Phrasal Verbs vs Verbs

[joeoct]

Hi,

Are the phrasal verbs more acceptable than their one-word equivalents in formal writing?

Thanks

[Mannysteps]

Hi,

Are the phrasal verbs more acceptable than their one-word equivalents in formal writing?

Thanks,
Joe

Not a Teacher

In my view, your question does not make entire sense, since both kinds are used in formal writing. Maybe if you were to give some examples the question would make complete sense.

M.

[joeoct]

Not a Teacher

In my view, your question does not make entire sense, since both kinds are used in formal writing. Maybe if you were to give some examples the question would make complete sense.

M.

Ok, here they are:

call off - cancel
find out - discover
hold up - delay
leave out - omit
pick out - choose
put off - postpone
talk over - discuss
try out - test
look into - investigate
go over - review
go on - continue

What is more natural when writing a formal letter - to use the phrasal verbs on the left, or their equivalents on the right? (or simply it can't be generalised - it depends on the sense of a sentence)

Thanks,
Joe

[emsr2d2]

Ok, here they are:

call off - cancel
find out - discover
hold up - delay
leave out - omit
pick out - choose
put off - postpone
talk over - discuss
try out - test
look into - investigate
go over - review
go on - continue

What is more natural when writing a formal letter - to use the phrasal verbs on the left, or their equivalents on the right? (or simply it can't be generalised - it depends on the sense of a sentence)

Thanks,
Joe

As always, context is everything. It depends on the tone of the sentence, the person you're writing to (formally or otherwise). My personal feeling is that both the verbs and the phrasal verbs would be equally acceptable in any piece of writing.

[joeoct]

As always, context is everything. It depends on the tone of the sentence, the person you're writing to (formally or otherwise). My personal feeling is that both the verbs and the phrasal verbs would be equally acceptable in any piece of writing.

If there is an individual case when I don't know clearly whether to use phrasal verb, I will ask you on UsingEnglish.

[Mar Rojo]

And there are many examples of formal English on the Internet. Why not look through a few to see whether phrasal verbs are used?

[Barb_D]

My immediate reaction is that all of the one-word subsitutes are "fancier" words than the phrasal verbs.

That doesn't make the phrasal verbs unsuitable, but if you think that "fancier" = "formal" and you want formal, then I would suggest you use the words on the right.

However, I'm not a fan of fancier. I'm fine with finding something out and don't need to discover it.

[Mar Rojo]

However, I'm not a fan of fancier. I'm fine with finding something out and don't need to discover it.

Though it is interesting that the latinate verb, "discover", is much more common in academic papers than "find out".

[riquecohen]

Though it is interesting that the latinate verb, "discover", is much more common in academic papers than "find out".

This is perhaps the case, but I can't imagine using "discover" if I want to find out the starting time of a film, whether a hotel accepts pets, or if my video rental-store has received a recently released DVD.

[Mar Rojo]

but I can't imagine using "discover" if I want to find out the starting time of a film, whether a hotel accepts pets, or if my video rental-store has received a recently released DVD.

And no one suggested you should, so what is the point you are trying to make?