FORMAL AND INFORMAL LETTERS

1- Informal letters

Sometimes we need to communicate a lot of information and a letter or email may be the easiest way to do this. We may write a letter to mark a special occasion or to communicate something that's difficult to say face-to-face: for example, a letter expressing our sympathy when somebody has died, or a letter sending our congratulations on the birth of a new baby . These are personal letters. Personal letters may be short or long but they are usually chatty and informal.

Informal letter is a letter you would write to a friend or family.

You would write an informal letter to someone you know well.

Put your address in the top right hand corner of the page.
Put the date underneath the address.
Start the letter with Dear (put the person's name here).
Finish the letter with Yours sincerely, Yours, or even Love from if you know them really well (and like them).

Although you can use informal English when writing to someone you know, remember you still want them to understand what you are saying. Clear, simple English is always best.

Example of an informal letter

2- formal letters

Formal letters are letters to people who we don't know on a personal level. We may need to write formal letters or emails for many different reasons. For example, we may write to find out information, to apply for a job or a course, to make a complaint, to give information or to send an apology.

You write formal letters to people you don't know or to organisations, for example, newspapers or businesses.

Put your address in the top right hand corner of the page.
Put the date underneath the address.
If you don't know the person's name, start the letter with Dear Sir, Dear Madam, or Dear Sir or Madam and finish with Yours faithfully.
If you do know the person's name, start the letter Dear Mr/Mrs (put the person's surname here) and finish with Yours sincerely.

Always use clear, simple English. Start by saying why you are writing then follow with the details. It's a good idea to list the points you want to make before you start writing.

Finish by saying what you would like to happen next, for example, I hope to hear from you soon.