Letter Writing
ICSE Class 9 · English · Chapter 2
What this chapter covers
- The letter question in Paper 1
- Formal and informal letters
- Letter format: address and date
- Letter format: salutation and subject
- Letter format: the body
- Letter format: closing
- Tone and vocabulary for the context
- Informal letters to friends and relatives
- Letters to the principal
- Letters to the editor
- Letters to officials
- Letters of complaint and request
Key points
- The letter is Question 2 of the English Language paper: one letter from a choice of two subjects, one formal and one friendly in treatment.
- Format, including the address, introduction and conclusion, is assessed, with special attention to tone and vocabulary suited to the context.
- Use the block format: every line starts at the left margin, with a blank line between parts and paragraphs.
- Formal layout: sender's address, date, receiver's address, subject line, salutation, body, subscription, full name.
- Informal layout: sender's address, date, salutation, body, subscription, first name; no receiver's address and no subject line.
- Write the month of the date in words; never write your name above your address.
- "Sir," or "Madam," closes with "Yours faithfully,"; a named salutation closes with "Yours sincerely,"; friends and relatives get a warm close.
- The body has an introduction that states the purpose, middle paragraphs with one point each, and a conclusion with a request or good wishes.
- Formal letters use full forms, facts and polite firmness; informal letters are natural and personal but avoid text-message shortcuts.
- Letters to the editor are for publication on public issues; letters to officials go to the person who can act; letters to the principal are respectful and practical.
- A complaint gives evidence, effect and remedy; a request says what, why and how, and thanks the reader.
- Check that every date and fact in your letter agrees with the others.
Questions answered
What are the two modes of treatment the letter question in the English Language paper may ask for, and how many subjects are you given to choose from?
You are given two subjects; one calls for a formal mode and the other for a friendly (informal) mode, and you write on one of them.
Define a formal letter and name three kinds of reader to whom you would write one.
A formal letter is a letter written to a person in an official position, or to someone you do not know personally, for a business-like purpose such as a request or a complaint. Readers include a principal, an editor and a municipal officer.
Which parts of a formal letter are left out of an informal letter?
The receiver's address and the subject line. An informal letter goes from the date straight to the salutation.
Rewrite the date "03/11/26" in the form recommended for a letter, and give one reason.
3 November 2026 (or 3rd November, 2026). Writing the month as a word avoids confusion, since in some countries 03/11 would be read as 11 March.
Where does your name appear in a letter, and where should it never appear?
Your name appears only below the subscription at the end. It never appears above your address at the top.
Give the correct subscription for: (a) "Sir,"; (b) "Dear Ms Fernandes,"; (c) "Dear Kavya,".
(a) "Yours faithfully,"; (b) "Yours sincerely,"; (c) a warm close such as "Your loving friend," or "With love,".
What is wrong with the subject line "Subject: Problem"? Write a better one for a letter about a broken school swing.
It does not say what the problem is. A better line is "Subject: Broken swing in the junior playground".
Explain the difference between tone and register, with one example of each.
Tone is the attitude the writing shows, such as firm, warm or grateful; a complaint should be firm but polite. Register is the level of formality; "I would be grateful if you could look into this" is formal register, while "Can you sort this out?" is informal.
Past board exam questions
ICSE 2019 sample paper · 10 marks
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.) Select any one of the following: (a) You have behaved very rudely to a friend. Write a letter to him / her apologizing for the rude behavior. Explain what happened and tell him / her what you plan to do to make amends.
Show answer
14, Park Avenue
Salt Lake
Kolkata 700 091
12 March 2019
Dear Riya,
I have been feeling miserable ever since our quarrel on Friday, and I am writing to say how truly sorry I am for the way I behaved.
As you know, I had done badly in the science test that morning and was in a very bad mood. When you came to cheer me up and asked if I wanted to work on our project together after school, I snapped at you and said that you were always showing off and that I did not need your help. I even walked away while you were still talking. You had done nothing wrong; you were only being kind. I took out my own disappointment on you, and that was unfair and hurtful.
I know an apology alone cannot undo …
ICSE 2019 sample paper · 10 marks
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.) Select any one of the following: (b) You are in charge of the Nature Club in your locality. Write a letter to the Secretary of the Sports Club in the neighbourhood requesting permission to hold a Nature Fest on the club grounds nearby. Give details of your plans for the event.
Show answer
The Nature Club
Green Park Colony
Pune 411 001
15 November 2019
The Secretary
Green Park Sports Club
Green Park Colony
Pune 411 001
Subject: Request for permission to hold a Nature Fest on the club grounds
Sir,
As the President of the Nature Club of our locality, I am writing to request your permission to use the Sports Club grounds for a one-day Nature Fest on Sunday, 8 December 2019, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The aim of the Fest is to make residents, especially children, aware of the importance of protecting our environment. We have planned the following activities:
1. A tree-planting drive along the boundary of the grounds, with saplings donated by the Municipal Garden Department.
2. …