Can-Do Task: Rewrite One Message in Four Registers

Can-Do Task: rewrite the same message across four registers.

Notice

  • Task: take the message “I can’t come to the meeting tomorrow” and rewrite it four times: very formal (to a client), professional/neutral (to a manager), casual (to a colleague-friend), very casual (to a close friend).

Rule

Self-check: could a stranger read all four versions and correctly guess which relationship each one was written for, without being told?

Practice

  1. Model very formal version (to a client):
    Answer: Example: “I regret to inform you that I am unable to attend tomorrow’s meeting. I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
  2. Model professional/neutral version (to a manager):
    Answer: Example: “I won’t be able to make tomorrow’s meeting — apologies for the short notice.”
  3. Model casual version (to a colleague-friend):
    Answer: Example: “Can’t make it tomorrow, sorry! Catch you up after.”
  4. Model very casual version (to a close friend):
    Answer: Example: “Can’t make the meeting tmrw, ugh. Fill me in later?”

Connect

Draft your own four-register rewrite in the Writing Practice Hub.

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CEFR: C2

Azizul Hakim
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