No matter the extent of modernisation and technological/digital advancement the world is experiencing, many of us still write letters. The media or channels might have changed, yet we still have cause to communicate through letters. Today we are revisiting the tender world of informal letters from the perspective of its don’ts. While this is of general relevance, the lesson is particularly important for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates who will be sitting the English exam on Wednesday.
Ordinarily, informal letters are relatively easy to write. They are the ones we pen to loved ones: family members, friends, acquaintances, etc. As a result, their structure is not as rigid as their formal counterparts’. The features of an informal letter include the sender’s address and date, a friendly salutation, an intimate introduction, and a familiar tone that runs through the piece. Equally important are the subscription phrases like ‘Yours sincerely’, ‘Your loving son’, and ‘Your darling sister’.
Despite the cordial atmosphere and structure, informal letters have their rules. Experience has, however, shown that many candidates turn the blessing the letters should be into something negative because they overstretch the informal character. Whether in real life or examination contexts, you should try to avoid this. Here are things you don’t indulge in when writing informal letters:
Don’t write two addresses
All you need is one — your own address. It is in formal letters we have two: those of the writer and the receiver.
No title
A salutation is compulsory in informal letters, but there should be no title or heading for it. Only the formal requires such.
Don’t lose the focus of the question
Although you are writing to a loved one, you must ensure you address the theme of the question you are answering. What exactly does the examiner want you to communicate to the reader/receiver? Some things that have happened in your school, family, community, or the country? Your plan to visit a place or a narration of a past event? You must understand this clearly, state it in the introduction, and do justice to it in the body of the letter. That is what will guarantee you the vital marks under the content segment of the marking scheme. So, don’t be carried away by the imagined relationship between you and the receiver.
Don’t muddle up paragraphs
Even if the letter is chatty, avoid writing in a single dense block. Break your thoughts into clear, well-connected paragraphs for clarity and readability.
Don’t overuse slang expressions
A little bit of slang is fine, but using too much can make the letter confusing or seem disrespectful.
Don’t be careless or vulgar
Informal letters allow a good measure of freedom and experimentation, but you should not be careless while enjoying these. Don’t use foul or vulgar language, say, because you are writing to a friend.
Don’t mix the structure of salutation with that of subscription
In ‘Dear Mum’ (salutation) or ‘Dear Friend’, we have a capital D and a capital M/F. In the subscription, however, the second word starts with a small letter: ‘Yours sincerely’, ‘Your son’, ‘Your dear daughter’, etc., not ‘Yours Sincerely’, ‘Your Son’, or ‘Your Dear Daughter’.
Parting words
Back to the WASSCE paper, remember that, generally in essay writing, the examiner is testing your knowledge, experience, and ability to reason well. Very significantly too, they are testing your mastery of the English Language. So, whichever question you choose, whether an essay or letter, you must handle those elements well.
Lastly, remember that each essay/letter type has its own features — apart from the general factors that bind them. By now, for instance, you should know the difference between argumentative essays and debates, as well as speech-making and speech-writing. If you don’t, quickly read up on them or contact relevant authorities.