Formal, semi-formal and informal letters
Choosing the right tone, opening and closing.
15 minutes · A free lesson from Writing: more Task 1 and every Task 2 type
| Tone | Written to | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | someone you do not know (a manager, a company) | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, |
| Semi-formal | someone you know in a formal role (your manager, a landlord) | Dear Mr Khan, | Yours sincerely, or Kind regards, |
| Informal | a friend or relative | Dear Sam, / Hi Sam, | Best wishes, / Take care, |
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: Which closing goes with “Dear Mr Khan,”?
- Yours faithfully,
- Take care,
- Yours sincerely,
Show the answer
C: Yours sincerely, — Yours sincerely, or Kind regards, for someone you know in a formal role. Yours faithfully goes with Dear Sir or Madam.
Quick check: Where are contractions and phrasal verbs fine?
- In a complaint to a company
- In a letter to a friend
- In every letter
Show the answer
B: In a letter to a friend — Keep the tone consistent with the reader.
Quick check: What should your first sentence do?
- Say why you are writing
- Give your full address
- Thank the reader for reading
Show the answer
A: Say why you are writing — Then write one paragraph for each bullet point.
Quick check: Which opening suits a formal letter to a company?
- Dear Sir or Madam,
- Hi Sam,
- Dear Sam,
Show the answer
A: Dear Sir or Madam, — Use Dear Sir or Madam when you do not know the reader's name.
Marked as soon as you finish — free with an account.Practise now
Marked as soon as you finish — free with an account.Practise now
Marked as soon as you finish — free with an account.Practise now