Formal vocabulary for OET letters: everyday words to replace, and when not to over-formalise
In an OET Nursing letter, replace informal or chatty words with clear professional ones: 'get' becomes 'receive' or 'obtain', 'help' can become 'assist', 'a lot of' becomes 'considerable' or a precise number, and 'kids' becomes 'children'. Do not go too far: rare or old-fashioned words ('henceforth', 'commence forthwith') make a letter harder to read, so choose the plainest word that still sounds professional.
Why word choice matters
An OET Nursing letter is a professional document written to another health professional or, sometimes, to a non-clinical reader. Informal words ("get", "a lot", "kids", "OK") make it sound like a message to a friend. This relates to the Genre & Style criterion, which looks at whether the register suits the reader and purpose, and to the Language criterion, which includes accurate vocabulary.
The goal is professional and clear, not "as formal as possible". Overly formal or rare words can make a letter harder to read, which works against Conciseness & Clarity.
Everyday words and professional alternatives
| Informal | Professional alternative | Example in a letter |
|---|---|---|
| get (a result) | receive, obtain | "We received her blood results on 4 March." |
| get better | improve | "His mobility has improved." |
| get worse | deteriorate, worsen | "Her breathing deteriorated overnight." |
| help (verb) | assist, support | "Her husband assists her with medicines." |
| a lot of / lots of | considerable, significant, or a number | "She has lost 6 kg in two months." |
| kids | children | "She lives with her husband and two children." |
| check | review, monitor, assess | "Please review his wound on 10 March." |
| tell | inform, advise | "Please inform the ward if his pain increases." |
| give (medicine) | administer (or keep "give") | "His insulin is administered at 8 am." |
| start / stop | commence, discontinue (or keep "start/stop") | "Her antibiotics were discontinued on 2 May." |
| OK / fine | stable, well, satisfactory | "Her observations have remained stable." |
| a bit | slightly, mildly | "His ankle is mildly swollen." |
| go home | be discharged | "She will be discharged on 5 June." |
| find out | determine, establish | "Further tests are needed to determine the cause." |
| need to | requires | "He requires the assistance of one person." |
You do not have to swap every word. "Start", "stop" and "give" are acceptable in many clinical letters. Choose the version that reads naturally.
Phrases to avoid
| Avoid | Why | Use instead |
|---|---|---|
| "As you know…" | The reader may not know | State the fact |
| "Hope you are well" | Chatty, adds no information | Start with the purpose |
| "Poor lady" / "sweet old man" | Emotional, unprofessional | Neutral facts only |
| "She's", "don't", "can't" | Contractions are conversational | "she is", "do not", "cannot" |
| "etc." / "and so on" | Vague | List what matters or leave it out |
| "Thanks a lot!" | Too casual | "Thank you for your assistance." |
| "ASAP" | Abbreviation, informal | "as soon as possible" or a specific date |
Do not over-formalise
Some candidates learn lists of "advanced" words and use them everywhere. This often sounds unnatural.
| Over-formal | Clear and professional |
|---|---|
| "Henceforth she shall commence ambulation." | "She will now begin walking with a frame." |
| "The aforementioned patient…" | "Mrs Lopez…" or "She…" |
| "I would be most exceedingly grateful…" | "I would be grateful…" |
| "He has been rendered unable to masticate." | "He has difficulty chewing." |
| "Kindly do the needful." | "Please review her medicines." |
A useful test: would a senior nurse write this in a real referral? If it sounds like an old legal document, simplify it.
Matching vocabulary to the reader
For a clinical reader, standard terms ("hypertension", "mobilising with a frame", "fully weight-bearing") are appropriate. For a non-clinical reader, use plain words: "high blood pressure", "walking with a frame". See writing to a non-clinical reader.
Worked example (invented case)
Informal draft:
I'm writing about Mr Farouk, a really nice old man who got a lot better on the ward. He can walk OK now with a frame but still needs a bit of help in the shower. His wife and kids want him home ASAP. Can you check his sugars and tell us if they get worse?
Revised:
I am writing to inform you of the discharge of Mr Farouk, aged 80, whose mobility has improved during his admission. He now walks with a frame but requires some assistance in the shower. He will be discharged home to his wife and adult children on 12 April. I would be grateful if you could monitor his blood glucose levels and inform us if they deteriorate.
Changes: contraction removed; emotional description ("really nice old man") removed; "got a lot better" → "has improved"; "OK" and "a bit of help" → precise wording; "kids" → "adult children"; "ASAP" → a date; "check" and "tell" → "monitor" and "inform". The facts and details are invented.
Quick checklist
- No contractions, slang or text-message abbreviations.
- No emotional or judgemental descriptions of the patient.
- Vague amounts replaced with numbers from the notes where possible.
- No rare words you would not use at work.
- Vocabulary suits the reader (clinical or non-clinical).
Also see common OET Writing mistakes and passive voice in OET letters.
Practise and check
Practise a timed letter at /writing/, or check a letter you have written: medEmu marks informal or unclear wording on your own sentences, with a corrected version and the reason, and gives an estimated grade. Grades are estimates, and medEmu is not affiliated with OET.
Sources
This guide is medEmu's writing advice, not official OET guidance; all patients and details are invented for practice. The network used for this run could not reach oet.com, so no OET test facts are stated beyond the criterion names. For OET's official Writing information and assessment criteria, see oet.com.