Informal and formal letters

Importance: Letters are important for communication, documentation, and emotional expression. They serve as a tangible
record, preserving personal and professional history, fostering connections, and contributing to clear, organized
communication in various contexts.

Definition of a Formal Letter: Formal Letters, also called Business Letters or Professional Letters, are letters that are written
in a strict and specific format. Formal letters are naturally much more formal in style than informal/friendly letters. Formal
letters can be written for a number of reasons such as:

 to express your concerns while working in a professional setup.

 to provide official information across your workspace.
 to order goods, to apply for employment, etc.
 to the Editor of a newspaper addressing the problems faced by various groups of people in different areas, etc.

Types of Formal Letters

 Business Letters: Should be short, clear, and to the point. There is no room for any kind of stories in a business
letter.
 Letters of Application: Usually consist of letters applying for employment.
 Letters to Newspapers: Always address these letters to ‘The Editor’ and end with ‘Yours faithfully’. Letters to the
Editor are letters that express concerns that should be addressed to the higher authorities. These letters should be
professional and authentic.

Tips for writing a formal letter

 Be clear and concise: The introduction of your letter should clearly state the purpose of your correspondence.
 Proofread: Before sending your formal letter, read it over for spelling and grammar errors.
 Use the right tone: Keep in mind that a formal letter will require a more formal and professional tone than your
average letter.
 Use the right format: When you write a formal letter, make sure to include all the proper elements.

Characteristics of formal letter

 Structure of a formal letter: Follow a standardized format with clear sections like salutation, body, and closing.
 Purpose of a formal letter: Typically used for official, business, or academic communication where a level of
formality is expected.
 Addressing of a formal letter: Use titles and last names when addressing recipients unless a specific title or
relationship suggests otherwise.
 Tone of a formal letter: Maintain a professional and respectful tone, using formal language and avoiding
colloquialisms.

Content of a formal letter: Information is presented in a straightforward and concise manner, often with a specific objective
or request.

Structure of a formal letter

1. The letterhead of the letter

2. Greeting
3. Introduction
4. The body of the letter
5. Farewell
Informal letter in English: In order to correctly write an informal letter in English, we need to take into account several characteristic aspects. Are used:
Contractions, Short sentences, Colloquial expressions, phrasal verbs, Connectors and Exclamations. Characteristics of an informal letter

 Structure of an informal letter: Have a more flexible structure with a casual greeting, conversational body, and a friendly closing.
 Purpose of an informal letter: Primarily used for personal communication with friends, family, or acquaintances. , focusing on building a
connection.
 Addressing of an informal letter: Typically use first names and may include nicknames or endearing terms based on the relationship.
 Tone of an informal letter: Reflect a personal and relaxed tone, allowing for the use of colloquial language and expressions.
 Content of an informal letter: can include personal anecdotes, emotions, and a more relaxed style of communication, focusing on building a
connection
Structure of an informal letter

 Introduction
 Structure of an informal letter Body
 Farewell

Tips for writing an informal letter

 Start your letter with a warm salutation.

 Keep it conversational.
 Informal letters don't need to follow strict writing rules.

INFORMAL LETTERS vs FORMAL LETTERS

 You can use words and colloquial expressions.  You should avoid the use of colloquial words and
 You can informally address the recipient of the expressions.
letter by their first name.  You should treat the recipient of the letter formally
 You can use contractions. using the formula Mr. or Ms.
 You can use the imperative voice (for example  You should avoid using contractions.
Remember ).  You should avoid using the imperative voice.
 The most appropriate voice for informal letters is Instead, use polite formulas such as please or say I
the active voice. would like... instead of I want.
 You can use short and simple sentences.  The most appropriate voice for formal letters is the
 Phrasal verbs are frequently used. passive voice Longer, more elaborate sentences are
 Start the letter with Dear (name) and end it with preferred.
Yours sincerely, Yours or even Love from if you  Many (but not all) phrasal verbs should be avoided.
know the recipients very well  If you don't know the name of the recipient of the
letter, start with Dear Sir, Dear Madam, or Dear Sir
or Madam and end with Yours sincerely.

KEYS TO WRITING APPLICATIONS

Writing applications is a versatile skill that allows individuals to communicate effectively, present themselves or their ideas
persuasively, and pursue various opportunities in their personal and professional lives. The ability to articulate thoughts
clearly and professionally through written applications is crucial for success in many areas.

PRIMARY REASONS HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING APPLICATIONS

KEYS TO WRITING APPLICATIONS

STRUCTURE OF AN APPLICATION

 Your Contact Information.

 Date
 Employer’s contact information
 Salutation
 Opening paragraph
 Body paragraph
 Closing paragraph
 Closing salutation
 Signature
 Enclosure

DIFFERENCES FORMAL LETTERS AND APPLICATIONS

FORMAL LETTER Purpose: A formal letter is a type of written communication that adheres to a professional format and tone. It
can be used for various purposes, such as expressing gratitude, making a request, filing a complaint, or official communication.
Content: It includes elements such as the address and date, formal salutation, the body of the letter containing the main
message, formal closing, and the sender's signature.

APPLICATION Purpose: An application refers to a document in which a person formally requests something. This could include
a job application, a scholarship application, a request for permission, among others. Content: An application typically includes
detailed information about the applicant, the purpose of the application, and any relevant information supporting the
request.

In summary, while a "formal letter" refers to a type of written communication with a professional format and tone that can
have various purposes, an "application" is a document in which a formal request is made for something specific. In the
workplace context, a "formal letter" could be a cover letter, and an "application" could be a job application form or the
documents submitted when applying for a job.

“TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD CURRICULUM VITAE”

When you apply for a job, a good CV is essential. That's why it's good to discover what to include and what to avoid to have a
better chance of getting an interview.

CV: A curriculum vitae, often abbreviated as CV, is a document that job applicants use to showcase their academic and
professional accomplishments. It is used to apply for positions within areas where a person’s specific knowledge or expertise
is required.

WRITING A GOOD CV

The Curriculum is a basic tool for presenting personal information in a job search process. Including information is not an easy
task. To write a good curriculum is necessary:

• The information should be selected according to the criterion of relevance.

• Be precise and concise

• The language used to describe your work experience should be simple and clear.

TIPS:

1. Adapt your Curriculum Vitae to the job offer

2. Use key words
3. Clear and Concise
4. Mention only relevant training
5. Never lie
6. Simple and professional design
7. Check your social media profiles
8. Make sure it's easy to contact you
9. Always keep it updated
10. Check it to avoid grammar and spelling errors
 TYPES OF ESSAYS
"Essay means to explore a subject. The author checks, exposes and explains his thinking through the text. Sometimes he
presents a hypothesis that explains, bases, compares and discusses opposite arguments that he proposes"

EXPOSITORY: Explaining a topic in a clearway to an audience who might know nothing about it.

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Objective presentation of information

 Clarity and coherence
 Informational objective
 Use of examples and evidence

ANALYTICAL: It is based on analysis, research, and evaluation of findings. Writers could explore any subject, even
controversial, but they must do it from an objective viewpoint, analyzing the existing evidence and making the conclusion on
its basis.

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Objectivity preserved.
 Facts presented.
 Logic shown through detailed explanations of interrelations between different parts of subjects.
 Final goal of analysis identified and achieved.

CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAYS

 Cause and effect essays detail the relationships between events or situations, explaining how one leads to another.
 Writers establish a clear connection between the initiating event and subsequent incidents, outlining the features that
caused the chain reaction. These essays are expository, presenting facts without subjective opinions.

CRITICAL ESSAY

POETIC ESSAYS: A poetry essay evaluates a poem. Analyze the words, sounds, feelings, and themes that the poet uses in the
poem.

RETHORICAL ESSAYS: A rhetorical analysis essay studies how writers and speakers have used words to influence their
audience.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS: An argumentative essay’s goal is to prove that the author has a valid point, while not necessarily
trying to get the reader to agree with them.

PERSUASIVE ESSAY: Is centered around the author's attempt to convince the audience of a particular viewpoint or to prompt a
specific action.

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY: This genre encourages the student’s ability to create a written account of a particular experience

BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY: it is a brief writing, without delving into a single subject, characterized by containing the opinion of the writer
according to his own judgment on the character in question.

NARRATIVE ESSAY: Narrative essays tell a story and often are the most personal type of essay you may write. They allow you to exercise
creativity and imagination, and you can base them on a particular prompt, such as the first time you drove a car by yourself, or a more
open-ended prompt, like a time you overcame a fear.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY: These essays include an introduction, at least one paragraph to explain the subjects' similarities, at least
one paragraph to discuss differences and a conclusion

RESEARCH ESSAY: This type of essays writing explores topic by analyzing evidence, collecting facts, and using credible sources for support.