Concept 1

Match diction and register (formal vs informal) to audience and purpose.

Match the level of formality to the audience and purpose.

Core Idea

Register is the level of formality a passage needs. Match the word choice to the audience and the writer’s goal.

Understanding

Rule: ACT often asks you to notice when a sentence sounds too casual for an academic piece or too stiff for a lighter narrative moment. The correct choice respects the setting, subject, and intended readers.

Do not judge a word in isolation. A formal word can be wrong in a personal anecdote, and an informal phrase can be wrong in an explanatory article.

Step by Step

  1. Identify the audience and purpose of the passage.
  2. Match the wording to the level of formality the situation requires.
  3. Reject choices that sound too casual for professional or academic writing.

Misconceptions

  • A formal-sounding word is not automatically best if it does not fit the passage.
  • The right tone depends on the audience and purpose, not on how impressive the wording sounds.
Question

Worked Example

In a scholarship application essay, the writer wants to sound professional. Which choice is best?

Select an answer to see the explanation