more 'expensive' wording
• No contractions → can’t = cannot / won’t = will not, you're = you are
• Always write "I" (ik), months and names with a capital letter
• Use linking words (and, but, because, also, if...)
  
• Focus on lay-out: Empty line between each paragraph
• No use of slang (U, wanna, gonna)
• Start with: Dear.... ,
• Sign off with: Kind regards, Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully...

Rewrite:
Susan can't believe that her teacher doesn't want her to read at home.

Match the sentences with formal or informal.

Hello Sabrina,

Dear Mrs Collins,

I'm writing to find out about ...

 I look forward to hearing from you.

 I apologise for not getting in contact with you ...

See you soon.

I'm not happy about ...

Sorry, I haven't written for ages, but ...

Formal 

Informal

I am writing to enquire about ...

 I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with ...

Formal 

Informal

I am writing to inform you that a pizza I had the misfortune to order at your restaurant was not what I had hoped for.

I am writing to let you know that a pizza I got to order at your restaurant was disgusting.

The cheese was gross, the tomatoes rotten, and the base chewy as rubber.  ​

The cheese was flavourless, the tomatoes gone off, and the base impossibly tough. ​

Never will I eat at your establishmentt again. 

Never will I eat at your place again. 

I don't  think they enjoy their work. 

I do not think they enjoy their work. 

I believe a refund would be in place. 

 I want a refund. 

do's and don'ts:
what is the do in formal writing

1. contractions (can't, don't)
2. use linking words
3. gonna wanna gotta
4. start sentences with But / And

Study the language (left: informal right: formal)

Also very useful for CITO texts

Match the formal expressions (right side) with the informal expressions (left side) .

At first

Begin

Chance 

So

Seem like

Wrong

Show

Need

Appear 

Commence 

Incorrect 

Therefore 

Demonstrate 

Opportunity 

Require 

Initially 

Match the formal expressions (right side) with the informal expressions (left side) .

Buy 

Try 

Take 

Family 

By accident 

Lucky 

Help

Look into

Accidentally 

Attempt 

Fortunate 

Relatives 

Assist 

Accept 

Investigate 

Purchase 

Match the formal expressions (right side) with the informal expressions (left side) .

Big

Better

Change 

Call of

Put off

Put forward

But  

And 

Postpone 

Superior to

Propose 

Cancel

While 

Transform

As well as

Large

Any questions/comments about this lesson?