6 Centre for English Language and Development, i TISS Hyderabad Piss Professional English Communication Workshop Group —1 Worksheet/Handout — Formal and Informal Language Usage (August 14, 2021) Date and time format: Date: August 13, 2021 or 13 August 2021 Time: To specify the duration of an event or an activity - fom 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 pm, To convey specific time of a meeting/event/activity - at 10:00 a.m. Appropriate prefixes: Prefix is a word that is placed before another word. For example: ex An un-confidential email - A non-confidential email ous, une ‘Subject lines of emails: 2) think carefully before composing subject lines, b) use the right key words to communicate the central or main subject/point of discussion Not to pluratise nouns such as: Faculties - Facully Infrastructures - Inftastructure Equipments - Equipment Advices - Advice Use formal vocabulary in formal writing (see formal word list given in pages 3-4) The study checked ont the health effects of using mobile phones. The study examined investigated revealed the health effects of using mobile phones. This project worked out just fine This project was successful Abbreviations or contractions in a formal context: Avoid These Use These can’t eannot haven't have not doesn’t does not Sept September Ma’nvMa’am Madam Its Itis Use of T’ (first person pronoun): Use of I’ in formal communication is restricted. However, in written communication, you may use ‘T’ if one authority is addressing another in her/his personal capacity Use of comma: In an email, always use a comma after - Regards, Dear all/everyone,Online Activity and the related discussio S.No.| Sentence | Formal | Written] Spoken Explanation \While the ma'am makes this sentence sound ello ma’am, informal, it can be used in formal contexts sueh| lcan you read las classrooms offices etc. because the usage of 1 lout the . ¢ [the abbreviated ‘ma'am has become common instructions parlance'way of speaking now. lonce more? However, in written English, it is appropriate ko use ‘madam’. ‘Would you like Ime to write ; 5 (down the . «¢ __|Thisis a statement used in the oral/spoken Minutes of the {orm of language in a formal situation, Meeting, IMa’am Sir? ‘This is a Statement that can be made in both I need a few {ormal and informal contexts, Use of 3 clarifications ° * |sclatification’ is the key word to decide the context |g [Hello/HilHtey! + |g [thisisa sentence tet is used in informal What's up? spoken as well as writen language 'The level of formality depends on the relation shared between the speaker and the listener. 5 jipotk assme . © |The setting of this context is office space. You Imay also add ‘please’ in such sentences to Imake it formal. [This isa formal sentence as itis a request made| Please issue to a librarian in an educational seting or an 6 ftiese two . @ _ottice ora university context. Use of ‘issue’ is books: {he main word that decides the formal nature of this sentence, could you HThis is @ request made in an lease repeat leducational/official context. Use of ‘could’, 7 your . | please’, and ‘instructions® help us to hustructions, inderstand that this sentence isa formal [Ma’am/Six? Sentence, [Can you please let me know This statement is used in a formal context. fg jwhymypey- | 4g However. as we use it ina spoken form, we lip reflects Imust understand that here, the use of ‘can’ Imore tax \deduction? (conveys istitation or annoyance.[ram sending (The use of ‘I’ in a formal context is restricted. [you the However, the use of ‘requisition’. and 9 requisition for | @ ne " Lett the orientation’ suggests that such sentences can orientation bee used in an official/formal situation. Please take dictation and [This sentence uses formal language while also 10 |type out this . (conveying an urgency to get the task letter. Ibis completed, lurgent!! TThave bee 1 feskedtozeport) IThis isa formal sentence. to you, [Ma am Sir [Formal language: this sentence can be used in [Kindly permit jboth spoken and written contexts. Use of 12 |me to take . ee aaa : Meee “kindly” ‘permit’ and ‘leave’ are the main words that give this sentence its formal use. ‘Madan Sir 13. how may help] This isa formal language structure. lyou? I will file these [Formal language to be used mainly in spoken 14. reports by . orm, The use of ‘report’ suggests that this is tomorrow. lan official communication. The DD wants Ithis to be typed 5_[outurgentiy . [Formal language used in spoken 15 Jean you do ‘communication. this right away? VOCABULARY: S.No] Informal words to avoid in official [Formal equivalent words to include in official communication communication 1 buy purchase come in enter 3 find out ascertain 4 eet obtain get in touch with contact 6 go against ‘oppose7 godown decrease 8 goup increase 9 Irs about Teeoncems 10 keep retain u leave out omit 12 let permit 1B look at examine 4 make up fabricate 15 need 10 required 16 point out indicate 7 put off delay 1s put up tolerate 19 rack up accumulate 20 ring up call 2 seem appear 2 setup establish 23 show illustrate m4 show up arrive 25 sorry apologise 26 stand for represent a start commence 28 think about consider Happy reading!