Register: spoken and written English
Speech and writing are not better or worse than each other; they do different jobs. Knowing which job you are doing is the skill.
Part of your national curriculum
- Writing: Consciously control levels of formality, including through the use of Standard English, and know when it is appropriate to use
- Grammar and vocabulary: Know and understand the differences between spoken and written language, including differences associated with formal and informal registers, and between Standard English and other varieties of English
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Know and understand the differences between spoken and written language, including differences associated with formal and informal registers, and between Standard English and other varieties of English
Key learning points
- • How speech really works
- • Formal and informal registers
- • Standard English and dialect
- • Switching on purpose
This lesson at a glance
- 26 minutes
- 20 parts to scroll through
- 4 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 20
Visual introductionPicture this
Register: spoken and written English
Speech and writing are not better or worse than each other; they do different jobs. Knowing which job you are doing is the skill.
In a nutshell
Know and understand the differences between spoken and written language, including differences associated with formal and informal registers, and between Standard English and other varieties of English
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 20
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · How speech really works
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 20
Learn
How speech really works
Spoken language uses fillers, repairs, contractions, tag questions and unfinished clauses because it is planned in real time and supported by tone, face and gesture. Writing has none of those supports, so it uses punctuation, subordination and precise vocabulary instead.
Reset break
Part 4 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 20
Learn
Formal and informal registers
Register is how formal a piece is. ‘We reckon the plan won't work’ and ‘We consider the proposal unworkable’ carry the same meaning at different registers. Register is chosen for audience and purpose, not because one version is correct.
Quick check
Part 6 of 20
Quick check
Part 7 of 20
Quick check
‘We consider the proposal unworkable’ differs from ‘We reckon the plan won't work’ mainly in:
Reset break
Part 8 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 20
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Standard English and dialect
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 20
Learn
Standard English and dialect
Standard English is the variety used in formal writing, exams and public life. Regional dialects are rule-governed varieties with their own consistent grammar — different, not deficient. Being able to switch between them deliberately is a genuine advantage.
Explore the idea
Part 11 of 20
Learn
Switching on purpose
In an interview, a dialogue in a story and a message to a friend, the right choice differs. Judge the audience, the purpose and how permanent the words are, then pick the register on purpose rather than by habit.
Reset break
Part 12 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 20
Quick check
Part 14 of 20
Challenge round
Part 15 of 20
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Reset break
Part 16 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 20
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
____ language uses fillers, repairs, contractions, tag questions and unfinished clauses because it is planned in real time and supported by tone, face and gesture.
Challenge round
Part 18 of 20
Game · Recall cards
Which is a typical feature of spoken language?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 19 of 20
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Register: spoken and written English
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which is a typical feature of spoken language?
2. ‘We consider the proposal unworkable’ differs from ‘We reckon the plan won't work’ mainly in:
3. Which statement about regional dialects is accurate?
4. When is informal register the right choice?
Lesson round-up
Part 20 of 20
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Games
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Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 4 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 20 · Watch & discover
How this is going
- Not looked at yet
Consciously control levels of formality, including through the use of Standard English, and know when it is appropriate to use
- Not looked at yet
Know and understand the differences between spoken and written language, including differences associated with formal and informal registers, and between Standard English and other varieties of English