Phrasal verbs in formal writing

[aachu]

Dear teachers, I was wondering if one can use phrasal verbs in formal writing, fro example exam essays. I was learning phrasal verbs from Cambridge dictionary of phrasal verbs before I heard some teacher on Youtube say that phrasal verbs are for use in speech. That had me leave the book aside and feel that I had been wasting my time on it. What do you say about it?

 

[GoesStation]

Writing coherent, un-stilted English without some phrasal verbs is impossible. Did the teacher really say you should never use them in formal writing?

 

[aachu]

Writing coherent, un-stilted English without some phrasal verbs is impossible. Did the teacher really say you should never use them in formal writing?

No, he didn't say that either, but it was enough for me to lose my motivation to learn phrasal verbs.

 

[GoesStation]

I think you should reconsider. It's true that some phrasal verbs are rather casual, but the same could be said for many elements of English.

Phrasal verbs are so common in English that you really can't learn the language without learning them.

 

[aachu]

Thanks for your reply, GoesStation. Yes, I'm going to restart learning them.

 

[Rover_KE]

aachu, bless you!

 

[Tdol]

If there is a Latinate verb that has the same meaning as a phrasal verb, it may be preferred in academic writing, but that does not make it wrong to use phrasal verbs in any context.