Analyzing Differences in Register

Register

Informal (Spokenlike)

Formal (Writtenlike)

Content

Ellipsis (incomplete sentences)

Ideas communicated clearly

Unfiltered thoughts + emotions

Carefully filtered thoughts + emotions

Direct blame

Diffused blame[1]

Grammar + Structure

Adjective clauses: who, which, that

Adjective clauses:     who, which

Active structure

Passive structure

Simple sentences

Complex sentences

Contractions

No contractions

Direct questions

Indirect questions

More certain

Hedging[2]

More words

Nominalization[3]

First person author/speaker

Neutral or No author/speaker

FANBOYS start

Transition words start

so, ending preposition

quite, no preposition at end

Vocabulary

Anglo Saxon/common words

Latin and French/uncommon words

Abbreviations

No abbreviations

Idioms + Phrasal verbs

Longer words

Slang, emoji

---

Opinion words

Neutral words

Punctuation

( ) Parentheses

- - Dashes

!

Emphasizing words


[1] Diffused blame: Hiding blame or spreading it generally rather than being specific

[2] Hedging: Using uncertain words like may, might, sometimes

[3] Nominalization: Squishing clauses or phrases into a single noun phrase