Letter Writing
Letter is a form of written communication.
Letters are of two types: Formal and Informal.
Formal letters are usually written for official reasons. A formal letter,
also known as an official letter, and it is written in a formal language with
a specific structure and layout.
Informal Letter: These are personal letters. They need not follow any set
pattern or adhere to any formalities. Informal letters are generally written
to friends, acquaintances, relatives etc.
Difference between Formal Letter and Informal Letter
Formal Informal
Language
Formal and polite Colloquial, friendly
and tone
Business, officials, Friend, cousin,
Addressed to school / college siblings, parents,
authority, editor relatives
Format To be followed strictly Not so strict, can vary
To be followed as given To be followed as
Word limit
in question given in question
1
Let us now have a look into the format that has to be followed while
writing
Formal Letter: These letters follow a certain pattern and formality. They
are strictly kept professional in nature, and directly address the issues
concerned. Any type of business letter or letter to authorities falls within
this given category.
Formal Letter Writing Format, Topics, Samples
♦ Business Letters
• Making enquiries/Asking for information
• Replying to enquiries/Giving information
• Placing orders/Sending replies
• Cancelling orders
• Registering complaints about products/services
♦ Official Letters
• Registering complaints (roads, theft, etc.)
• Making enquiries (courses, tours, etc.)
• Making requests/appeals
♦ Letters to Editor
• Giving suggestions/views on issues of public earliest/articles in the
news/on a published letter.
♦ Job Letters
Format of a Formal Letter
Sender’s Address
Date
Receiver’s Address
Subject: Application for
Salutation
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Yours truly
Signature
(Name of person in Capital letters)
(Designation)
Encl: ________________
2
Informal Letter
These are personal letters. They need not follow any set pattern or adhere
to any formalities. Informal letters are generally written to friends,
acquaintances, relatives etc.
Characteristics of Informal Letter:
1. An informal letter format is used when you write a chatty or newsy
letter to a friend or relative.
2. The tone of an informal letter is friendly and full of feelings.
Therefore, these letters are also called social letters.
3. You can even use contractions like you’re, she's, or he's.
4. All letters start with an informal salutation such as Dear _____.
5. An informal letter should end on an affectionate note such as yours
lovingly, yours truly, or yours affectionately.
6. This type of letter is very spontaneous in manner.
7. It adds a personal touch to one's thoughts and ideas.
FORMAT OF INFORMAL LETTER
Position of the Sender's Address in an Informal Letter
In the above image, we can see that the sender's address (writer's address)
is written at the top, left-hand corner of the letter. Please make sure you
follow this rule.
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Write a letter to the Editor, ‘The Hindu’ about the mosquito
menace due to stagnant water in your locality. Give
suggestions to improve the situation. You are Raman/Renu,
living in Rajaji Nagar, Tirunelveli.
Answer:
Rajaji Nagar
Tirunelveli
16th August, 20xx
The Editor
The Hindu
Kasturi Buildings 859&860,
Anna Salai, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu. India
Subject: Mosquito Menace due to Stagnant Water
Sir
Through the medium of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the
attention of the concerned authorities towards the mosquito menace due to
stagnant water in our locality.
It is most unfortunate that despite the level of awareness created by the
media and the municipal department itself not much has been done to
improve the potholes in the roads of our locality. They have not been repaired
and this leads to water stagnation at various places during the monsoon
season which, in turn, provides an ideal breeding place for mosquitoes.
Despite our repeated complaints to the municipal authorities nothing has
been! Done to improve the pathetic condition of the roads. These mosquitoes
lead to the spread of a: variety of deadly diseases like dengue, malaria | etc.
The authorities need to look into this matter! Urgently by making
arrangements to pump out; the stagnant water or by spraying repellents or
kerosene oil to check the breeding of this disease-causing mosquitoes.
Since the only permanent solution to this problem is repairing the road, I
would be grateful if the concerned authorities pay heed to our problem and
necessary action on this is taken at the earliest.
Yours sincerely
Raman
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Letter to Your Friend Asking about Her School
Trip
June 7, 2017
2/35, Sterling Road
Ashok Nagar
Chennai – 600034
My dear Rohan,
Hope you are back home after your trip. I remembered that you had told me
last month that you would be going on a one-day school trip to Wonder la
Amusement Park, and I wanted to know how it went.
I have been to Wonder la a few years back, and I am sure a lot has changed
since then. I loved the water pendulum, the roller coaster and the wave pool. I
hope you got a chance to go on these and many other rides too. I can’t wait to
hear all about the fun you had.
Waiting to hear from you.
Your dearest friend,
Shirish
