Letters and emails · Grade 6
Letters and emails can be formal (to a company, a school or someone you don't know well) or informal (to friends and family). The greeting, the sign-off and the tone change with the reader. Formal writing is polite and uses full forms: I am writing to ask… rather than I'm just asking….
Key facts
- Formal greeting: Dear Sir or Madam, (name unknown) or Dear Mrs Patel, (name known). Informal: Hi Sam! Dear Grandma,
- British sign-offs: Yours faithfully, after Dear Sir or Madam; Yours sincerely, after a name. American English often uses Sincerely, for both. Informal: Love, See you soon, Best wishes,
- Formal phrases: I am writing to…, I would be grateful if…, I look forward to hearing from you.
- Informal phrases: Thanks for your message! Guess what? Write back soon!
- Layout: greeting, an opening sentence that says why you are writing, one paragraph per idea, a closing sentence, the sign-off and your name. Emails also need a clear subject line.