Mr Oliver Oak,

4 Elm Street,

Little Firdon.

Ashire.

Tuesday, 17 November.

Dear Percy,

my cousin is giving a party next Wednesday and he has asked me to bring a friend and so I'm asking you if you would like to come because I'm going and so is Bill Beech and Winnie Walnut and Charlie Cherrytree (my cousin is inviting them himself so I needn't) and as they are your pals and you're mine I thought you might like to come too. There will be jelly and icecream and four different kinds of cake. Write back immediately or else you shan't come.

Yours faithfully, Ollie.

A. This was not written by any of the children I have ever taught! It does contain a number of mistakes, however, that children often make in letters in general, and invitations in particular. The first mistake is in the address at the top. It contains information that it does not need to contain. What information? Why do people make this error?

My first reaction on seeing the letter is to wonder who my cousin is. Percy may know, of course. Oliver may only have one cousin, for all I know, but not only is his name absent from the invitation, but some other important information about him is missing. What? Is giving a party: what three items of information about a party must you give any prospective guest? Why? Next Wednesday: there is a difficulty here. Can you spot it? How can you always avoid that difficulty?

Now go through the rest of the letter giving your criticisms. Finally, re-write Oliver's letter.

B. Invitations may be given by letter. Often you will see them in the form of an invitation card. Because invitation cards are unsigned, they begin in some such form as this:

Ruth Rosebud has pleasure in inviting….

This custom dates from the time when wealthy people employed a secretary to write out their invitations. Complete Ruth's invitation.