How can I learn formal vs. informal register in English?

The most effective way is spaced repetition: practice this deck of 40 flashcards using the Flashcards, Learn, Write, and Match modes. The system shows you each word right before you're about to forget it, so you retain it long-term instead of just memorizing it for a test.

How many words are in the formal vs. informal register deck?

This deck has 40 cards at level C1, each with pronunciation audio and an example sentence.

Do I need an account to practice formal vs. informal register in English?

No. You can practice for free without creating an account. If you sign in, your progress is saved automatically and you can keep studying from any device.

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Formal vs. Informal Register

Upgrade everyday words like buy, get, and need to their formal equivalents for professional and academic writing.

C140 cards

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Flashcards

Flip each card and rate how well you remembered it. That is how we learn when to show it to you again.

Learn

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Write

Listen to the word and type it. Great for practicing spelling and pronunciation.

Match

Match the words against the clock. A fun, low-pressure way to review.

Terms in this deck

purchase
to buy something, formal
obtain
to get something you have been trying to get, formal
reside
to live in a particular place, formal
utilize
to use something, formal
require
to need something, formal
retain
to keep something, formal
provide
to give something someone needs, formal
permit
to let someone do something, formal
rectify
to fix a mistake or problem, formal
verify
to check that something is true or correct, formal
ascertain
to find out something with certainty, formal
discard
to throw something away, formal
tolerate
to accept something annoying without complaining, formal
abandon
to stop doing or having something, formal
attend to
to deal with or take care of something, formal
devise
to invent or plan something, formal
reimburse
to pay someone back money they spent, formal
resolve
to sort out or solve a problem, formal
conduct
to carry out an activity, especially research or a study, formal
locate
to find the exact position of something, formal
dispatch
to send something or someone somewhere, formal
commence
to begin, formal
conclude
to end, formal
acquire
to gain something over time, like a skill or property, formal
encounter
to meet someone or something, often unexpectedly, formal
cease
to stop, formal
alter
to change something, formal
notify
to formally tell someone about something, formal
sufficient
enough for a particular purpose, formal
approximately
about, close to a number or amount, formal
numerous
a lot of, used for countable things, formal
substantial
a large amount of, formal
favorable
good, in a way that is helpful or promising, formal
adverse
bad, harmful, or unfavorable, formal
accompany
to go with someone, formal
terminate
to formally end something, like a contract or employment, formal
dismiss
to formally end someone's employment, formal
relocate
to move to a new place, formal
depart
to leave, formal
endeavor
to try hard to do something, formal

How to study this deck

This deck helps you choose the right word for the situation: purchase sounds formal and buy is neutral. In interviews, letters and emails to strangers use the formal forms; with friends, the informal ones. Practice rewriting the same sentence in both registers to see the difference.

The trickiest words

purchase / buy: purchase is formal and buy is the everyday word. In casual talk, purchase sounds stiff.
reside / live: reside is formal ("I reside in Denver") and live is the everyday word.
require / need: require is formal and need is everyday.

Examples in context

The company purchased new equipment.
Please retain your receipt.
We need to ascertain the cause of the delay.
They devised a new strategy.
The order was dispatched this morning.
The noise ceased after midnight.
She has received numerous awards.
The company terminated the contract.

Mini dialogue

A: Where do you reside?
B: I live in Chicago. I purchased a small house there.
A: You must verify your address.
B: Sure. Do I need to provide a document?