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Jobb Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

A little formal

(From a textbook)
...and one or two words are a little formal, like transactions and dubious, all words are commonly used words.

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But I think the words "transactions" and "dubious" (Latin origin) are formal words. Right?
  

Top answer

There is really no clear division between formal words and informal words, just a gradation from one to the other. So in that border line between the two, some people will say a certain word is formal, others will say the same word is informal. In an informal conversation, both "transactions" and "dubious" might be heard.

— CalifJim

  • There is really no clear division between formal words and informal words, just a gradation from one to the other.
  • So in that border line between the two, some people will say a certain word is formal, others will say the same word is informal.
  • In an informal conversation, both "transactions" and "dubious" might be heard.
  • These words can also be used in a formal essay.
  • I'm not sure that language of origin is a very precise measure of formality, but many words which came from Latin and Greek are more formal or specialized, as you suggest.
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1 Answers
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There is really no clear division between formal words and informal words, just a gradation from one to the other. So in that border line between the two, some people will say a certain word is formal, others will say the same word is informal.

In an informal conversation, both "transactions" and "dubious" might be heard. These words can also be used in a formal essay.

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