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College Composition / Unit 10   CMP 0228 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Formal and Informal Register

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The idea

Register is the level of formality in a piece of writing, and academic writing generally calls for a formal register.

In practice

"The results were awesome" is informal; "The results exceeded expectations" fits an academic report.

Where people slip

Formal does not mean stiff or wordy; it means precise and free of casual shortcuts.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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