Writing

Letters.

Informal & Formal letters.

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Informal Letters.

Informal Letter Writing:

An informal letter is a non-official letter that we usually use to write to our friends, family or
relatives. These letters are personal letters that are not used for official purposes. There could
be many reasons for which we write these letters to our family and friends. For example, if we
want to inform them about our achievement in school or college, then we write them a letter
to spread our personal news.
Since, the letter is informal thus the salutation is usually given by ‘Dear’, such as Dear (name of
friend/name of uncle or aunty) or Dear Father/Mother, etc. Unlike formal letters, you don’t
have to mention the subject line for informal letters. But the address of senders and receivers
of the letter has to be mentioned necessarily.

Informal Letter Examples

There could be many topics to write informal letters. Let us see here some of them:

• Inviting a friend for a ceremony say for a birthday

• Calling a friend for a trip or holiday
• Asking sorry or apologizing to someone for mistakes you have done
• Congratulating a friend for his success or achievement
• Writing just to ask for the well-being of a person
• Invitation for a marriage
• Asking help from someone
• Informing about someone’s demise in family or friends
Apart from the above-given reasons, there could be many other reasons for which we can write
an informal letter.
Format of Informal Letter
The format of an informal letter to a friend should include the following things:

• Address of the sender

• Date of writing a letter

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• Address of receiver
• Salutation/Greeting
• Body of the letter
• Conclusion
• Signature of the sender
A format is shown below to write the letter in an informal manner.

[Address of the Sender]

Date:

Dear (name of person)

Body of the letter:

Paragraph 1: Ask for the well-being of the person

Paragraph 2: The main reason to write the letter

Paragraph 3: Conclusion and end of the letter

Yours lovingly,

Name of sender

Informal Letter to A Friend

A letter to a friend is usually informal in nature. We write this letter to a friend to inform about
something or to invite him/her for any occasion. Sometimes we also write to ask sorry if we
have done any mistake. Sometimes we just write them to know their well-being. Let us see an
informal letter definition sample here.

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No. 123,
Temple road,
Matara.
12.06.2020

Dear Anugi,
How are you? How are your family members? How is the weather there? Hope you are doing
well. I am also fine here.

I am writing this letter to invite you for my birthday party which will be celebrated on 30th
June 2020. The party will be conducted in my home. It will be begin at 6PM in the evening. I
have planned so many fun games. I hope you will take your camera with you.

It’s been a long time since we have seen each other. And I will be really happy if you can
attend my birthday party. Waiting to meet you soon.

Take care.
With love,
Pooja

USEFUL PHRASES [INFORMAL LETTER]

GREETING

• Dear / Hello / Hi …(,)

INTRODUCTION

• It’s great to hear from you. / Many thanks for your e-mail / letter.
• Sorry it's taken me so long to write back. / I haven't written for ages but …
• I’ve been really busy recently. / You’ve to know that I’ve been working really hard.
• How are you? / How are things (with you)? / How's it going? / How’s life..
• I hope you’re fine. / I hope you and your family are well. / I do hope this e-mail / letter
will find you in good health and spirits.
• Just thought I’d drop you a line.
REFERRING TO GOOD / BAD NEWS

• Glad / sorry to hear / read about …

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• I'm really glad / very happy to hear / read about …
• I'm extremely sorry / very sad to hear / read about …
MOVING THE TOPIC ON

• By the way, have you heard about … / Did you hear about … / Tell me about …
• Oh, another thing I wanted to mention … / So you want my advice about …
• Anyway, the reason I’m writing … / Anyway, I was wondering …
• I thought I’d write to tell / ask you …
ENDING

• Well, time to go / to close! / Got to go now! / I've got to leave off now! / That’s all for
now.
• Looking forward to hearing from you. / Hope to hear from you soon. / Write back soon!
• Make sure you write soon! / Keep in touch! / Drop me a line if you have time!
• Take care of yourself! / Look after yourself!
• Let me know if you need anything. / Just give me a call if you have any questions left.
SIGN-OFF

• Yours(,) / Your friend(,) /

• Best wishes(,) / All the best(,)
• Hugs(,) / Hugs and kisses(,)
• Love(,) / Lots of love(,) / All my love(,)
• Take care(,) / Bye for now(,)

ACTIVITY 1. Write an informal letter to a friend telling him about your

future plans after you leave school.

ACTIVITY 2. Write an informal letter to a friend inviting her to join you

in a picnic.

ACTIVITY 3. Write an informal letter to a friend describing some

incident that happened during your holidays.

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ACTIVITY 4. Write an informal letter to a friend asking him to spend a
holiday with you in some hill station.

ACTIVITY 5. Write a letter to your sister telling her something about the
recent film that you have seen.
Extra activities :
• Imagine your class organized a visit to the Elders' Home in your
area recently. Write a letter to a friend describing your visit.
• Write a letter to a friend describing the college English Day.
Include details such as the program, the chief guest and your
participation in it.
• Write a letter to one of your friends in a foreign country
describing your last birthday party. Use around 100 words.
• Imagine you have a friend who is interested in bird watching.
Write a letter inviting your friend to visit your home with his / her
camera on a holiday.
Include: The environment in your home garden.
The kinds of birds that come, time of the day etc..

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Formal letters.
Formal Letter writing:
A formal letter is one written in an orderly and conventional language and follows a specific
stipulated format. These letters are written for official purposes only, such as writing a letter to
the manager, to the HR manager, to an employee, to the Principal of the college or school, to a
teacher, etc. But we do not use formal letters for personal use such as writing them to our
family, relatives or friends.
Formal letter writing format requires some specific rules and conventions. Also, the language of
the letters should be very professional.

To write a formal letter follow the below-given tips:

• Address or greet the concerned person properly like Dear Sir/Madam
• Always mention the subject of writing the letter
• Be concise in your letter. Write the reason for writing the letter in the first paragraph
itself. Do not stretch the letter too much.
• The tone of the letter should be very polite and not harsh
• Write in a proper format and take care of the presentation of a letter
• Mention the address and date correctly.
• Mention the name and designation of the recipient correctly
• The closing of the letter should be with gratitude. Use “Thank you” for consideration of
the letter and then at last mention “Yours sincerely or truly” along with your name and
signature.

Formal Letter Format

The general format of a formal letter structure is given below:
1. Sender’s address
2. Date

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3. Name / Designation of Addressee
4. Address of the Addressee
5. Salutation
6. Subject
7. Body – Introduction, Content, Conclusion
8. Complimentary Close
9. Signature / Name of the Sender
10. Designation of the Sender

Name of the Sender

Address
Date
To
Name of the Recipient
Designation
Company name/Office
Address

Salutation (Dear Sir,/Dear Madam,)

Subject :
Body of the letter

(Write 2-3 paragraph including the reason behind the letter. Make sure to keep the letter
concise without dragging too much)

Thank you for your consideration. Waiting for your response.

Your Sincerely,
Signature
Name

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Peter Burke,
5 Allen Avenue,
Maryland, California.
07.10.2019

Mr.Keri Hilson,
Manager,
Mansard Manufacturing,
14 Bing Street.
Maryland, California.
Dear Sir,
Purchase of spoiled goods
This letter is to bring to your notice concerning the purchase of spoiled goods on October 5,
2019.
At the point of purchase, I was assured the goods would be fresh upon arrival. Instead, they
were delivered spoiled. I have attached a photo as well as the delivery receipt.
I would love for you to look into this matter, and either refund my purchase or send out
another supply.
Thank you for attending to the above matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Peter Burke

Useful Phrases for writing formal letters

a) Writing formal letters generally:
Greetings:
• Dear Sir
• Dear Madam

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• Dear Sir/Madam
• Dear Mr Brown
• Dear Ms Jones
Reason for writing:
• I am writing in response to your article/advertisement/letter
• I am writing with regard to your article/advertisement/letter
• I am writing regarding your article/advertisement/letter
Ending the letter:
• I look forward to receiving your reply
• I look forward to your reply
• I look to hearing from you
• I am, yours faithfully (if you don't know the name of the person you are writing to)
• I am, yours sincerely (if you know the name of the person you are writing to)
• Yours faithfully
• Yours sincerely
b) Writing formal letters to complain:
Reason for writing:
• I am writing in order to complain about
• I am writing to complain about
Introducing the complaint:
• Firstly
• In the first place
• First of all
• My first complaint is
• The first problem is
• The first thing I would like to draw your attention to is
• My first concern is

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Introducing further complaints:
• Secondly
• In the second place
• Not only …….but also
• In addition
• In addition to this
• Added to this
• …….was also unacceptable
Demanding action:
• I suggest that you replace the item
• I therefore suggest that I be given a full refund
• I would be grateful if my money was refunded
• I would be grateful if you could give me a full refund
Ending the letter:
• I look forward to hearing from you
• I look forward to receiving a full refund
• I look forward to receiving a replacement
• I look forward to receiving your explanation
c) Writing formal letters to make suggestions:
Reason for writing:
• I am writing to suggest
• I am writing to arrange
• I am writing to offer suggestions
• I am writing make arrangements
Making first suggestion:
• My first suggestion is
• First of all I suggest

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• I would like to suggest
Making further suggestions:
• Another possibility is
• A further possibility is
• I further suggest
• I would further suggest
• Secondly
Offering a choice:
• Would you therefore mind choosing between ….?
• Either……or
• You might choose either ……. Or
d) Writing formal letters to request information
Reason for writing:
• I am writing to receive further information about
• I am writing to enquire about
• I am writing to receive more detailed information about
• I am writing to receive further details about
Requesting first piece of information:
• The first thing I would like to know is
• First of all I would like to know
• I wonder if you would mind telling me first of all ….?
Requesting further information:
• Could you also tell me….?
• Could you also inform me ….?
• Would you also mind informing me ….?
• Would you also mind telling me ….?
• Do you know ….?

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• I would also like to know if
• I would also like to know whether
• I hope you might also let me know about …
Thanking for information:
• I would like to thank you in advance for this information
• Thanking you in advance for this information
• Thanking you in advance
e) Writing formal letters to give information:
Reason for writing:
• I am writing to inform you about
• I am writing to provide you with information about
• I am writing to let you know that
Providing first point:
• The first thing I would like to inform you of is
• The first thing I would like to tell you is
• The first thing I wish to inform you of is
• I would like to begin by informing you
Providing further points:
• I would also like to let you know that
• I would also like to inform you that
• You might also find the following information useful
• It might also be useful for you to know that
• Another piece of information that might be useful
Ending the letter:
• If you require further information, please do not hesitate to as
• If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask
• I will willingly provide further information on request

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• I am at your disposal should you require further information
• I am at your disposal should you need further assistance
• Please do not hesitate to ask should you require further information
f) Writing formal letters to request permission
Reason for writing:
• I am writing to ask permission for
• I am writing to ask permission to
• am writing to request permission to
• I am writing to request permission for
• I am writing to ask if I might
Making first request:
• Firstly I wonder if you would
• First of all I wonder whether you would mind
• The first request I would like you to consider is
Making further requests:
• I would be grateful if you would also consider
• I wonder if it might be possible for me to
• I would also like to request permission for
• I would also like to request permission to
Thanking for permission
• Many thanks for kindly considering my requests
• Thank you for considering my requests

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Activities:
• Imagine you are the college librarian and you have received a sum of
20,000 rupees for purchasing books for the library. Write a letter
requesting a price list to a book shop in your area. Use around 100 words.
Include:
✓ The types of books you wish to purchase
✓ If the books can be delivered to school
• You return to your house one day to find it has been broken into and many
of your possessions have been stolen. You decide to write a letter to the
police to report the robbery.
Write your letter. You must include the following:
✓ at what time and for how long you were away from the house when the
robbery took place
✓ detailed information about the most valuable items taken
✓ any clues you have noticed and how you think the police might be able to
catch the thieves
• Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper complaining against the
frequent breakdown of electricity in your locality.
• Write a letter to the Mayor of your city requesting him for a children’s park
in your locality.
• Write a formal letter to the principal regarding leaving the school early.

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