Advanced · C1–C2
Nuance in Formal vs Informal English
At advanced level, the distinction between formal and informal English goes beyond vocabulary. It involves subtle choices of grammar, syntax, hedging, and stance.
Grammatical differences at advanced level
| Feature | Informal | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence structure | Short, simple, paratactic | Complex, embedded, hypotactic |
| Passive voice | Rare — active preferred | More frequent for impersonal style |
| Fronting and inversion | Uncommon | Used for emphasis and cohesion |
| Hedging | 'I think, maybe, probably' | 'It could be argued, it is possible that' |
| Nominalisation | 'They decided to expand' | 'The decision to expand was made' |
| Conjunctions | 'but, so, and' | 'however, consequently, furthermore' |
| Questions | 'Can I help you?' | 'May I be of assistance?' |
Vocabulary register pairs
| Informal | Formal |
|---|---|
| a lot of | a significant number of / considerable |
| look into | investigate / examine |
| go up / go down | increase / decrease / rise / decline |
| find out | ascertain / determine / establish |
| talk about | address / discuss / examine / explore |
| show | demonstrate / illustrate / indicate / reveal |
Stance and hedging (formal)
Hedged vs. unhedged
Informal: "This proves that the policy failed."
Formal: "This evidence suggests that the policy may have been less effective than anticipated."
Impersonal constructions
Personal vs. impersonal
Informal: "I think we should look at this more carefully."
Formal: "It would be advisable to examine this matter more thoroughly."
Formal: "Further examination of this issue is warranted."
Tip: The most common advanced register error is using informal vocabulary in a formal structure — or vice versa. Aim for internal consistency: every element of your sentence should belong to the same register.