Agree Formal Informal Write Speak

10:27 25/02/2024 englishadam.
com/Agree-Formal-Informal-Write-Speak
 Sunday 25th of February 2024________________GDPR CCPA compliant [INFO]
ENGLISH ADAM CHALLENGING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH
MENU
Agree & Disagree in English: Written & Spoken / Formal &

Informal
Adam Narbutt-Ryan [ALL INFORMATION COPYRIGHTED TO ENGLISHADAM.COM]
“So... do YOU agree?” You are about to disagree or agree in English! Are
you sure you are not going to offend them with the way you disagree? Or
even the way you agree!
https://www.englishadam.com/Agree-Formal-Informal-Write-Speak 1/22
10:27 25/02/2024 englishadam.com/Agree-Formal-Informal-Write-Speak
Key Points of Agreeing and

Disagreeing in English:
A key factor when deciding what might be the best way to agree or
disagree is if we are speaking or writing and perhaps more importantly if
the interaction is formal or informal.
Let's have a look at each of the four combinations...
Formal Writing
Agreeing: Be careful to NOT sound indifferent, the person cannot see
your face, so be very positive!
Don’t Write: I think your idea is fine.
Do Write: I think your idea is exactly what is needed.
to be indifferent: to not care
Disagreeing: Be careful to NOT offend the person, do not dismiss the

idea without first acknowledging it as having some value.
Don’t Write: I think your idea will not work, I am sorry.
Do Write: I think your idea is good but it just will not work in this
particular situation.
to acknowledge:(here) to show that it has been noticed
Formal Speaking
Agreeing: When speaking, it is possible to be less positive because your
voice and/or face will communicate a lot of positivity, however, do
remember to not be TOO brief.
Don’t Say: That is a good idea.
Do Say: I agree, that approach is a good idea because...
brief: short
Disagreeing: When speaking, there is a risk that the listener will not pay
attention to a short acknowledgment and may concentrate on the negative
message alone. To avoid this, focus properly on the acknowledgment
phrase.
Don’t Say: Yes, that is valid but I think that…
Do Say: Yes, I think that is a very valid approach. However, I think
one issue is that...
Informal Writing
Agreeing: In writing messages, texts etc, brevity is key and often
exclamations are used to give energy. Unless you feel you need to be
more supportive, keep it short and energetic!
Don’t Write: Sounds great
Do Write: Sounds great!
brevity: shortness, from 'brief'
Disagreeing: People are still easily offended even in informal settings –

perhaps more so! - so remember to always acknowledge the idea and
stress that opinions are yours and not absolute.
Don’t Write: That’s not a good plan
Do Write: Maybe, but I’m not sure it’s a good plan
to be absolute:(here) to be fixed and final
Informal Speaking
Agreeing: It should be easy to agree with people informally, but there are
some potential problems. The main one is to sound as enthusiastic as
the other person.
Don’t Say: Yeah, why not (If someone asks you to marry them,
instead...)
Do Say: What! I’d love to!
Disagreeing: Again, let’s not accidentally offend our friends or

colleagues, always acknowledge the other person’s idea properly and give
your idea as an opinion not as an absolute. Don’t be too short when
speaking, especially if you are about to disagree!
Don’t Say: That won’t work, we need to do this first.
Do Say: That’s not a bad idea, you know. Still...I thought maybe
we could…
That was a general overview of how to approach agreeing and

disagreeing and below I will be listing more and more example phrases,
and at the bottom I will be giving you TWO VERY PRACTICAL TIPS on
how to agree and disagree without offending anyone!
But first some more details about the context of the communication
exchange...
What do I mean when I say Formal or Informal?

Firstly though, a short note on Formal versus Informal. Many of the formal
expressions I will list are often used in informal situations where the topic
or tone of the conversation is ‘Serious’.
And many of the informal expressions here can be used in formal

situations (eg work) but where the conversation is more relaxed or
‘Casual’.
So perhaps a better way to label the phrases would be as so:

General
Useful in all types of situations
Formal or Serious Situations
Where either the situation is formal or the conversation itself
is serious even among friends, or that you just like to be a
serious person!
Informal or Casual
Where either the situation is informal, or where the setting
may be formal but the actual conversation is relaxed. For
example, a social chat with work colleagues. Or, another
option is that you just like to be a casual person!
Please remember there are no fixed rules and I will try to group them as
best I can, but do not worry too much! Just pay attention to the general
principles if you are in doubt.
to group: to put together
Another point to add here is that it is common for spoken

conversations to move between a ‘Serious’ tone and ‘Casual’ tone all
the time, and this change of tone can occasionally happen in writing too,
but it is less common.
tone:(here) level or quality of something
Degrees, or Levels, of Agreement

and Disagreement
Next we need to have a look at the degree of agreement (or
disagreement!) we might want to express.
degree:(here) level, extent, value
We can put our responses into about 5 or 6 groups, with examples in

each.
For example (phrases that can be used in all situations):
Strongly Agree:
I couldn't agree more.
You're absolutely right.
Agree:
I agree with you.
I’d go along with that.
Partly Agree:
That is generally true.
I agree with most of your points.
Partly Disagree:
I don’t quite agree with you.
That is not always true.
Disagree:
I am afraid I disagree.
I can’t go along with that.
Strongly Disagree:
I completely disagree.
I would say the exact opposite.
Two additional factors to remember here are

that:
FIRSTLY: In informal speaking and writing we would definitely exaggerate
our own agreement, especially if it is to match the speaker’s level of belief.
I am not saying we always agree with others, just that the following
conversation might be disappointing for Person A…
to match:(here) to equal, to correspond to
Person A: I would love to see that film tonight!
Person B: Yeah, sounds ok.
SECONDLY: In all forms of communication many native speakers

would begin any strong disagreement with a phrase that begins as a
partial disagreement, or even partial agreement, before they start what is
really a serious criticism.
For example:
“Yes I can see you have some great ideas there, (partial agreement), but I
wouldn’t quite agree with everything you have said (partial disagreement)
in fact I think maybe I would argue that the complete opposite is true
(complete disagreement!).”
This approach is to try and not offend the other speaker – not because
what is being said is false, but more to make sure that the other person
does not take the criticism personally and so the group can continue to
discuss the matter in hand objectively!
the matter in hand:(here) the subject being talked about
Useful Expressions to Agree and Disagree in ALL

Situations!
The following expressions are suitable for ALL situations. They are
generally considered suitable for formal or informal exchanges, in written
or in spoken communications, and in casual or in serious conversations.
The key idea in your choice of language is to always mirror the type and
tone of language that the other person is using.
key idea: main idea, 'biggest' idea
to mirror: to copy and reflect back
But, in general, these phrases will not seem out of place in any situation!
out of place: not suited to the surroundings
If you would like a decisively more informal tone, you can use contractions
where possible.
Strongly Agree
I completely agree with you.
I think you are absolutely right!
I could not agree with you more.
I could not agree more.
You are absolutely right.
That is exactly how I feel
That is so true.
No doubt about it.
Agree
Yes, exactly! And...
Actually, I think you are right….
You have a point there.
That is a good point
I take your point
I agree with you.
Sounds good to me.
Looks good to me.
I am with you.
I would go along with that….
I feel/think the same.
That is true
I think so too.
So do I.
So am I
Neither can I (agree with a negative idea)
Neither do I (agree with a negative idea)
I do not either (agree with a negative idea)
Nor me (agree with a negative idea)
Agree Partly
Well, I agree with you here when you say…
I would go along with that view up to a point…
That is quite true

I agree with you up to a point
I agree with some of your points, yes.
That is generally true
Some of your points are great
That is mostly correct
You are right about that, though not about…
Your argument was going so well until you realize/consider that…
You had me right up until you said…
I agree with most of what you said
I do not disagree with most of what you have said.
I see what you are getting at.
Now let’s look at some phrases of disagreement...but first...
REMEMBER it is always appreciated to begin any level of

disagreement with some sort of positive acknowledgment of the
other speaker!! We will return to this idea below!
[Please see the section below on How to Start A Sentence That Disagrees
With The Speaker]
Disagree Partly
That is not always true.
Well, I do not quite agree with you
I would not quite put it that way myself
That is not always the case.
I do not know, are you sure?
Not necessarily.
We do not seem to be in complete agreement
Disagree
I am afraid I disagree
We do not seem to agree here
I cannot go along with that
I still have my doubts
I am not sure I go along with that view
(I am afraid) I do not share your opinion.
I have to side with her on this one, I am sorry.
I am afraid I agree with James

I disagree with some of your points.
I do not agree that...
I cannot agree with you on that point, sorry.
I am afraid I cannot agree with you.
We are not sure you are right.
We do not share your opinion on that.
You are off mark a little there I am afraid.
Disagree Strongly
I find that very difficult to accept
That is out of question
I would say the exact opposite.
That is completely incorrect, sorry.
I completely disagree with (all of) your points.
I do not agree at all
I could not agree with you less.
You are way off the mark!
That is just plain wrong
There is no way I am buying that!
Nothing of the kind!
Speak for yourself
We don’t see eye to eye here.
Phrases of Agreement and Disagreement

specifically for Formal Writing or Speaking.
Agreeing and Disagreeing in Formal or Serious
Writing: Ideas
Firstly, remember to actually say when you agree with something. Or
that the points said were interesting or valid.
It can be very tempting to go directly to what you want to say, but the other
person is looking for a response to their ideas. So please give feedback.
Nicely!
to be tempting: to create a desire
feedback: a response or reaction to something
It is important to be very clear about what you are agreeing and

disagreeing with. If the other person has made a number of points do
specify with which points you agree with or not.
If you agree or disagree with everything, then specify that too, for example
with a phrase ‘with all your points’, ‘with everything you have said’ etc.
It is also important to be enthusiastic about plans, ideas etc especially if

the person would appreciate it. Being calm, or understated, may
communicate indifference in a written format.
to understate: to not be explicit, to not express clearly, to minimise the importance of something
It is vital in formal writing to always begin any disagreement with some

positive reflection on what the other person wrote.
With The Speaker]
Agreeing and Disagreeing in Formal or Serious

Speaking: Ideas
Once again it is important to recognise the other person before you
start to say your own point of view.
Even if you agree, say so. Saying nothing about what the other person just
said might appear that you either didn’t listen or don’t care about what they
said.
This is obviously especially true when disagreeing. Do not directly

disagree without giving some positive, or at least polite, reaction to the
other person.
With The Speaker].
When you are about to speak and disagree with someone make sure
that your opening polite or positive statement is said clearly and
sincerely.
One important difference between written and spoken language is that

your voice can give a lot of information, so if you do have an expressive
face or voice you can use much simpler language.
Although less common in Formal or Serious Speaking it is very common to

use “Verbal Nods”, I have written a section on this below.
When speaking, in any situation, if you feel that your voice is flat or you
have a little bit of an expressionless or ‘unhappy’ face then DO
compensate with more positive language.
flat voice: a voice that stays at low volume and level of intonation
Specific Phrases that are generally considered

more Formal
As well as the general phrases I have listed above here are some that
might be thought of as more Formal.
However, do remember that in modern English usage in all but the most
formal of situations the general phrases above are more than suitable, and
quite possibly preferred for their simplicity and lack of arrogance or
pompousness!
Strongly Agree:
You have my full agreement….
I agree entirely.
I share your view entirely.
Agree
I second that….
That is a convincing argument.
Partly Agree
I agree with you in principal, but looking at…
Partly Disagree
There are a number of small issues with your argument.
Disagree
I see things rather differently.
That's not going to carry here.
Disagree Completely
I cannot possibly agree with you on that.
Phrases of Agreement and Disagreement

specifically for Informal Writing or Speaking.
Agreeing and Disagreeing in Informal or Casual
Writing: Ideas
In general, informal or casual writing uses quite short phrases. Longer
phrases may seem a bit ‘heavy’ and unnecessary in WhatsApp or on a
Post-It note!
Notice here that unlike in informal speaking, when we disagree we

wouldn’t use the more colourful phrases as they seem a bit over-the-top or
theatrical for written formats!
a bit: a little
over-the-top:(here) exaggerated
theatrical:(here) dramatic, exaggerated
An exception may be to consider using the longer Informal/Causal

Speaking Phrases if the informal writing is a bit longer (eg emails, letters
or long notes).
Again though, remember that with writing the other person cannot see
your face or hear your voice so it is always a good idea to be overtly
enthusiastic if you agree.
overtly: clearly, publicly, outwardly
Just using an exclamation (!) can help. “Ok” and “Ok!” are not quite the
same thing!
Also consider using stronger words, so we often say “Great!” or “Perfect!”

for even the most simple of topics – like accepting an offer of a cup of tea!
It is interesting here that many of these short written phrases are used
when we do verbal nods [see below where I explain this concept in more
detail with examples].
Agreeing and Disagreeing in Informal or Casual

Speaking: Ideas
The act of agreeing in social English is a fundamental part of how we talk
and interact with others.
Below I talk about a key concept called ‘Verbal Nods’; have a look at that
section as well as this.
When you are agreeing with someone in a speaking situation you can let
your voice do lots of the work with simple phrases such as “I agree” or you
can use one of the many colourful phrases to show how much you and the
speaker are on the same wavelength.
to be on the same wavelength: to agree about something or to think in the same way
However, disagreeing in casual or informal situations is still taken very

seriously, so be careful.
In a culture that looks to be ‘harmonious’ with verbal nods it is often not

appreciated even among friends to be rudely dismissed and have your
ideas ignored. No one likes that!
So please do have a look at section on How to Start A Sentence That

Disagrees With The Speaker – it may prevent a big argument with your
partner or friend!!
Now it is possible to use the shorter phrases from Informal/Casual Writing

– but a lot of those phrases may be considered too short to properly
express your reaction and are slightly more common as verbal nods (see
below).
Specific Phrases that are generally considered

more Informal
What is interesting about very informal agreement and disagreement is
that it is normally exaggerated.
Expressions usually communicate complete agreement or disagreement!
When we just agree or partially agree, or disagree of partially disagree, we

use the general expressions that I listed above.
Strongly Agree
Why not!
Absolutely!
Totally!
You are 100% on the money.
He is absolutely spot on!
You can say that again

You’ve hit the nail on the head there.
You bet.
You’re dead right there.
You took the words right out of my mouth…
Exactly!
Strongly Disagree
Don’t make me laugh
Are you kidding?
You must be joking…:
No way
You’re dead wrong there.
When we disagree in informal situations we can use expressions like:

I guess (so) OR I suppose (so),
You could say that.
These are ways to not really confront or challenge what the other person
is saying and also not really agree with them, very useful!
Also we use phrases like
“I kind of agree with you...”
“I sort of agree with you...”
“That’s one way of seeing it...”
These are all non-confrontational ways of moving the discussion forward.

non-confrontational: to avoid conflict, to not be aggressive
While the other person is speaking and we simply want to AGREE then we
use the phrases that are listed below in the section on “Verbal Nods”.
TWO IMPORTANT TIPS FOR ALL LEARNERS OF

ENGLISH
Verbal Nods as Signs of Agreement – Important to
Remember!
People really appreciate in English when the listener shows signs that they
not only are listening and following your logic – but also, that you agree
with them as they continue.
This can be especially important on the telephone where the speaker

cannot see your face or any involuntary nodding you may do!
involuntary: without thinking
So the key rule here is: Don’t stay silent!
Verbal nods can also happen in text messages and in ‘chat’ to show you
are listening and that you agree and also that the person should continue
telling their story or information.
But remember that these verbal nods are also very short, this is so that
you do not interrupt the flow of the main speaker!
the flow:(here) the rhythm, the thinking, the energy
General Verbal Nods
Yes
Ok
Right
Exactly
Perfect
True
So do I
So am I
So have I
Same here
Sure
Definitely
Absolutely
Of course
Me too
Nor me
Formal / Serious Verbal Nods

Agreed
Certainly
Of course
Without doubt
No question
Informal / Casual Verbal Nods

‘uhuh’
Yep
(For) sure
Yeah
Nice (one)
Good (one)
Me too
You’re telling me
IMPORTANT TIP NUMBER 2!

How to start a sentence that disagrees with the
speaker
It is vital in formal writing to always begin any disagreement with
some positive reflection on what the other person wrote.
But this is also good practice in ANY form of conversation; serious or

casual, written or spoken, formal or informal.
The idea here is to respond to the person who has just spoken and let
them know that what they said has been heard. It should mean that they
are now also more receptive for your idea and not worrying about what
other people think, or that feel offended because they feel that they have
been ignored.
The easiest way to do this is start any response to another speaker with
some positive feedback, and in the case of you disagreeing you can start
with a partial agreement.
The phrases for partial agreement are an excellent way to start a comment
about disagreeing because then it stops the feeling of “I am right, you are
wrong”.
And then between the phrases of partial agreement and you starting to
disagree you signal your change of direction. For example:
...however…
..but unfortunately…
..yet…
...that being said…
...but on the other hand…
...but still...
And finally remember to keep criticism specific, it is almost always best to

avoid general disagreement and instead to precisely say what parts you
disagree with!
So we might create a phrase as so:

“That is a very good idea yet I disagree with your conclusion.”
(Positive Acknowledgment + linking phrase + disagreement
phrase + specific problem area)
or:
“I like the way you have broken down the project there, but still I
find it hard to agree with some of your logic.”
Thanks for reading all of this, it was much longer and more detailed than I
planned... oh well I guess there was a lot to say!!
Thanks for reading!
Adam Narbutt-Ryan
Here are some links that could be of interest!

Check out: Agreeing / Disagreeing
Adam Narbutt-Ryan
Here to challenge.
LINKS
» » E.A. STUDY ZONE » »
TAGS CLOUD
Links Cambridge Proficiency Should Graphs Learning Grammar Pronunciation
Speaking IELTS Vocabulary Useful Phrases Exams Teaching
ENGLISH ADAM
CHALLENGING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH

Agree Formal Informal Write Speak

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Agree Formal Informal Write Speak

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

10:27 25/02/2024 englishadam.

 Sunday 25th of February 2024________________GDPR CCPA compliant [INFO]

ENGLISH ADAM CHALLENGING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH

Agree & Disagree in English: Written & Spoken / Formal &

Key Points of Agreeing and

Let's have a look at each of the four combinations...

Disagreeing: Be careful to NOT offend the person, do not dismiss the

Disagreeing: People are still easily offended even in informal settings –

Disagreeing: Again, let’s not accidentally offend our friends or

That was a general overview of how to approach agreeing and

What do I mean when I say Formal or Informal?

And many of the informal expressions here can be used in formal

So perhaps a better way to label the phrases would be as so:

Another point to add here is that it is common for spoken

Degrees, or Levels, of Agreement

We can put our responses into about 5 or 6 groups, with examples in

For example (phrases that can be used in all situations):

Two additional factors to remember here are

SECONDLY: In all forms of communication many native speakers

Useful Expressions to Agree and Disagree in ALL

That is quite true

Now let’s look at some phrases of disagreement...but first...

REMEMBER it is always appreciated to begin any level of

I am afraid I agree with James

Phrases of Agreement and Disagreement

It is important to be very clear about what you are agreeing and

It is also important to be enthusiastic about plans, ideas etc especially if

It is vital in formal writing to always begin any disagreement with some

Agreeing and Disagreeing in Formal or Serious

This is obviously especially true when disagreeing. Do not directly

One important difference between written and spoken language is that

Although less common in Formal or Serious Speaking it is very common to

Specific Phrases that are generally considered

Phrases of Agreement and Disagreement

Notice here that unlike in informal speaking, when we disagree we

An exception may be to consider using the longer Informal/Causal

Also consider using stronger words, so we often say “Great!” or “Perfect!”

Agreeing and Disagreeing in Informal or Casual

However, disagreeing in casual or informal situations is still taken very

In a culture that looks to be ‘harmonious’ with verbal nods it is often not

So please do have a look at section on How to Start A Sentence That

Now it is possible to use the shorter phrases from Informal/Casual Writing

Specific Phrases that are generally considered

Expressions usually communicate complete agreement or disagreement!

When we just agree or partially agree, or disagree of partially disagree, we

You can say that again

When we disagree in informal situations we can use expressions like:

These are all non-confrontational ways of moving the discussion forward.

TWO IMPORTANT TIPS FOR ALL LEARNERS OF

This can be especially important on the telephone where the speaker

So the key rule here is: Don’t stay silent!

Formal / Serious Verbal Nods

Informal / Casual Verbal Nods

IMPORTANT TIP NUMBER 2!

But this is also good practice in ANY form of conversation; serious or

And finally remember to keep criticism specific, it is almost always best to

So we might create a phrase as so:

Thanks for reading!

Here are some links that could be of interest!

» » E.A. STUDY ZONE » »

Links Cambridge Proficiency Should Graphs Learning Grammar Pronunciation

Speaking IELTS Vocabulary Useful Phrases Exams Teaching

You might also like