Formal English Synonyms Quiz: 20 Questions

Formal English Synonyms Quiz: 20 Questions

Formal English Synonyms Quiz: 20 Questions With Answers

Everyday English is perfect for ordinary conversations, but essays, reports, applications and professional emails often require more formal vocabulary. This formal English synonyms quiz tests whether you can replace 20 common words and phrases with suitable formal alternatives.

Unlike a traditional synonym test, each question places the expression inside a sentence. Your task is to choose the alternative that preserves the meaning while making the sentence more appropriate for academic or professional writing. After completing the quiz, use the explanations and examples to understand how each formal synonym works.

Build Your Foundation → Practise 10 easy synonym questions for beginners.

Move Beyond the Basics → Challenge yourself with our intermediate synonym quiz.

Test Difficult Vocabulary → Try 15 advanced synonym questions in context.

What Are Formal and Informal Synonyms?

Formal and informal synonyms express similar ideas but suit different situations. Informal expressions are natural in relaxed conversations, personal messages and casual writing. Formal alternatives are more common in academic work, official communication, reports and professional settings.

For example:

• Everyday: We need to find out what happened.
• Formal: We need to ascertain what happened.

Both sentences communicate the same basic idea, but ascertain creates a more formal tone. According to Cambridge Grammar's guide to formal and informal language, formal language is more common in writing, while informal language is more common in speech.

When Should You Use Formal Vocabulary?

Formal vocabulary can be appropriate when you are:

• writing an academic essay or research paper;
• preparing an IELTS, TOEFL or university assignment;
• creating a report, proposal or official document;
• contacting an organisation or someone you do not know well;
• writing a job application or professional email; or
• presenting information in a serious and objective tone.

Formal language is not automatically better. The best choice depends on your audience, purpose and situation. A relaxed message to a close friend should not sound like a legal document.

Take the Interactive Formal Synonyms Quiz

Formal English Synonyms Quiz

Instructions

• Read the complete sentence.
• Focus on the word or phrase shown in bold.
• Choose the most suitable formal synonym.
• Award yourself one point for each correct answer.
• Check the explanations only after answering all 20 questions.

1. Ask

The applicant wrote to ask about the entry requirements.

A) Announce
B) Enquire
C) Predict
D) Complain

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2. Buy

The laboratory plans to buy new equipment next month.

A) Borrow
B) Reserve
C) Exchange
D) Purchase

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3. Check

The auditor will check whether the figures are correct.

A) Verify
B) Arrange
C) Estimate
D) Submit

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4. Find Out

The investigation aims to find out why the system failed.

A) Inspect
B) Remember
C) Ascertain
D) Record

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5. Get

Students must get written permission before using the archive.

A) Transport
B) Obtain
C) Deliver
D) Replace

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6. Give

The final report will give further details about the project.

A) Provide
B) Collect
C) Mention
D) Refuse

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7. Keep

The organisation must keep these records for five years.

A) Divide
B) Remove
C) Calculate
D) Retain

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8. Leave Out

Please leave out any information that is not relevant to the study.

A) Translate
B) Revise
C) Omit
D) Attach

---

9. Look Into

The committee has agreed to look into the complaint.

A) Summarise
B) Investigate
C) Approve
D) Publish

---

10. Make Sure

Researchers must make sure that every source is reliable.

A) Assume
B) Debate
C) Transfer
D) Ensure

---

11. Put Off

The organisers decided to put off the meeting because of the storm.

A) Postpone
B) Attend
C) Conclude
D) Recommend

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12. Set Up

The charity intends to set up a scholarship programme.

A) Modify
B) Combine
C) Establish
D) Shorten

---

13. Speed Up

The updated software should speed up the application process.

A) Observe
B) Accelerate
C) Measure
D) Interrupt

---

14. Think About

The panel will think about the long-term consequences of the proposal.

A) Consider
B) Describe
C) Locate
D) Introduce

---

15. Use

The research team will use a different method in the second trial.

A) Adapt
B) Reject
C) Discuss
D) Employ

---

16. Work Together

The two universities will work together on the environmental project.

A) Separate
B) Compete
C) Collaborate
D) Respond

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17. Deal With

The next section will deal with the causes of regional inequality.

A) Categorise
B) Address
C) Endorse
D) Formulate

---

18. Point Out

The author points out an important limitation of the experiment.

A) Neutralises
B) Simplifies
C) Manufactures
D) Highlights

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19. Come Before

In the report, the introduction should come before the analysis.

A) Precede
B) Support
C) Summarise
D) Repeat

---

20. Take Part

More than 500 volunteers took part in the survey.

A) Declined
B) Organised
C) Participated
D) Reported

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Formal Synonyms Quiz Answers and Explanations

1. Ask — B) Enquire

To enquire means to ask for information. In UK English, enquire is commonly used for a general request for information.

Formal example: Please enquire about availability before submitting your application.

2. Buy — D) Purchase

To purchase something means to buy it. Purchase is common in business, financial and official writing.

Formal example: The department purchased additional laboratory equipment.

3. Check — A) Verify

To verify information means to check or confirm that it is correct, genuine or complete.

Formal example: The administrator must verify each applicant's identity.

4. Find Out — C) Ascertain

To ascertain something means to discover it with certainty, often through investigation or careful examination.

Formal example: Further tests are required to ascertain the cause of the fault.

5. Get — B) Obtain

To obtain something means to get or acquire it, particularly through a process or request.

Formal example: Participants must obtain written consent before recording the interview.

6. Give — A) Provide

To provide something means to give or supply it. The word is widely used in instructions, reports and professional communication.

Formal example: The appendix provides additional information about the survey.

7. Keep — D) Retain

To retain something means to keep or continue to possess it. It is often used when discussing documents, information or ownership.

Formal example: Please retain a copy of the completed form.

8. Leave Out — C) Omit

To omit something means to leave it out, either intentionally or accidentally.

Formal example: The summary omitted several details that were not relevant to the conclusion.

9. Look Into — B) Investigate

To investigate means to examine an issue systematically in order to discover facts or determine what happened.

Formal example: An independent panel will investigate the complaint.

10. Make Sure — D) Ensure

To ensure something means to make certain that it happens or that a particular condition is met.

Formal example: Clear instructions help ensure consistency across the study.

11. Put Off — A) Postpone

To postpone an event means to delay it until a later time or date.

Formal example: The conference was postponed because of severe weather.

12. Set Up — C) Establish

To establish an organisation, programme or system means to create it on a firm or lasting basis.

Formal example: The university established a new research centre.

13. Speed Up — B) Accelerate

To accelerate a process means to make it develop or happen more quickly.

Formal example: Automation may accelerate the approval process.

14. Think About — A) Consider

To consider something means to think about it carefully before reaching a decision or judgement.

Formal example: The committee will consider the financial implications of the proposal.

15. Use — D) Employ

To employ a method, strategy or technique means to use it for a particular purpose.

Formal example: The researchers employed two methods of data collection.

16. Work Together — C) Collaborate

To collaborate means to work jointly with another person or group towards a shared result.

Formal example: The institutions collaborated on an international research project.

17. Deal With — B) Address

To address an issue means to give it attention and take steps to discuss, manage or resolve it.

Formal example: The policy aims to address unequal access to education.

18. Point Out — D) Highlights

To highlight something means to draw attention to its importance. The answer is highlights because it must agree with the singular subject author.

Formal example: The conclusion highlights the need for further research.

19. Come Before — A) Precede

To precede something means to come or happen before it in time, position or order.

Formal example: A short introduction should precede the main analysis.

20. Take Part — C) Participated

To participate means to take part in an activity or event. Participated is required here because the original sentence is in the past tense.

Formal example: More than 500 volunteers participated in the survey.

What Does Your Score Mean?

• 18–20 correct: Excellent! You have a strong command of formal English vocabulary.
• 14–17 correct: Very good. Review the few expressions that caused difficulty.
• 10–13 correct: Good progress. Practise applying these words in formal sentences.
• 0–9 correct: Keep learning. Review the examples and retake the quiz after a few days.

Formal Synonyms at a Glance

How to Use Formal Synonyms Naturally

1. Match the Language to Your Audience

Use formal vocabulary when the audience or purpose requires it. An academic report may state that researchers obtained data, while a casual conversation may simply say that they got it.

2. Keep the Meaning Precise

A formal word is useful only when it preserves your intended meaning. Do not replace a familiar word merely because the alternative sounds more sophisticated.

3. Check the Grammar

The replacement must fit the sentence grammatically. Pay attention to tense, subject–verb agreement and word class. For example, participated correctly replaces took part in a past-tense sentence.

4. Learn Words With Their Common Partners

Study useful combinations such as obtain permission, verify information, retain records, address an issue and establish a programme. These combinations make formal writing sound more natural.

5. Avoid Making Every Sentence Overly Formal

Strong writing should be clear rather than unnecessarily complicated. Mix precise formal vocabulary with straightforward sentence structures so that readers can follow your ideas easily.

6. Proofread for Consistent Tone

A paragraph can feel awkward if it moves repeatedly between very casual and highly formal language. Read your work again and replace expressions that do not match the overall tone.

Strengthen Academic Vocabulary → Explore 100 SAT vocabulary words with meanings and examples.

Quick Formal-Writing Practice

Rewrite the following sentences by replacing the words in bold with suitable formal alternatives from this article.

1. The team will look into the technical problem.
2. Please keep your receipt for future reference.
3. The university will set up a new language centre.
4. The report points out several weaknesses in the current system.
5. All participants must get permission before entering the archive.

Suggested answers: investigate, retain, establish, highlights and obtain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are formal synonyms?

Formal synonyms are words or expressions that communicate a similar meaning in a more academic, official or professional register.

Are formal words always better than informal words?

No. The most suitable word depends on the audience, purpose and context. Informal vocabulary is often more natural in everyday conversation.

Can this quiz help with academic writing?

Yes. The quiz introduces formal alternatives commonly useful in essays, reports, assignments and professional communication.

Is this formal synonyms quiz suitable for IELTS learners?

Yes. It can help IELTS learners recognise differences in register and develop a wider vocabulary for writing and speaking tasks.

How can I remember formal synonyms?

Learn each word inside a complete sentence, record useful collocations, practise rewriting informal sentences and review the vocabulary at regular intervals.

Final Thoughts

Knowing formal synonyms gives you greater control over tone. Instead of replacing every simple word, choose an alternative when it makes your writing more precise and suitable for the situation. Review any missed answers, create your own examples and repeat the quiz to strengthen long-term recall.

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