Work & Careers — Part 4
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
What you'll learn: formal, written-register phrases and connectors for discussing work topics in CELPIP Writing Task 1 emails and Task 2 survey responses, where informal collocations from earlier lessons don't belong.
Why register matters more in writing
Spoken fluency chunks like "get the hang of it" or phrasal verbs like "fill in for" work well in Speaking but read as too casual in a formal email to HR or a structured opinion essay. Writing Task 1 and Task 2 are scored partly on appropriate formality, so this lesson focuses on the connectors and set academic phrases that keep a work-related response sounding professional and organized.
Two jobs these phrases do
Formal connectors serve two purposes in a work-related response: they structure the argument (firstly, moreover, in light of this) and they hedge or generalize claims appropriately (it could be argued that, a significant number of employees). Both are essential in Task 2 opinion writing, where raters look for controlled, organized reasoning rather than a list of loose statements.
Word bank: formal work-writing phrases
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| in light of (recent changes) | considering, given a new fact | In light of recent changes to the schedule, I am writing to request clarification. |
| with regard to | concerning, on the subject of | With regard to the vacancy, I would like to submit my application. |
| it could be argued that | introduces a debatable claim carefully | It could be argued that remote work reduces overall productivity. |
| a significant number of | a large, though unspecified, quantity | A significant number of employees now prefer hybrid schedules. |
| on the whole | considering everything generally | On the whole, flexible hours have improved staff morale. |
| I would like to draw your attention to | formally introduces an important point | I would like to draw your attention to a scheduling conflict for next week. |
| furthermore / moreover | adds a further supporting point | Moreover, the new policy has reduced overtime costs significantly. |
| this raises the question of | introduces a logical follow-up issue | This raises the question of whether remote staff receive equal support. |
| I look forward to your response | polite formal closing before a reply is expected | I look forward to your response at your earliest convenience. |
| for the reasons outlined above | formally summarizes prior points before a conclusion | For the reasons outlined above, I believe a policy review is necessary. |
| to a certain extent | partially true, with some limitation | To a certain extent, salary does affect job satisfaction. |
| it is worth noting that | flags an important but secondary point | It is worth noting that turnover has decreased since the new benefits began. |
Worked example — Writing Task 1 email
"Dear Ms. Alvarez,
I am writing with regard to the recent change to our overtime policy. In light of the additional workload this quarter, I would like to draw your attention to the effect this policy has had on team morale. A significant number of employees have expressed concern about the reduced flexibility, and it could be argued that productivity may suffer as a result. On the whole, the team remains committed to meeting targets, but for the reasons outlined above, I would ask that the policy be reviewed. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely, J. Chen"
This email uses six formal connectors to structure a complaint politely and logically — exactly the tone CELPIP Task 1 expects for a workplace request.
Common mistakes
- Mixing spoken chunks into formal writing — "to be honest, the policy is unfair" belongs in speech, not an email; use it could be argued that instead.
- "Regarding to" instead of with regard to or regarding — a very common hybrid error; only one form is correct at a time.
- Overusing "very" and "a lot of" in formal writing — replace with a significant number of or to a certain extent for appropriate register.
- Ending an email abruptly without a formal closing — always pair a formal request with I look forward to your response or similar.
Recap
Formal connectors and set academic phrases keep work-related writing structured, polite, and appropriately distanced — qualities CELPIP raters specifically look for in Task 1 emails and Task 2 opinion responses. Practice by rewriting one sentence from an earlier lesson's spoken example into formal register, swapping any casual phrasing for a connector from this table.