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.
226
questions
1
vote
2answers
22 views
Does “ruin the experience” sound informal? [closed]
Does "ruin the experience" sound informal?
I'm writing an essay and I'm wondering if it's appropriate to use such a phrase.
0
votes
0answers
23 views
humankind and well-off
Are word "humankind" and "well-off" formal or not?
Can I use, for instance, in academic writing so:
Humankind has all possibilities to make all people well-off
And are there any ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
What would be a more formal way of saying “do a lot of teaching”?
I want to say that lecturers at our faculty do a lot of teaching, but to my ears, this phrasing is rather informal – am I right? So, what would be a more formal (or at least less informal) way of ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
What is the formal synonym of the hot weather?
Is there any substitute for the word hot in the following sentence?
In recent years the weather is becoming hotter. In 2018, for instance,
some areas in eastern and southern Europe baked in ...
1
vote
1answer
16 views
How to formally say looking forward and keep me updated in email
I emailed the repepient if they can call me. And received email from the recipient saying that their place is closed till February due to covid. But they has forwarded my request letter to higher ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Uses of PLEASE with COULD in formal email/conversation
Should we use 'please' in formal emails/conversation?
Example: Could you please provide your views on this PPT?
'Could' here is stating request and we are also using please for the same.
Is it ...
0
votes
2answers
35 views
What does the following sentence mean ? “Since when is …”
I saw the following sentence and I cannot understand its exact meaning.
Since when is W equal to PV ?
I do not understand the combination of "since + when".
Is it also formal or informal?
...
0
votes
1answer
12 views
Is it correct to avoid using apostrophe in this situation?
I want to know whether it is possible to avoid using the apostrophe as suggested in the second option? or it should remain the same as it is in the first option?. Since it is the salute, I'm not sure ...
0
votes
1answer
12 views
Quotation marks are necessary in this context?
Moreover, they are causing the disappearing of several Punos, which are endemic wetlands of my region vital to the wildlife. Karachi is where my family and I plan to keep living , but due to the ...
1
vote
2answers
20 views
Can the determiner, “that”, appear as a formal subject in this sentence?
Soon after that, a very strange person stepped out from the trees into the light of the lamp-post.
So, my question is, can the determiner that appear as a formal subject in this sentence. It is ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
“In spite of” vs. “despite”
Which one is more formal and suitable for an academic context?
Despite being elected to office, she remains first and foremost a writer.
In spite of being elected to office, she remains first and ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Is it allowed to use a period before thereby?
I did use a period before thereby but I am not sure whether it should be replaced by other punctuation form in this paragraph?
This skill, along with academic preparation in the USA can make his work ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
This phrase should contain “a”?
I am wondering whether the following phrase should contain a or not?
Although I have worked with many students in my role as a teacher, I can remember her easily because she was in the top 10% of my ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Despite vs although exercise. Why although is a valid answer here?
I have stumbled upon this CAE exercise today and I was surprised to discover that I made a mistake in the following sentence:
The events that make up the history of the Iberian Peninsula have shaped ...
0
votes
3answers
52 views
Does using “Like something” in a sentence sound formal in British English?
I've recently noticed a lot of people use "like + something" in their sentences even in formal speech. By way of illustration look at the following sentence from a Harvard health blog:
"...
5
votes
3answers
974 views
Is ball-park figure formal or informal?
Is it OK to use this expression in an academic text?
The given charts represent ball-park figures of mortality rates in European countries.
Is ball-park formal enough to be used in an academic ...
0
votes
0answers
70 views
Adjectives in the introductory there structure can come after nouns?
I have seen in some grammar book the following pattern, which allows to place an adjective after a noun:
A shelf is empty.
➔ There is a shelf empty.
I want to know whether the above pattern is a ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
I need help with a sentence
Which sentence is the correct one?
A) ...University has an excellent medicine program with competence to all countries in the EU.
B) ...University has an excellent medicine program with competence ...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
Having terrible spoken English in daily contexts
Short background of me:
I was originally from the Philippines and have learned English for 14 years in school. I came from a family with humble beginnings and grew up surrounded by people who speak ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
“Please be careful about what you said”
I have a rude student who wrote me a rude email with full sentence in capital. And she said to me that I am trying to challenge her because I did not extend the homework time for her (20 students do ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Is there a legal term “murder in concert”?
In the movie Nowhere Alaska (about 68'52" in), the policeman says something about murder in concert. It sounds like a legal term so I googled it. No relevant hit as far I could see - just a bunch ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Can I use this sentence in a presentation?
When I start a presentation, can I say this
Let me start with highlighting our achievement last month.
Is this sentence weird? If yes, is there any better?
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Look into it - Alternatives
From time to time I receive emails (work-oriented) with offers or sorts of information, in which I can't address immediately, before examining the offer/options or consult a colleague, etc. In the ...
1
vote
3answers
103 views
How do you refer to people in a statement?
When reading articles like magazines and newspapers, we see a lot of people's names there, but how people are referred to varies. The following are some of the most common ones.
First name alone
...
1
vote
2answers
26 views
Omitting “and”, “or” in enumerations
In TV series and films I sometimes come across enumerations that lack the "and" or the "or", and sometimes even have something very different used instead.
What do you want coffee ...
0
votes
2answers
73 views
Is the sentence “It is hoped that the corona virus would disappear soon” correct formal speech?
Today I had my English finals, 12th grade high-school. I live in a third-world country, and so the quality of the questions/answers is not always guaranteed. One of the questions was:
Which of the ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
I was toxic MYSELF
I've tried looking up 'myself' but the only results I get is 'myself or by myself.' But my problem is a bit different.
I was talking about a few toxic friends who I used to play video games with and I ...
0
votes
3answers
43 views
Formal phrases in scientific texts
I am writing a formal text (thesis) and I would like to use the formulation
... results must be taken with a grain of salt.
Although it seems that it is used in scientific papers (see this question),...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Choosing between “Summary” and “Closer”
I am in the process of finalising my PhD thesis, and I am currently going through a stage of being unreasonably pedantic about minute details. So please bare with me if this question sounds like a ...
0
votes
2answers
110 views
Formal alternative to 'what are you doing here?'
As far as I know, there is a fixed phrase/idiom for saying what are you doing here? but I have forgotten it.
It is a very formal and polite way of saying that.
What are you doing here? can sound ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
I can't stress enough how this position/job is appropriate for me
I wrote the following sentence but am not sure enough if it is appropriate to use it in a job interview and if the word "appropriate" is good choice for the sentence to show your willingness ...
0
votes
2answers
65 views
Choosing between “with applications to” and “with application to”
I am in the process of finalising my PhD thesis title, and I am unsure if the second of the following options is grammatically correct:
"A Higher-order VOF Interface Reconstruction Scheme for ...
0
votes
2answers
29 views
How do we build a dialogue?
I struggle a lot with dialogues, and I was wondering if you could tell me which of these sentences is correct. If neither is, could you tell me how to build it correctly? :)
“I told her my secret.” ...
0
votes
2answers
150 views
What’s the difference between “scam” and “rip off”?
I was wondering what was the difference between these two terms:
“To rip off”
“To scam”
Which one is better in this sentence? :
“This store rips off their customers”
“This store scams their customers”
...
1
vote
0answers
36 views
Do we say “given” or “given that“?
Which is the formal one?
“Given I’m tired, I won’t be there.”
“Given that I am tired, I won’t be there.”
Can we omit the “that” after “given” or it won’t be formal anymore?
Other examples:
I don’t ...
1
vote
2answers
231 views
Damning problem
As a task at my university, I am proofreading and commenting on an academic paper of my groupmate. I came across the word combination "damning problem" in the following context:
The most ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
What do you say at the end of an E-Meetings? [closed]
Let's say, in our office, we used to take calls/meetings through Zoom & Webex. Usually, people say "Thank you. Thanks", at the end of the meeting. What else can we say in a polite and formal way? ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
How to avoid the repetition of the word “goal” in this sentence?
The macro goals are set based on what you wanna achieve in next few weeks or months. What's the overall purpose of your work. It can have many layers, such as a week goal based on a month one which in ...
0
votes
2answers
35 views
Preference of separate clauses over complex noun phrases in formal writing?
Both in my native tongue (Hungarian) and in my originally first foreign language (German) it is common in formal texts to use complex noun phrases instead of multiple separate clauses. At least this ...
1
vote
2answers
50 views
What's the difference of the subject being “one” and “we” in math articles?
I see both of them used in mathematical articles as subjects, for example:
Examples from book Renormalization and effective field theory of Kevin Costello, who is an Irish mathematician.
If we do ...
0
votes
0answers
56 views
Is the phrase “with flying colours” informal
As suggested in the title, I wonder if i can use it in my thesis?
I'm discussing the education of spoken English in China, I just thought about the phrase just now, probably I'll be using it like ...
0
votes
1answer
432 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
5k 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
366 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
23 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
59 views
Teacher said I write in a pompous register? Why? Could you help me understand? [closed]
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
41 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
1k 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
31 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
29 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 ...
