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:
