How to Write Informal Letters in English (with Examples)

Learn how to write informal letters in English (with Examples). Informal letters are social or friendly letters. They are usually written to people we know personally, for example, members of our family, relatives, friends…Informal Letters are written in a conversational and friendly tone.

We write informal letters to:

Ask someone something
Catch up with someone
Confide in someone
Discuss personal issues
Express our innermost feelings
Inform someone of something
Thank someone
Keep in touch and/ or reminisce with someone
Introduce places of interest to someone

Checklist:

Before you write an informal letter, as yourself the following questions.

Who are you writing to?
What do you want to tell/ ask your recipient? Why?
Is there anything you would like your recipient to do? If so, what is it?

How to Write Informal Letters?

The address

The writer’s address is usually written at the top right hand corner.
There is a comma (,) after each line.
There is a full stop (.) at the end of the address.
You can include the name of your state (Melaka) if you are writing to someone in another state (Pahang).
Include the name of your country (Malaysia) if you are writing to someone overseas eg. India.

The date

Write the date below the address.
Use the correct English spelling of the month.
When replying to a letter given, your date should be a few days after that of the letter given.
There are different ways of writing the date:

1 st March 2010.

The greeting/ salutation

The greeting or salutation is written one line below the date, on the left hand of the page ended by the comma (,).
The salutation used depends on how close you are to the person you are writing to
Dear ……….. is most often used and always correct. You can use it for anyone, from your mother to a new pen- pal.
My dear……. is used if you have a close relationship with someone, like your family or best friend.
Dearest and My dearest………are usually used only for people you love.

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The ending

The ending is written below the closing remarks on the right hand side of the page.
The ending depends on whom you are writing to.
When writing to a family member or a relative you can end with:

i) Yours affectionately,

ii) Yours lovingly,

When writing to friends or pen-pals you should end with:

Your name or signature is written below the ending.

Useful phrases and vocabulary for Informal Letters

Opening Remarks:

How are you? I hope you are in the pink of health.
Thank you for your interesting letter.
I received your letter yesterday/ a few days ago.
What a surprise! It’s really good to hear from you.
How is everyone in the family? Well, I hope.
I am really glad to hear from you.
How are you? I am sorry I couldn’t write earlier.
This letter will probably come as a surprise to you.
What a pleasant surprise it was heard from you after such a long time.

* Extending Invitations:

Would you like to join me on a trip to Pantai Remis?
How about coming over to my place next weekend?
I would like to invite you to my brother’s wedding that will take place on the 16 th of August.
My friends and I are planning to go camping during the holidays. Why don’t you come along?
If you have not made any plans for the holidays, perhaps you would like to join us on a trip to Cameron Highlands.

Responding to Invitations/ Accepting Invitations:

I’d be glad to join you and your friends on the trip.
I’d love to come over to your house.
Thank you for your invitation. I’d be glad to come to your birthday party.
Of course, I would love to attend your brother’s wedding. Thank you for inviting me.

Related How to End a Letter in English

Declining Invitations:

Thanks for your invitation. However, I am sorry I will have to turn it down as I have already promised my father that I’d join him on a fishing trip.
Although I’d love to join you, I am sorry to say that I will not be able to make it.
I am sorry to inform you that I will not be able to attend your sister’s wedding.

To express Appreciation/ Gratitude:

Thank you for your advice.
It was really thoughtful of you to help us in our time of need.
How kind of you to think about us!
I truly appreciate your kindness.

To express thanking (thank you letter):

Thank you so much for…
I want to thank you for…
I want to express my gratitude…
I am grateful for…
I deeply appreciate…
I feel touched that you…
Your gesture was extremely…
Your gift was incredibly…
Your thoughtfulness was truly…

To express Places of Interest:

You may like to drop by…
You may like to stop at…
You may like to visit…
You may be amazed by…
You may be fascinated by…
You may be interested in…
It may interest you to know that…
It may surprise you to discover that…

Keeping in Touch:

How long has it been since…
It has been ages since…
I cannot believe we have not heard from each other since…
I am sure you would be surprised to know that…
You may be interested to know that…
Can you recall the time when…
Do you remember when…

Closing remarks:

That will be all for now. I shall write again when I have the time.
Please convey my warmest regards to your family.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Please give my love to Grandma.
Good luck in your coming examination.
Do write soon.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Do write again when you have the time.

Related How To Express Wishes and Regrets: I Wish/ If Only

How to Write Informal Letters | Image

How to Write Informal Letters in English (with Examples)

How to Write Informal Letters in English (with Examples) 2

How to Write Informal Letters Effectively.

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