Register (linguistics)

A register, in linguistics, is how one talks or writes differently to different people. One may be more polite to strangers, for example.

Formality scale

This diagram is from Quirk et al. (1985), who use the term attitude rather than style or register.

Very formal	← FORMAL	Normal		INFORMAL →	Very informal

This chart shows the words or phrases that one would use depending on different registers:

Register	Phrase
Very informal	"Ey!" or "Yo!" or "Wassup!"
Informal	"Hey!" or "Hi!"
Formal	"Hello!"
Very formal	"Good morning/afternoon/evening!"

Related pages

• Diglossia