Video summary

IELTS General Writing Task 1: The 8 Rules of Letter Tone

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas, concepts, and lessons

  • IELTS General Writing Task 1 scoring can improve by mastering tone—how to adjust language to match the required formality level.
  • The test won’t tell you explicitly whether your letter should be formal, semi-formal, or informal. You must infer it from:
    • Who you’re writing to
    • Your relationship with that person
    • Why you’re writing
  • Different letter functions (e.g., complaints and requests) require different wording styles depending on the tone.

Detailed methodology / rules (8 rules for letter tone)

Step 1: Determine the required formality

  • Identify the recipient role and relationship

    • If writing to a manager or someone you don’t know well, use formal tone.
    • If writing to someone you know less formally / with some familiarity, use semi-formal tone.
    • If writing to a friend, use informal tone.

  • Use the purpose to guide tone

    • Requesting refunds/exchanges, complaining, inquiring, etc., typically push you toward formal/semi-formal language.

Step 2: Use the “8 rules” to manipulate tone (with examples)

  1. Personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, we, they)

    • Formal: Avoid personal pronouns where possible (but still use them when required).
    • Semi-formal: Use selectively; you may or may not include pronouns depending on meaning.
    • Informal: Use personal pronouns (e.g., “Could you…”, “Can you please…”).

  2. Directness

    • Formal: Less direct wording.
    • Semi-formal: Moderate directness.
    • Informal: More direct wording.

  3. Active vs. passive sentences

    • Formal: Prefer more passive structures.
    • Semi-formal: Use a mix of active and passive.
    • Informal: Prefer more active sentences.

  4. Modal verbs

    • Formal: Use could and would.
    • Semi-formal: Use a mix.
    • Informal: Use can and will.

  5. Word choice (register / vocabulary)

    • Formal: More “fancy” words (e.g., purchase, decrease).
    • Semi-formal: Mid-range words and some formal vocabulary.
    • Informal: Phrasal verbs and simpler wording (e.g., pick up, turn down).

  6. Noun vs. verb forms

    • Formal: Use noun forms where possible
      • Examples: complaint, request, recommendation, suggestion, invitation
    • Semi-formal: Use either or both (depending on phrasing).
    • Informal: Use verb forms where possible
      • Examples: complain, ask, need, recommend, suggest, invite

  7. Contractions

    • Formal: Avoid contractions.
    • Semi-formal: Generally avoid contractions (similar guidance to formal in the video).
    • Informal: Use contractions (e.g., I’m, it’s, doesn’t).

  8. Adverbs (softening or friendliness)

    • Formal: Use fewer softening adverbs; keep it neutral/precise.
    • Semi-formal: Use a mix to support meaning.
    • Informal: Use adverbs to sound friendlier (e.g., very, really, pretty).
    • Example softener: kindly (used to make requests more polite).

How tone changes in practice (examples)

A) Complaints (formal → semi-formal → informal)

  • Formal:

    • “I would like to make a complaint about a t-shirt I recently purchased from your store.” Key features highlighted:

    • Modal: would like

    • Uses the noun complaint
    • Uses formal vocabulary purchased

  • Semi-formal:

    • “I am disappointed with a t-shirt I recently purchased at your shop.” Key features highlighted:

    • No contraction (uses I am, not I’m)

    • Still uses purchased
    • Slightly less formal word choice: shop instead of store

  • Informal:

    • “I’m not very happy about that t-shirt I picked up at your garage sale.” Key features highlighted:

    • Contraction: I’m

    • Softening: not very happy (friendlier than “not happy”)
    • Uses pick up (a phrasal verb)

B) Requests (formal → semi-formal → informal)

  • Formal:

    • “Could I kindly request that the volume of the music be decreased…?” Key features highlighted:

    • Modal: could

    • Polite adverb: kindly
    • Noun: request
    • Passive: be decreased
    • Formal word choice: cafeteria (not shortened)

  • Semi-formal:

    • “Would you be able to make sure the music is not too loud…?” Key features highlighted:

    • Modal: would

    • Phrase be able to
    • Softening: not too loud
    • Shortened form: cafe

  • Informal:

    • “Can you please turn down the music in the cafe…?” Key features highlighted:

    • Direct modal: can

    • Direct phrasing: can you please…
    • Phrasal verb: turn down

Advice / next action given in the video

  • Use the downloadable PDF mentioned in the description (containing the 8 do’s and don’ts).
  • The speaker recommends signing up for a package at e2language.com, writing/submitting a letter on the platform, and getting feedback from an expert to improve tone and language.

Speakers / sources featured

  • Speaker: Jay (opens with “hello…” and closes with “my name is jay”)
  • Website/source mentioned: e2language.com (for packages/feedback)
  • Resource mentioned: A downloadable PDF from the video description (containing the “8 do’s and don’ts”)

Original video