Register — Formal, Neutral, Informal English
Register — Formal, Neutral, Informal English
⏱ 5 minutes
Vocabulary + Writing
At The Ivy (Merivale’s flagship restaurant in Sydney), we used three kinds of English in one shift. With guests: “Good evening — may I show you to your table?” With colleagues in the kitchen: “Table 12 waiting — what’s the ETA on the risotto?” In my head: “Please hurry up.” Same message. Three registers. This is advanced English.
🎯 Language Focus
| Formal | commence, assist, enquire, endeavour, terminate, sufficient |
| Neutral | start, help, ask, try, end, enough |
| Informal | kick off, give a hand, check out, have a go at, wrap up, loads |
| Key principle | Match your register to your audience — not just your vocabulary |
✏️ Quick Practice — Try It!
💡 Your 5-Minute Takeaway
The biggest B2 mistake is mixing registers: formal grammar + casual vocabulary (or vice versa). Commit to one register per piece of writing.
Independent educational resource. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification. Grammar reference: Swan, Practical English Usage. Frameworks: PPP, TBLT, ESA (standard ELT methodology).
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