Matching Formal and Informal Common Errors

Introduction:
This task shows you examples of formal and informal sentences. Formal English is used in academic writing to add authority to a text. To make a sentence more formal you can:

• Use 'There' as a subject; e.g. 'There is a serious risk of...'
• Use 'It' as a subject; e.g. 'It is impossible to...'
• Use 'One' as a subject; e.g. 'One may ask whether...' ('One' is a formal version of 'You' [plural] in general)
• Use the passive voice; e.g. 'Many things can be done in order to...'

Instructions:
Match the formal phrases in the boxes on the right with the informal phrases on the left:

1. Click in the table cell containing the Formal phrase you want to move.
2. Click in the table cell where you want the phrase to go. The phrases will swap position.
3. If a phrase is in the right position, it will have a green background and a tick.
4. When all the formal phrase table cells are green and have ticks, you have finished.

Related Exercises:

• Steps in Process Writing - an ordering activity
• Explanation of functions in essay titles, and an exercise on which functions to use
• Formal and Informal Sentences - a matching exercise
• Common Errors in Formality in Academic Writing - an exercise in choosing a more formal phrase