Letter Formats

Informal Letter

(Used for letters to chat, to share ideas, to thank, invite, or congratulate a friend/relative)

Your Address:

-----

Date:

-----

Salutation:

(Dear …)

Body of Letter:

• Each new paragraph indented.

Closing:

• Only first word capitalised.

Eg. Yours sincerely,

Jacob

Formal Letter

(Generally used for Letters of Complaint, Apology, Permission, Request, Formal Invitation)

Sender’s Address (Return Address):

-----

Date:

-----

Recipient’s Address (Inside Address):

• Name of Recipient
• Title/Position of Recipient
• Company/Institution
• Full Address

-----

Salutation

• Dear Sir/Madam (Unknown)
• Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss (known)

Subject

• Subject:
• Must be underlined.

Eg. Subject: Improper Waste Disposal in Neighbourhood

Body of Letter

• Each new paragraph indented.

Closing:

• Only first word capitalised.
• Include Title

Eg. Yours sincerely

Jacob Martin

Student

----- College

Letter to the Editor

Sender’s Address

-----

Date

-----

Recipient’s Address:

The Editor

Newspaper Name

Newspaper Address

Body:

• Each paragraph indented

Dear Sir/Madam,

• Intro Paragraph: Attention grabber; thesis statement
• Body Paragraphs:
• Problem/Complaint/Solution
• Evidence to Support
• Explanation of Evidence
• Drawn Conclusion
• Conclusion: Reiterate thesis statement; recommendation/suggestion (if necessary)

Closure

• Full Signature

Eg. Yours respectfully,

Jacob Martin.

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