Formal letters

Formal letters carry official business: to a principal, a company, a government office. Informal letters are personal, to family and friends.

A formal letter usually:

• introduces the writer, or refers to earlier letters;
• states its purpose clearly;
• says what is needed, or what has been done;
• ends by urging action, or offering help.

Its format, in order:

• the sender's name and address;
• the date;
• the addressee's name and address;
• a subject line, saying in a few words what the letter is about;
• the salutation;
• two or three short paragraphs;
• a polite close, and the signature.

Many letters today use the full-block style: every part of the letter starts at the left margin. No commas are needed at the end of the lines of an address.

Avoid stale, old-fashioned openings, and dangling endings like 'Thanking you'. Write a full sentence instead: 'Thank you' or 'I look forward to your reply'.