Mastering Formal Letters: A Guide to Professional Communication

Mastering Formal Letters: A Guide to Professional Communication

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to write a formal letter, understand the differences between formal and informal letters, and practice writing formal letters with confidence.

What do you already know about formal and informal letters?

Formal vs. Informal Letters

Formal letters follow a specific structure and are used for professional communication. 

They use formal language and address recipients with titles.

 Informal letters are more casual and use a less rigid structure and language.

Structure of a Formal Letter

A formal letter includes the following:

•  sender's address, 
• date, 
• recipient's address, 
• salutation, 
• body, closing, and signature. 

Each section has specific formatting and content requirements.

Salutation (greeting) and Closing

In formal letters, the salutation is usually

 'Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],' 

and the closing can be 

'Sincerely,' 'Yours faithfully,' or 'Respectfully,' 

followed by the sender's signature and printed name.

Formal Letter Example

Sample: 

Dear Mr. Smith, I am writing to inquire about the job opening at your company. 

(The body of the letter should convey the message clearly and professionally).

Practice Activity

Distribute a formal letter writing prompt to the students. Ask them to write a formal letter following the structure and guidelines discussed in the lesson.

Comparing Formal and Informal Letters

In contrast to formal letters, informal letters have a more relaxed tone, use contractions, and may include personal anecdotes or informal language.

Practicing Informal Letters

As a follow-up activity, students can practice writing an informal letter to a friend or family member, focusing on personal content and a casual tone.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.