Suggesting Solutions
Aim:
This slideshow page gives you practice
in identifying formal and informal language in suggestions
in academic situations.
The sentences and paragraphs below contains expressions used to make
suggestions. Some are informal in style (and thus more appropriate for oral
communication), while others are more formal in style (and thus more appropriate
for use in academic writing). Choose whether the sentence is formal or informal
.
:
1. |
There are a number of advantages to using Cantonese as the
medium of instruction in all schools. Probably the most obvious of these is
that … This sentence is formal /
informal. |
2. |
I think that English should be the medium of instruction at
the tertiary level and there are important - equally important - reasons for
this … This sentence is formal /
informal. |
3. |
It is a fact that most students go to university directly
from school. However, many students would benefit by taking a break to
travel or work ... This sentence is formal /
informal. |
4. |
The first priority is that universities should be open to
anyone who wants to attend them irrespective of exam results. The second
priority is to ensure that standards are maintained. This sentence is
formal / informal. |
5. |
Let’s introduce an internship in the second year of the
programme... I admit this is not a top priority but it would make the
programme far more practical… This sentence is formal /
informal. |
6. |
One recommendation presented here is that, as a matter of
urgency, the university consider including more humanities subjects in the
curricula. This sentence is formal /
informal. |
7. |
Why don’t we think about abolishing exams? They cause
students so many problems and could be replaced quite easily by continuous
assessment of course work. This sentence is formal /
informal. |
- Sentence 1 is formal. This is because paragraphs
in formal writing sometimes start with 'There are a number of..' to introduce
a paragraph or number of paragraphs that describe a list of things, such as
'advantages to using Cantonese as a medium of instruction'.
Secondly, the use of 'probably' shows that the writer is using tentativity
(showing that you are not certain),
which is common in academic writing.
Back
- Sentence 2 is informal. This is because of the
use of the pronoun ' I ', which is not usually used in academic writing, and
the elaboration '- equally important -' which shows that a thought has been
inserted into a description of an idea.
Back
- Sentence 3 is formal. This is because of the word
'many', which gives an accurate and unexaggerated description of the number of
students.
Back
- Paragraph 4 is formal. This is because it
carefully describes the organisation, using expressions such as 'The first
priority...' and 'The second priority....' Informal language is generally less
overtly organised.
Back
- Sentence 5 is informal. This is because of the
abbreviated and informal word "Let's", the personal pronoun "I", and
the inexact expression "far more".
Back
- Sentence 6 is formal. This is because it uses
formal vocabulary; e.g. "as a matter of urgency" instead of "quickly".
Back
- Sentence 7 is informal. This is because of the
abbreviation "don't", the rhetorical question (a question that you
answer yourself), and the inexact expression "so many problems".
Back
Formal or informal?
There are a number of advantages to using Cantonese as the
medium of instruction in all schools. Probably the most obvious of these is
that …
There are a number of advantages to using Cantonese as the
medium of instruction in all schools. Probably the most obvious of these is
that …
Sentence 1 is formal. This is because paragraphs
in formal writing sometimes start with 'There are a number of..' to introduce
a paragraph or number of paragraphs that describe a list of things, such as
'advantages to using Cantonese as a medium of instruction'.
Secondly, the use of 'probably' shows that the writer is using tentativity
(showing that you are not certain),
which is common in academic writing.
Back
Formal or informal?
I think that English should be the medium of instruction at
the tertiary level and there are important - equally important - reasons for
this …
I think that English should be the medium of instruction at
the tertiary level and there are important - equally important - reasons for
this …
Sentence 2 is informal. This is because of the
use of the pronoun ' I ', which is not usually used in academic writing, and
the elaboration '- equally important -' which shows that a thought has been
inserted into a description of an idea.
Back
Formal or informal?
It is a fact that most students go to university directly
from school. However, many students would benefit by taking a break to
travel or work ...
It is a fact that most students go to university directly
from school. However, many students would benefit by taking a break to
travel or work ...
Sentence 3 is formal. This is because of the word
'many', which gives an accurate and unexaggerated description of the number of
students.
Back
Formal or informal?
The first priority is that universities should be open to
anyone who wants to attend them irrespective of exam results. The second
priority is to ensure that standards are maintained.
The first priority is that universities should be open to
anyone who wants to attend them irrespective of exam results. The second
priority is to ensure that standards are maintained.
Paragraph 4 is formal. This is because it
carefully describes the organisation, using expressions such as 'The first
priority...' and 'The second priority....' Informal language is generally less
overtly organised.
Back
Formal or informal?
Let’s introduce an internship in the second year of the
programme... I admit this is not a top priority but it would make the
programme far more practical…
Let’s introduce an internship in the second year of the
programme... I admit this is not a top priority but it would make the
programme far more practical…
Sentence 5 is informal. This is because of the
abbreviated and informal word "Let's", the personal pronoun "I", and
the inexact expression "far more".
Back
Formal or informal?
One recommendation presented here is that, as a matter of
urgency, the university consider including more humanities subjects in the
curricula.
One recommendation presented here is that, as a matter of
urgency, the university consider including more humanities subjects in the
curricula.
Sentence 6 is formal. This is because it uses
formal vocabulary; e.g. "as a matter of urgency" instead of "quickly".
Back
Formal or informal?
Why don’t we think about abolishing exams? They cause
students so many problems and could be replaced quite easily by continuous
assessment of course work.
Why don’t we think about abolishing exams? They cause
students so many problems and could be replaced quite easily by continuous
assessment of course work.
Sentence 7 is informal. This is because of the
abbreviation "don't", the rhetorical question (a question that you
answer yourself), and the inexact expression "so many problems".
Back
hits since 29 September 2003.
Last updated:
Monday, 08 March 2010
If you have any suggestions or questions, please e-mail us at
elc.cill@polyu.edu.hk
.