Guide 152 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “report”
Five verbs for official communication.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Report" is the HR and journalism word. "Notify" is the trigger language of systems; "communicate" is generic and slightly clinical; "disclose" implies duty; "apprise" is formal update; "escalate" is up-the-chain.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Notify neutral
trigger someone’s attention
Notify oncall within fifteen minutes.
- 02Communicate formal
formal exchange of information
Communicate the policy change to all staff.
- 03Disclose formal
reveal under obligation
Disclose material changes promptly.
- 04Apprise formal
bring someone up to date
Apprise the board of the settlement.
- 05Escalate neutral
send up the chain
Escalate to legal if unresolved by Thursday.