That's Just Not How People Talk
Spoken vs. written English — register shift and stylistic awareness. Jess tells the same story twice: once how she remembers it, once how she wrote it for a magazine. Both are true; both sound completely different.
📖 Reading: Two Versions of the Same Story
VERSION A — Jess's spoken account (recorded at Café Colibri):
"So, basically, I was going through this massive stack of design briefs and I came across this one brief that was just — it was incredible, you know? Really bold, really different. So I thought, there's no way I'm not calling her. And I did. And that's kind of how Maya ended up here, I suppose."
VERSION B — Jess's written account (published in Toronto Life):
"During a routine review of design submissions, one brief stood out for its originality and conceptual boldness. The decision to contact the designer directly was instinctive rather than strategic. That call, as it transpired, would prove to be the catalyst for a remarkable series of events."
"Which is more accurate?" Maya asked when she read both versions.
"They're both accurate," said Jess. "One is how I remember it. The other is how it sounds when you want someone to take it seriously."
"Is there a version that's both?" asked Maya.
"That's what good writing is," said Jess. "Finding the middle."
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Eight key words and phrases from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vague language | Words and phrases that deliberately avoid precision in speech | n. — Sort of, kind of, a bit — examples of vague language. |
| filler | A word or phrase used to fill a pause in speech: um, you know, basically | n. — Fillers are natural in speech but avoided in writing. |
| instinctive | Based on instinct rather than deliberate thought | adj. — The decision was instinctive. |
| catalyst | Something that causes a rapid change or series of events | n. — The call was the catalyst. |
| transpire | To come to be known; to happen (formal) | v. — As it transpired, it was a key moment. |
| submission | A piece of work sent for assessment or consideration | n. — A routine review of design submissions. |
| conceptual | Relating to ideas and concepts | adj. — Conceptual boldness. |
| stylistic | Relating to style, particularly in writing or art | adj. — Stylistic awareness is a B2 skill. |
📚 Key Verbs & Structures in This Lesson | |
Spoken: vague language | Sort of, kind of, basically, you know, I suppose, a bit |
Written: precise language | Rather than, consequently, in this context, it transpired |
Spoken: ellipsis/informality | So I called. And that's how she ended up here. |
Written: full clauses | The call proved to be the catalyst for a series of events. |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 Spoken English — Key Features | |
Vague language | Kind of, sort of, a bit, you know, basically, stuff like that |
Fillers | Um, er, well, I mean, like, right, so |
Contractions | I've, she's, they're, won't, can't |
Ellipsis | Seen her? (Have you) / Coming? (Are you) |
Looser syntax | And I thought, well, you know, maybe... |
Written English — Key Features
📚 Written English — Key Features | |
Nominalisation | The decision was made / The expansion of the company |
Formal connectors | Furthermore, nevertheless, consequently, notwithstanding |
No contractions | It is, she has, they are, will not, cannot |
Full clauses | The call, which took place in October, proved decisive. |
Impersonal structures | It was decided that... / There is evidence to suggest... |
The Spectrum — Informal to Formal
📚 The Spectrum — Informal to Formal | |
Very informal | So basically I just went for it. |
Semi-formal | I decided to take the opportunity. |
Formal | The decision to pursue the opportunity was made. |
Very formal | The determination to seize the available opportunity was taken. |
🎭 Dialogue: Which Version Is You?
Maya asks Jess which version of the story feels more honest. Jess argues that they're both true — the formal version is differently true, which is a kind of sophistication.
Jess, which version of the story felt more like you?
The spoken one. Obviously. But the written one does the job.
Doesn't it feel dishonest? More formal than you really are?
Not dishonest — translated. Like wearing a different outfit for a job interview.
But you're the same person.
Exactly. The register changes, not the person. Same meaning, different packaging.
So the formal version isn't less true.
It's differently true. Which is a kind of sophistication.
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
What triggered Jess's decision to call Maya?
What is the main difference between the two accounts?
How does Jess explain why the written version sounds different?
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Rewrite in formal written register: 'So basically we looked at the data and it kind of showed that things were getting better.'
Rewrite formally: 'I sort of decided to go for it, you know?'
Rewrite formally: 'The thing is, it's a really big deal and loads of people are affected.'
🎭 Now It's Your Turn — Role Play
Practice with a partner. Use the dialogue as a model and extend it.
- Choose a story from your life — something funny, surprising, or meaningful.
- Tell it in spoken English to your partner (2 minutes): use fillers, vague language, contractions, natural syntax.
- Then write a 5-sentence formal account of the same story.
- Compare: What was lost? What was gained? Which version would you send to a newspaper?