FORMAL AND INFORMAL LETTERS - PART ONE

FORMAL AND INFORMAL LETTERS


There are various types of letters such as: letters of complaint, letters asking for/giving information, letters of requesta, letters asking for/giving advice, letters of invitation, letters accepting/refusing an invitation, letters expressing congratulations/thanks/regret/sympathy, letters giving news, letters of apology, letters of appplication for a job and letters to the editor providing solutions/suggestions.

A good letter should consist of:

a) An appropriate greeting (Dear Peter, Dear Mr Ford, Dear Sir/Madam);

b) An introduction clearly stating the reason you are writing;

c) A main body in which the subject is developed. Begin a new paragraph for each main point;

d) A final paragraph in which you sum up the topic or express your wish for something to be done; and

e) An appropriate ending (Yours/Best wishes, + first name, Yours sincerely,/Yours faithfully, + full name).


STYLE IN LETTERS:

The characteristics of formal style in letters are:

. the greeting (Dear Mrs Lee, Dear Sir,)

. frequent use of the passive

. formal language (complex sentences, non-colloquial English)

. no abbreviated forms

. the ending (Yours sincerely, /Yours faithfully, Jason Mc Neil)


The characteristics of informal style in letters are:

. the greeting (Dear Alex, Dear Dad,)

. informal language and style (idioms, colloquial English)

. abbreviated forms, pronouns omitted

. the ending (Yours/Love/Best wishes/Regards, Anthony)


NOTES:

. Informal (friendly) letters have only one address (yours) whereas formal letters have two (yours and the recipient´s). Friendly letters begin with Dear + first name and end with Love/Yours/Best wishes + first name. Formal letters begin with a) Dear Sir/Madam and end with Yours faithfully + full name or b) Dear Mr/Mrs + surname and end with Yours sincerely + full name.

. Semi-formal letters can begin with Dear Mr/Mrs + surname and end Best wishes/ Yours + first name/full name.



(from Successful Writing Upper-Intermediate, Virginia Evans, Express Publishing)