英文寫作經常採用正式文體。英文有多種不同的正式文體，所以文法和字彙的選擇至關重要。正式文體通常少用人稱代名詞，但多用名詞片語和被動態。文體越正式，越不帶感情、越去人稱化！
少用人稱代名詞
人稱代名詞被 it 或 there 的非人稱結構所取代。例如：
- 一般文體：I suggest that you apologize to your teacher for coming to school late. (我建議你應該為上學遲到向老師致歉)
正式文體：It is suggested that you make an apology to your teacher for coming to school late. (建議你應該為上學遲到向老師致歉) － 這句也使用名詞片語。 - 一般文體：We would like to donate a large number of books to the library. (我們想把大量的書捐贈給圖書館)
正式文體：There are a large number of books to donate to the library. (有大量的書要捐贈給圖書館)