CELPIP Writing Course · Lesson 4 of 9
Formal, Semi-Formal and Informal Tone
By CELPass Editorial Team · 2 min read · Updated
Tone is part of Task Fulfillment. An email with good English but the wrong tone for its reader will not score as well as it could.
What changes between tones
| Feature | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| Contractions | Avoid (I am, do not) | Use (I'm, don't) |
| Words | assist, inform, request, regarding | help, tell, ask, about |
| Requests | Would it be possible to… | Can you…? |
| Feelings | I was disappointed to find… | I was so upset when… |
Semi-formal sits in between: polite and clear, contractions acceptable, friendly but not chatty. It suits a landlord, a colleague or a neighbour you know.
Keep it consistent
The most common tone problem is mixing: a formal opening, then "anyway, gotta go!" at the end. Choose the tone in your plan and check it when you review. Also be firm but polite in complaints: describe the problem and the result you want, without insults or exaggeration.
Tone in the most common email purposes
| Purpose | Formal example | Informal example |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint | I was disappointed to find that the repair had not been completed. | I was pretty annoyed that the repair still wasn't done. |
| Request | I would be grateful if you could extend the deadline by one week. | Any chance you could give me one more week? |
| Apology | Please accept my apologies for missing the meeting. | I'm so sorry I missed our dinner! |
| Thanks | Thank you for your prompt assistance. | Thanks so much for helping out. |
Key points
- Formal: no contractions, more precise verbs, polite requests.
- Informal: natural, warm, contractions fine.
- Don't mix tones; complain firmly but politely.
Exercise
Rewrite each informal sentence in a formal tone.
- "Can you fix it ASAP?"
- "I'm really mad about the late delivery."
- "Thanks a bunch!"
Show answers
- "I would appreciate it if this could be repaired as soon as possible."
- "I was very disappointed that the delivery arrived late."
- "Thank you very much for your help."
Practise with free questions
Free questions in the CELPIP format, with answers and no account needed. Try a few now, while the lesson is fresh.
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