Do you need a title, subject line or sign-off in TCF Canada writing?
Checked November 2, 2026
Only what the kind of text needs. FEI sets no rule on titles, subject lines or sign-offs. It describes a message in task 1, an article, letter or note in task 2, and a text for a newspaper, website or colleague in task 3. A short title suits an article or blog post. A message or letter has a greeting and a sign-off. Texting abbreviations have no place in any task.
Task by task, here is what we suggest. It is our reading of the kinds of text FEI describes, not a published rule.
| Task and kind of text | Title | Subject line | Greeting and sign-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1, message to a friend, neighbour or colleague | no | only for a formal email | yes, for example Bonjour Marc and a first name |
| 2, article or blog post | yes, short | no | no |
| 2, letter or email to an organisation | no | possible for an email | yes, Madame, Monsieur and a formal closing |
| 3, text for a newspaper or website | possible, short | no | no |
| 3, text for a colleague or manager | no | possible for an email | yes |
Three points to remember.
- If the consigne asks for a title, write one. It is then a point of the consigne like any other.
- Do the words in the title and sign-off count? FEI’s sample paper counts a word as any group of characters between two spaces, but FEI does not say whether the title, subject line or signature are part of the total. That rule would count them, so count them and keep a margin under the maximum. The detail is in how words are counted.
- No abbreviations. Slt, stp, bcp or pk belong to speech and texting, even in a message to a friend. FEI’s sociolinguistic criterion is about fit with the situation, and the situation is a written exam. Other spoken habits to avoid are in the mistakes that cost NCLC 7.
An example of a short blog title is on the page about task 2 with no such experience. To check the register and layout of your own text, have it corrected on NCLC Prep.