Achieving formality
1. Words of Latin/French origin rather than Germanic
think
see
talk
eat
give
ask
find
break
row
anger
consider
perceive, observe
negotiate
consume
donate
enquire
locate
intermission
argument, disagreement
consternation
(French expressions often used to impress: e.g. chef, sous chef, sommelier, à la carte,
hors d'oeuvres, aperitif, ensuite, couchette, sang froid, je ne sais quois, passé, passepartout, par excellence, non plus ultra)
2. Nominalisation:
verb > noun phrase
inform
observe
interview
investigate
provide information (on)
offer/make an observation (on)
hold an interview (with)
conduct an investigation (into)
3. Use of modals
We would like to request that / confirm that / inform you that
Should you require any further information
4. Impersonal forms – avoiding personal pronouns
It is difficult to comprehend/understand why
It needs to be emphasised that
There are a number of reasons why this might be necessary
May involve the passive:
The evidence was presented by
5. Lexical verbs vs. phrasal verbs
proceed
complete
contact
postpone, defer
perform, undertake, execute
discover, establish
observe
discuss
get on (with something)
get through
get in touch with
put off
carry out
find out
look at
talk about
6. Other points
use of connective words such as furthermore, moreover, thus, therefore, nevertheless,
whereas
word order: not ending sentences with expressions like as well, too or prepositions or
pronouns
avoidance of contractions
is not rather than isn't
avoidance of question tags
more complex sentences, e.g. relative clauses (which / of which)
impersonal pronoun one (rather than you)
indirectness (politeness)
I wonder if you could vs. Can you
misinformed vs. wrong
I think you'll find that is incorrect / you have been misinformed.
present simple vs. present continuous
I look forward to vs. I'm looking forward to
other expressions
many, considerable numbers of, a considerable quantity of vs. lots of, loads of
large vs. big
perhaps vs. maybe
obtain/acquire vs. get