South Africa, July 18 -- South Africans love a friendly nod to local lingo - think heita and howzit in casual contexts, but we also value politeness and respect. Even when we slip in words like braai, our emails remain courteous and clear. We don't want to sound like a tourist brochure or a shouty sales pitch, so balance local flavour with good manners.

Adopt a conversational tone that's friendly and confident, without overdoing slang. Use simple language, ditch the jargon and spell out acronyms at first mention ("close of business" instead of "COB").

Your opening sentence should state exactly why you're in the reader's inbox. Skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point: "Hi Lerato, here's your invite to our exclusive Father's D...