About this lesson
Register means how formal your writing sounds. The teachers in this mix agree on a first step. Decide who will read your writing and why you are writing. That choice then guides your words.
For formal writing, most teachers say to write full forms and avoid slang and idioms. They also say to replace phrasal verbs with single verbs. They ask for polite requests with would and could. Teachers do not agree on everything. Some say formal means longer sentences. Others say plain and clear is enough.
Your opening and closing should match how well you know the reader. Teachers disagree about a middle level in exam letters. IELTS Advantage says there is none. Write to the Top teaches one. Treat any phrase list as a scaffold, not a guarantee of tone.
Examples from the clips
- BBC Learning English takes a casual job email and rewrites it step by step.
- IELTS Advantage writes one story twice, as a formal and a casual letter.
- Write to the Top picks a letter style by how well you know the reader.
- English with Alex ranks greetings and endings by how formal they feel.
Questions this lesson answers
What does register mean in writing?
It is how formal or casual your writing sounds. It depends on the reader and your reason for writing.
Should I always write formally in an exam?
No. Read the task to see who the reader is. Oxford Online English says too formal can sound cold.
Does formal mean using long words?
Not always. IELTS Advantage warns against this idea. Some teachers still link formal to longer words, so use care.
Is there a middle level between formal and casual?
Teachers disagree. Oxford Online English and Write to the Top teach one. IELTS Advantage says exam letters have only two.
Can I use an email template?
A template can help with order. It cannot choose the right tone for your reader. Check every phrase against who you are writing to.