Writing in a Formal Style-tasks

8/19/2019 Writing in a Formal Style-tasks

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Multi-word verbs are very common in spoken English as they are less formal than single verbs.

In contrast, single verbs can sometimes sound quite pompous in everyday speech. Compare

I asked for another appointment.

I requested another appointment.

!ow compare these pairs of verbs

Informal More formal

"e checked up on his accountant.

#hey put up with their neighbours.

$he caught on very quickly.

$he made up for it with an early night.

"e went down with a fever.

#he cost of living went up.

"e investigated his accountant.

#hey tolerated their neighbours.

$he understood very quickly.

$he compensated for it with an early

night.

"e contracted a fever.

#he cost of living increased .

Task 1

%se the verbs below to complete the sentences. &emember to change the verb into the correct

tense.

postpone establish fluctuate investigate reduce deceive maintain acquire

• #he research team tried to find out the truth.

•

#he pro'ect managed to get hold of a new scanner.

• "is discovery enabled school heads to cut down on the time

lost between classes.

• (hen the team looked looking into the problem, they found

that it was much more comple) than they had first thought.



• #he levels go up and down as a result of the pressure

changes.

• #he government put off a decision until they had heard the

report.

• #he inspector was taken in by the apparent calm in the building.

• #he solicitor made out that his client was unfairly accused.

Task 2

Replace the informal verbs in italics with more formal verbs.

•

#he business was built up over a number of years.• $mith *++ found out that the bank had surprising rules

when it came to new customers.

• #heir request for further funding was turned down.

• #he situation was made worse by the high levels of lead in

the sample.

• #hey have been asked to come up with a solution to the

problem.

•

#he research team forget to check the acid levels.

• #he team said that there figures were accurate.

• r /iu will meet with a lot of opposition when she makes

her proposal.

Task 3

The sentences below are grammatically accurate but the style Is inappropriate. Re-write

these sentences in a more academic style making any changes you need to.

• #he planners reviewed the report and said that it was great.

• It0s obvious that the work environment is going to get a lot

worse.

• #he Chinese economy would like to look after itself, but it0s

also affected by things that happen outside the country.



• #heir historical approach to economics is 'ust not the right

way to go about it.

• 1ersonally, I think that economic stability depends upon

social cohesion.

• #he research team said that their techniques were ok butneeded to be further refined.

• It was clear that the team had done a lot and were satisfied

with what they0d done.

• #hey worked together on the pro'ect for +2 years.

Notes on Task 1

• #he research team tried to establish the truth.

• #he pro'ect managed to acquire a new scanner.

• "is discovery enabled school heads to reduce the time lost

between classes.

• (hen the team looked investigated the problem, they found

that it was much more comple) than they had first thought.

• #he levels fluctuate as a result of the pressure changes.

•

#he government postponed a decision until they had heardthe report.

• #he inspector was deceived by the apparent calm in the

building.

• #he solicitor maintained that his client was unfairly accused.

Notes on the Task 2

• #he business was developed over a number of years.

• $mith *++ established that the bank had surprising rules

when it came to new customers.

• #heir request for further funding was rejected .

• #he situation was exacerbated / intensified by the high levels

of lead in the sample.

• #hey have been asked to propose a solution to the problem.



• #he research team neglected to check the acid levels.

• #he team suggested that their figures were accurate.

• r /iu will face a lot of opposition when she makes her

proposal.

Notes on the Task 3

• #he planners reviewed the report and said that it was very

satisfactory.

• There is evidence to suggest that the work environment is

going to deteriorate.

• #he Chinese economy would like to be self-sufficient , but it0s

also affected by external factors.

•

#heir historical approach to economics is inappropriate.

• Some writers maintain that economic stability depends upon

social cohesion.

• #he research team said that their techniques were satisfactory

but needed to be further refined.

• It was clear that the team had completed a significant amount

of work and were satisfied with their achievements.

• #hey collaborated on the pro'ect for +2 years.

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Writing in a Formal Style-tasks