WRITING AN INFORMAL LETTER Complete the letter with your own ideas. My name’s ………………………….. I’m from…………………………………,and I live in………………………………. I’m a ……………………at ………………………. I study ………………………………,…………………………….., and ……………………………in my free time. I speak ………………………..and …………………………….. I learning English for my ………………………..and to ………………………………. I have a big/small family. I have ………………..and ………………… My father is a …………………..and my mother is a ……………………….. My brother(s)……………………………………. My sister(s) ………………………………. I’m ……………….years old. I like …………………….., ……………………………….., and……………….

1. WRITING LETTERS AND E-MAILS
(PEARSON Longman)
• Choose the correct level of formality and make sure
that you use the same level of formality from the
beginning to the end. Use the boxes below to guide you.
• For a formal style, do not use contractions like
I’m, I’ve, or you’d, and avoid abbreviations like etc. and
e.g.
• Make sure you use punctuation consistently. If you
have used a comma after Dear Sir/Madam, at the
beginning of your letter, put a comma after Yours
faithfully, at the end.
• Use paragraphs to organize the main points in your
letter.
Mr. B

2.  Writing letters
You use different styles for different kinds of letter.
The box below will help you to decide how to start
and finish your letter.

3. Formal letters Informal letters
 DearMr/Mrs./Miss/Ms. +
family name
 (you can use Ms. as the
title for a woman whether
she is married or not)
 Dear Dr/Professor +
family name
 (do NOT use the person’s
first name with Dear
Dr/Professor)
 Dear Sir or Madam or
Dear Sir/Madam or Dear
Sirs
 (use this when you do not
know whether you are
writing to a man or a
woman)
 Dear + first name
 (use this when you know
the person well enough to
use their first name only)

4.  Dear Madam
 (use this when you do
not know the woman’s
name)
 Dear Sir
 (use this when you do
not know the man’s
name)
 To whom it may
concern
 (use this when you do
not know the person’s
name and the letter is
very formal)
 Hi/Hello (+ first name)
 (use this in letters to
friends and people that
you know well)

5.  Yours sincerely
 (use this in British English
when you have used the
person’s family name at the
start)
 Yours faithfully
 (use this in British English
when you have NOT used
the person’s family name at
the start)
 Yours truly
 (use this in American
English)
 Lots of love/Love (from)
 (use this in letters to your
close friends and family)
 All the best/Best wishes
 Take care
 Regards/Kind regards
 (use this in letters to
people you work with or do
not know very well)