Question

Replace the slang words and phrases with more formal language.

1. I felt like such an airhead when I got up to give my speech.

2. As I walked toward the podium, I banged my knee on a chair.

3. Man, I felt like such a klutz. On top of that, I kept saying “like” and “um,” and I could not stop fidgeting.

4. I was so stressed out about being up there.

5. I feel like I’ve been practicing this speech 24/7, and I still bombed.

6. It was ten minutes of me going off about how we sometimes have to do things we don’t enjoy doing.

7. Wow, did I ever prove my point.

8. My speech was so bad I’m surprised that people didn’t boo.

9. My teacher said not to sweat it, though.

10. Everyone gets nervous his or her first time speaking in public, and she said, with time, I would become a whiz at this speech giving stuff.

11. I wonder if I have the guts to do it again.

Please help and explain. Thank you!

Answer 1

I was reading that formal language is more common when we write; informal language is more common when we speak. It looks like all of these are informal, are they?

Answer 2

You are correct in saying that all of these are things that someone would say to a friend or coworker, not in a letter to a business or something.