Levels of Formality

What are the five levels of formality?

The five levels (or registers) of formality are:

• Intimate
• Casual
• Consultative
• Formal
• Frozen

These registers also represent the different levels of language expression.

Let's take a look at this graph - the higher the line goes, the more formal the register:

Fig. 2 - Graphing the levels of formality.

Now, let's explore each level of formality in more detail!

The intimate level of formality

The intimate level of formality is used in an informal setting, usually among family members, close friends, and lovers.

Intimate language can be quite simple, it can include slang and colloquialisms and it doesn't necessarily adhere to conventional grammatical norms. That's why, as fitting as it may be in an informal setting, it won't be appropriate in a public, academic or professional context.

In literature, the intimate level is usually used when the author wants the reader to relate to what is described in the book.

Can you guess the relationship of the participants in the conversation below?

A and B are spouses. Note that the intimate language A and B use to communicate is ideal for their situation - a married couple. However, the same register (the use of words such as 'yep', 'nah', 'darling') would be unsuitable for a more formal or professional setting.

The casual level of formality

The casual level of formality also occurs in an informal environment but is not as personal as the intimate level. The casual register is frequently used among friends and acquaintances, such as classmates and colleagues.

Casual language is informal and can include slang and colloquialisms. Note that both friendly and hostile conversations can be in the casual register.

Consider this example of the casual level of formality, a conversation between classmates:

You may notice that although the conversation is casual, some distance can be felt between A and B. It wouldn't be there if they were closer friends and they were using the intimate register. If they were using the intimate level, maybe they would have nicknames for each other, and they would make a plan to see each other after school.

This example also shows that the casual level of formality wouldn't fit a professional setting - informal words and phrases such as 'English Lit' and 'yeah' are not appropriate.

Consultative level of formality

The consultative level of formality is used in formal, professional, and academic settings. The consultative register usually occurs in conversations among colleagues, teachers and students, and employers and employees.

Conversations in the consultative level of formality usually require the participants to address each other by their respective titles and honorifics ('sir', 'madam', 'doctor', and the like). Consultative language can involve a specific jargon or knowledge connected to the professional context and participants involved.

Take a look at this example of the consultative level of formality - a conversation between a teacher and a student.

Note that the student speaks respectfully to the teacher and addresses her as 'miss'. The consultative register fits this context perfectly, but it wouldn't fit a more intimate or casual setting.

Formal level of formality

The formal level of formality refers to professional and academic environments. It is commonly used in lectures, speeches, text analysis, and documents.

In the formal register, there is usually no interaction between the speaker and the audience. It includes academic and professional language, follows grammatical conventions and involves more complex language. The formal level of formality usually doesn't express personal opinions or emotions, nor does it require an emotional connection between speaker and audience.

Let's have a look at this example of the formal level of formality - a graduation ceremony speech.

Bear in mind that a speech is not a conversation - the formal register here is used with the intention of delivering and not necessarily receiving a verbal reaction. The formal level, therefore, does not apply to the same contexts as the intimate or casual registers and is not appropriate for friendly conversation.

(Note that conversations in the formal register can occur between colleagues.)

Frozen level of formality

The frozen level of formality is the most formal. It is called frozen for a reason - it uses static language that doesn't change. The frozen register consists of set phrases and relies on conventional grammar structures. It usually occurs in formal settings, such as weddings and religious ceremonies, as well as in safety briefings.

Similarly to the formal level, the frozen level does not allow interaction between the speaker (or author) and the audience. Since there is no feedback in the frozen register, this puts pressure on the speaker to engage the audience and to present themselves in the appropriate manner.

Consider this example of the frozen level of formality - a pre-flight safety briefing.

This briefing is an example of the frozen level of formality because it follows specific conventions, is familiar, and doesn't change.

What happened to 'thou'?

Does the word 'thou' sound familiar to you? You've probably encountered it in the works of Shakespeare and other authors of the past. Back then, people distinguished between a formal and informal register.

The formal register was the word we still use - 'you'. The informal one was 'thou'.

English has since lost one register, 'thou', leaving 'you' as the sole form of address in both formal and informal situations.

Other modern languages, such as French and Bulgarian, still have two distinct forms. In French the formal is 'vous', while the informal is 'tu', while in Bulgarian the formal is 'vie' and the informal is 'ti'.

Let's take a look at these examples from Shakespeare's tragedies Hamlet (1611) and Richard II (1595) that show us the difference between 'you' and 'thou'. 'If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for

In this excerpt from Act 1, Scene 3 of Hamlet, the title character Hamlet is speaking to Ophelia, a young woman he has courted, in the informal register, using 'thou'.

In this example from Act 4, Scene 1 of Richard II, King Richard is surrendering to Bolingbroke, by addressing him with the formal 'you'.

Finding the right register

When speaking or writing you can move from one level of formality to another. It's important that you find the right way to do that. You need to be aware of which is the best register to use in each specific context. Finding the right register can be tricky. If you use a specific level of formality inappropriately you risk being misunderstood.

For example, using the casual level of formality in a formal environment or vice versa could lead to an uncomfortable situation. Being aware of the differences of the various registers of formality, and knowing when and where it's appropriate to use them, will help you use language in the best way possible to deliver your messages.

Suppose a person uses a formal tone at a dinner table or with an audience that requires a more casual level of communication. In that case, the risk of being misunderstood, or not understood at all, is high. Knowing the difference and importance of the various levels of formality will allow you to recognise situations, fit in better in society, and use the right voice for your audiences.