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Results tagged with formality
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user 3036
This tag is for questions about formal (versus informal) words and usage. The question must identify a particular concern about the formality of the word or phrase at issue, and specify the target context or audience.
7
votes
Accepted
Is using "have" better than using "got" in the following sentence?
"Have" is correct and can be only one thing: I possess/hold/etc. the file.
"Got" can be two things:
I've got the file: has the same meaning as "I have the file", but is somewhat informal; if you le …
8
votes
Usage of "is when"
There are two questions you could ask: 1. is this acceptable?, and 2. if not, why not?
It is fine in casual writing, but it may not be appropriate in formal writing; it sounds a bit too informal for …
11
votes
Accepted
Is using "and/or" recommended for formal writing, or is it frowned upon?
I believe most style books advise against using and/or in formal writing. By "formal" I mean in newspapers or novels. If space is extremely limited, most writers would have no qualms about it, as in d …
2
votes
Accepted
"TV": is it formal or informal?
It is somewhat more informal than television, but not very much so; while I'd certainly prefer television in most written texts, I'd not be shocked at reading TV either, perhaps not even in a scientif …
14
votes
Were contractions less common in olden days?
[Edited]
What is contraction?
In all languages I know, there is a general tendency to contract existing words in speech. I will comment on contraction in writing later.
The cause of contraction in …
5
votes
Accepted
Starting a Sentence with a Conjunction
Coördinating conjunctions, such as and, or and but, can be used to begin a new sentence. This was already widely accepted in Fowler's time, and probably always. There is nothing wrong with the conjunc …
35
votes
Accepted
Is "misconfigured" a word?
Mis- is a productive prefix, so I see no reason why it should not be allowed to form new verbs, unless used instead of a better word if such exists. The OED agrees:
As now apprehended, the prefix
…
24
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Does America have its Versions of U- and Non-U English?
In Britain and most of Europe, some form of U-speak exists: old-money language has certain features that distinguish it from other language. In Dutch, it doesn't really have a name, but it is still ve …
60
votes
Did English ever have a formal version of "you"?
It seems Middle English developed the distinction between formal (you) and informal (thou) versions: this distinction did not exist in Old English. The formal pronoun you was originally a plural form …
22
votes
Accepted
What's the difference between "informal", "colloquial", "slang", and "vulgar"?
There are various degrees of (in)formality: it is usually not a yes–no distinction. … So this is about different languages, not merely different registers or levels of formality. …