Letter writing is a skill that everyone should have in their repertoire. There are certain tips and tricks you can use when letter-writing, along with some helpful examples of what to do/not to do when it comes time for your next epistolary endeavor.
What type of letter should you write?
You can decide what kind of letter to send depending on who you are writing it for. A casual message is usually the best way to go if they’re a friend or family member. Some options include:
- Handwritten letters
- Emailed messages
- Typed social media posts
When writing professional letters, formal is almost always the best route to take. Formal letters are used for:
- Cover Letters
- Business Memorandum Letters
- Promotion Letters Resignation Letter Thank You Letter
There are many types of letters that you might need to write in both a casual or formal environment. Before writing any letter, consider the formality level of your message: casual or formal. Each type has an outline structure and tone with which you’ll want to follow for your particular context (e.g., business correspondence vs personal).
These are just a few examples of letters that one may have occasion to compose at either a casually brief manner (“casual” here meaning “informal”) or formally earnest stature (“formal” denoting ceremoniousness rather than stuffiness) depending on circumstance—for example, when corresponding within professional/business settings as opposed to social ones such as between family members and friends where it is
Formal letters
A formal letter is a document that follows specific guidelines and makes certain requests, such as asking for information or making an offer. A typical business form of correspondence has three main parts: the address on the envelope (to whom it’s addressed), inside addresses, salutation/greeting line(s) , body of text with paragraphs separated by indentations; closing words followed by your signature block . Although you can use either first name or last name in a formal greeting , titles like Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.; should always be used when addressing strangers. An example would read “Dear Ms./Mr. _ : _ Sincerely yours, The writer’s full initials
What if we need to write more than one page
Step 1: Starting a formal letter
Brenda Houser
321 Hyacinth Lane, Culver City CA 90230
Dear Brenda: We hope your day is going well and that you’re doing okay after the recent fire in downtown Los Angeles. We know how upsetting it can be to lose everything like this! Our thoughts are with you as we set out to rebuild our community together. As a local business owner who cares deeply about LA’s development (and especially its diverse communities), I’m writing today because of my deep concern for what might come next. Specifically, folks have been talking lately — including on Twitter—about whether or not businesses should move into areas where they feel unsafe due to high crime rates. If people don’t see their livelihoods coming back soon
If you’re writing a formal letter, the date is an important part of your document. You can format it after your address on one line or on two lines below it.
The next line of formal letter-writing is the date. Formatting options include:
December 1, 2017
12 January 2018
Formal letters need to have an address of the recipient 2 spaces after the date. This information ensures that your letter can be used as a reference for contact in case they throw away or lose their envelope and mail it back to you.
Step 2: Writing a letter, formally
When writing a letter, you’re ready to greet the person (or business) to whom you are writing. Skip a space from any addresses that have been included.
Formal letters begin with “Dear” followed by the name of the receiver, or if no contact can be found at this company then use either searching online for them or using “To Whom It May Concern.” A comma follows all greetings after each one has already occurred in your formal closing sentence down below where it says ‘Sincerely.’
You may say something like: Dear Manager; To Whom It May Concern; Human Resources Department
Step 3: Writing the body of a formal letter
Business letters should be concise and organized. Each thought is contained in its own paragraph, with no more than four sentences per paragraph. Proofread the letter before sending it to prevent misunderstandings due to errors found within your message as well as being tactful so you don’t regret writing anything down for posterity later on!
Step 4: Ending a formal letter
Sincerely,
Sincerely ,
Dear _:
I hope you enjoyed reading my email and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from your soon! Best,
Informal letters
When writing a letter to someone you know well, there’s less structure and formality compared to formal letters. You can still follow the basics of what makes up a good letter: introduction, body with main points (topic sentences), conclusion with action step(s).
Step 1: Starting an informal letter
When writing an informal letter, the first line is the date. It can be left- or right-justified on the page but is generally at the top of a casual letter. The date marks only one difference between formal letters and those written to friends or close relatives; there are no other prerequisites before beginning your message!
Step 2: Writing a letter, informally
For informal letters, exclamation points might be a good way to start if you and the recipient are close. Otherwise, stick with traditional greetings like “Hello” or another customary greeting.”
Step 3: Writing the body of an informal letter
In a casual letter, focus on specific suggestions. Don’t ramble and make sure to include pleasantries, anecdotes or news about the recipient of your letter if appropriate.
Step 4: Ending an informal letter
When writing a letter, you can sign off with “Warm regards” or “Cordially.” There are dozens of closing options when writing a letter, so choose one that works best for you and your recipient. Like formal letters, the same rules apply regarding capitalization and commas for all complimentary closings..
What’s P.S.?
If you want to add something at the end of a formal letter, revise it completely. If not, adding postscripts is fine!
The envelope
In the US, first-class letters can only weigh 3.5 ounces or less and must be no more than 6″ x 11″. Letters that are longer than three pages may have to be weighed as well so they meet those requirements. The size of your envelope matters too – it has to fit within a rectangular space that is under roughly 6×11 inches if you want any chance at delivering it successfully through the post office system!
Sending a letter
Mailing the letter doesn’t have to be difficult. Once you’ve found an envelope that fits, all you need is a stamp and the recipient’s address – if it’s personal, deliver it yourself!
In the top left-hand corner, write your name and address or attach a mailing label. In the center of the envelope, carefully write one recipient’s address. Besides writing down state abbreviation and zip code for international letters include country information in both destination & return addresses’ sections on outside of envelope too to avoid any mistakes/confusion while posting it out which can be checked easily at USPS website with current prices using forever stamps if you are sending letter within US borders instead else check latest rates online before getting started! Then fold up your letter neatly inside envelopes after double checking everything is correct then finally seal them securely so nothing gets misplaced during delivery process ensuring safe arrival without causing delay to receiver…
Sending a letter that you know is carefully prepared feels good. A well-written one has the best chance of accomplishing its purpose, but what about writing cover letters for job applications? Cover letters have their own set of rules to follow; read everything on how to write them before sending out your resume!
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