Monya Le Hanie
, 1. Compound words
Compound words are two words joined together.
When the words join, their meaning changes.
head- -line headline
copy- -right copyright
dead- -line deadline
follow- -up follow-up
lay- -out layout
proof- -reader proof-reader
news- -stand newsstand
2. Honorifics
We use honorifics to show politeness or respect
Honorifics tell us:
What gender the person is Sir / Madam
If the person is an ordinary citizen Master / Miss (children)
Mister / Ms (adults)
If the person is from royalty Her Royal Highness
Queen Elizabeth
Lord Lowden
If a person has an academic qualification Sister Sannie
Doctor Smith
Professor Lewis
If the person is in the defence force+ Lieutenant James
Captain John
If the person is a religious leader Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
Sheikh Ismailah Mohammed
Rabbi Isaac Weiss
Tip: You use honorifics “Sir” or “Madam” at the beginning of a formal letter if
you do not know the person’s name.
, 3. Euphemisms
A euphemism is a polite term for something controversial.
In English, we use euphemisms to talk about the things:
o That make us uncomfortable, such as sex or death
o That may seem rude, such as someone’s disability or sexual orientation
o That may cause arguments or conflicts, such as religion or politics
Euphemism Simpler term
Differently abled Disabled
Bring up Vomit
Comfort woman Prostitute
Big-boned Obese
Passed on Died
Visually impaired Blind
Come clean Confess
Fabricate Lie
Neutralise Kill
4. Build vocabulary
Words that sound similar often have related meanings.
E.g. respondent comes from the root word respond, which means “to answer”.
Respondent: person who answers questions.
Verb Related Noun/s Adjective Adverb
Respond Responses, respondent Responsive Responsively
Distract Distraction Distractable Distractingly
Terrorise Terror, terrorism Terrifying, terrorising Terrifyingly
, 1. Compound words
Compound words are two words joined together.
When the words join, their meaning changes.
head- -line headline
copy- -right copyright
dead- -line deadline
follow- -up follow-up
lay- -out layout
proof- -reader proof-reader
news- -stand newsstand
2. Honorifics
We use honorifics to show politeness or respect
Honorifics tell us:
What gender the person is Sir / Madam
If the person is an ordinary citizen Master / Miss (children)
Mister / Ms (adults)
If the person is from royalty Her Royal Highness
Queen Elizabeth
Lord Lowden
If a person has an academic qualification Sister Sannie
Doctor Smith
Professor Lewis
If the person is in the defence force+ Lieutenant James
Captain John
If the person is a religious leader Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
Sheikh Ismailah Mohammed
Rabbi Isaac Weiss
Tip: You use honorifics “Sir” or “Madam” at the beginning of a formal letter if
you do not know the person’s name.
, 3. Euphemisms
A euphemism is a polite term for something controversial.
In English, we use euphemisms to talk about the things:
o That make us uncomfortable, such as sex or death
o That may seem rude, such as someone’s disability or sexual orientation
o That may cause arguments or conflicts, such as religion or politics
Euphemism Simpler term
Differently abled Disabled
Bring up Vomit
Comfort woman Prostitute
Big-boned Obese
Passed on Died
Visually impaired Blind
Come clean Confess
Fabricate Lie
Neutralise Kill
4. Build vocabulary
Words that sound similar often have related meanings.
E.g. respondent comes from the root word respond, which means “to answer”.
Respondent: person who answers questions.
Verb Related Noun/s Adjective Adverb
Respond Responses, respondent Responsive Responsively
Distract Distraction Distractable Distractingly
Terrorise Terror, terrorism Terrifying, terrorising Terrifyingly
