Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0059 · Lesson No.059 · B1-Direction Register and Tone

Formal and Informal English | 正式与非正式英语

Hi, can you send me the file?
Dear Ms Lee, could you please send me the updated file when convenient?

Both can be correct. The difference is register: the language changes because the relationship, setting and purpose change.

这一课训练的不是“越正式越好”，而是“用适合情境的英语”。

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.058 · Modals of Possibility and Deduction

The register map | 语体路线

audience
purpose
relationship
medium
informal / neutral / formal
greetings
requests
contractions
phrasal verbs vs more formal verbs
directness and softening
closings
tone repair
Mandarin 礼貌方式 transfer

1. Register = language choice for situation | 语体就是情境选择

Ask four questions:

Who am I speaking/writing to?
Why?
How well do we know each other?
What medium am I using?

2. Informal | 非正式

Common with friends, family and familiar colleagues:

Hi!
Can you send it?
Thanks!
See you.

3. Neutral | 中性

Safe for many everyday professional situations:

Hello Anna,
Could you send me the file, please?
Thanks for your help.

4. Formal | 正式

Useful when distance, hierarchy or official purpose is higher:

Dear Ms Lee,
Could you please provide the updated document?
Kind regards,

5. Formal does not mean complicated | 正式不等于复杂

Clear simple English can be formal.

6. Informal does not mean careless | 非正式不等于随便乱写

Spelling, clarity and respect still matter.

7. Greeting: friend | 朋友

Hi Mei,
Hey Mei, — very informal

8. Greeting: colleague | 同事

Hi David,
Hello David,

9. Greeting: formal recipient | 正式对象

Dear Ms Tan,
Dear Dr Lee,

10. Unknown recipient | 不知道姓名

Dear Sir or Madam, — traditional/formal
Hello, — often acceptable in modern neutral contexts

Choose based on organisation and context.

11. First-name culture varies | 名字使用习惯不同

Some workplaces use first names immediately; others are more formal. Follow the local norm and the other person’s preference.

12. Contractions are more common in informal/neutral English | 缩写更常见

I’m
we’re
can’t
I’ll

13. Full forms can sound more formal | 完整形式可能更正式

I am writing to…
We are unable to…

But avoiding contractions does not automatically make writing better.

14. Request ladder | 请求强度阶梯

Send me the file. → direct command
Can you send me the file? → informal/neutral request
Could you send me the file, please? → polite neutral
Could you please send me the updated file when convenient? → more formal/softened

15. Please position | please 位置

Please send the file.
Could you send the file, please?

16. Could vs can | could / can

Could often sounds more polite/less direct in requests.

17. Would you mind…? | 更委婉请求

Would you mind sending the file again?

Useful recognition and controlled use at B1.

18. I was wondering if… | 进一步软化

I was wondering if you could confirm the time.

Useful formal-neutral phrase; do not overuse in every message.

19. Direct language can be appropriate | 直接不一定不礼貌

In emergencies, instructions or close teamwork, clear direct language may be better.

20. Phrasal verbs are common in conversation | 短语动词更口语

find out
put off
pick up

21. More formal single-word alternatives | 更正式单词

find out → discover/determine
put off → postpone
ask for → request
help → assist

Do not replace common words automatically; choose by context.

22. Get vs receive | get / receive

Did you get my email? → neutral/informal
Did you receive my email? → more formal

23. Buy vs purchase | buy / purchase

buy → everyday
purchase → more formal/commercial

24. Need vs require | need / require

I need your ID. → ordinary
ID is required. → formal/instructional

25. Sorry vs apologise | sorry / apologise

Sorry I’m late. → everyday
I apologise for the delay. → formal

26. Thanks vs thank you | thanks / thank you

Thanks! → informal
Thank you for your assistance. → formal

27. Email opening: purpose early | 邮件尽早说明目的

I’m writing about tomorrow’s meeting.
I am writing to request confirmation of…

28. Formal noun-heavy style can become unclear | 不要为了正式而名词化过度

Overformal:

I am writing in relation to the facilitation of the completion of the documentation.

Clearer:

I’m writing to ask for help completing the documents.

29. Plain English can be professional | 简单英语也可以专业

Professional writing values clarity, not unnecessary complexity.

30. Chat vs email | 聊天 vs 邮件

Chat often uses shorter openings and closings. Email usually needs clearer context because it may be read later.

31. Text message | 短信

Hi Anna, running 10 min late. Sorry! See you soon.

32. Neutral email | 中性邮件

Hello Anna, I’m running about ten minutes late because the train is delayed. Please start without me. Sorry for the delay.

33. Formal email | 正式邮件

Dear Ms Lee, I apologise for the delay. My train has been delayed, and I expect to arrive approximately ten minutes late. Thank you for your understanding.

34. Same content, different register | 同内容不同语体

Compare the three versions above. Meaning remains similar; tone and detail change.

35. Closing: informal | 非正式结尾

Thanks!
See you soon.
Best,

36. Closing: neutral/formal | 中性/正式结尾

Best regards,
Kind regards,
Thank you,

37. Very formal traditional closings | 传统正式结尾

Yours sincerely
Yours faithfully

Usage depends on region and convention; recognition is useful.

38. Emojis | 表情符号

Fine in many informal contexts; use cautiously in formal professional communication.

39. Exclamation marks | 感叹号

One can express warmth. Many can look overly emotional or informal.

40. ALL CAPS | 全大写

Avoid whole messages in ALL CAPS; it can feel like shouting and is harder to read.

41. Abbreviations | 缩写

FYI
ASAP
BTW

Know your audience. Not every abbreviation is appropriate in formal communication.

42. Spoken fillers | 口语填充词

well
actually
you know — informal

Formal presentations usually use fewer casual fillers.

43. Disagreement: informal/neutral | 不同意

I don’t think so.
I’m not sure I agree.

44. Disagreement: more formal | 更正式不同意

I understand the point; however, I see the issue differently.

45. Complaint: emotional vs factual | 投诉

Weak:

This is terrible and nobody helped me!

Professional:

I received the wrong item and contacted support twice. Could you please advise on the next step?

46. Formality and warmth are separate | 正式与温暖不是反义词

A formal message can still be kind. An informal message can still be rude.

47. Power distance | 身份关系

Requests to a close friend, teacher, manager and public official may need different wording.

48. Cultural variation | 文化差异

Politeness norms vary across English-speaking communities and workplaces. Learn local expectations rather than one universal rule.

49. Mandarin transfer: 请/麻烦/不好意思 | 礼貌资源不同

Chinese politeness may use 请、麻烦、不好意思. English may use modal questions, please, apologies, indirect framing and tone.

50. Mandarin transfer: titles and names | 称呼

English title use varies. Do not translate 老师/经理 directly into a spoken title unless that is natural in the context.

51. Mandarin transfer: indirectness | 委婉程度

Do not assume “more indirect = always more polite”. Excessive indirectness can become unclear.

52. Reading practice A: two requests | 阅读 A

Friend: “Can you send me the photo?”
Client email: “Could you please send the revised image when convenient?”

Same action, different relationship and register.

53. Reading practice B: two apologies | 阅读 B

Chat: “Sorry, I sent the wrong file.”
Email: “I apologise for the mistake. Please find the correct file attached.”

54. Writing practice: three registers | 三种语体改写

Write the same request to:

a friend
a colleague
an unfamiliar professional contact

55. Speaking practice: audience switch | 对象切换

Say the same request to a friend, teacher and service staff member.

56. Error clinic | 常见错误

Problem	Better move
Every message is extremely formal.	Match relationship and medium.
I use slang with unfamiliar recipients.	Use neutral language first.
I think long words sound more professional.	Prefer clear plain English.
I translate Chinese titles directly.	Check English naming conventions.
I soften so much that request disappears.	Keep the action visible.

57. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断

grammar correct but tone wrong → register problem.
request sounds rude → softening problem.
message too vague → clarity problem.
formal writing sounds unnatural → overformal vocabulary.
chat sounds stiff → audience mismatch.

58. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

你能发给我吗？ → ______
请问您方便发更新文件吗？ → ______
抱歉我迟到了。 → ______
对于延误，我表示歉意。 → ______
谢谢你的帮助。 → ______

Suggested answers: Can you send it to me? / Could you please send the updated file when convenient? / Sorry I’m late. / I apologise for the delay. / Thanks for your help. / Thank you for your assistance.

59. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1	audience/purpose	对象目的
Day 2	greetings/closings	开头结尾
Day 3	request ladder	请求
Day 4	informal vs formal vocabulary	词汇
Day 5	chat vs email	媒介
Day 6	tone repair	修复
Day 7	six-scenario register test	综合

60. Self-test | 自测

Define register; distinguish informal/neutral/formal; write three versions of one request; choose greetings/closings; use contractions appropriately; compare phrasal and formal alternatives; repair an overformal and an overly casual message.

61. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Teach register through audience-switch tasks, not vocabulary lists labelled “formal” and “informal”.

Ask learners to justify why a phrase fits the situation.

For Mandarin speakers, map politeness functions rather than translating courtesy words one by one.

62. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务

Write one informal chat.
Write one neutral work message.
Write one formal request.
Use appropriate greetings and closings.
Adjust contractions.
Adjust vocabulary.
Keep the request clear.
Repair one rude message.
Repair one overformal message.
Explain your register choices.

Next: Lesson No.060 | 下一课

The next lesson is the B1 consolidation checkpoint: integrated real-world performance across listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, reasoning, repair and register.

Lesson No.060 · B1 Review and Real-World Performance · B1 复习与真实表现

Reference floor: British Council B1 Intermediate.

Small Group Tutorials

How to Learn Basic English (Chinese Edition) | Lesson No.059 | Formal and Informal English | 正式与非正式英语