English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook Vocabulary Reference and Practice 3rd Edition

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English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
Register: degrees of formality
97
Formal and informal words
Some words are formal or informal, and others are quite neutral.
Is your 
partner (neutral) / other half (informal) not with you today? 
[husband/wife]
Rick’s a really nice 
bloke/guy. 
[man; 
informal
]
She is able to 
converse with everyone, which is a great gift. 
[have a conversation; 
formal
]
Sometimes it is possible to arrange words into sets of neutral, formal and informal words.
neutral
formal
informal
TV/television
the box / (the) telly
glasses
spectacles
specs
clothes
clothing/garments
gear
use
employ/utilise
try
endeavour/attempt
have a go/stab/bash/crack/shot at
Language
 
help
Register is concerned with the overall tone of a text or conversation, and the relationship that is 
built between the speaker and listener, or reader and writer. It is important to speak and write in 
the appropriate register for the situation.
Speech and writing
Some words are more associated with 
either
spoken 
or
written language. It is worth noting if a word 
has a particularly strong association with speech (S) or writing (W).
word/phrase
S/W
comment and example
subsequently
W
Linking adverb: (in speech, more likely to be ‘later’ or 
‘afterwards’) e.g. The police found some important clues.