Standard English
Distinguish speech from writing, formal from informal register, and Standard English grammar from other English varieties. Use Standard English in speech and writing, choosing a register that suits the audience and purpose.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Explain differences that often occur between informal conversation and formal writing, such as slang, contractions and sentence fragments, without treating all speech as informal.
- Identify features of Standard English grammar and explain why it is commonly expected in formal contexts, while recognizing that other English varieties have grammar rules.
- Rewrite informal written input, such as a text message, in formal written Standard English while keeping its meaning.
1 · Read
You have noticed how audience and purpose affect your words. Keep three questions separate: Is the message spoken or written? Is its register formal or informal? Which grammar variety does it use? Both speech and writing can be formal or informal. Friendly conversation often includes slang, contractions, pauses and unfinished sentences. Formal writing usually uses complete sentences.
Standard English is a variety with widely taught grammar conventions. It is commonly expected in school essays, news reports and job applications. Other varieties also have grammar rules. Standard English can be informal: 'I can't go' uses standard grammar. Contractions such as 'can't' and 'we're' are Standard English, though some formal tasks prefer full forms. Standard English does not require one particular accent.
Match the verb to the subject in Standard English. Use 'she does' and 'she doesn't', then the base verb: 'She doesn't sing', not 'She doesn't sings'. Use 'we were', not 'we was'. For statements about the past, use 'were' with a plural noun subject, as in 'The doors were open', and 'was' with a singular noun subject, as in 'The door was open'.
When you mean 'none', Standard English usually uses one negative: 'I haven't seen anyone' or 'I have seen no one'. Forms such as 'haven't seen nobody' can express that meaning in other varieties. Two negatives can express other meanings in Standard English, so check the intended meaning. When editing 'we' sentences, also match the verb to the plural subject: use 'were', not 'was'.
For a formal rewrite, keep the message's meaning. Write text shortcuts in full, supply missing subjects, and use complete sentences. Replace slang with suitable vocabulary when the task asks for formal wording. Formal language can use short, familiar words. Full forms such as 'we are' may suit the task, but contractions are not grammar errors. A formal news report usually states facts without slang or dramatic appeals to the reader.
A draft says: 'hi, i need sum help with the form'. A more formal version is: 'Hello. I need some help with the form.' It spells 'some' in full, capitalizes 'I', uses a less casual greeting and completes the sentences. The request stays the same. A job application usually calls for full words, complete sentences, and a polite greeting and closing.
Use 'I' for yourself as part of a subject: 'Lena and I will help.' Remove the other person to check: 'I will help', not 'me will help'. Putting the other name first is a courtesy convention, not a grammar rule; 'I and Lena will help' also uses the subject form. Before a noun that belongs to you, use 'my': 'my coat', not 'me coat' or 'I coat'.
'Because the hall was full' gives a reason but leaves the main event unstated. For a formal report, complete it: 'Because the hall was full, we waited outside.' In conversation, a fragment can answer a question because listeners share the context. In a formal report, give the reader a complete sentence.
Speech and writing can each be formal or informal. Standard English can use contractions. Choose the grammar and register your task calls for, and keep the meaning when rewriting.
Reading written for this learning dataset.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.