Informal Letter Writing

Introduction

Letter writing is an important communication skill that enables people to share information, express feelings, maintain relationships, and exchange ideas. An informal letter is written to friends, relatives, family members, and other close acquaintances. Such letters use a friendly and personal tone, making them suitable for everyday communication. This lesson focuses on the features, format, and structure of informal letter writing and how learners can compose effective informal letters.

Key Concepts

• Informal Letter: A personal letter written to friends, family members, relatives, or other close acquaintances.
• Address: The writer’s address placed at the top left-hand side of the letter.
• Date: Indicates when the letter was written.
• Salutation: A friendly greeting such as Dear Kuu or Dear Alf.
• Introduction: The opening paragraph that introduces the purpose of the letter.
• Main Body: The section where the writer explains the reason for writing in detail.
• Conclusion: The closing paragraph that ends the letter on a friendly note.
• Subscription: The closing expression such as Your loving friend, Yours ever, or Yours, followed by the writer’s name.

Explanation

An informal letter is written to people with whom the writer has a close relationship. These include friends, relatives, family members, and other acquaintances. Because the relationship is personal, the language used is usually casual, friendly, and conversational. Informal letters may also express emotions depending on the purpose of the communication.

Informal letters can be written for many reasons. A writer may inform a friend about success in a competition, describe a recent trip, discuss a movie, enquire about someone’s well-being, invite someone to an event, congratulate a friend, or simply send greetings. The content depends on what the writer wishes to communicate.

Features Of An Informal Letter

The format of an informal letter follows a logical sequence. The writer begins with the address, followed by the date. A friendly salutation comes next before the introduction. The main body contains the detailed message, while the conclusion brings the letter to a friendly close. Finally, the subscription and the writer’s name complete the letter.

Format Of An Informal Letter

Examples

Example 1

Problem: State four features of an informal letter.

1. Recall the structure of an informal letter.
2. Identify any four parts.

Final Answer: Address, date, salutation, and main body are four important features of an informal letter.

Example 2

Problem: Explain the purpose of the introduction in an informal letter.

1. Identify the opening section.
2. State its function.

Final Answer: The introduction sets the tone of the letter and introduces the purpose of the message.

Application and Activities

• Identify people to whom you can write an informal letter.
• List the features of an informal letter.
• Write the introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs of a letter to a friend.
• Compose a complete informal letter using the correct format.

Practice Questions

• Define an informal letter.
• State the features of an informal letter.
• Write an informal letter to a friend using the correct format.

Summary

An informal letter is a personal means of communication between friends, relatives, and other close acquaintances. It follows a clear format consisting of the address, date, salutation, introduction, main body, conclusion, and subscription. Using the correct structure and friendly language enables writers to communicate their ideas effectively in everyday situations.