EmailsThat Work
Formal vs informal register in writing
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
Was your last email formal or informal? Why?
'Hey boss, gimme that report ASAP' — what's wrong here?
Name three ways to open an email — formal, neutral, informal.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minRegister: formal vs informal email English
FORMAL: 'Dear Mr Smith, / Dear Sir/Madam,' — 'I am writing to enquire about…' — 'I would be grateful if you could…' — 'Please find attached…' — 'Yours sincerely / Yours faithfully (if no name).' INFORMAL: 'Hi Sam, / Hey,' — 'Just a quick one — …' — 'Can you …?' — 'Cheers, / Thanks, / Best,'.
→ FORMAL: I am writing to enquire about the position advertised.
→ NEUTRAL: I just wanted to check in about the position.
→ INFORMAL: Hey, any update on that job?
→ NEUTRAL: Could you possibly send the report by Friday?
More detail
NEUTRAL (most common at work): 'Hi Sam,' — 'Hope you're well.' — 'Could you possibly…?' — 'Thanks so much.' — 'Best, [Name]'. Use contractions in informal/neutral, never in fully formal. NEVER mix registers: 'Dear Madam, Just a quick one!' is wrong.
Question 1.Formal opening when you DON'T know the name:
Question 2.Formal close with NAME (Dear Mr Smith):
Question 3.Formal close with NO name (Dear Sir):
Question 4.Informal: 'I would be grateful if…' becomes:
Question 5.Formal phrasal-verb-free version of 'get back to me':
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
to follow up (on)
check progress / chase
"I'm following up on my email from last week."
What do you need to follow up on?
to reach out
contact, often first time
"Reaching out to introduce myself."
Who have you 'reached out' to recently?
to circle back
return to a topic
"Let me circle back next week."
Use 'circle back' in a sentence.
at your earliest convenience
as soon as you can (formal)
"Please respond at your earliest convenience."
Make a polite request using this.
to keep in the loop
keep informed
"Please keep me in the loop."
Who do you need to keep in the loop?
looking forward to hearing from you
polite close
"Looking forward to hearing from you. Best, …"
Practise this close in a real reply.
apologies for the delay
polite sorry-late
"Apologies for the delay in responding."
Send a real 'apologies' sentence.
as discussed
referring to a past convo
"As discussed, I'm attaching the proposal."
Open a sentence with 'as discussed'.
Discuss with a partner
- →Sort: which phrases are formal, neutral, informal?
- →When would 'circle back' annoy you?
Finish the sentence about you
- Apologies for the delay — … …
- Just following up on… …
- As discussed, please find attached… …
60-second write
Write 4 email lines: 1 formal request, 1 informal request, 1 formal apology, 1 informal close.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minReading formal vs informal openings aloud
- • Dear Mr SMITH, … I am WRITing to enQUIRE …
- • Hi SAM, … just a QUICK one …
- • Dear Sir or MADam, … I would be GRATEful if you could …
- • HEY! How's it GOing?
How to say it
Formal greetings deserve a slower, slightly higher tone. Informal greetings are quick and warm. Practise reading aloud: 'Dear Ms Brown,' (slow, neutral) vs 'Hi Anna!' (quick, friendly).
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minTwo emails about the same thing
FORMAL · To a recruiter you don't know — Subject: Application — Marketing Assistant. Dear Ms Patel, I am writing to apply for the Marketing Assistant position advertised on your website. Please find my CV attached. I would be grateful if you could let me know the next steps at your earliest convenience. Looking forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Carla Mendes. INFORMAL · To a colleague Sam — Subject: That marketing thing! Hi Sam, just a quick one — I've finally applied for that marketing role I told you about! Could you possibly look over my CV before Friday? I've attached it here. Cheers, Carla. Same person, same week, same job, two completely different tones. That's register.
Question 1.Formal opener used?
Question 2.Formal close?
Question 3.Both emails are about the same thing — what?
Q1.The formal email uses 'I am writing to apply'.
Q2.The informal email uses 'I would be grateful if'.
Q3.Both emails close the same way.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minA manager dictates two emails
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Manager:OK, first one — formal. To Ms Khan.
Assistant:Subject?
Manager:Project update. 'Dear Ms Khan, I am writing to follow up on our meeting last week.'
Assistant:Got it. Then?
Manager:'Please find the revised timeline attached. I would be grateful for your feedback at your earliest convenience.'
Assistant:Close?
Manager:'Looking forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Sara.' Now the second one — informal. To Pat.
Assistant:Go.
Manager:'Hey Pat, just a quick one — can you check the timeline I sent Ms Khan? Want a second pair of eyes. Cheers, Sara.'
Question 1.Who is the formal email to?
Question 2.What's the close of the formal email?
Question 3.What does Sara ask Pat for?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Writing Parts 1 & 2 (message + email)
Task
Write one formal email (120 words) and one informal email (80 words) on the same topic — applying for a part-time job.
Strategy
Match opener and closer to register. Formal: 'Dear … / Yours sincerely.' Informal: 'Hi / Cheers.' Never mix. Use full forms in formal (do not contract). Always state purpose in the first line. End with a clear next step.
Example
FORMAL: 'Dear Mr Lopez, I am writing to apply for the part-time barista position advertised in your café window. I am available evenings and weekends, and I have one year of customer-service experience. Please find my CV attached. Looking forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Maria.' INFORMAL: 'Hey Tom! Just a quick one — I've applied for that part-time job at the café on your street. Fingers crossed! Could you let me know if you hear anything? Cheers, Maria.'
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.____ Mr Smith, I am writing to enquire…
Question 2.Please find ____ ____ my CV.
Question 3.I would be ____ if you could reply.
Question 4.At your earliest ____.
Question 5.Just a ____ one — could you check this?
Q1.Formal opening + purpose: 'enquire about position' →
Q2.Formal request: 'reply by Friday' →
Q3.Informal apology + reason: 'late reply / busy week' →
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a formal 130-word email applying for a summer internship, AND a 70-word informal email telling a friend you've applied. Include all formal conventions (opener, purpose, request, close).
Show model answer
FORMAL: Dear Ms Lopez, I am writing to apply for the summer internship in your marketing department, advertised on your website on 12 May. I am currently completing my second year of a Business degree at Manchester University and am particularly interested in B2B campaigns. As discussed at the careers fair, I am attaching my CV and a short cover letter. I would be grateful if you could let me know the next steps at your earliest convenience. Looking forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Maya Patel. INFORMAL: Hi Sam! Just a quick one — I've finally applied for that marketing internship I told you about! Fingers crossed. Could you keep an eye out for any tips? Cheers, Maya x
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
REGISTER RESCUE · Pairs. Teacher hands out 6 'wrong-register' sentences (e.g. 'Yo boss, gimme the file'). Pair must rewrite to correct register, then read both versions aloud with correct tone. Class scores.
Useful phrases
- • I am writing to…
- • Please find attached…
- • I would be grateful if…
- • Just a quick one — …
- • Could you possibly…?
- • Apologies for the delay.
- EmailDear Ms Rivera, I am writing to follow up on the position I applied for on 5 May.
- Next line_______________
- EmailHi Sam, just a quick one —
- Next line_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Drill register switching, not isolated phrases. ~26 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Write one formal email (130 words) and one informal email (80 words) on the same topic.
Find an example of each register in your own inbox; identify 5 register markers in each.
Record a 60-second voice note explaining the difference between formal and informal email registers.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Dear / Yours sincerely = formal. Hi / Cheers = informal.
- Yours faithfully = formal close when you don't know the name.
- No contractions in formal emails; contractions everywhere in informal.
- First line = purpose. Last line = action / close.
- Never mix registers within one email.