Engl. 117
Summer 2005

Levels of Formality

(The level of formality is the tone in writing and reflects the attitude of the writer toward the subject and the audience. The tone may be highly formal or very informal or somewhere in between.)

(1). Identify the levels of formality of the following sentences (formal, informal, and medium). Write your answer in the blank at the left side of each sentence.

______ a. He was sort of irritated because he couldn't find his car keys and didn't have a whole lot of time to get to his
office.

______ b. He was somewhat irritated because he could not find his car keys and did not have much time to get to his office.

______ c. Unable to locate his car keys and lacking sufficient time to journey to his office, he was slightly agitated. 

(2). Identify the inconsistency in levels of formality in the following paragraph and revise it. You may put your revisions in parentheses.

The economist offered the business executives a lengthy explanation for the recent fluctuation in the stock market. But it was pretty obvious from their questions afterwards that they didn't get it.

(3). Changing some of the key terms can change the tone of the following sentences. Revise the following sentence to a more informal one.

Scientists are issuing warnings that one procedure for alleviating the menace of global warming is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

(4). The following paragraph is intended to be written in a medium to formal tone, but the writer lost control and slipped into some inappropriate choices of informal words and phrases. Rewrite the following paragraph so that the wording is consistently at a medium to formal level. Put your revisions in parentheses.

To eliminate sexual harassment in the work place, companies should come up with clearly defined guidelines that help you figure out which actions to avoid. Merely telling people not to engage in sexual harassment doesn't do much to illustrate things to cut out. Therefore, to sensitize their personnel, some companies hold seminars in which employees who have complaints act out unpleasant or demeaning stuff directed at them by their bosses or fellow workers. Seeing such actions portrayed often helps the offender recognize how insulting some act was, even if the offending person didn't mean it like that. Discussions that get going later also help people realize how their actions affect those they work with, and further definitions or memos often aren't needed.

Key to the Exercises

1. Levels of the Formality

(1). Identify the levels of formality of the following sentences (formal, informal, and medium). Write your answer in the blank at the left side of each sentence.

___I__ a. He was sort of irritated because he couldn't find his car keys and didn't have a whole lot of time to get to his office.

___M__ b. He was somewhat irritated because he could not find his car keys and did not have much time to get to his office.

___F__ c. Unable to locate his car keys and lacking sufficient time to journey to his office, he was slightly agitated.

(2). Identify the inconsistency in levels of formality in the following paragraph and revise it. You may put your revisions in brackets.

The economist offered the business executives a lengthy explanation for the recent fluctuation in the stock market. But it was pretty (quite) obvious from their questions afterwards that they didn't get it (not understand his explanation).

(3). Changing some of the key terms can change the tone of the following sentences. Revise the following sentences to a more informal one.

Scientists are issuing warnings that one procedure for alleviating the menace of global warming is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

(Revised: Scientists warn that one way to reduce the threat of global warming is to cut down on carbon dioxide exhaust.)

(4). The following paragraph is intended to be written in a medium to formal tone, but the writer lost control and slipped into some inappropriate choices of informal words and phrases. Rewrite the following paragraph so that the wording is consistently at a medium to formal level. Put you revisions in brackets.

To eliminate sexual harassment in the work place, companies should come up with (construct) clearly defined guidelines that help you figure out (employees recognize) which actions to avoid. Merely telling people not to engage in sexual harassment doesn't (does not) do much to (adequately) illustrate things to cut out (specific acts from which they should restrain). Therefore, to sensitize their personnel, some companies hold seminars in which employees who have complaints act out unpleasant or demeaning stuff (actions) directed at them by their bosses (supervisors) or fellow workers. Seeing such actions portrayed often helps the offender recognize how insulting some act was, even if the offending person didn't mean it like that (did not intend any disrespect). Discussions that get going later (follow) also help people realize how their actions affect those they work with, and further definitions or memos often aren't (are not) needed.