Letter
English Language: Edexcel IGCSE - Specification B, topic 4.1.1
Letters
Letters are addressed to individuals or organisations. The type of letter that you'd write your friend is very different from the audience for the cover letter to a job application.
Formal letters
- Formal letters, as you would write for a job application should use a formal tone.
- If you don't know the specific person that you're writing to, then using a formal mode of address (Dear Sir/Madam) and signing off (Yours faithfully) is a good idea.
- You should use formal language and avoid colloquial language.
More informal letters
- If you are writing to someone you know well, you can be less formal, but letters are usually more formal than text messages.
- You could use an informal mode of address and start the letter with Dear Paul, or Dear Peter, or Dear Mr. Evans.
- You could sign off with Best Wishes, or All the best.
- A letter to someone you know will be less formal.
- However, using varied sentence lengths and different DAFORESTER techniques can show your skills to an examiner.
Features of a letter
- The correct use of two addresses.
- The date that you're writing the letter.
- Awareness of audience - a formal/informal mode of address (e.g. ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Hi Mum’).
- Paragraphs that flow well into each other.
- A logical structure.
- An appropriate sign off.
Formal and informal sign offs
- Formal: If you start with ‘Dear Sir’, end with ‘Yours faithfully’.
- Formal: If you start with ‘Dear Mrs. Dale’ (i.e. their surname), end with ‘Yours sincerely’.
- Informal: This depends on your audience. If you start with ‘Hi Mum’, you could end with ‘See you soon’ or 'Lots of love'.
Test yourself on Letter
If you start a letter with ‘Dear Madam’, what should you end with?
If you start a letter with ‘Dear Mr Smith’, what should you end with?
If you start a letter with ‘Dear Rosie’, what are you most likely to end with?
When should you use a formal or informal tone when you're writing a letter?
Which of these is a formal mode of address?