Letter (formal and informal)

Question 1

KEY FEATURES OF LETTERS

Answer 1

Name and address

Purpose

Register

Salutation

Sign off

Question 2

Name and address

Answer 2

formal letters are posted to the recipient, so they normally contain both thesender and receiver’s address, allowing the recipient to reply. The sender’s address is traditionally placed on the right hand side, with thedatebelow it.

Question 3

Purpose

Answer 3

people send letters for all kinds of reasons; to complain, to seek advice, to connect with a loved one or even to pass gossip. The purpose of this text type is completelyflexible.

Question 4

Register

Answer 4

Letters can beformalorinformaldepending on the purpose and relationship between the sender and receiver.

Thetonecan vary widely too: compare a formal letter of complaint with an intimate letter between lovers.

Question 5

Salutation

Answer 5

a direct address to the recipient. Depending on context, they can vary from the formal‘Dear…’or even‘To whom this may concern…’to a quick‘Hi…’

Question 6

Sign off

Answer 6

You can tell a lot about the relationship between the reader and the writer from the way the letter ends.

Formally,‘yours sincerely’is used if the recipient’s name was used and‘yours faithfully’is used when the writer does not know the name of the receiver. Non-conventional sign-offs can be used for a variety of reasons; check the end of the letter to see if the writer expects a reply.

Question 7

Personal Letters

Answer 7

Sequence may not be important. Idioms and natural language common elements.

Some content probably of significance only to writer and main recipient.

Often used in research for biographies or autobiographies.

Address and date often abbreviated. Usually longer length than business or functional letters.

Grammar and spelling are often not as closely checked as in other forms of letters

Question 8

Formal letter

Answer 8

Lay out more details, and body of letter has more defined structure than that of a personal letter.

Full address of sender and recipient included.

Structure includes purpose of letter and reference to any previous correspondence on the same topic, explanation, and thanks which often summarises intended or decided action.

Opinion often stated as fact.

May include “Reference: Attention.” Recipient or writer may be acting on behalf of a group or committee.

May include technical information specific to topic or specific item. If more than one item is being discussed, paragraphs are used.

Might be numbered with subsection defined by letters. Letterheads.