Usage labels

informal
used when you are speaking, or communicating with people you know but not normally in serious writing
brainy, freebie, goalie

formal
used in serious writing or for communicating with people about things like law or business
examination, moreover, purchase

very informal
used when you are talking to people you know well, and not usually in writing. Some of these words may offend people, and this is explained in the entry.
prat, barf, crap

spoken
a way of writing a word which is used in conversation
yeah, hey, eh

humorous
used to be funny or to make a joke
couch potato, snail mail

literary
used in books and poems, not in ordinary conversation
beloved, slumber, weep

old-fashioned
not used in modern English – you might find these words in books, used by older people, or used to be funny
gramophone, spectacles, farewell

trademark
the name of a product that is made by one company, but which has become used as a general word
Coke

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

British or American English?

Image
There are many differences between British and American English. Generally, it doesn't matter which variety of English you speak or write, and most native English speakers will understand you – whichever type of English you use. Here are some of the biggest differences between British and American English. Vocabulary Some common vocabulary differences are: pavement (GB) – sidewalk (US) lift (GB) – elevator (US) lorry (GB) – truck (US) rubbish (GB) – garbage / trash (US) holiday (GB) – vacation (US) return ticket (GB) – round trip (US) Check in a dictionary to see if a word is particularly British or American English. A good dictionary should also give you the American or British equivalent. Grammar 1. British speakers use "yet" with the present perfect tense, while American speakers tend to use the Past Simple: Have you eaten dinner yet? (GB) Did you eat dinner yet? (US) 2. "at the weekend" (GB) but "on the weekend" (US) 3. British speakers will often
Read more

Riddles

Image
I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost everybody. Pencil lead What goes round the house and in the house but never touches the house? The sun What is it that you can keep after giving it to someone else? Your word What walks all day on its head? A nail in a horseshoe What gets wet when drying? A towel What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years? The letter M What is round as a dishpan, deep as a tub, and still the oceans couldn't fill it up? A sieve There were five men going to church and it started to rain. The four that ran got wet and the one that stood still stayed dry. Body in coffin, and bearers The more you take, the more you leave behind. What are they? Footsteps He who has it doesn't tell it. He who takes it doesn't know it. He who knows it doesn't want it. What is it? Counterfeit money Brothers and sisters have I none but that man's father is my fat
Read more