The study of how language varies in social context, and how it can be analyzed and accounted for, are the key goals of sociolinguistics. This is the first comprehensive how to guide to the formal analysis of sociolinguistic variation. Practical and informal, it shows in a step-by-step fashion how the analysis is carried out, leading the reader through every stage of a fully-fledged sociolinguistic investigation. Containing exercises, checklists and insider tips, it is set to become an essential resource for students, researchers and fieldworkers embarking on research projects in sociolinguistics.