Questions tagged [formal-language]
is for questions about whether a word or phrase is appropriate in a formal context or that are requesting a word or phrase for use in a formal context.
187
questions
0
votes
1answer
26 views
How to inform the link of a scheduled online meeting in formal emails?
I am writing a formal email to someone to send him the link of a scheduled online meeting. I have already acknowledged him before about the meeting. I can not figure out the most appropriate and ...
5
votes
2answers
848 views
“in the meanwhile” vs. “in the meantime”
I found that "in the meanwhile" is correct, although it is strange for native!
This expression can be used instead of "in the meantime"?
If the "in the meanwhile/ meantime" use in the initial ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
“I'm not too sure” colloquial?
I've heard people saying "I'm not too sure" on the internet. I guess it means the same as "I'm not very sure".
Is such a usage of the word "too" actually colloquial or could you also use it in a ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
A “CERTIFICATE” containing odd language
Few lines from a NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE are as follows:
This certificate is presented to claim no objection on Mr./ Mrs.___________________, in case, if some other company is hired services for ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Teacher said I write in a pompous register? Why? Could you help me understand?
Okay, so I've submitted a proposal to my teacher. I get the part that I've made inaccurately structured sentences, also I understand that I have missed to an extend the point of the given task. But I ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Is this expression informal?
My boss asked me the send him some documents, I immediately attached the documents and send him an email with the following body:
Dear Thomas,
I hope all is well with you. Thank you very much for ...
1
vote
1answer
199 views
Is my nationality Dutch or Netherlands?
I'm from the Netherlands. English has taught me to say "I'm Dutch". But through many travels I've noticed that non-native English speakers confuse this with "Deutsch", which is German for, well, ...
0
votes
3answers
28 views
Does “entity number” sound natural to NSE as an ID despite not being a numeric value?
I'm translating our project vocabulary to English and I got uncertain if the particular item below is truly English or only Englishish.
Registry number
The concept it's supposed to convey is the ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
A noun between an article and an auxiliary, and a verb between an auxiliary and a noun
Suppose I have the following two cases somewhere in an English text:
... the (article) + WORD (?) + can (auxiliary) ...
... can (auxiliary) + WORD (?) + cats (noun) ...
Is there any possibility that ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
What is the formal mode to say Hello in an mail?
With an example:
I want to write the mail an important person, with this form
Hello Satoshi.
Some text
Regards.
Vincent.
I want to say to the formal salute, or if I use the Hi/Hello don't is an ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views
Can we call someone who teaches at a university a “teacher”? [duplicate]
For example, like someone who is teaching people at a university. Is he still called a "teacher" or not?
1
vote
2answers
217 views
How can I ask a question about the timing of a meeting so that the audience understands that they do not have to accept it?
How can I ask a question about the timing of a meeting so that assumes there is a possibility to not accept it?
For example, I'm scheduled an appointment for Monday. Something has happened and it ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
“My…” Vs. “of mine”
Recently I noticed that there are people that instead of saying "My client" or "My friend" they say "a client of mine" or "a friend of mine". Initially, a couple of months ago I heard it from a German ...
0
votes
1answer
250 views
Differences between Going to and Will in Informal and Formal English
In formal English (or written English), I'm super sure that the Be going to and Will rules are "respected". (Correct me if I'm wrong) For example, probably in formal English, they probably use "Going ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Difference between not and don't in the next sentence [closed]
“In the period we not enter, Romanticism, the Account became the
preeminent formula for literary production.”
In the sentence above, does the ‘not’ make sense? Should I use ‘don’t’ instead?
-4
votes
2answers
87 views
Translation of 衣冠禽兽 to English
How to say a man who in human clothe but acts just like a total beast, means this man is an animal, hated people.
In Chinese words: 衣冠禽兽, which Google tranlates to crowned beast, but I don't know ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Why should I use the word “we” instead of “I” in scientific papers written alone?
In many scientific articles there are sentences of the form "In this paper we will show ..." For me that sounds natural if there are many authors. But if a researchers writes an article such that she ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
Coinciding actions in the past
I have a question:
It is correct to say " I was doing x when y happened"
Also it is correct to say " While I was doing x, y happened"
BUT is it right to say " When I was doing x, y happened "
In ...
0
votes
2answers
615 views
“Please, tell me” vs. “Could you tell me”
I am not a native English speaker. Last week, I sent Email to my manager saying "Please, tell me the meeting date".
My manager replied: You meant "Can you tell me the meeting date"
So, I am not sure ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
“that is” in speech
When "that is" means "in other words," can it be used in colloquial speech? Or is it more suited to a formal register? Does the following sound natural in daily speech?
We, that is, my brother and ...
3
votes
1answer
73 views
Are contractions discouraged in formal writing? [closed]
I remember reading something long ago that says people should avoid contractions in formal writing. I wonder whether that is true. And by formal writing, I mean specifically the four types:
(1) ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
The word “oblige” in this context
In formal applications it is quite obvious:
Kindly grant me three days of leave and oblige.
Can I write it simply as:
Kindly oblige me with three days of leave.
(As we have the construction--
...
0
votes
0answers
45 views
The usage of 'ACCORD' in IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays
Is this correct usage of 'ACCORD' in below sentences as noun and verb?
"I am in accord with this idea"
"I could not accord with these group of people"
"I shall accord with this opinion"
0
votes
2answers
1k views
take so long vs taking so long
I've worked in a market. Suddenly they stopped my work for verification purpose. They requested me to provide a student ID card. I've sent a scanned copy of my Student ID card for verification. One ...
-1
votes
1answer
20 views
How to describe the following situation?
There are four assumptions:
User 1's location is initially x1, and is changed at speed of 5 m/s in a counterclockwise direction along a circular path with a radius 100 centered at O1.
User 2's ...
0
votes
2answers
395 views
Which is formal; “In this paper I argue” or “This paper argues”?
In this paper I argue that small incentives can lead to greater participation in surveys.
OR
This paper argues that small incentives can lead to greater participation in surveys.
According to ...
1
vote
3answers
161 views
The formal way of saying “keep away from”
What's the legal term for "keep away from" / "keep a distance from"? I'm looking for a verb that means/expresses such a concept.
What I really want is not the legal term but what those people says ...
1
vote
3answers
61 views
Using “one” with “their” in formal and written ENGLISH
Is it correct to, for instance, write in a lecture:
"One must answer the court's questions with due respect in their case/if they are called upon"
I know such structure is admissible in colloquial ...
1
vote
3answers
150 views
Formal way to say “by now”
What would be a more formal way to say something like
The data has all been processed by now, so there's no need for further action
in an email?
I'm worried that "by now" might sound a little ...
1
vote
2answers
27 views
What does “how do you find" mean?
The context as blow:
How do you find your new apartment?
The author says it means "what do you think of something"
What do you think of your new apartment?
I have a feeling that this phrase means the ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
“Are you hearing me” Vs. “Do you hear me”?
When I learnt English grammar I was told that some of the senses don't get "ing" of present continuous, therefore we should say "I see it now" rather than "I'm seeing it now". On the same logic, "I ...
0
votes
0answers
59 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part V
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part IV
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
I ...
2
votes
1answer
38 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part III
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
As ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part II
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part I
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
I ...
3
votes
2answers
598 views
Workaholic Formal/Informal
Can I use the word "Workaholic" in formal writing?
for example:
Workaholics may neglect their families and friends.
3
votes
1answer
193 views
Some clarifications are needed about the grammar of Elliptical Structure
As far as I know, one application of elliptical structure is the omission from a clause one or more elements which has been repeated in previous clauses. However, I do not know whether there exists ...
0
votes
1answer
778 views
“out and out, all in all” are they formal or informal?
Can someone confirm if the below adjectives are formal or informal?
out and out, all in all
0
votes
2answers
37 views
What verb can I use to mean “cause financial costs”?
I'm trying to describe (very succinctly) the financial impact of a given scenario. If it happens, it will cost money.
What is the right verb to describe this? My first thought is to cause financial ...
1
vote
2answers
345 views
Is a “senior faculty member” of a university the same as a “senior professor”?
But, as one senior faculty member of the City University, who spoke on condition of anonymity, puts it... He is obviously not fit for such a senior academic position. We don’t want ethics dumping here....
1
vote
1answer
9k views
What to write in mail if someone asking to reply to confirm [closed]
what to send in reply if someone asking to reply the mail to confirm
As discussed, Please find the details below and kindly
confirm your presence by replying to this email.
I am thinking that it ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Usage of “it is” in formal, mathematical language
I have come across a scientific paper written by non-native speakers where some mathematical formulas are introduced by "it is". For example:
Proof of Theorem X. Assume xyz. [Long mathematical ...
1
vote
2answers
142 views
How to say “does this make a difference?” more formally?
[Some fact about our component.] Does this make a difference for inclusion in the OtherCompany App Store?
Sounds not as formal as I would like a business email to be. It's passable, I think, but I ...
-1
votes
2answers
744 views
How can I formally say “I'm getting into work, we talk later”?
I thought about "I'm going to enter my work now", but I'm both not sure if it formal or even correct.
Context: in a conversation in WhatsApp, where I will stop the conversation because I'm entering ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Is it OK to refer to the name of an applicant in a recommendation letter by his/her family name alone?
I am writing a recommendation letter to support an employee's application for graduate schools in Canada.
For example, if his name is Kai Kang,where Kai is the given name and Kang is the family name....
4
votes
1answer
274 views
Is it informal to use “so on ” in the article?
I have written this phrase
The input of the DNN is the features extracted automatically by feature_extractor model, which are given to the first hidden layer, and the outputs of this layer are ...
1
vote
3answers
82 views
How do I make something more formal? [closed]
How do I make this more formal? The part of the sentence: a lot of the times.
0
votes
1answer
440 views
“Huge” or “Enormous” preferable to use in academic writing? [closed]
I would like to know which one, huge or enormous, would be preferable to use in academic writing, such as in the following example:
Overcoming the current cancer levels in the population is a ...
1
vote
1answer
433 views
Formal connectors of results (“in this way”, “hence”, “thusly” and “as follows”) [closed]
In the following examples, are the terms ("in this way", "hence", "thusly" and "as follows") synonyms sufficiently formal to be used in academic work with a sense of result?
In this way, as this ...
