Curriculum fit: GCSE English Language Paper 2 (transactional writing: letters and articles). US: Common Core ELA Writing standards (task, purpose and audience, grades 6-12).
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What Is It?
Register is the level of formality in your writing. Writing to a headteacher, an employer or a council needs a formal register, while a message to a friend can be informal.
Choosing the right register shows you understand your audience and purpose. A formal letter has a standard layout, polite language and no slang.
Key Formulas and Ideas
- Greeting: 'Dear Sir or Madam' if the name is unknown (end with 'Yours faithfully'); 'Dear Mr Khan' if you know the name (end with 'Yours sincerely').
- In US English a common formal sign-off is 'Sincerely' or 'Respectfully'.
- State your purpose in the first paragraph.
- Use full forms ('I am', not 'I'm'), avoid slang and keep a polite tone.
Worked Examples
Formalise
Rewrite formally: 'Hi, I just wanna say your school trip idea is awesome.'
- Replace the greeting with 'Dear Headteacher'.
- Replace slang with precise language and a full form.
✓ Answer Dear Headteacher, I am writing to say that I think the proposed school trip is an excellent idea.
Choose the Sign-Off
A UK letter begins 'Dear Sir or Madam'. How should it end?
- Check whether the writer knows the recipient's name: here it is not known ('Sir or Madam').
- Use the matching formal sign-off for an unknown name.
✓ Answer Yours faithfully
Purpose First
How could a letter to the council about a broken streetlight begin?
- State why you are writing and be specific.
- Give the location and how long the problem has lasted, so the council can act.
✓ Answer I am writing to report that the streetlight on Park Road has been broken for two weeks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using slang or text language in a formal letter.
- Using the wrong sign-off for the greeting.
- Being rude when complaining.
- Leaving out your purpose or key details.
Practice Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I use my name and address in a formal email?
Include your name at the end, and give contact details where relevant. Follow the conventions for your task.
What is the difference between formal and informal register?
Formal register is polite and precise, with full sentences and no slang. Informal register is relaxed and may use contractions and slang.
Keep Going With These Guides
Active and Passive Voice: How to Spot and Change Them
Recognise and convert active and passive sentences, and learn when each voice is the better choice, with examples.
GCSEHigh SchoolConnectives and Transition Words: Link Your Ideas Smoothly
Use linking words to connect ideas within and between paragraphs so your writing flows, with examples for each type.
KS3GCSEMiddle SchoolHigh SchoolPersuasive Writing Techniques: Rhetorical Devices Explained
Use ethos, pathos, logos and devices such as the rule of three and rhetorical questions in speeches and articles, with examples.
KS3GCSEMiddle SchoolHigh School+1Sources and Review
- DfE: National curriculum in England, English programmes of study
- Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts and Literacy
Reviewed by StudyMorrow editorial review on 5 Nov 2026.