Formality in Writing
In the image above, you can follow the trend of words “president,” “mr,” “dear,” “sir,” and “brother.” While these words may seem common or normal for these types of documents, they are important to note, because they indicate a certain level of formality and give the notion of a chain of authority. The formality of these documents are very important to note, because most miner did not have the best access to advance education. If a miner was educated, then he would be able to better articulate his plight, which in turn would make others more willing to hear their argument and understand it (Hoover 380). Whether it was through formal education or not, these miners had learned about grammar and how to structure their sentences to make the most sense. The words “president” and “sir” indicate levels of authority within the communication; therefore, there was authority in their organization. This is very important to note, because most rebelling groups start out with no sense of organization; if they cannot form a hierarchy, then the organization will not accomplish anything (Caccia 176). This organization has a strong hierarchy and, because of the formalities used, it can be assumed that those who in higher positions have the respect of their subordinates. The uses of these words are mainly in the letters and only at the beginning of the Howat’s reply to Lewis, however, Howat continuously addresses Lewis as “president.” This indicates that while Howat completely disagrees with Lewis’s political stance, he does respect his authority within the union.
