SEMI FORMAL ENGLISH

Formal, Semi-Formal, & Informal English

Why is it important?

Would you wear this to a job interview? No, because it's too informal.

Would you wear this to the beach? No, because it's too formal.

In the same way, using English that is too formal or too informal for the situation can cause a bad impression.

credits to www.espressoenglish.net © Shayna Oliveira 2014

Semi-Formal English

1. Phrasal verbs & contractions = OK

Could you look over this report?

look over = review and check for errors

She came up with a great idea.

came up with = created, invented, thought of

To learn phrasal verbs,

I'm available on Friday morning. The directors weren't happy. take the Phrasal Verbs

This project is on the back burner.

in Conversation Course! 2. Some idioms are OK, but avoid slang and text speak

in the red = no money, negative cash flow

on the back burner = not a priority at the moment We're operating in the red.

Informal (inviting your best friend): "Hey, wanna grab a bite to eat?"

Semi-formal (inviting your boss): "Would you like to join me for lunch?" Semi-formal: "Hello, how are you?" Informal: "Wassup?"

Semi-formal: "The conference was great!" Informal: "It was awesome!" "It was the bomb!" 3. Use polite English

commands: Say "Could you please call me later?" and not just "Call me

Say "I'd like..." instead of "I want..." When making requests, use "could you" and "please," don't just give later."

I'm of a different opinion. / I see it differently.

Another part of polite English is making criticisms and negative comments in an indirect way: You're wrong. I'm afraid you're mistaken. I disagree. This is terrible work.

I'd prefer...

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