Shweta Shetye

Letter Writing There are different forms of communication through which you can stay in touch with your friends and family. One such and very popular form of communication is letter writing. You can send handwritten letters as well as electronic letters to your near and dear ones. Be it any form that you choose, it is very important that you write your letter well. There are many components that form a good letter. Also, depending on who is the receiver of the letter and what is the content of the letter, the type of letter writing changes. Types of Letter Any letter that you write broadly forms into the following two categories. Formal Letters: These letters are the ones, which you write to different businesses or authorities. Generally, people you do not know well fall into this category. Formal letters follow a strict format and pattern. Some examples for the type of letters that come under this category are as follows: Letters to banks or stores Letters to the principal Complaint letters Letters to Newspapers Letters to schools Informal Letters: These letters can be written in a simple format and are generally sent to people you know. When you are sending letters to your family or friends, they come under this category. Some examples for the type of letters that come under this category are as follows: Letter written to your grandmother Apology letter to a friend Letter to someone who has received bad news or condolence letter Letter to Santa Claus Letter written to friends Congratulation letter How to write a formal letter Let us now see what are the parts of a formal letter. A formal letter should always be concise and clear. You should ensure that the letter has correct grammar and is easy to read. Letter Construction Sender Address/Your address at the top-right side of the letter. The address should be your complete address along with email address and the telephone number. The receiver's address should be at the left-hand side of the letter below the sender's address. Below the receiver's address, write the date. Below the date, you can write greeting, which are Dear Sir or Madam. You can also use Miss, Mr., or other titles, if needed. But, you can only use titles if you know the name of the person receiving the letter. Write the message that you want to give in the letter. Close the letter - Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely Provide your signature or you can also write your name in block letters. Writing the name properly ensures that the person knows who the sender is. You can also provide both to avoid confusions. Sample Formal Letter Mr. Sam Samson 31st Avenue, Mycity, 400857 Money Bank 34 Mountain Street Yourcity 400067 13 March 2014 Dear Sir, I am regular reader of the Daily Beacon magazine. I saw an advertisement in the magazine that says any children below the age of 16 can open an account in your bank with their parent as a guardian. I wanted to know how can I join and create my bank account. I already have the bank enrollment form signed by my parents. I wanted to know what is the initial amount I need to put in the bank. Also, when how much can I save every month? Kindly let me know when I can submit and start using my account. Yours sincerely, Sam Samson How to write an informal letter Let us now see what are the parts of a formal letter. An informal letter can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. But, you do have to maintain a structure for your letter so that the letter looks good. Again, here too like informal letters, you should maintain good grammar and consistency. Letter Construction Sender Address/Your address at the top-right side of the letter. The address should be your complete address along with email address and the telephone number. Greetings such as Dear Sasha, Hi Sasha, can be used based on how well you the person. Close the letter - Since this is an informal letter, you can use Love, Loads of Love, See you, or other such statements. Sample informal letter Mr. Sam Samson 31st Avenue, Mycity, 400857 Dear Sasha, How are you doing? I hope you are studying and not watching cartoons. I wanted to say sorry to you about the incident that happened that day in the park. I know I should not have pushed you when you were winning. I spoke with my mum and she told me that I should be a sport and not get jealous if someone else is winning. I think we should end our fight and play in the park again like usual. I hope you will not be angry with me anymore. Love, Sam Letter writing exercises Try writing some letters using the following topics. Write a letter to the local book club asking for permission to join it. Write a letter to your grandmother inquiring about her health. You want to thank your parents for the wonderful birthday gifts. Write a Thank you letter to them. Write a letter inviting your friends to your birthday party. Write a letter to Santa Claus asking for the one gift this Christmas.