5.7 Formal vs. Informal Language, Audience, and Tone

ATI TEAS 7 Nursing Admission

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1 Introduction to the ATI TEAS 7

1.1 About the ATI TEAS 7 Exam 1.2 Content Area Breakdown 1.3 Scoring and Program Requirements 1.4 Building Your TEAS Study Plan

2 Reading

2.1 Identifying the Main Idea 2.2 Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions 2.3 Summarizing and Paraphrasing 2.4 Understanding Text Structure 2.5 Author's Purpose, Tone, and Point of View 2.6 Evaluating Arguments, Evidence, and Credibility 2.7 Integrating Information and Interpreting Graphics 2.8 TEAS Reading Strategies, Pacing, and Practice

3 Mathematics

3.1 Whole Numbers and Basic Operations 3.2 Fractions 3.3 Decimals and Percentages 3.4 Ratios and Proportions 3.5 Algebra and Equations 3.6 Measurement and Unit Conversions 3.7 Statistics and Data Interpretation 3.8 Geometry Basics

4 Science

4.1 The Cardiovascular System 4.2 The Respiratory System 4.3 The Digestive System 4.4 The Nervous System 4.5 The Musculoskeletal System 4.6 The Urinary and Reproductive Systems 4.7 Cell Biology and Genetics 4.8 Chemistry Basics 4.9 Scientific Reasoning and the Scientific Method

5 English & Language Usage

5.1 Grammar and the Parts of Speech 5.2 Sentence Structure 5.3 Punctuation 5.4 Spelling and Word Usage 5.5 Vocabulary in Context and Word Parts 5.6 Paragraph Organization and the Writing Process 5.7 Formal vs. Informal Language, Audience, and Tone 5.8 TEAS English Section Strategies and Pacing

Free exam prep ATI TEAS 7 Practice Questions 120 questions Study Guide 37 topics Cheat Sheet 113 facts Flashcards 50 cards

5.7 Formal vs. Informal Language, Audience, and Tone

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Formal language avoids contractions, slang, and clichés; informal language is conversational and may use them.

Third person and the passive voice read as more formal; first/second person and active voice read as more casual.

Replace casual fillers with precise terms: 'a lot of' → numerous, 'got' → received, 'kind of' → somewhat.

Clichés ("at the end of the day," "tip of the iceberg") weaken formal writing because they are vague and overused. Last updated: June 2026

Register: Choosing Formal or Informal Language Register is the level of formality a writer adopts. The TEAS does not ask you to label one register "better"; it asks whether the register fits the situation . The same idea can be expressed formally or informally, and the right choice depends on audience (who reads it) and purpose (why you are writing).

Feature Formal language Informal language Contractions Avoided (do not, cannot) Common (don't, can't) Vocabulary Precise, sophisticated Casual, colloquial Sentence structure Complex, complete Short, sometimes fragments Slang/idioms Avoided Frequent Person Third person preferred First/second person common Tone Objective, professional Friendly, conversational Match the Register to Audience and Purpose

Context Audience Register Patient medical chart Clinicians, legal record Formal Research paper / cover letter Professors, employers Formal Discharge note to a patient General public Plain but professional Text to a classmate A friend Informal Personal journal / social post Yourself, friends Informal A charting error in register has real consequences: "Pt seemed kinda out of it" is too vague and casual for a legal medical record. The formal equivalent—"Patient was disoriented to time and place"—is precise, objective, and appropriate for the audience that reads a chart.

Markers of Formal Writing Several concrete choices push writing toward the formal end of the scale. The TEAS expects you to spot them. Person and voice. Third person (he, she, they, the patient ) is more formal and objective than first person (I, we) or second person (you). Likewise, the passive voice ("The medication was administered") sounds more formal than the active voice ("The nurse gave the medication"), which is why scientific writing often uses it—though active voice is usually clearer. Precise vocabulary. Formal writing trades vague, casual fillers for exact words.

Informal (avoid) Formal (preferred) a lot of numerous, many got received, obtained kind of / sort of somewhat, rather stuff / things materials, items pretty good satisfactory, adequate figure out determine get rid of eliminate, remove kids children No contractions. Spell out do not , cannot , it is , and they are in formal text. The one common exception is a direct quotation, where the speaker's exact words are preserved. Avoiding Slang and Clichés Slang is highly informal, often regional language ("sketchy," "out of it") that may confuse readers and has no place in formal writing. A cliché is a phrase so overused it has lost force—"at the end of the day," "think outside the box," "the tip of the iceberg." Clichés feel casual and add no precise meaning, so formal writing replaces them with literal, specific wording. Compare: Cliché: "At the end of the day, the patient's safety is what matters." Formal: "Ultimately, the patient's safety is the priority."

Tone in Professional Communication Tone is the writer's attitude toward the subject and reader, conveyed through word choice. Professional tone is respectful, objective, clear, and confident without being arrogant . It avoids sarcasm, emotional outbursts, and accusations. A nurse documenting an incident writes "The IV line was found disconnected," not "Someone carelessly ripped out the IV again." The table below shows how the same content shifts as tone changes—useful for the TEAS items that ask which sentence is appropriate for a given setting.

Register Example sentence Too informal "The patient came in feeling super crummy and we got him sorted out." Appropriately formal "The patient presented with malaise; treatment was initiated and symptoms resolved." Overly stiff/cold "The aforementioned individual did manifest a generalized state of unwellness." Note the middle column is the target: clear and professional, neither slangy nor pompously wordy. Worked example: A nursing-school application essay contains the sentence: "I've always kinda wanted to help people, and nursing seemed like a cool way to do that." Why is this inappropriate, and how would you revise it? Diagnosis: The audience is an admissions committee (formal purpose), but the sentence uses a contraction ( I've ), a casual filler ( kinda ), and slang ( cool ). Its register is far too informal for the context. Revision: "I have long been drawn to caring for others, and nursing offers a meaningful way to do so." The revised version removes the contraction, replaces kinda with long , and swaps slang ( cool ) for precise wording ( meaningful )—matching the formal register the audience expects.

Test Your Knowledge

Which sentence is MOST appropriate for a formal patient medical record?

The patient was kind of out of it when we checked on him.

Pt seemed super tired and didn't wanna talk.

The patient was disoriented and reported fatigue.

He was acting weird, so we kept an eye on things. Check Answer Need a hint? AI

Test Your Knowledge

In formal academic writing, which word best replaces the casual phrase 'a lot of'?

Tons of

Numerous

A bunch of

Loads of Check Answer Need a hint? AI

Test Your Knowledge Matching

Match each writing situation to the register it calls for. Match each item on the left with the correct item on the right

Patient's legal medical chart Select a match... Informal Formal Formal Informal

Quick text to a classmate Select a match... Informal Formal Formal Informal

Cover letter for a nursing job Select a match... Informal Formal Formal Informal

Caption on a personal social-media photo Select a match... Informal Formal Formal Informal Check Answer Need a hint? AI

Test Your Knowledge

Why should clichés such as 'at the end of the day' be avoided in formal writing?

They are grammatically incorrect

They are too long to fit in a sentence

They are overused and vague, adding no precise meaning

They can only be used in poetry Check Answer Need a hint? AI

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