Formal Language in Reports

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Formal Language in Reports

Aim: This exercise will help you to write reports using formal language.
Language Analysis:
To make words and phrases more formal you can:

replace phrasal verbs with one-word verbs; e.g. 'take a look at' with
'investigate'
replace general verbs with specific ones; e.g. 'got' with 'received',
although the specific verb should correlate with the noun; e.g. 'draw
conclusions' and 'make recommendations' (Click here for more
information.)
replace extreme adjectives with less extreme ones; e.g. 'huge' with
'large'
replace informal quantifiers with formal ones; e.g. 'masses of ' with
'a large amount of '
replace words with apostrophes with full forms; e.g. 'don't' with 'do
not'

Related Materials: Matching Formal and Informal Phrases

Instructions:
Edit the boxes below by replacing the informal words and phrases with
formal ones.
To take a look at the problem of declining numbers of
visitors to Hong Kong, we decided to do a really big
survey.
We made a questionnaire and handed it out to 2,000 people.
We did this because right now we don't have any reliable
hard data on why tourist numbers are declining
There's not much information available either on what
might bring them back to Hong Kong.
The return rate for the questionnaire was really bad at
only 13% but this figure should provide a firm enough
basis for talking about why tourist numbers are going down.
Check Answer

http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/eiw/reportformality.htm

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Answer
Your answer
To take a look at the problem of declining
numbers of visitors to Hong Kong, we decided to
do a really big survey.

Model answer
To take a look at (it's a phrasal verb) investigate the problem of
declining numbers of visitors to Hong Kong, we decided to do ('do' is
too general) conduct a really big (it's an informal quantifier) large-scale
survey.
Your answer
We made a questionnaire and handed it out to
2,000 people.

Model answer
We made (it's too general) designed a questionnaire and handed it out
(it's a phrasal verb) distributed it to 2,000 people.
Your answer
We did this because right now we don't have any
reliable hard data on why tourist numbers are
declining

Model answer
We did this because right now (informal expression) currently we don't
(apostrophes are too informal) do not have any reliable hard data on why
tourist numbers are declining
Your answer
There's not much information available either on
what might bring them back to Hong Kong.

Model answer
There's (apostrophes are too informal) There is not much (it's an
informal quantifier) little information available either on what might
bring them back to Hong Kong.
Your answer
The return rate for the questionnaire was really
bad at only 13% but this figure should provide a
firm enough basis for talking about why tourist
numbers are going down.

Model answer
The return rate for the questionnaire was really bad ('really' is an
informal quantifier and 'bad' is too general) very disappointing at only
13% but this figure should provide a firm enough basis for talking about

http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/eiw/reportformality.htm

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Formal Language in Reports

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(it's a phrasal verb) discussing why tourist numbers are going down (it's
a phrasal verb) declining.

hits since 9 April 2003.

If you have any suggestions or questions, please e-mail us at eccill@inet.polyu.edu.hk .

http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/eiw/reportformality.htm

08.08.2004