Grade 6 Primary English Numbers,Abbreviations And Acronyms – Salutations Notes

Primary English — Numbers, Abbreviations & Acronyms

Subtopic: Salutations (greetings in letters and emails)

What is a salutation?
A salutation is the opening greeting of a letter or email. It tells the reader how you address them. Example: Dear Mr Mwangi, or Hello Asha, 😊

Why salutations matter

• They show respect and set the tone (formal or informal).
• They help the reader know who the letter is for (teacher, headteacher, parent).

Simple rules (easy to remember)

1. Capitalise the first word: "Dear", and the name or title: "Mr Mwangi".
2. Punctuation: After the salutation use a comma in most school letters: Dear Miss Njeri, (You might see a colon in some formal business letters: Dear Sir:).
3. Use the correct title: Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Dr, Prof, Hon. — then the surname. Example: Dear Dr Otieno,
4. Be polite and specific: If you know the name use it. If not, use a general formal salutation: Dear Sir/Madam, or Dear Headteacher,
5. Acronyms: Avoid using acronyms alone in the salutation (e.g., "Dear CEO" is okay in business, but for school letters use the full title or name: Dear Chairperson, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA),).
6. Be consistent with abbreviations: Some write "Mr" others "Mr." — both are used. Choose one style and keep it the same in your letter.

Common salutations (Kenyan school examples)

• Informal (friends, family): Hello Amina, / Hi Ben, 😊
• To a teacher: Dear Miss Njeri, / Dear Mr Kamau, 👩‍🏫
• To the headteacher: Dear Headteacher, / Dear Mrs Wanjiru,
• To a group of parents: Dear Parents / Dear Parents and Guardians,
• Formal when you don't know the name: Dear Sir/Madam,
• Official titles: Dear Hon. Governor, / Dear Rev. Okoth,

How to write titles and abbreviations

Common abbreviations and expansions:

• Mr — Mister
• Mrs — Missus (married woman)
• Miss — unmarried woman
• Ms — woman (use when you don't know marital status)
• Dr — Doctor
• Prof — Professor
• Hon — Honourable (used for elected officials)

Tip: If writing to a person with a title, use the title with the surname (e.g., Dear Dr Achieng,). If you are writing to someone you know well, use their first name (e.g., Dear John,).

Examples — Formal and Informal

Short activities (try these)

1. Write a salutation for a letter to your class teacher, Miss Wambui. (Answer: Dear Miss Wambui,)
2. Choose the correct salutation for a letter to the school head: (A) Hi Headteacher, (B) Dear Headteacher, (C) Hello Headteacher. (Answer: B)
3. Rewrite informally: Dear Mrs Kamau, to a friend called Sara. (Answer: Hello Sara,)
4. Which is better when you do not know the name: Dear Sir/Madam, or Dear Mary,? (Answer: Dear Sir/Madam,)
5. Should you write dear mr otieno, with lowercase? Fix it. (Answer: Dear Mr Otieno,)

Quick checklist before you finish a letter

• Have you capitalised the name and title?
• Did you put the correct punctuation after the salutation (comma or colon)?
• Did you choose a formal or informal salutation depending on who will read it?
• Did you avoid using confusing acronyms in the salutation?

Remember: A good salutation shows respect and helps your reader know who the letter is for. Be polite, simple, and clear. 👍