Aim for the standard register
Summary: Writing style can make our content more, or less, accessible. Write in a style that is easy to read.
Register (or ‘tone’)
Register is the degree of formality in writing style.
At one end of the scale of register is the formal register which includes bureaucratic or technical styles. Legalese is also a good example. The formal register is a style that is dense and more difficult to read.
At the other end of the scale, the informal register is friendly and colloquial. But it’s not usually appropriate for business writing. The informal register can also be harder for some people to read — especially people who speak English as a second language. And it can also cause problems for people unfamiliar with any colloquial phrases used.
The standard register is the happy medium between the formal and informal registers. Writing in the standard register makes our content easier to read.
Examples
| Formal | At pre-primary level, the language of instruction may be French or the mother tongue. |
|---|---|
| Standard | Kindergartens teach classes in French or the local language. |
| Informal | Kinders teach the littlies in French or the local lingo. |
To achieve standard register in your writing you need to:
- use everyday words
- keep sentences short
- minimise abbreviations
- use personal pronouns
- prefer the active voice
- write concisely.
Resources
Listening to your content can help you check if it sounds too formal, or if the register changes between paragraphs. You can use:
- MS Word Read Aloud - built into the latest versions of MS Word. Accessible from the Review tab
- Read Aloud browser extension for Chrome and Firefox