Letter Writing: Formal and Informal
ICSE Class 8 · English · Chapter 10
What this chapter covers
- Formal and informal letters
- The format of a formal letter
- Letters to the Principal, a teacher or the librarian
- Letters to the Editor
- The format of an informal letter
- Tone and register
- Writing and checking your letter
Key points
- A formal letter is written for an official or practical purpose, usually to someone you deal with through their role; an informal letter is a personal letter to someone you know well.
- Formal format, in order: sender's address, date, receiver's address, subject line, salutation, body, complimentary close, signature and name.
- Informal format, in order: sender's address, date, salutation, body, complimentary close, name; there is no receiver's address and no subject line.
- The block format starts every part at the left margin and separates paragraphs with a blank line.
- "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam" goes with "Yours faithfully"; a salutation with the reader's name goes with "Yours sincerely".
- The body of a formal letter usually has three paragraphs: purpose, details, request or action.
- Letters to the Principal, a teacher or the librarian use the formal format; only the purpose and details change.
- A letter to the Editor is addressed to "The Editor" of a newspaper, asks for space in its columns, gives facts, and suggests a solution in a calm tone.
- Tone is the attitude a piece of writing shows; register is its level of formality.
- Formal register avoids contractions, slang, exclamations and text-message abbreviations; informal register is friendly but still correct.
- Plan the paragraphs before writing, and check format and language before you finish.
Questions answered
Name two parts that a formal letter has but an informal letter does not.
The receiver's address and the subject line.
Which complimentary close should follow the salutation "Dear Sir"? Which should follow "Dear Ms Rao"?
"Yours faithfully" follows "Dear Sir", because the reader's name is not used. "Yours sincerely" follows "Dear Ms Rao", because the name is used.
Is a letter to a newspaper about stray cattle on the roads formal or informal? Give a reason.
It is formal, because its purpose is public and practical: it reports a problem and asks the authorities to act.
Improve this subject line: "Subject: Library".
It is too vague. A better subject line is "Subject: Request to extend library hours during examinations".
What is the job of the first paragraph of a formal letter?
It states the purpose of the letter clearly, in one or two sentences.
Explain the difference between tone and register.
Tone is the attitude or feeling the writing shows, such as polite or angry. Register is the level of formality of the language, such as formal or informal.
Rewrite in formal register: "Thanks a ton for the books, they're awesome!"
"Thank you very much for the books. They are extremely useful."
Why should a letter to the Editor avoid insulting officials?
An insulting letter is easy to ignore and may not be printed. Calm, factual writing with a sensible suggestion is more likely to persuade readers and officials to act.