Formal vs Informal
Phrasal verbs are great for speaking, but for Academic & Business writing, we replace them with single, formal verbs!
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Academic & Research science
Problem Solving extension
Don't mix formal writing with informal phrasal verbs!
(Too informal for an essay / ភាសាសាមញ្ញពេក)
(Professional and Academic / ភាសាផ្លូវការ)
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Recent Questions
Absolutely yes! Using phrasal verbs naturally in the Speaking test shows you have native-like fluency. Just avoid them in the Writing Task 2 (Essay) where the register must be formal! record_voice_overedit_document
Are ALL phrasal verbs informal?
Not all of them, but most of them are! Some phrasal verbs like "carry out" (an experiment) are considered neutral and can be used in academic contexts. However, as a general rule, it is safer to use single Latin-based verbs in formal writing. science
What happens if I use formal words with my friends at a coffee shop?
Haha! You won't be wrong, but you will sound very robotic, like you are reading from a textbook. Instead of saying "I am going to investigate the problem," it's much more natural to say "I'll look into it." smart_toycoffee
Can I use phrasal verbs in my IELTS speaking test?