Here are some details about informal letter writing with tips.
INFORMAL LETTER WRITING – This includes writing to friends and people we’re close with, which is different from writing formal letters.
What is an informal letter? This type of letter is created when writing to someone you know well. This letter is for people like a friend, family member, or close acquaintance, that is casual in tone and less structured compared to a formal letter. The structure, the format, the tone, and other factors are more laid back than a formal letter.
In this time of chat messaging and email, there’s something more special in handwritten letters, as they come with a more personal touch and thought. Some types of it included personal letters, friendly letters, thank you letters, apology letters, congratulatory letters, invitation letters, and many others.
An informal letter should have the following:
- The sender’s address is written in the top left corner of the page.
- Put the date below the sender’s address.
- Use a casual and personal greeting or salutation, depending on the type of your relationship with the recipient.
- The body of the letter must have an introduction, main content, and conclusion.
- For closing, use a friendly closing phrase to end the letter.
Here’s a letter format you can follow:
[Name]
[Address]
[Contact]
[Date]
[Recipient Name]
[Recipient Address]
[Recipient Contact]
SALUTATION (example: To Whom It May Concern: or Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. [Last Name])
BODY OF LETTER
(single space in between sentences and double space in between paragraphs)
(You can use the block style format.)
CLOSING SALUTATION (example Respectfully yours, Yours sincerely, Cordially, Respectfully, and for the less formal letter, you may use All the best, Best, Thank you, Regards)
SIGNATURE
(Under your closing, leave four single spaces between your typed full name, title, and other contact details you may want to include)
For the format, it should be simple and friendly. It does not have to follow strict rules like formal letters do; however, it still should have a structure.
Some tips for writing:
- Determine the purpose of your letter, as it will help you set the tone and its direction.
- Use a casual and conversational language, like you are talking with the recipient personally and directly.
- A warm greeting would be a good start.
- You may even ask questions as well, to make the letter interactive, entertaining, and more conversational.
- Express and show your feelings, may it be excited, happy, or nostalgic. This will help the letter become a bit more engaging.
- Close your letter with something kind. It is always better to end it on a positive note, like expressing how much you miss them or how excited you are to see them soon.