Informal Letter: Definition, Format, & Examples
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An informal letter is a personal letter that is written to friends, family, or other close acquaintances. It is typically written in a casual and friendly tone and does not follow any specific format. However, there are some basic parts that all informal letters should include.
And those parts are listed in the next section of the blog.
Parts of an Informal Letter
The following are the basic parts of an informal letter:
- Sender’s address: This is the address of the person who is writing the letter. It is usually written in the top left corner of the page.
- Date: The date of the letter is written below the sender’s address.
- Recipient’s address: This is the address of the person who is receiving the letter. It is usually written in the top right corner of the page.
- Salutation: The salutation is the greeting that you use to address the recipient of the letter. It is usually followed by the recipient’s name.
- Body: The body of the letter is where you write the main content of your letter. This is where you can share news, ask questions, or just chat with the recipient.
- Closing: The closing is the farewell that you use to end your letter. It is usually followed by your signature.
How to Write an Informal Letter?
Here are some tips on how to write an informal letter:
- Use a casual and friendly tone. This is not a formal letter, so there is no need to use formal language or grammar.
- Start by introducing yourself and saying hello.
- Share some news or updates about your life.
- Ask the recipient about their life.
- End the letter with a friendly closing and your signature.
Samples of Informal letter questions asked in the IELTS General exam are:
Write a letter to your friend in another country where you would like to visit for the holidays.
In your letter, you should:
|
You live in a block of flats, your neighbor makes a lot of noise which has caused problems for you. Write a letter to your landlord.
In your letter, you should:
|
Structural Breakdown of an Informal Letter
The proper format for writing an informal letter is given below:
Informal Letter Format
Salutation
The letter’s opening salutation should begin with ‘dear, Hi, Hey, etc’ and use the first name of the receiver.
For example:
Dear Jasmeet
Or
Hi Jasmeet
Body Paragraph 1
This is also known as the opening paragraph. It includes the purpose of the letter and what you are going to discuss in the letter. You can paraphrase the question and begin the letter with expressions like ‘How are you?’, ‘I hope you are in good health,’ etc.
Body Paragraph 2
This paragraph includes the supporting details covering all the bullet points mentioned below the question. Close the paragraph with 1 or 2 concluding lines.
The complementary closure
This closure is not mandatory, but you can include a few words or a single line. It can help you enhance your test scores. For example: Looking forward to hearing from you
Closing Salutation
The closing salutation of the informal letter includes your best wishes and your name along with it. For example: Warm Regards
A Brief Explanation of the Structure of the Informal Letter
Dear Kanika, (OPENING SALUTATION)
It’s been a while since I’ve heard from you. ________________ (BODY PARAGRAPH 1) ____________________________ (BODY PARAGRAPH 2) Hope to hear from you soon. (COMPLIMENTARY CLOSURE) Best Wishes Deeksha (CLOSING SALUTATION) |
The tone of the letter
The tone of the informal letter should be friendly. But it does not mean you can use abbreviations and acronyms like ‘bcz,’ ‘LOL,’ ‘IDK,’ ‘luv,’ ‘ASAP,’ etc. But in order to show the examiner that you are aware of writing informal letters, you can use contractions like ‘I’m,” I’d,” she’s/he’s’ etc.
Check more samples: IELTS Informal Letters
Write a letter to your friend in another country where you like to visit for the holidays.
In your letter, you should:
Answer Dear Rubina It’s been a while since I’ve heard from you. I hope this letter finds you in good health. As summer approaches, I am thinking of spending my summer break with you in your country. I want to come to Australia to meet you and your family. It’s been almost 2 years since we haven’t met. Besides, I would like you to give me a mini tour of your country. I want to get familiar with Melbourne culture, see the old churches of Melbourne, and explore the job possibilities. I have heard that the weather in Australia is very pleasant during those days. I am excited even at the thought of spending time together after so long. I need your advice on some popular tourist places I can see on my visit. I have to tell you lots of things and expect the same from you. Please give my regards to Uncle and Aunty! I am looking forward to hearing from you. Warm Regards Shilpi |
Context and the types of letters or essays and so forth and so on are very important to know and to practice all such formats and patterns. Here we have our IELTS online classes just for you.
Also, check :
Here are the 10 examples for the IELTS General Writing Task 1 Sample Informal Letters:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the things to remember while attempting an informal letter?
What is the format of the informal letter?
What is the difference between informal and formal letters?
Mention the types of informal letters
Is vocabulary important in an informal letter?
Practice IELTS General Writing Task 1
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1 Comment
Wahab-ahmad
Posted on Sep 7, 2023
Aslmakikum I am week in writing task please information thanks
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