Is This Too Casual for Work?: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓In professional settings, the English you use with your friends doesn't always work with your manager, a new client, or the company CEO. The level of formality you choose is called register. Using the correct register shows respect and professionalism, ensuring your message is received well by your colleagues.
Upgrading Your Vocabulary
One of the easiest ways to make your English sound more professional is to swap out casual, everyday verbs—especially phrasal verbs—for their formal equivalents. In business English, we often rely on single-word verbs (many with Latin roots) to sound more objective and polite.
When writing an email to a department head or a senior manager, avoid slang and overly casual phrasing.
❌ I will look into the problem right away. ✅ I will investigate the matter immediately.
❌ I am writing to ask for three days off next month. ✅ I am writing to request three days of annual leave next month.
Crafting Polite Requests
When you need a colleague or supervisor to do something for you, direct commands can sound rude or demanding. Instead of using the imperative form (simply telling someone to do something), frame your needs as indirect questions using modal verbs like could or would.
❌ Look at my slides ASAP, please. ✅ Could you please review this presentation when you have a moment?
Even if you are using an instant messaging app (like Slack or Microsoft Teams) where the tone is slightly more relaxed, you still need to maintain a baseline of professional courtesy. "Send me the report" is too aggressive; "Would you mind sending over the report?" strikes the perfect balance between casual chat and workplace politeness.
Apologizing Professionally
Mistakes happen at work—you might send an email without the attachment or submit a report a day late. While "My bad!" or "Oops!" is perfectly fine when you accidentally bump into a friend, these phrases are inappropriate in a business context.
A professional apology takes responsibility clearly and politely, often using the formal noun apologies instead of just saying sorry.
❌ My bad! Totally forgot to attach the file. Here it is. ✅ Please accept my apologies for the missing attachment. Please find the file attached.
The Danger of Mixing Registers
A common trap for English learners is mixing registers—combining very formal words with highly casual slang in the same message. This creates a confusing tone that sounds unnatural to native speakers.
If you open an email with a highly formal greeting, the rest of the email must match that level of professionalism.
❌ Dear Mr. Davis, just hitting you up about that project thing. ✅ Dear Mr. Davis, I am writing to discuss the upcoming project.
Always match your greeting, your vocabulary, and your sign-off to the person you are speaking to. If you are addressing the CEO, stick to formal greetings like "Good morning, Mr. Davis," or "Dear Mr. Davis," rather than "Hey boss!" Once you establish a formal tone, maintain it until the end of the message.
Correct answers
Question 1
Help the new intern upgrade his vocabulary! He tends to use overly casual phrases at work. Drag the appropriate professional verbs to complete his email to the CEO.
Instead of saying "I will look into it," use: "I will investigate the matter."
Instead of saying "Let's talk about it," use: "We should discuss the issue tomorrow."
Instead of saying "My team will fix it," use: "My team will resolve the problem immediately."
Instead of saying "I will look into it," use: "I will investigate the matter."
"Investigate" is a formal, transitive verb that takes a direct object (the matter). "Search" and "hunt" usually require prepositions (search for, hunt for) in this context.
Instead of saying "Let's talk about it," use: "We should discuss the issue tomorrow."
"Discuss" means to talk about something, so it takes a direct object without a preposition. "Speak" and "chat" would require the preposition "about" (speak about the issue).
Instead of saying "My team will fix it," use: "My team will resolve the problem immediately."
"Resolve" is the standard professional term for fixing an issue or problem. "Cure" and "heal" are used for medical situations, not business problems!
Question 2
Leo needs his supervisor to look at his presentation slides. Help him choose the most polite and professional request.
The correct answer is Could you please review this presentation when you have a moment?
When asking someone (especially a supervisor) to do something, using a modal verb like "Could" makes the request polite and respectful.
"Check this out" and "look-see" are too conversational. "Look at my slides ASAP" uses the imperative mood (a direct command), which sounds demanding and rude, even with a "please" added at the end!
Question 3
The correct answers are Please accept my apologies; I forgot to include the attachment. and I apologize for the oversight. The file is attached below.
When communicating with clients or working in a professional setting, it is important to take responsibility politely. Slang phrases like "my bad," "sorry 'bout that," or "I messed up" are too casual for formal business communication.
Question 4
Sarah is sending a weekly update to her department head a day late. Choose the best way for her to apologize professionally.
The correct answer is Please accept my apologies for the delay in sending this report.
In a professional workplace, apologies should be polite and clear.
"My bad" and "Oops" are far too informal for a department head. "Ghosted you" is internet slang for ignoring someone's messages—definitely not a phrase you want to use when talking to your boss!
Question 5
Good morning, team. I am writing to inform you that I will be late today.
"Inform" is followed directly by an object pronoun (inform you). "Say" and "speak" do not fit this grammatical pattern (you would have to say "say to you" or "speak with you").
I accidentally missed my train...
When you are too late to catch public transport, you "miss" it. You cannot "lose" a train (unless you own it and misplaced it!).
...but I expect to arrive at the office by 10:00 AM.
"Arrive" pairs correctly with the preposition "at." "Reach" is a transitive verb and does not use a preposition (you just reach the office). "Get" would require the preposition "to" (get to the office).
Question 6
The correct answers are Could you please send over the latest report when you have a moment? and I was wondering if you could share the project update with me.
In professional English, we use modal verbs (like could or would) and indirect phrases (like I was wondering if...) to soften requests. Direct commands ("Send me," "Gimme," "I need") often sound rude or demanding in a professional environment.
Question 7
Dear Mr. Davis,
"Dear" is the standard, professional way to open an email to a manager. "Hey" and "Hiya" are too casual for this register.
I am writing to discuss the new marketing plan.
"Discuss" is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object without a preposition. "Talk" and "chat" would require the preposition "about" (e.g., talk about the plan).
Would it be possible to arrange a meeting this week?
"Arrange a meeting" is a strong professional collocation (word pairing). We don't usually say "make a meeting" or "do a meeting."
Best regards,
"Best regards" is a perfect, polite sign-off for someone you know by name. "Cheers" is too casual, and "Yours faithfully" is strictly used when you don't know the person's name (e.g., starting with "Dear Sir/Madam").
Question 8
Help Alex, the new intern, pick the most appropriate opening sentence for an email to a senior manager he has never met.
The correct answer is I am writing to ask about the upcoming project.
When contacting a senior colleague or someone you haven't met, it is best to use standard, polite business English.
"Hey boss, what's good?" and "hitting you up" are slang phrases suited only for close friends. "Got a sec" is okay for a quick instant message to a close teammate, but it is too casual for a formal email to management!
Question 9
Sarah is writing a time-off request to her manager, but her first draft is way too casual! Drag the correct formal words to make her email polite and professional.
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am writing to request three days of annual leave next month.
I have attached the completed holiday form to this email for your review.
Thank you for your understanding regarding this matter.
I am writing to request three days of annual leave next month.
"Request" is a formal transitive verb that directly takes an object. If you used "ask" or "beg," you would need the preposition "for" (ask for three days).
I have attached the completed holiday form to this email for your review.
"Attached" is the correct professional terminology for including a file with an email. "Stuck" and "dropped" are far too casual and do not fit the digital communication context.
Thank you for your understanding regarding this matter.
"Understanding" acts as a noun here, forming a polite, standard business phrase. "Knowing" and "getting" are grammatically incorrect in this structure and sound very unnatural!
Question 10
The correct answers are Dear Mr. Davis, and Good morning, Mr. Davis,.
In a formal business setting, especially when addressing senior management or clients you don't know well, it is best to use standard, respectful greetings. "Hey," "What's up," and "Yo" are far too casual for this context!