Standard English is the use of language that is recognisably ‘English’ to people all over the world.

Non-standard English:

• words that are only used regionally (e.g. snicket or jennel for an alley)
• words that are less formal versions of others (e.g. nicked for stolen)
• words that have been appropriated/adopted by popular culture and given different meanings (e.g. using the word sick to mean really good)
• words that reflect people’s everyday spoken language written down (transcribed speech), for example: "Y’aright?" for "Are you alright?"

All of the above could be seen as non-standard forms of English because they would not necessarily be immediately understandable to all readers.

Problems occur in assessments when non-standard forms of English are used inappropriately.

First-person narratives often reflect the spoken language of a character (e.g. Well, I’m not sure, well ... maybe I am, but -) when directly addressing the reader. However, the only time you should use non-standard forms of English in a creative piece of writing is to record the actual spoken language of a particular character (through direct speech). Plays are full of direct speech because the text is designed to be performed in front of a live audience – creative narratives are primarily designed to be read alone – the reader puts a ‘voice’ to the words.

If you are able to deliberately use language in direct speech that is non-standard, then you are demonstrating your understanding of the difference between it - and standard English.