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Grammar

Register & Tone — Formal vs. Informal Grammar

Matching your grammar to the situation: when to use contractions, phrasal verbs and casual language, and when to switch to a formal register.

6 min read
Key strategies
  • 1.Formal: full forms (I would, do not), Latinate verbs (request, assist), no slang. Used for complaints, managers, officials.
  • 2.Informal: contractions (I'd, don't), phrasal verbs (set up, find out), friendly tone. Used for emails to friends/colleagues.
  • 3.CELPIP Task 1 emails are usually SEMI-formal: polite and clear, contractions acceptable but no slang.
  • 4.Keep ONE register throughout — do not mix "I am writing to formally request" with "thanks, that'd be great!".

Register is the level of formality

The same idea can be said formally or informally — and the grammar changes with it:

InformalFormal
formsI'd like, don't, can'tI would like, do not, cannot
verbsfind out, put off, getdetermine, postpone, receive
openersHi Sam,Dear Mr. Smith, / Dear Sir or Madam,
closersCheers, / Thanks!Sincerely, / Kind regards,

Phrasal vs. single-word verbs

Phrasal verbs (set up, find out, put off) sound conversational; their single-word equivalents (establish, discover, postpone) sound formal. Match the verb to the reader.

Friend: "Let's set up a meeting." / Manager: "I would like to arrange a meeting."

Match the reader

  • Writing to a company, landlord, or official → formal: full forms, polite framing, no slang.
  • Writing to a friend or close colleague → informal: contractions and a warm tone are natural.

Stay consistent

The biggest register error is mixing levels in one text:

✗ "I am writing to formally lodge a complaint. Anyway, hope you can sort it out soon, thanks!"

Pick a level and hold it from greeting to sign-off.

CELPIP application

Writing Task 1 tells you who the reader is. Getting the register right — and keeping it consistent — is part of Task Fulfillment. Most prompts call for a polite, semi-formal tone: clear and courteous, neither stiff nor slangy.

Check yourself

A quick self-check on this lesson — pick an answer, then see the explanation. Not graded.

1. Which is the FORMAL version?
2. Writing a complaint to a company, which closing is best?
3. What is wrong here? "Dear Sir or Madam, ... thanks, that'd be awesome!"
4. A CELPIP Task 1 email is usually written in which register?

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