Informal: "Get in touch" → Formal: ? — "Contact" or "communicate with." Informal: "Get in touch with us anytime." Formal: "Please do not hesitate to contact us."

Informal: "Find out" → Formal: ? — "Ascertain," "determine," or "discover." Informal: "Find out what happened." Formal: "The investigation sought to ascertain the cause."

Informal: "Look into" → Formal: ? — "Investigate" or "examine." Informal: "We'll look into it." Formal: "The committee will investigate the matter."

Informal: "Make up" (invent) → Formal: ? — "Fabricate" or "devise." Informal: "She made up an excuse." Formal: "He fabricated an alibi."

Informal: "Put off" → Formal: ? — "Postpone" or "defer." Informal: "Let's put off the meeting." Formal: "The meeting has been postponed until further notice."

Informal: "OK / Okay" → Formal: ? — "Acceptable," "satisfactory," or "approved." Never write "OK" in formal documents, emails, or essays.

Informal: "A lot of / lots of" → Formal: ? — "Numerous," "a significant number of," "a considerable amount of," or "substantial." Avoid "a lot of" in academic writing.

Informal: "Get" → Formal: ? — Depending on context: "receive," "obtain," "become," "achieve," "acquire." "Get better" → "improve." "Get permission" → "obtain permission."

Informal: "But" (starting a sentence) → Formal: ? — "However," "nevertheless," or "nonetheless." Do not begin sentences with "But" in formal writing.

Informal: "So" (connector) → Formal: ? — "Therefore," "consequently," "thus," or "as a result." Informal: "It rained, so we stayed in." Formal: "It rained; consequently, we remained indoors."

Informal: "And" (starting a sentence) → Formal: ? — "Furthermore," "in addition," "moreover," or "additionally." Avoid starting formal sentences with "And."

Informal: "I think" → Formal: ? — "It is argued that," "evidence suggests that," "it appears that," or "this study contends that." Avoid first-person claims in academic writing.

Informal: "Big" → Formal: ? — "Significant," "substantial," "considerable," "extensive," or "large-scale." Context-dependent.

Informal: "Show" (prove) → Formal: ? — "Demonstrate," "indicate," "reveal," "illustrate," or "establish." Formal: "The data demonstrates a clear correlation."

Informal: "Help" → Formal: ? — "Assist," "facilitate," "aid," or "support." Informal: "This helps students learn." Formal: "This facilitates student learning."

Informal: "Try" → Formal: ? — "Attempt," "endeavour," "seek to," or "aim to." Formal: "The government seeks to reduce unemployment."

Informal: "Start / Begin" → Formal: ? — "Commence," "initiate," "introduce," or "instigate." Formal: "The programme will commence in September."

Informal: "End / Stop" → Formal: ? — "Conclude," "terminate," "cease," or "discontinue." Formal: "Production has ceased at the facility."

Informal: "Enough" → Formal: ? — "Sufficient," "adequate," or "ample." Formal: "The evidence is not sufficient to draw a conclusion."

Informal: "Use" → Formal: ? — "Utilise," "employ," "apply," or "implement." Formal: "This study employs a mixed-methods approach."

Informal email opening: "Hey / Hi [Name]" → Formal: ? — "Dear Mr/Ms/Dr [Surname]," (most formal). "Dear [Full Name]," (semi-formal). "To Whom It May Concern," (when recipient is unknown).

Informal email closing: "Thanks! / Cheers" → Formal: ? — "Yours sincerely," (when you know the recipient's name). "Yours faithfully," (when recipient is unknown — "Dear Sir/Madam"). "Kind regards," (semi-formal).

What are contractions and should they be used in formal writing? — Contractions are shortened forms using apostrophes: I'm, don't, can't, it's, they're. Avoid all contractions in formal writing and academic essays. Write the full forms: I am, do not, cannot, it is, they are.

Informal: "Can I...?" → Formal: ? — "Could I...?" "Would it be possible to...?" "May I...?" "Can I have the report?" → "Could you please provide me with the report at your earliest convenience?"

What is "register" in English? — Register is the level of formality in language — choosing appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and tone for a specific context (formal writing, casual conversation, academic essay, text message).