Writing a Formal Letter

Test yourself

Writing a Formal Letter

There are many different situations where you may need to write a formal letter, such as a job application.

Addresses

Write your full name and address at the top right of the page, as well as the date.
Write the recipient’s address at the top left of the page.

A formal salutation

Begin with a formal salutation (greeting).
- A formal salutation may be ‘Dear ..(name)’ if you know the name of the recipient.
- ‘A formal salutation may be 'To whom it may concern’ if you are writing to a business or a group.

The purpose & structure

Make the purpose behind your letter clear in the opening paragraph: ‘I am writing this letter to…’
Structure the rest of your letter so that each paragraph links back to this reason for writing.
- For example, in a job application letter, each paragraph should explain why you are a good candidate for the job.

Professional tone

In formal letters, your tone should be professional.
- Avoid colloquial (slang) language.
Check grammar and punctuation carefully so that your letter is clear to read.
- Make sure your language is polite and respectful.

Sign-off

End the letter with the appropriate sign-off.
- If you do not know the person, the sign-off is ‘yours faithfully’.
- If you do know the person, the sign-off is ‘yours sincerely’.

1Spelling

1.1Spelling

1.1.1Hard 'U' & 'I' Sounds

1.1.2Words Ending in '-sure', & '-mure'

1.1.3Words Ending in '-sion'

1.1.4'Ei', 'Eigh' & 'Ey' Spellings

1.1.5Spelling Words with 'Ch'

1.1.6Spelling Words with 'Sc'

1.1.7Silent Letters

1.1.8i Before e Rule

1.1.9Hard & Soft 'c' Sounds

1.1.10End of Topic Test - Spelling

1.2Prefixes

1.2.1'Anti-' & 'Auto-'

1.2.2Not & 'Inter-'

1.2.3'Mis-', 'Dis-' & 'Re-'

1.2.4'Sub-' & 'Super-'

1.3Suffixes

1.3.1Vowel Suffixes

1.3.2Short Vowel Suffixes

1.3.3Suffixes: '-ous'

1.3.4Rules for Suffixes: '-ous'

1.3.5Rules for Suffixes: '-ous' 2

1.3.6Suffixes: '-ly'

1.3.7Suffixes: '-ation'

1.3.8Suffixes: '-ation' 2

1.3.9Spelling: '-tion' Endings

1.3.10Spelling: '-sion' Endings

1.3.11Spelling: '-ssion' Endings

1.3.12Spelling: '-cian' Endings

1.3.13End of Topic Test - Prefixes & Suffixes

1.4Making Words Plural

1.4.1Plurals

1.5Homophones

1.6Word Meanings

1.6.1Homonyms

2Punctuation

3Grammar

3.1Word Classes

3.1.1Nouns

3.1.2Pronouns

3.1.3Verbs

3.1.4Adjectives & Adverbs

3.1.5Qualifiers & Quantifiers

3.1.6Determiners

3.1.7Prepositions

3.1.8Synonyms & Antonyms

3.1.9End of Topic Test - Word Classes

3.2Conjunctions

3.2.1Coordinating Conjunctions

3.2.2Subordinating Conjunctions

3.3Writing Coherently

3.3.1Building Cohesion in Writing

3.3.2Avoiding Ambiguity in Writing

3.4Verbs

3.4.1Subject-verb Agreement

3.5Modal Verbs

3.5.1Modal Verbs

3.5.2Can & Could

3.5.3May & Might

3.5.4Should & Shall

3.5.5Will & Would

3.5.6Must & Have To

3.6Phrasal Verbs

3.6.1Phrasal Verbs

3.7Subjunctive Verbs

3.7.1Subjunctive Verbs

3.7.2End of Topic Test - Verbs

3.8Sentences

3.8.1Subject of a Sentence

3.8.2Object of a Sentence

3.8.3Main & Subordinate Clauses

3.8.4Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences

3.8.5Complex Sentences

3.8.6Relative Clauses

3.8.7Relative Clauses Without Relative Pronouns

3.8.8Participle Clauses

3.8.9Run-on Sentences

3.8.10Sentence Functions

3.8.11End of Topic Test - Sentences

3.9Tenses

3.9.1Present Tense

3.9.2Past Tense

3.9.3Past Tense Using Have

3.9.4Future Tense

3.9.5Present vs Past vs Future

3.9.6Continuity of Tenses

3.9.7End of Topic Test - Tenses

3.10Adverbials

3.10.1Adverbial

3.10.2Saying Where & When

3.10.3Saying How Often

3.10.4Saying How & Why

3.10.5Using Commas for Fronted Adverbials

3.11Language Techniques

3.11.1Figurative & Emotive Language

3.11.2Active & Passive Voice

3.11.3Idiomatic Expressions

4Decoding Words

4.1Common Word Roots

4.1.1End of Topic Test - Common Root Words

4.1.2Saving

4.1.3Certainty & Clarity

4.1.4New & Alone

4.1.5Believing & Thinking

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Common Root Words 2

4.1.7Carrying & Leading

4.1.8Shape & Place

4.1.9Doing & Making

4.1.10Climbing & Going

4.2Common Prefixes

4.2.1For & Against

4.2.2End of Topic Test - Common Prefixes 2

4.2.3All & Same

4.2.4Away & Far

4.2.5Colour & Shape

4.2.6End of Topic Test - Common Prefixes

4.2.7Back & Down

4.2.8Numbers

4.2.9Across & Through

4.2.10Life & Earth

4.2.11Empty & Broken

4.2.12Great & Greater

4.2.13Hearing & Speaking

4.2.14Apart & Together

4.2.15Over & Under

4.2.16In

4.2.17Less & Smaller

4.2.18Before & After

4.3Common Suffixes

4.3.1Characterised By

4.3.2End of Topic Test - Common Suffixes

4.3.3Disease

4.3.4Lover & Lacking

4.3.5Belief & Study

4.3.6People

4.3.7State & Quality

4.3.8End of Topic Test - Common Suffixes 2

4.3.9Sound & Colour

4.3.10Capable & Relating

5Reading & Writing

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