Cambridge IGCSE 0510 · Topic 5 of 10

Register, tone and audience

Choosing formal, semi-formal or informal language to suit the reader and purpose of a piece of writing.

📌 Key points

Register is the level of formality of language; it must suit the audience (who will read it) and the purpose (why you are writing).
Informal writing (to a friend or family member) can use contractions (I'm, don't), phrasal verbs, exclamation marks and chatty questions such as 'Guess what?'.
Formal writing (to a head teacher, manager or company) avoids contractions and slang and uses polite, precise vocabulary such as 'request', 'require' and 'assist'.
Formal phrases include 'I am writing to ...', 'I would be grateful if you could ...' and 'I look forward to hearing from you.'
In formal British-style letters, 'Dear Sir or Madam' ends with 'Yours faithfully', and 'Dear Mr Khan' ends with 'Yours sincerely'.
Informal emails can open with 'Hi Sam' or 'Dear Sam' and close with 'Best wishes', 'Take care' or 'See you soon'.
Semi-formal writing, for example to a teacher you know or a neighbour, is polite but friendly.
Keep the register consistent: switching between very formal and very informal language in one text loses marks.
Tone (friendly, polite, apologetic, enthusiastic, persuasive) should match the task — for example, an email of complaint should be firm but polite.

Register: The level of formality in language, chosen to suit the reader and situation.
Audience: The people who will read or hear a text.
Purpose: The reason for writing, for example to inform, persuade, complain or thank.
Contraction: A shortened form such as 'don't' for 'do not', typical of informal writing.
Phrasal verb: A verb plus a particle, such as 'find out' or 'put off', often less formal than a one-word verb.
Tone: The attitude a text shows to the reader, such as friendly, polite or firm.
Slang: Very informal words used in speech between friends, unsuitable for formal writing.

Rewrite this informal sentence in a formal register for a letter to a company manager: 'I'm writing 'cos I wanna find out more about the summer job.'

Remove the contraction: 'I'm' becomes I am.
Replace the slang: ''cos' becomes because and 'wanna' becomes would like to.
Replace the phrasal verb with a formal verb: 'find out more about' becomes obtain further information about or enquire about.
Use a standard formal opening phrase: 'I am writing to ...'.
Answer: I am writing to enquire about the summer position.

💡 Exam tip

Before you write, ask: Who is the reader? Why am I writing? Then keep the same register from the greeting to the sign-off.

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