How to write a letter
Dear students!Writing a letter is a highly probable task that you'll encounter at your English exams, including Independent Testing. To some it may seem as a very easy task, but to others it may become very challenging. So, in order to help you overcome your fears of letters I gathered some tips and examples from "Successful Writing" series which will help you make your letters perfect.
Layout of letters
All letters should include the
following:
- · An appropriate greeting (Dear Sir/Madam, Dear Aunt Clare, Dear Mrs Baker, etc)
- · An introduction, in which you write your opening remarks (e.g. Hi! How are you?) and reason(s) for writing (e.g. I’m just writing to congratulate you on passing your exams; I’m writing to apologise for…; We were thrilled to hear that…, I was sorry to hear…., etc)
- · A main body, in which you write about the specific topics of the letter in detail;
- · A conclusion, in which you write your closing remarks (e.g. Please forgive me – it won’t happen again, I promise; Looking forward to seeing you…!, Please write soon; Take care!, Can’t wait to hear from you; I’d better sign off now, That’s all for now).
- · An appropriate ending (e.g. Yours faithfully + your full name, Lots of love + your first name)
Informal letters
Informal letters
are sent to people you know well about your recent news, personal problems,
information you need etc. They are written in informal style with a chatty
personal tone.
An informal letter
should consist of:
1) An informal
greeting (Dear Ken/Aunt Joan, etc)
2) An introduction in
which you write your opening remarks (i.e. asking about your friend’s health,
etc) and mention your reason for writing
e.g. Hi! How are you? I thought I’d write and let you know that…;
3) a main body in which you write the main subject(s) of
the letter in detail, starting a new paragraph for each topic;
4) a conclusion in which you write your closing remarks
(e.g. That’s all my news for now. Write back soon ….;)
5) an informal ending (e.g. Lots of love/Best wishes,
etc. + your first name)
Opening/Closing remarks
Opening remarks in informal
letters may include:
a)
Questions/wishes about your recent events, the
person’s health, etc
b)
A thank you to the person for their last letter,
comments about their news
c)
An apology for a delay in writing/replying
d)
The reason why you are writing
Closing remarks in informal
letters may include:
a)
The reason why you must end the letter
b)
Greeting for the person’s family/friends
c)
Wishes, a promise (e.g. to write again soon), an
invitation, etc
d)
A request to the person to reply soon
An example of
opening remarks
Dear Bob,
How are you? Sorry
I haven’t written for ages, but I’ve been really busy. Anyway, I thought I’d
drop you a line to let you know that I’ve just passed my driving test!
An example of closing remarks
Well, that’s all
for now. Please write soon – I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been up to. Take
care.
Lots of love,
Karen
Informal style
When writing
friendly letters, you normally use informal style. Informal writing is
characterized by the use of:
·
Everyday vocabulary (e.g. I had a great time)
·
Colloquial expressions/idioms (e.g. drop me a line)
·
Phrasal verbs (e.g. get on, settle in)
·
Short forms (e.g. can’t, don’t, I’m, I’ll)
Main body paragraphs
In informal letters you
usually talk about more than one topic.
The rubric gives you
information about the subject of the letter and often tells you specific topics
you must write about. – e.g. You have just passed an important test or
examination. Write a letter telling a pen friend about your success and
describing your plans for the future.
These topics will be discussed
in the main body of your letter. You should begin a new paragraph for each
topic.
Para 1: Opening remarks
Para 2: Tell friend about
success
Para 3: Describe plans for
future
Para 4: Closing remarks
все забув,дуже важко перекладати)
ВідповістиВидалитиДіма, це для тих, хто готувався до ЗНО) Тому поки дозволяю не перекладати)
ВідповістиВидалитиPeople have been writing letters for centuries. Before the telephone and the Internet, sending a letter (by messenger, and later by post) was the only way to communicate with someone who was geographically distant.
ВідповістиВидалитиEven with all our modern technologies, letters haven’t become obsolete. Most of us will write many letters during our life. Every educated person should know how to write a good letter. All of us have to write letters of some sorts at some point of time. There are several different kinds of letters. For examples, there are personal letters and business letters. The form of each letter is determined by its kind. For example, personal letters are written in a friendly tone. Business letters, on the other hand, are written in a formal style.
In order to write effective formal letters you may use the following tips:
• Read the instructions carefully before you decide what type of letter to write.
• Underline key words and phrases in the task, e.g. an editor of their newsletter, a good knowledge of English.
• Make notes of the letter and highlight them to make sure you answer all of them.
• Make notes on how to expand them. Decide on reasons, details and explanations for each of the notes.
• Remember that you write to people who you do not know personally or do not know well that is why use the formal style.
Part 2
ВідповістиВидалити• The title and the name of the addressee must be written on the left hand side of the page:
Dear Mr White
Dear Mrs Morson
Dear Ms Wong
• If the name of the person you are writing to is unknown you should begin the letter with a title:
To the Manager of the Store, To the Editor
or Dear Sir, Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Sirs.
• Before the signing off use an ending or closing sentence (Thank you in anticipation
for …, I look forward to …).
• When signing off, write Yours sincerely (if you address the person by name) or Yours faithfully (if you do not know the name of the addressee).
• It is useful to remember some typical phrases (opening and closing remarks, indirect questions) that can be used in any kind of a formal letter.
Part 3
ВідповістиВидалити• Organize your writing in a logical way. Your letter must be clear and brief. Use appropriate linking words and expressions (moreover, nevertheless, in addition, furthermore).
• Try to use different phrases to express the same idea.
e.g. I am writing to ask for information…
I am writing to enquire…
• Avoid using chatty, informal expressions, slang, idioms, phrasal verbs, contractions, direct questions and exclamations.
• When you have finished, read the notes again. Have you included everything?
• Divide your letter into paragraphs. Remember that ideas related to the different aspects of a topic should be grouped together in separate paragraphs.
• Use the same style from the beginning to the end of the letter.
• Write a rough draft first, then rewrite it and correct possible mistakes.
• Check the word limit, your grammar and spelling.