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There are many forms of English within the English language. All dialects, such as Scots, Geordie, Welsh English, Cockney, Scouse (just to name a few), have different pronunciations and different terms that they use which are specific to their regional dialect. One example of this is in the Scottish dialect where ‘wee’ means ‘little’. However, this is not acceptable when speaking in or writing in Standard English. Standard English is the chosen form of English for the majority of texts and has some simple rules that you can learn to follow. You will see Standard English used throughout this course and in newspapers, magazines, books and even spoken on the television; for example, on news channels and other programmes. Standard English is the form that you will need to use in your exam, so it is important that you begin analysing your own writing style to see if you already use this form or, alternatively, acknowledging that this is something you may need to work on.
In your English exam, the person marking your work will not give you marks for writing or speaking how you would to a friend. They want to see you use the Standard English form in your writing and so this will gain you marks if you use this form of writing appropriately in your exam. This is also known as formal English. The reason it exists is so everyone can understand it; we do not have to worry about not being able to understand words from different dialects across England and from other English-speaking countries all over the world.
Rules for Standard English
- Standard English requires you to be proficient in using correct grammar, spelling and punctuation – so make sure you pay close attention to Unit 1 of this course.
- Avoid writing how you would to a friend; this includes how you text them, email, how you speak to them on social media and also how you speak to them face to face. Be careful not to write exactly how you speak.
- Do not use slang words or any other words specific to your dialect. For example, do not replace ‘butty’ for sandwich, ‘fella’ for man, or ‘kid’ for child.
- Avoid using clichés; these can come across as tedious and won’t gain you any marks. An example of a few clichés would be ‘without a care in the world’, ‘opposites attract’, ‘fall head over heels’, ‘sent a shiver down my spine’ and ‘they all lived happily ever after’.
Some Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The word ‘like’:
The word ‘like’ is used frequently in spoken English. Avoid the word ‘like’ unless you are comparing something or specifically explaining what something is like.
| Avoid | Correct |
|---|---|
| She went to the shop like the other day and got some chips and sausages for tea. | She looks like her mother. |
| I didn’t know what to do, like what should I have done? | I don’t like him. |
- ‘Those’ is used in front of the names of objects, not ‘them’:
| Avoid | Correct |
|---|---|
| I told off them children. | I told off those children. |
| You should buy them new meal deals for your lunch if you want to save some money. | You should buy those new meal deals for your lunch if you want to save some money. |
- Be careful with your apostrophes:
Apostrophes are used to show either possession or contraction. Possessive apostrophes tell us if something belongs to someone and contraction apostrophes are used when we leave out (omit) a certain word or letter. Look at the table below for examples of each:
| Possessive Apostrophes | Contraction Apostrophes |
|---|---|
| That is Siobhan’s handbag. | Tim’s going to be late (instead of ‘Tim is’). |
| The dog’s bed. | She hasn’t booked her holiday yet (instead of ‘has not’). |
| That is Fred’s new car. | They’re not coming to the party tomorrow (instead of ‘they are’). |
| Arsan’s dinner was ready. | We’ll see what they say (instead of ‘we will’). |
However, be careful with apostrophes as there are some exceptions to the rule:
The pronouns ‘his’, ‘hers’, ‘its’, ‘ours’, ‘yours’ and ‘theirs’ do not have apostrophes to show possession. For example:
- ‘The cat was pregnant and its kittens were due to be born soon.’
- ‘Is that coat hers?’
- ‘The house is ours.’
- Using the word ‘I’:
Although using the word ‘I’ is still classed as Standard English, it is important that you avoid using it in the exam as it lacks formality. Only use ‘I’ when the specific task requires you to. Look at the following sentences that have been corrected:
| Avoid | Correct |
|---|---|
| I think that the personal pronouns ‘you’ and ‘we’ in Text One create a personal tenor between the writer and the target audience. | I think that The personal pronouns ‘you’ and ‘we’ in Text One create a personal tenor between the writer and the target audience. |
| I believe that using subheadings throughout the article breaks down the information and makes it easier for the audience to read. | I believe that Using subheadings throughout the article breaks down the information and makes it easier for the audience to read. |
Depending on the audience you are asked to write for, it may be appropriate to use informal language at times. For instance, you may be asked to write a letter to a friend. Because this letter will be aimed at a friend it will be appropriate to use some forms of informal language like using the word ‘I’ and addressing them informally ‘Hi Freddie’. However, even when you are faced with a task such as this you should never use slang words, incorrect spellings, or any of the other examples that are stated above.
