how to write a letter in an essay

12+ Essay Letter Writing – Format, Examples, Writing Tips

• Letter Writing
• March 4, 2024
• School Letters

Essay Letter Writing: Essay letter writing is a form of written communication that combines the structure and format of an essay with the personal tone and conversational style of a letter. This type of school letter writing can be used to express personal thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics, from social issues to academic assignments.

In essay letter writing, the writer has the freedom to share their ideas and experiences in a unique and creative way, while also adhering to the basic principles of essay writing, such as structure, coherence, and logical argumentation. This Essay Letter Writing is an effective way to communicate complex ideas in a clear and engaging manner.

Also Check: Formal Letter Format Class 8

Essay Letter Writing – Structure of Essay Letter Writing Tips

Content in this article

Essay letter writing follows a basic structure that combines the elements of an essay with the conversational tone of a Essay Letter Writing. Here is a general outline of the structure:

• Introduction : The first paragraph introduces the topic and purpose of the Essay Letter Writing. It should be engaging and clearly state the writer’s thesis or main point.
• Body Paragraphs : The body of the Essay Letter Writing should consist of two or three paragraphs that support the thesis with relevant evidence and examples. The paragraphs should be well-organized and flow logically from one point to the next.
• Conclusion : The final paragraph summarizes the writer’s main points and restates the thesis in a clear and concise manner. Essay Letter Writing should leave the reader with a lasting impression and a call to action.

Essay Letter Writing – Sample Format

Below is a sample format for essay letter writing. This format can be adapted based on the specific purpose and audience of your essay letter:

[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date]

[Recipient’s Name] [Recipient’s Title or Relationship] [Company, School, or Institution Name] [Address] [City, State, ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

Subject: [Briefly Mention the Topic of the Essay]

I trust this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to share my thoughts on [mention the main topic or purpose of the essay]. As someone deeply passionate about this subject, I believe it is crucial to explore and articulate my perspectives on [provide a brief overview of the essay’s focus].

Introduction: In the introduction, I aim to captivate your attention by [mention how you plan to engage the reader, e.g., sharing a personal anecdote, posing a question, or presenting a relevant quote]. This introductory section sets the stage for a comprehensive exploration of [the main theme or idea].

Body Paragraphs: The body of the essay will delve into [three to four key points or ideas related to the main theme]. Each paragraph will explore a distinct aspect, supported by [examples, evidence, personal experiences, or relevant information]. This structured approach ensures a coherent and compelling presentation.

Conclusion: The concluding section will summarize the key findings and insights discussed throughout the essay. I aim to leave the reader with [a thought-provoking statement, a call to action, or a reflection on the broader implications of the topic].

I appreciate your time and consideration in reading my essay. I believe that [mention the potential impact or relevance of the essay] and look forward to any insights or feedback you may have.

Thank you for your attention.

[Your Full Name] [Your Title or Affiliation, if applicable] [Your Signature – if sending a physical letter]

Feel free to customize this template based on the specific topic, purpose, and recipient of your essay letter. Adjust the language, tone, and content to suit the nature of the essay and the preferences of your audience.

Essay-Letter Writing – Example

Here’s an example of Essay Letter Writing:

Dear [Recipient],

I am writing to share my recent experience with essay writing. As you may know, essay writing is a crucial skill that is required in many academic settings, including college and university courses.

Recently, I had to write an essay on the topic of climate change and its impact on the environment. At first, I found it challenging to organize my thoughts and ideas in a logical and coherent manner. However, with the help of some research and a lot of hard work, I was able to create a well-written essay that received a high grade.

Through this experience, I have learned that essay writing is not just about putting words on paper; it is about expressing ideas and arguments in a clear and persuasive manner. Additionally, I have realized that careful planning and organization are essential for producing a successful essay.

Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to improve my essay writing skills and I hope to continue honing them in the future.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Essay – Letter Writing – Example

Essay Letter Writing About Social Media

Here’s an Essay Letter Writing About Social Media

I am writing to share my thoughts on the topic of social media and its impact on our lives. In today’s world, social media has become an integral part of our daily routines, and it is hard to imagine life without it.

While social media has its advantages, such as staying connected with friends and family and accessing a wealth of information, it also has its drawbacks. One of the biggest issues with social media is the spread of misinformation and fake news. Many people tend to believe whatever they read online, without fact-checking or verifying the sources.

Furthermore, social media can also have negative effects on mental health. It is easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others and feeling inadequate, which can lead to anxiety and depression.

In my opinion, it is important to strike a balance when it comes to social media usage. We should be mindful of the information we consume and make sure it is accurate and reliable. Additionally, we should limit our time on social media and use it in moderation, so as not to let it consume our lives.

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on this important topic.

Essay Letter Writing About Social Media 

Essay Letter Writing for Students

Below is an Essay Letter Writing suitable for students:

[Recipient’s Name] [Recipient’s Title or Position] [School or Institution Name] [Address] [City, State, ZIP Code]

Subject: Exploring the Importance of Extracurricular Activities for Student Development

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. As a student at [Your School/College Name], I am writing to share my thoughts on the significance of participating in extracurricular activities for overall student development.

Introduction: In today’s dynamic educational landscape, the role of extracurricular activities goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. These activities encompass a wide range of opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop essential skills, and foster a well-rounded personality.

Body: Paragraph 1: Broadening Horizons Engaging in extracurricular activities exposes students to diverse fields beyond their academic curriculum. It provides a platform to discover and explore various interests, allowing students to broaden their horizons and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the world.

Paragraph 2: Skill Development Participating in clubs, sports, or cultural activities enhances the development of crucial life skills. Teamwork, leadership, time management, and communication are just a few examples of skills that students can acquire through active involvement in extracurricular pursuits. These skills are not only valuable during the school years but also play a pivotal role in shaping a successful future.

Paragraph 3: Building Character Extracurricular activities contribute significantly to character building. Students learn to overcome challenges, face competition, and cope with both success and failure. These experiences foster resilience, perseverance, and a strong sense of responsibility, qualities that are integral to personal growth.

Paragraph 4: Holistic Development The combination of academic excellence and active participation in extracurricular activities leads to holistic development. Students who strike a balance between their studies and interests tend to perform well academically while also developing a more well-rounded and adaptable personality.

Conclusion: In conclusion, I firmly believe that encouraging students to engage in extracurricular activities is crucial for their holistic development. These activities not only complement academic learning but also nurture qualities that are essential for success in the ever-evolving global landscape.

I look forward to discussing this topic further and exploring ways to promote and support extracurricular involvement among students at [Your School/College Name]. Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Your Full Name] [Your Grade/Class] [Your Signature – if sending a physical letter]

Feel free to customize this letter based on your specific thoughts, experiences, and the requirements of your essay assignment.

Writing an Essay in Letter Form

Writing an essay in letter form involves combining the structure of a formal or informal letter with the content and structure of an essay. Here is a sample essay in letter form:

[Recipient’s Name] [Recipient’s Title or Position] [Organization or Institution Name] [Address] [City, State, ZIP Code]

Subject: Exploring the Impact of Technology on Education

I trust this letter finds you well. As a concerned student passionate about the role of technology in education, I am writing to share my insights on how technological advancements are shaping the learning landscape.

Introduction: Technology has become an integral part of our lives, and its influence on education is undeniable. In this letter, I aim to examine the positive and negative impacts of technology on the educational experience, shedding light on its transformative effects.

Paragraph 1: Positive Impacts One of the notable positive impacts of technology on education is the accessibility of information. The internet has opened up vast repositories of knowledge, making learning resources readily available to students worldwide. This accessibility has democratized education, breaking down barriers to information.

Paragraph 2: Interactive Learning Furthermore, technology has revolutionized the way we learn. Interactive tools, simulations, and virtual classrooms create an engaging and dynamic learning environment. These tools not only cater to diverse learning styles but also foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Paragraph 3: Global Connectivity The interconnected world facilitated by technology allows students to connect with peers and experts globally. Collaborative projects, online forums, and virtual exchange programs contribute to a richer and more diverse educational experience.

Paragraph 4: Challenges and Concerns However, with the benefits come challenges. The digital divide, unequal access to technology, and concerns about privacy and online security are critical issues that need addressing. Balancing the integration of technology while ensuring equitable opportunities for all students is a pressing concern.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the impact of technology on education is profound and multifaceted. While it presents exciting opportunities for enhanced learning, we must address the challenges to create an inclusive educational landscape that benefits all.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss these ideas further and explore strategies for leveraging technology responsibly in education. Thank you for considering my perspective.

Feel free to customize this template based on your specific topic and the guidelines provided for your assignment. Adjust the tone, style, and content to suit the nature of your essay and your audience.

Essay Letter Writing Template

Below is a template that you can use for essay letter writing. This template is a general structure; you can customize it based on the specific topic or purpose of your essay.

[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP Code] [Email Address] [Date]

Introduction: Begin your letter with a brief introduction. Clearly state the purpose of your letter and provide a hook to engage the reader’s interest.

Body Paragraphs: Divide the body of your letter into paragraphs, each addressing a specific point or idea related to your essay topic.

• Introduce the topic of your essay.
• Provide background information to set the context.
• Clearly state your thesis or the main point you will be discussing.
• Introduce and discuss the first supporting point.
• Provide evidence, examples, or facts to strengthen your argument.
• Explain the relevance of this point to your overall argument.
• Introduce and discuss the second supporting point.
• Provide evidence, examples, or facts to support this point.
• Explain how this point connects to your thesis.
• Acknowledge potential counterarguments.
• Refute or address counterarguments, demonstrating the strength of your position.
• Summarize the key points discussed in your essay.
• Reinforce the importance of your thesis.
• Provide a smooth transition to the conclusion.

Conclusion: Conclude your letter by summarizing the main points and restating the significance of your topic or argument. End with a call to action, a thought-provoking statement, or a question to leave a lasting impression.

Closing: End your letter with a formal closing. Choose a closing phrase that matches the tone and purpose of your essay.

[Your Full Name] [Your Signature – if sending a physical letter]

Feel free to adapt this template of Essay Letter Writing based on the specific requirements of your essay or the guidelines provided for your assignment. Adjust the tone, style, and content to suit the nature of your essay and your audience.

Formal Essay Letter Writing

When writing an Essay Letter Writing in Formal tone, you want to maintain a professional tone while effectively conveying your thoughts. Below is a formal Essay Letter Writing:

Subject: An Examination of Environmental Sustainability Practices in [Organization/Institution Name]

I trust this letter finds you in good health. As a dedicated student of [Your School/College Name], I am writing to bring attention to the importance of adopting sustainable practices within our institution, specifically in the context of environmental conservation.

Introduction: Environmental sustainability is an issue of global concern, and its implications resonate across various sectors, including education. In this letter, I aim to shed light on the benefits of implementing eco-friendly initiatives within [Organization/Institution Name] and the positive impact it can have on our community and beyond.

Paragraph 1: The Need for Environmental Sustainability The pressing need for environmental sustainability arises from the escalating challenges posed by climate change. By incorporating sustainable practices within our institution, we contribute to the global effort to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental degradation.

Paragraph 2: Implementing Green Initiatives I propose the implementation of green initiatives, such as waste reduction, energy conservation, and the incorporation of renewable energy sources. These initiatives not only align with global sustainability goals but also instill a sense of environmental responsibility among students, faculty, and staff.

Paragraph 3: Educational Opportunities Furthermore, embracing environmental sustainability provides unique educational opportunities. By incorporating sustainable practices into our curriculum, we equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to address complex environmental issues in their future endeavors.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the integration of environmental sustainability practices within [Organization/Institution Name] is not only a responsibility we owe to the planet but also an opportunity to foster a culture of environmental stewardship among the members of our institution.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss these proposals further and explore feasible ways to initiate and support sustainable practices within our institution. Thank you for considering these recommendations.

Feel free to adapt this formal Essay Letter Writing based on the specific topic and guidelines provided for your assignment. Ensure that the tone remains formal and that the content aligns with the expectations of a formal letter.

Job Application Essay Letter Writing

Below is a job application Essay Letter Writing that you can use as a reference:

[Employer’s Name] [Company Name] [Company Address] [City, State, ZIP Code]

Dear [Employer’s Name],

Subject: Application for [Job Position] – [Your Full Name]

I am writing to express my sincere interest in the [Job Position] advertised on your company’s website. With a strong background in [Relevant Skills or Experience], I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to your team and the success of [Company Name].

Introduction: In my current role at [Your Current Company], I have successfully [highlight a significant accomplishment or responsibility related to the job]. This experience has equipped me with [mention specific skills or qualities] that align with the requirements of the [Job Position] at [Company Name].

Body: Paragraph 1: Why I am a Strong Candidate I am particularly drawn to [Company Name] due to its commitment to [mention any specific values, projects, or achievements of the company]. My [mention number of years] years of experience in [Your Industry or Field] have honed my ability to [mention key responsibilities or skills relevant to the job].

Paragraph 2: Key Skills and Achievements I possess a proven track record in [mention relevant skills or achievements], as evidenced by [provide specific examples or metrics]. These experiences have sharpened my [mention soft skills] and my ability to [mention any other relevant strengths].

Paragraph 3: Why I Want to Join [Company Name] I am attracted to [Company Name] because of its reputation for [mention any specific aspects of the company culture, projects, or values that resonate with you]. I am eager to contribute my skills and learn from the talented team at [Company Name].

Conclusion: In conclusion, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to [Company Name] and am confident in my ability to excel in the [Job Position]. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my skills and experiences align with your company’s needs in further detail.

Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to further discuss how my qualifications make me a strong fit for this position.

Feel free to customize this Essay Letter Writing for job application based on your specific experiences, skills, and the requirements of the job you are applying for.

Essay Letter Writing for Different Audiences

Essay Letter Writing for different audiences involves tailoring your content, tone, and approach based on the specific group you are addressing. Below are examples of Essay Letter Writing for different audiences:

1. Essay Letter Writing to Parents – Topic: Importance of Extracurricular Activities for Student Development

[Your Name] [Your Grade/Class] [Date]

[Parents’ Names] [Parents’ Address]

Dear Mom and Dad,

I hope this letter finds you both well. As your son/daughter and a student at [Your School], I wanted to share my thoughts on the significance of participating in extracurricular activities for overall student development.

[Continue with the body of the essay, discussing benefits, personal experiences, and the impact on academic and personal growth.]

2. Essay Letter Writing to Teachers – Topic: The Role of Technology in Enhancing Classroom Learning

[Teacher’s Name] [School Name]

Dear [Teacher’s Name],

I trust this letter finds you well. As a student in your [Subject] class, I would like to explore the impact of technology on classroom learning and how it can enhance the educational experience for both students and teachers.

[Continue with the body of the essay, discussing positive impacts, examples, and potential challenges.]

3. Essay Letter Writing to Friends – Topic: The Benefits of Reading for Personal Growth

[Your Name] [Date]

[Friends’ Names]

Dear Friends,

I hope you’re doing great. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the many benefits of reading and how it contributes to personal growth. I thought I’d share my thoughts with you.

[Continue with the body of the essay, discussing the joys of reading, cognitive benefits, and the impact on personal development.]

[Your Full Name]

4. Essay Letter Writing to the Editor – Topic: Addressing Environmental Concerns in Our Community

[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP Code] [Date]

[Editor’s Name] [Newspaper/Magazine Name] [Address]

Dear Editor,

I am writing to bring attention to the environmental concerns in our community, specifically focusing on [specific issue]. It is imperative that we address these issues to ensure a sustainable future.

[Continue with the body of the essay, providing information, possible solutions, and urging community involvement.]

[Your Full Name] [Your Contact Information]

Feel free to customize these letters of Essay Letter Writing for different audiences based on the specific audience and topic you are addressing. Adjust the language, tone, and content to suit the relationship and communication style appropriate for each audience.

Essay Letter Writing About Pollution – Email Format

Here’s an Email Format of Essay Letter Writing about Pollution:

I am writing to you today to express my deep concern about the issue of pollution. In recent years, pollution has become a major problem that is affecting our environment, our health, and our future. It is a global issue that needs to be addressed urgently.

Pollution is caused by various factors, including industrial activities, transportation, and waste disposal. The consequences of pollution are dire, including climate change, respiratory problems, and biodiversity loss. It is important that we take action to reduce our carbon footprint, recycle waste materials, and limit the use of harmful chemicals.

As citizens of this planet, we all have a responsibility to protect our environment and reduce pollution. I urge you to join me in taking action to reduce pollution in our daily lives. We can start by using public transportation, conserving energy, and practicing responsible waste disposal.

Let’s work together to create a healthier and more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.

Essay Letter Writing for Various Occasions

Essay Letter Writing for various occasions involves tailoring your content to the specific event or celebration. Below are examples of Essay Letter Writing for different occasions:

1. Essay Letter Writing for Graduation – Reflecting on the Journey

[Your Name] [Graduation Date]

[Principal’s Name] [School Name]

Dear Principal [Principal’s Last Name],

As I stand on the threshold of a new chapter in my life, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey that has led me to this moment. Graduation is not just a culmination of academic achievements, but a celebration of growth, resilience, and the bonds formed in these hallowed halls.

[Continue with the body of the essay, reflecting on memorable experiences, friendships, and the lessons learned during the academic journey.]

[Your Full Name] [Your Graduation Class]

2. Essay Letter Writing for Thanksgiving – Gratitude for Family and Friends

[Recipient’s Name] [Recipient’s Address]

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the blessings in my life, particularly the cherished relationships with family and friends. In the spirit of thankfulness, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the impact you have had on my life.

[Continue with the body of the essay, expressing specific reasons for gratitude, fond memories, and the significance of the relationship.]

Warm regards,

3. Essay Letter Writing for a Birthday Celebration – Reflecting on Another Year

[Your Name] [Birthday Date]

[Recipient’s Name]

As I celebrate another year of life, I am prompted to reflect on the experiences, growth, and joys that this journey has brought. Birthdays are not just a marker of passing time; they are a celebration of the lessons learned, the relationships cherished, and the memories created.

[Continue with the body of the essay, reflecting on the past year, expressing gratitude, and sharing hopes for the future.]

Cheers to another year,

4. Essay Letter Writing for New Year’s Resolutions – Setting Intentions for the Year Ahead

As the New Year approaches, it offers a fresh canvas on which to paint the aspirations, goals, and intentions for the coming months. In the spirit of new beginnings, I wanted to share my reflections on the year gone by and outline the resolutions that will guide my path in the year ahead.

[Continue with the body of the essay, reflecting on achievements and challenges of the past year, and outlining specific resolutions.]

Wishing you a wonderful New Year,

Feel free to customize these letters of Essay Letter Writing in different occasions based on the specific occasion and your personal sentiments. Adjust the language, tone, and content to suit the nature of the event or celebration.

College Admission Essay Letter Writing

Writing a college admission Essay Letter Writing is an important step in the application process. Below is a sample college admission essay letter:

[College Admissions Office] [College/University Name] [College/University Address] [City, State, ZIP Code]

Dear Admissions Committee,

I am writing to express my sincere interest in joining the [College/University Name] community as a [Your Intended Major] major. As a passionate and dedicated student, I am eager to contribute to and benefit from the academic environment and unique opportunities offered by your esteemed institution.

Introduction: Ever since I attended [Your High School Name], I have been inspired by the pursuit of knowledge and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. [Provide a brief introduction to your academic background and interests.]

Why [College/University Name]? [College/University Name] stands out to me as the ideal place to further my academic journey due to [mention specific reasons such as renowned faculty, exceptional programs, unique resources, or a particular campus culture]. The [Your Intended Major] program, in particular, aligns perfectly with my academic and career aspirations.

Unique Qualities and Achievements: Throughout high school, I have consistently demonstrated my commitment to excellence in [mention specific academic or extracurricular achievements]. These experiences have not only shaped my character but have also prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that a rigorous academic environment like [College/University Name] provides.

Contributions to Campus Life: I am excited about the prospect of contributing to the vibrant campus life at [College/University Name]. My experiences in [mention relevant extracurricular activities or community service] have instilled in me a sense of leadership, teamwork, and social responsibility.

Personal Growth and Goals: Beyond academics, I see [College/University Name] as a platform for personal growth and exploration. I am eager to immerse myself in the diverse learning experiences, engage with a community of like-minded individuals, and broaden my perspectives.

Conclusion: In conclusion, I believe that my passion for [Your Intended Major], commitment to academic excellence, and dedication to contributing positively to campus life make me a strong candidate for admission to [College/University Name]. I am excited about the prospect of becoming a valuable member of your community and contributing to the rich tapestry of experiences at [College/University Name].

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the vibrant academic environment at [College/University Name].

[Your Full Name] [Your High School Graduation Year] [Your Signature – if sending a physical letter]

Feel free to customize this letter based on your specific experiences, aspirations, and the requirements of the college or university you are applying to. It’s important to convey your unique qualities, achievements, and reasons for choosing the institution.

FAQS for Essay Letter Writing – Format, Examples, Writing Tips

What is the basic format for an essay letter writing.

The basic format of Essay Letter Writing includes a salutation, introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Include your contact information, date, and a closing signature. The structure may vary depending on the type of letter and audience.

How do I start an essay letter?

Start with a salutation addressing the recipient. In the introduction, engage the reader with a compelling hook, such as a question, quote, or personal anecdote, to draw them into your essay.

What should I include in the body paragraphs of an essay letter?

Each body paragraph should focus on a specific point or idea related to your topic. Include supporting evidence, examples, or personal experiences to strengthen your arguments or convey your message effectively.

How do I end an essay letter?

Conclude your essay letter by summarizing key points, reiterating the main message, or providing a call to action. End with a closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Can you provide examples of Essay Letter Writing for different purposes?

Certainly! Essay Letter Writing Examples include job application essay letters, college admission essay letters, letters to friends on specific topics, and letters addressing various occasions. Tailor the content based on the purpose and audience.

Essay Letter Writing is an important skill that has been around for centuries. It serves as a means of communication and expression of ideas and emotions. With the advancement of technology, letter writing has evolved, but its importance has not diminished. Whether it is a formal business letter or a personal letter to a friend, the art of letter writing requires attention to detail, clear communication, and an understanding of the audience.

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How to Write a Letter With Examples and Tips

By Sarah Oakley

Table of Contents

How do you write a letter, how to format a letter in 6 steps, letter format examples, how prowritingaid can help you with writing letters.

Letter writing is still a popular form of communication in a world where we expect instant responses thanks to email and phone calls.

USPS reports they process and deliver an average of 421.4 million mail pieces every day. Millions of those are letters being sent all over the world, not just to the US.

Letter writing is a great way to make your voice heard, make things happen, and show how much you care about something. Writing a letter carries more weight than an email or phone call because it takes more effort, and there are bigger costs involved.

In this article, we’ll talk about how to write a letter to clearly convey your points, and we’ll show you some examples you can use for inspiration.

To write a letter , you need to decide if you’re going to handwrite or type. Handwritten letters show you took the time to express your thoughts on paper. However, typing can save you some time, and you can still hand sign it after it’s printed.

The next part of writing a successful letter is thinking about what you would like your letter to achieve. You could write a love letter, hoping to get a date. It could be a cover letter to accompany your résumé, which needs to secure you an interview. Think about the result you hope to achieve before you plan what you want your letter to say.

You’ll need to decide if your letter will be formal or informal. Depending on the recipient and the reason for the letter, the formality is important, as it can affect how the message is received. If you are writing a personal letter to someone you know, opt for informal. However, if it’s for a job application or for an official, the reader would expect you to use formal letter writing.

Another thing to consider when writing a letter is your tone, which is how your letter sounds to the person reading it. If you’re writing a complaint, you want the reader to know you’re frustrated, but you don’t want to sound rude.

When you’re ready to write your letter, set some time aside for it. Before you write your letter, make a plan for what you’re going to say. Get your writing tools together as well as some envelopes and stamps, then you can start.

A letter is a piece of writing that is easy to identify by the written format. Letters follow a similar format to allow the reader to find and skim the important information.

The formatting details in the next six steps will tell you how to write a letter that gets your point across.

How to Head a Letter

Letterheads start with the sender’s address aligned to the left, right, or in the middle. If you write formal letters, you will need to include this as the receiver may need to respond in writing. For informal letters to those you know, forgo your address if you want to.

If you write lots of letters, consider getting some letterheads printed. Having a stack of paper with your details already printed can save you a lot of time. Alternatively, you can get a custom stamp printed and an ink block.

Which Side Do You Write the Date on a Letter?

Under the sender’s address , you’ll need to add the date you’re writing the letter. Write the date on the same side of the page as your address.

For personal letters where you haven’t included the sender’s address, you still need to add the date. The date gives context to your letter, so you don’t want to leave it out.

If you’re writing a formal letter, write the date out in full with the month first, then the day, then the year. For example, a letter written on 2023-03-15, you would write March 15, 2023. In the US, you need to add a comma between the day and the year.

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Where to Include the Recipient’s Address on a Letter

The recipient’s address needs to be aligned to the left-hand side on the line below the date.

When writing a formal letter, start the recipient’s address with their name on one line, followed by their job title on the next line. Then write the company name and address below that.

For personal letters, you don’t need to include your recipient’s address.

How to Write an Introduction in a Letter

The introduction in your letter is the greeting and the first paragraph. Leave a line space under the address and start with the greeting.

There are many possible greetings you could start your introduction with, such as “Dear [recipient’s name].” For a formal letter, write their entire name. Alternatively, you can write “Mr.” or “Ms.” followed by their initials and surname. If it’s an informal letter, just write their first name.

If you don’t know the name of the person you’re writing to, you can use “Dear Sir or Madam.” To get the right address for your letter when writing to a company, you can call and request the name of the person you need to write to.

After the salutation, write your introductory paragraph . Always include the subject in your first sentence, and follow up with your reason for writing. For example, in a complaint letter about a faulty product, you would mention the product and any purchase reference in the first sentence, then explain you would like to complain about the quality of the product.

In a personal or informal letter, still include the subject and reason for writing in your first paragraph. This lets the reader know what to expect in the letter and sets the tone.

What to Write in a Letter

The body of your letter is where you’ll add the main points you want to address. All the points should be in an easy-to-follow order so your reader doesn’t lose the overall message of your letter.

Each paragraph should start with an opening sentence, followed by your evidence or additional information. Then you’ll want to close with a concluding sentence that connects to the next paragraph.

The length of your letter can differ depending on what you are writing about. Don’t write too much to make your letter look longer, as you’ll risk losing the reader’s attention. However, you don’t want to leave anything essential out of your letter, either.

If you’re struggling to order your points or know what to say, try using a template to guide you. Just remember, each letter is unique, so don’t rely on a template to write 100% of your letter. You don’t want your letter to sound generic or copied from the internet.

Ways to Sign a Letter

The last part of letter writing is the signature or sign-off. How you sign your letter will depend on the formality of the letter and if you know the recipient.

For formal letters, use “Yours sincerely” when you know the recipient, and “Yours faithfully” when you don’t. If you are writing to an official, such as a politician you will never meet, you can use “Yours truly.”

Sign-offs are not set in stone, though some people might tell you they are. It’s best to use what feels right for your letter based on the formality and tone you’ve used so far.

In an informal or personal letter, you can sign off with something a lot friendlier. You could use “With all my love” or “Your devoted friend.”

If you are typing your letter, you can handwrite your signature under the sign-off to show you have checked it and are confirming the words above are all your own.

For formal letters, include your full name in capital letters under your signature to be clear about who is signing the letter.

If you’re still not sure about how to write a letter, we have some examples to help you get started.

Here is an example of the indented paragraph format:

123 High Street

London, OH 12345

November 23, 2022

Martin Jones

Marketing Director

Advertising Company

456 West Street

London, OH 23456

Dear Mr. M Jones,

I recently saw your television advertisement for the new beauty salon on 7th Street, and I thought you did a great job. I would like to inquire about your rates for a 30-second advertisement for my beauty salon.

Please send me the costs for filming and producing an advertisement for television. I believe this will benefit my business and bring in new clients.

If there is any further information you require for the quotation, please get in touch with me at the above address.

Yours faithfully,

If you’re using the indented paragraph format, indent the initial line. You should then format subsequent paragraphs with indented first lines. The indented paragraph format is a common format used for both business and personal letters. 

Here is an example of the block letter format:

1 New Street

Manhattan, NY 12345

January 3, 2023

Managing Director

Example Company

123 Old Road

Brooklyn, NY 67891

Dear Mr. J Bloggs,

I’m writing to you today to discuss the price increase in my energy bill dated December 30th, 2022. I don’t recall being notified of this increase.

As you did not notify me of the increase, I did not budget for it. I cannot afford the extra amount and would appreciate it if you revert my charge back to the previous amount.

I look forward to hearing from you.

In this format, align everything to the left, including the addresses and the date. You do not need to indent your first line, but you should leave spaces between paragraphs. You’ll see the block letter format used by businesses as a formal letter format.

Here is an example of a simplified style letter format:

Janet Jones

Retail Company HQ

456 New Acre Drive

Denver, CO 12345

March 30, 2022

Store Manager

Retail Company

Colorado Springs, CO 34567

STOCK LEVELS OF BANANAS AND ORANGES

The stock levels of bananas and oranges in your store are getting low. I would recommend you place an order for these items soon to ensure you continue to provide these to your customers.

Please let me know if you cannot place an order for these products before April 5th, 2022.

I look forward to seeing you again on my next store visit. 

Yours sincerely,

The fundamental difference between this format and the others is that it includes a subject line instead of a greeting.

Once you’ve written your first draft of a letter, you’ll want to edit it to ensure it reads correctly and doesn’t have any grammatical errors. That’s where ProWritingAid can help you.

Start by reading your letter aloud, as this will help you spot any glaring errors. Then you can run it through ProWritingAid to see if there’s anything you’ve missed. The Realtime checker picks up on spelling and grammar errors and passive voice. It also shows places where you can improve readability, which is important for your reader to understand what you’re saying.

You can use the Style and Grammar Reports for a more in-depth analysis of your letter. If you are writing business letters, select the specific document type from the drop-down menu in the Realtime sidebar before you run your reports. This will ensure your results focus on the specific requirements for your letter type.

Even if you’re not typing out your letter, write a first draft and edit it before you write the version you’ll be posting. For tips on editing, you can check out some of the other articles on the ProWritingAid blog.

We hope this article has helped you learn how to write a letter that achieves the results you want.

Sarah Oakley

Get started with prowritingaid.

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Essay and dissertation writing skills

Planning your essay

Writing your introduction

Structuring your essay

• Writing essays in science subjects
• Brief video guides to support essay planning and writing
• Writing extended essays and dissertations
• Planning your dissertation writing time

Structuring your dissertation

• Top tips for writing longer pieces of work

Advice on planning and writing essays and dissertations

University essays differ from school essays in that they are less concerned with what you know and more concerned with how you construct an argument to answer the question. This means that the starting point for writing a strong essay is to first unpick the question and to then use this to plan your essay before you start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).

A really good starting point for you are these short, downloadable Tips for Successful Essay Writing and Answering the Question resources. Both resources will help you to plan your essay, as well as giving you guidance on how to distinguish between different sorts of essay questions. 

You may find it helpful to watch this seven-minute video on six tips for essay writing which outlines how to interpret essay questions, as well as giving advice on planning and structuring your writing:

Different disciplines will have different expectations for essay structure and you should always refer to your Faculty or Department student handbook or course Canvas site for more specific guidance.

However, broadly speaking, all essays share the following features:

Essays need an introduction to establish and focus the parameters of the discussion that will follow. You may find it helpful to divide the introduction into areas to demonstrate your breadth and engagement with the essay question. You might define specific terms in the introduction to show your engagement with the essay question; for example, ‘This is a large topic which has been variously discussed by many scientists and commentators. The principal tension is between the views of X and Y who define the main issues as…’ Breadth might be demonstrated by showing the range of viewpoints from which the essay question could be considered; for example, ‘A variety of factors including economic, social and political, influence A and B. This essay will focus on the social and economic aspects, with particular emphasis on…..’

Watch this two-minute video to learn more about how to plan and structure an introduction:

The main body of the essay should elaborate on the issues raised in the introduction and develop an argument(s) that answers the question. It should consist of a number of self-contained paragraphs each of which makes a specific point and provides some form of evidence to support the argument being made. Remember that a clear argument requires that each paragraph explicitly relates back to the essay question or the developing argument.

• Conclusion: An essay should end with a conclusion that reiterates the argument in light of the evidence you have provided; you shouldn’t use the conclusion to introduce new information.
• References: You need to include references to the materials you’ve used to write your essay. These might be in the form of footnotes, in-text citations, or a bibliography at the end. Different systems exist for citing references and different disciplines will use various approaches to citation. Ask your tutor which method(s) you should be using for your essay and also consult your Department or Faculty webpages for specific guidance in your discipline. 

Essay writing in science subjects

If you are writing an essay for a science subject you may need to consider additional areas, such as how to present data or diagrams. This five-minute video gives you some advice on how to approach your reading list, planning which information to include in your answer and how to write for your scientific audience – the video is available here:

A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.

Short videos to support your essay writing skills

There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing, including:

• Approaching different types of essay questions  
• Structuring your essay  
• Writing an introduction  
• Making use of evidence in your essay writing  
• Writing your conclusion

Extended essays and dissertations

Longer pieces of writing like extended essays and dissertations may seem like quite a challenge from your regular essay writing. The important point is to start with a plan and to focus on what the question is asking. A PDF providing further guidance on planning Humanities and Social Science dissertations is available to download.

Planning your time effectively

Try not to leave the writing until close to your deadline, instead start as soon as you have some ideas to put down onto paper. Your early drafts may never end up in the final work, but the work of committing your ideas to paper helps to formulate not only your ideas, but the method of structuring your writing to read well and conclude firmly.

Although many students and tutors will say that the introduction is often written last, it is a good idea to begin to think about what will go into it early on. For example, the first draft of your introduction should set out your argument, the information you have, and your methods, and it should give a structure to the chapters and sections you will write. Your introduction will probably change as time goes on but it will stand as a guide to your entire extended essay or dissertation and it will help you to keep focused.

The structure of  extended essays or dissertations will vary depending on the question and discipline, but may include some or all of the following:

• The background information to - and context for - your research. This often takes the form of a literature review.
• Explanation of the focus of your work.
• Explanation of the value of this work to scholarship on the topic.
• List of the aims and objectives of the work and also the issues which will not be covered because they are outside its scope.

The main body of your extended essay or dissertation will probably include your methodology, the results of research, and your argument(s) based on your findings.

The conclusion is to summarise the value your research has added to the topic, and any further lines of research you would undertake given more time or resources. 

Tips on writing longer pieces of work

Approaching each chapter of a dissertation as a shorter essay can make the task of writing a dissertation seem less overwhelming. Each chapter will have an introduction, a main body where the argument is developed and substantiated with evidence, and a conclusion to tie things together. Unlike in a regular essay, chapter conclusions may also introduce the chapter that will follow, indicating how the chapters are connected to one another and how the argument will develop through your dissertation.

For further guidance, watch this two-minute video on writing longer pieces of work . 

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How to write a letter

HOW TO WRITE A LETTER:  A GUIDE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

In this age of digital communication, writing letters is becoming something of a lost art. Emails and text messages can be sent instantly and for a fraction of the cost good old-fashioned snail mail can offer.

So, why bother teaching letter-writing at all? Well, though electronic ‘letters’ are often freer in formatting and language than physical letters, we can also apply letter-writing rules to electronic media. However, physical letters do offer some distinct benefits of their own too.

A WELL-WRITTEN LETTER CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

Whilst we pride ourselves here on how to write a great essay, information report, or another text type that is primarily used in an educational setting, the ability to craft a powerful letter or email has literally changed people’s lives, altered the course of history and been the difference between life and death in some cases.

It can be the one opportunity to remove all the noise and confusion on any subject area and honestly tell someone how you feel straight from the heart.  Pen to paper.  

For whatever reason, a thousand emails, tweets, and likes will never have the same impact as a well-crafted handwritten letter.  Its very creation and existence show your reader how passionate and genuine about what it contains.

Letters fall under the transactional writing category; if you want to know more about transactional texts, be sure to check out our in-depth guide here.

COMPLETE LETTER WRITING UNIT FOR STUDENTS

Over 100 PAGES of engaging RESOURCES , various letter SAMPLES , LESSON PLANS and INTERACTIVE DIGITAL RESOURCES to teach your students how to write amazing LETTERS and EMAILS .

Teach this life skill with confidence through this excellent ALL-IN-ONE RESOURCE . No preparation is required.

3 REASONS TO TEACH LETTER WRITING

1. the personal touch: .

Those of us who grew up in an age before the internet got going will remember the excitement of waiting for and receiving a letter. Many of us will have had childhood pen pals we never met or received love letters from our teenage sweethearts. Maybe some treasured letters are still securely stored in a bedside drawer.

There is something extremely personal and intimate about the letter that email cannot capture. Letters are physical, and their increasing rarity makes them seem even more intimate today.

In this day and age, receiving a personally written letter is something a unicorn in communication terms. Students who know how to produce a well-crafted letter can use it to their advantage. For example, any business hiring manager will undoubtedly be numbed by the constant torrent of emails flooding their inbox.

That mailed resume accompanied by a handwritten letter that waits for them on their desk in the morning will surely stand out and secure an attentive read. The letter, in its various forms, is guaranteed to stand out and make an impact in an age where the vast majority of communication is digital.

3. Handwriting

Just as letter writing has declined in popularity, so too has the emphasis on well-developed handwriting skills. You can, if you wish, take the opportunity here to have the students work on their handwriting skills.

While students may protest that they can accomplish the task much quicker by word-processing, another benefit of handwriting a letter is that the speed becomes almost meditative. This allows students to focus carefully on their grammar and punctuation without always resorting to the crutch of spell-checkers and grammar correction software.

FORMAL AND INFORMAL LETTER WRITING:  WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

The table below outlines whether your letter should be written formally or informally, with some suggested prompts .  Whilst there are many similarities, a formal letter should always be considered as a document with a real purpose and ramifications.

FORMAL LETTER FEATURES

USED FOR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION THESE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW A PRESCRIBED FORMAT. THEY ARE WRITTEN IN A PASSIVE VOICE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND IN MANY CASES ARE LEGALLY BINDING. SOME EXAMPLES ARE.

INVITATION Make someone feel special about an upcoming event.

APPLICATION Write a professional letter of application for a job or group you wish to join.

REFEREE / REFERENCE Vouch for another’s skills, personality or credibility.

ACCEPTANCE & REJECTION Approve or deny an applicant in a professional manner.

MAKE AN OFFER Make a formal and binding offer in writing.

EXIT / RESIGNATION Formally leave or step down in a professional and dignified manner.

INFORMAL LETTER FEATURES

USED FOR PERSONAL COMMUNICATION THESE LETTERS HAVE NO PRESCRIBED FORMAT AND ARE WRITTEN IN AN ACTIVE VOICE.

THANK YOU Let someone know you appreciate their efforts.

CONGRATULATIONS Acknowledge someone’s achievements in life.

GRIEVANCE / LOSS Acknowledge someones personal loss or suffering and let them know you care.

FRIENDSHIP & LOVE Tell someone how special they are to you and why?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR / MAYOR ETC. Let someone know how their actions and adversely affect you and others.

LETTER TO SELF Give your older or younger self some words of advice and wisdom.

INFORMATIONAL UPDATE Write a letter back home telling them what you have been up to.

HOW TO WRITE FORMAL LETTERS

The writing process begins with planning.

As with all genres of writing, the process of formal letter writing should start with planning. This should involve sketching a brief outline from which to work rather than a comprehensive detailing of minutiae. The plan should include:

• Note addresses, names etc. – who are you writing to?
• Record the purpose of the letter – what do you want to say?
• List points to be made (each will form a paragraph) – how will you say it?
• State action point – what do you want the reader to do?

Formal letters can be written for a wide range of purposes and may come in various shapes, including a letter of complaint, a cover letter accompanying a job application, a letter of invitation, a reference letter, or a proposal letter – to name a few. Though each will adhere to its own rules of formatting and tone when writing formal letters, students should avoid using slang or contractions.

Language should be straightforward and polite. Encourage students to avoid bursts of purple prose in favor of direct, functional language. Usually, a formal letter will be written to achieve a particular end and should be written with that end foremost in mind. Students should avoid meanderings and stay firmly focused on the task at hand.

TIPS FOR WRITING GREAT FORMAL LETTERS

• The writer’s address should be in the top right-hand corner.
• The date should be written below the writer’s address
• The recipient’s name and address are below that on the left-hand side
• Use the correct opening (Dear Sir / Madam, Dear Mrs Ferguson, etc.)
• Use Standard English
• The opening sentence should explain the purpose of the letter
• Each paragraph should make a single specific point
• Use an appropriate formal tone and register in the wording of the letter
• Avoid contractions, slang, and abbreviations
• The concluding ‘action point’ paragraph states what you want the recipient to do
• The formal ending, such as Yours Sincerely or Yours Faithfully

A Note on Salutations

If the student knows the intended recipient’s name, start with Dear Mr. / Mrs Surname and end with Yours Sincerely. If they don’t know the recipient’s name, start with Dear Sir / Madam and end with Yours Faithfully.

Use of Rhetorical Devices

As mentioned, formal letter writing focuses on attempting to convince someone to take some course of action or other. To do this, it is helpful to employ some rhetorical devices to make the writing more persuasive . Some useful techniques to encourage your students to employ include:

Direct Address: Using the pronoun ‘you’ in a formal letter makes the reader feel that you are speaking directly to them. This helps to engage the reader and encourage them to continue reading the letter.

Emotive Language: Where students are trying to convince the reader to take a course of action, the use of emotive language can often be a powerful tool. Students can use either positive or negative colored words to create the desired response in the reader.

Facts and Figures: Another way to persuade and convince is to employ facts and figures to support the points made in the letter.

FORMAL LETTER STUDENT EXAMPLES

How to write an informal letter

Common features of informal letters:.

There are far fewer rules to follow when writing an informal letter, but there are still some practical guidelines to follow that will prove helpful for students engaged in writing informally.

As with any piece of writing, it is important to consider who the audience is and the reason for writing in the first place. In particular, this will help decide the tone and the language register. The more intimate the relationship, the more informal the language can be.

Though the letter will be informal, it will still have a purpose. Information should still be organized into paragraphs, as would be done with a formal, more ‘official’ letter. Students sometimes struggle with this aspect, as they often conflate ‘informal’ with ‘disorganized.’ Making them plan their informal letter before writing can help ensure it is sufficiently organized.

HOW TO START AN INFORMAL LETTER

Informal letters will start with a greeting appropriate to how close the relationship is. For acquaintances, this may be ‘Dear Tom,’ (using the first name instead of the surname) to a very informal ‘Hi Jane,’. Don’t forget the comma after the name!

After the greeting, a general opening sentence should follow. Usually, this will be something like a ‘How are you?’ or a ‘How have you been?’. If the recipient is married or has kids, you may wish to ask how their spouse or children are.

Next, students should state the reason for writing. The language should be open and friendly in tone and, in contrast to the formal letter, colloquial language, idiomatic expressions, and contractions are perfectly okay and even desirable.

Just as the opening salutation to an informal letter is much more relaxed, so too will the closing salutation. There are many possibilities for the students to choose here, and their decision will depend on who they are writing to and their personal preferences. Some examples of possible closings include ‘Love’, ‘Best regards’, ‘All the best’, and ‘Thanks’.

INFORMAL LETTER STUDENT EXAMPLES

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

PRACTICE LETTER WRITING WITH THESE ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS

The most effective way for students to internalize all the features of letter writing, formal or informal, is to gain experience by writing various letters for differing purposes. The following activities offer some suggestions for students to get practising today:

1. FICTION AS A SPRINGBOARD

Have students write as if they were a character from a piece of fiction you have been reading in class. Choosing a dramatic point in the plot , ask students to imagine they are one of the characters writing a letter to another character in the story. This writer may be either formal or informal, depending on the scenario presented. This will give students realistic letter-writing practice while also getting them to engage closely with the text and respond imaginatively to its themes.

2. THE AGONY AUNT

Either offer a range of possible life predicaments or cut out the questions from the ‘agony aunt’ page of a local newspaper. Students must write back offering advice in response to the predicaments expressed in the question or predicament. The response should be written in full letter format. This activity also lends itself to several variations. The response may be written to a close friend, for example, or written from the perspective of a professional agony aunt employing a more formal tone and presentation.

3. A LETTER OF COMPLAINT

Have students think of their favorite candy bar or clothing item. Encourage them to imagine they have bought this product lately and found it to be substandard. Students must write a formal letter of complaint to the manufacturer outlining their complaint and recommending a course of action to satisfactorily resolve that complaint. They must use all the features of a formal letter as outlined above.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HANDWRITTEN LETTERS LOOK OLD AND AUTHENTIC.

• Write in pencil or a calligraphy pen,
• screw them up tightly and carefully unfold and flatten.
• Lightly dab coffee stains over the paper to make it look aged.
• Carefully singe or burn the edges of your paper.
• Add some sepia-filtered photos for effect.

SIGNING-OFF

As students become more confident in their understanding of letter-writing formats, encourage them to exchange letters with each other for peer assessment. You may wish to provide them with a checklist of features to look for while reading over their partner’s work.

Letter-writing can also be a great way to partner up with schools overseas; often, children studying English as a second language will be delighted to receive letters from (and write to) students in English-speaking countries. And though email increasingly encroaches on the traditional territory of the letter, many of the skills garnered in the practice of letter writing are transferable to the modern manifestation. There is ample opportunity here to link letter-writing learning with approaches to writing emails too.

Letter-writing can provide a focus for a wide range of learning objectives while also teaching students valuable practical skills that will serve them well beyond their school years, both in their personal and work lives. And who knows, perhaps in years to come, one of the letters your student writes in your class may become a treasured keepsake in someone’s bedside drawer.

LETTER WRITING GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS (TEMPLATES)

WRITING CHECKLIST & RUBRIC BUNDLE FOR ALL TEXT TYPES

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (92 Reviews)

HOW TO WRITE A FORMAL LETTER TUTORIAL VIDEO

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO LETTER WRITING

Transactional Writing

Personal Narrative Writing Guide

How to Write a Recount Text (And Improve your Writing Skills)

Content for this page has been written by Shane Mac Donnchaidh.  A former principal of an international school and university English lecturer with 15 years of teaching and administration experience.  Editing and support content has been provided by the literacyideas  team.

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Sample Letters

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

If you are using letterhead, do not include the sender's address at the top of the letter; instead, begin with the date.

Block Format

123 Winner's Road New Employee Town, PA 12345

March 16, 2001

Ernie English 1234 Writing Lab Lane Write City, IN 12345

Dear Mr. English:

The first paragraph of a typical business letter is used to state the main point of the letter. Begin with a friendly opening, then quickly transition into the purpose of your letter. Use a couple of sentences to explain the purpose, but do not go in to detail until the next paragraph.

Beginning with the second paragraph, state the supporting details to justify your purpose. These may take the form of background information, statistics or first-hand accounts. A few short paragraphs within the body of the letter should be enough to support your reasoning.

Finally, in the closing paragraph, briefly restate your purpose and why it is important. If the purpose of your letter is employment related, consider ending your letter with your contact information. However, if the purpose is informational, think about closing with gratitude for the reader's time.

Lucy Letter

Modified Block Format

(Tab to center, begin typing) 123 Winner's Road New Employee Town, PA 12345

(Tab to center, begin typing) Sincerely,

(Tab to center, begin typing) Lucy Letter

Semi-Block Format

(Indent) The first paragraph of a typical business letter is used to state the main point of the letter. Begin with a friendly opening, then quickly transition into the purpose of your letter. Use a couple of sentences to explain the purpose, but do not go in to detail until the next paragraph.

(Indent) Beginning with the second paragraph, state the supporting details to justify your purpose. These may take the form of background information, statistics or first-hand accounts. A few short paragraphs within the body of the letter should be enough to support your reasoning.

(Indent) Finally, in the closing paragraph, briefly restate your purpose and why it is important. If the purpose of your letter is employment related, consider ending your letter with your contact information. However, if the purpose is informational, think about closing with gratitude for the reader's time.

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How to Write a Letter: Letter Writing Types and Examples

• Updated on  
• Jan 11, 2024

Whether for an exam or important communication on the professional front, letter writing is both scoring as well as a paramount need in your everyday life. A letter of recommendation a resignation letter or even a relieving letter – all three require good letter-writing skills! Sometimes, writing a simple, informal letter can also be confusing. There can never be sufficient information on how to write the perfect letter along with the right font, spacing, and formatting! So here is a step-by-step guide to help you write or improve your letter-writing skills, for any important day or exam of your life.

This Blog Includes:

What is letter writing, why is it important to know how to write a letter, choose the right type of paper, use the font and format, write sender’s address , specify dateline , come to recipient’s address , insert greeting/salutation , body of letter  , include complimentary close , signature text , attachments , types of letter, what type of letter should you write, what is a formal and informal letter, types of letter writing, write a letter to the editor, application for leave in office, write a letter to your friend, tips on how to write a letter, sending a letter, what’s p.s., the envelope, more topics under writing.

A letter is a type of written communication that can be written by hand or printed on paper. Although it is not required, it is frequently conveyed to the receiver via mail or post in an envelope. A letter, or a written discussion between two parties, is any such message that is sent through the mail.

The art of letter writing has taken a backseat now that E-mails (Advantages and Disadvantages), SMS, and other means of communication have become the norm. However, letters are still used for a lot of our communication, especially official communication. Letters are still a crucial means of communication, whether it’s a cover letter for a job, a bank reminder, or a college acceptance letter. This is why we must understand the nuances of letter writing.

Also Read: Letter of Explanation

Everyone needs to know how to write a letter, whether it’s for professional or personal reasons. These letters may be short, informal emails at times. They’ll be well-polished for corporate correspondence at other times. Today, printed letters are commonly used for professional or commercial communications, therefore knowing how to compose a letter for professional purposes is essential. It’s especially vital to write a letter appropriately if you’re sending a printed copy to the recipient rather than an email.

Also Read: How to Write a Motivation Letter with Examples & Samples

How to Write a Letter?: Step-by-Step Guide

The following are the general guidelines for writing a letter:

You should type and print your letter on plain white paper. You may wish to print on nice resume paper depending on the circumstances for example if you’re sending a letter of reference or a cover letter with your resume. If you’re writing a business letter on behalf of your company, it’s a good idea to use company letterhead.

Your letter should be typed and printed on plain white paper. Depending on the circumstances—for example, if you’re sending a letter of reference or a cover letter with your resume —you might want to print on excellent resume paper. It’s a good idea to utilize company letterhead when sending a business letter on behalf of your company.

To begin, write your complete address in the upper left-hand corner, including your entire name, street address, city, state, and zip code. Learn how to write an address properly if you’re not comfortable with it.

Specify the date by skipping a line. Use the date you’re writing the letter.

Place the recipient’s entire address after skipping a line. The firm name, the recipient’s name and title, and the postal address must all be included in a professional letter. There’s no reason to mention the firm name or job position in an informal, personal letter.

To put the welcome, skip one more line. This is referred to as salutation. In a formal letter, you say “Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs. Last Name:” After the greeting, formal letters require a colon, whereas informal ones demand a comma. It’s acceptable to use the recipient’s first name followed by a comma in an informal letter.

Start the letter by skipping a line. Separate your thoughts into paragraphs in the body of your letter. You should never write a large block of text in one sitting. Begin a new paragraph for each new collection of thoughts or ideas. Between paragraphs, leave a blank line.

To incorporate a complimentary close, skip one of your final lines. “Sincerely,” “Yours truly,” “Regards,” or something similar can be used as a closure. Whether the letter is official or casual, a comma should always follow the word or phrase you choose to close it.

Skip three lines (where your handwritten signature will be inserted) and input your entire name. On the next line of a formal letter, you should also add your job title.

Skip one more line and type “Enclosure” if you’re including any attachments with your letter. If there are multiple attachments, use parentheses to indicate how many there are, as in “Enclosures (4).”

Also Read: How to Write a Letter of Resignation

Here are the different types of letters:

• Chain letter
• Letters patent
• Audio letter
• Cover letter
• Recommendation Letter and the closely related employment reference letter
• Letter of credence
• Crossed letter
• Informal letter
• Poison pen letter
• Business letter
• Form letter
• Letter of intent
• Hybrid mail (semi-electronic delivery)
• Letter of thanks
• Dear John letter
• Love letter
• Letter of interest
• Cease and desist letter
• Complaint letter
• Query letter
• Letter of resignation
• Letter to the editor
• National Letter of Intent
• Open letter
• Letter of introduction
• Letter of marque

In this game, there are no hard and fast rules. You’ll want to employ a different letter-writing structure depending on who you’re writing to. The greatest choice is usually a casual discussion with a friend or close relative. Many different types of letters can be written for a close family or acquaintance. Here are a few examples:

• Handwritten letters
• Emailed letters
• Typed social media messages
• Cover letters
• Letters of intent
• Value proposition letters
• Business memorandum letters
• Promotion letters
• Reference letters
• Resignation letters
• Thank-you letters

Also Read: Reference Letter vs Letter of Recommendation

Let us have a look at some significant differences between formal and informal types of letters: 

Let us talk about the different types of Letter Writing in a broader spectrum of formal and informal letters. Let us check some of the types of letter writing other than formal and informal letters:

• Business Letter: This letter is written for business purposes and contains information like quotations, orders, claims, complaints, letters for collection, etc. These letters are extremely formal and follow a proper structure
• Official Letter: This letter is written to inform offices, branches, and subordinates. These are for official information like rules, regulations, events, procedures, etc
• Social Letter: A social letter is a personal letter written on the occasion of a special event. This includes invitations, congratulatory letters, condolence letters, etc
• Circular Letter: A circular letter announces information to a large number of people. The letter is circulated to a large group to share information on change of address, change in management, the retirement of a partner etc.
• Employment Letter: It is the type of letter that is written for the employment process like a joining letter, promotion letter, application letter, etc

Must Read: How to Write a Joining Letter?

Formal Letter Writing

While writing a formal letter, it is mandatory to stick to the format and follow a subtle and professional tone as these letters are written for official purposes and contain a professional issue to talk about. Following is a format of formal letter writing: 

• Sender’s Address : Mention the complete and accurate sender’s address in the top left section.
• Date: It is mandatory to put in the date just below the address.
• Reciever’s Address: The appropriate address of the receiver has to be mentioned in a similar order to the sender’s with the exact designation of the concerned person.
• Subject: The subject is a one-line summary of the issue that is mentioned in the letter. It should be written very briefly within one line.
• Greetings: Keeping in mind that it is a formal letter, the salutation must be formal and respectful. You can use Sir or Madam in this case. 
• Letter Body: It is the most important part of the letter. You can divide the content into two or three paragraphs as per the details. It should be formal and to the point.
• Signature: While closing the letter, you can use ‘Yours Faithfully’ and then mention your name at the end. 

Also Read: Formal Letter Format, Types, Samples, and Writing Tips

To clear all your letter-writing doubts, given below is a sample of how to craft an impeccable formal letter to the editor:  

Here is a sample Leave Letter for working professionals:

Also Read: Leave Application Format for Office, School & College

Exploring Letter Writing for English? Don’t forget to go through Message Writing: Examples, Format & Samples . 

Informal Letter Writing

As such, there is no strict format for writing an informal letter but it is advised to follow the usual pattern. As mentioned above, an informal letter is written to friends, relatives, classmates, etc. If you want to learn and score well in your English exam, here is a general pattern of informal letter writing that you can follow:

• Address : Begin the letter by writing your address on the left-hand side of the sheet. It is mandatory to mention the address so that the receiver can reply and it is written on the top left.
• Date: Immediately after the address, the date has to be written. It is compulsory to write and it should be in an expanded format.
• Salutation: Be it informal or formal letter writing, you should greet the person you are writing the letter to. For example, if you are writing a letter to your friend then, you can use ‘Dear Kaysha’ . 
• First Paragraph : Since it is the introductory paragraph, you can start by asking about their well-being in a lighter and casual tone.
• Second Paragraph: This is the main body where you can state your affairs. You can use a friendly tone for friends but if you are writing to an elderly relative, the tone should be polite and subtle.
• Third Paragraph: It is the last paragraph where you have to summarise the message you want to convey through the letter. Conclude it with a goodbye message followed by a short statement mentioning that you await the reply.
• Signature: While signing off, you can use a phrase like Best, Kindly, Lots of Love, etc.

Bonus:  

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Here is a sample for a letter to a friend:

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A well-written letter can ensure that you pass the right information to people. For every letter, the method changes. But there are a few things you must know about:

• You must identify the type of letter you are writing
• Ensure that the letter has a proper introduction and conclusion
• Establish the intent of the letter
• Be conscious of the language you use. It changes as per the type of letter you write
• The length of the letter should be optimal. Not too long for the reader to get bored or too short that you are unable to share the information itself

The most difficult portion is over once you’ve determined that the envelope is the correct type. Now all you have to do is mail it. (You can always deliver it yourself if it’s a personal letter.) Simply write the intended recipient’s name on the outside of the envelope in this scenario. Write your name and address in the top left-hand corner or use a mailing label. Carefully write the recipient’s address in the centre of the envelope. International letters should include the country for both the destination and return address, in addition to the state abbreviation and zip code. The cost of postage varies. For current pricing, see the USPS website, or use a forever stamp for US destinations. 

Make sure everything on the outside of the envelope is right. If that’s the case, fold your letter and neatly insert it inside. Seal it only after you’ve double-checked that you’ve included all of the pages you want to send. Isn’t it satisfying to send a letter that you know has been meticulously prepared? A well-written letter, without a doubt, has the best chance of succeeding.

Also, Read: How to Write a Motivation Letter for PhD Programs?

The abbreviation P.S. stands for postscript. It’s something you add after the letter is finished at the last minute. In most cases, postscripts aren’t used in formal letters; if you need to add something, you’ll have to rewrite the entire text to include the new information.

A first-class letter can only be 3.5 ounces in weight in the United States. If your letter is longer than three pages or is printed on thick paper, you’ll need to weigh it to ensure it fulfils the standards. The envelope’s size and shape are also important. It must be rectangular and less than 611 inches in length, or it will be returned to you by the post office.

You can check out the writing formats by clicking on additional topics below.

• Feature Writing
• Summary Writing
• Difference Between Precis and Summary
• Leave Application
• Message Writing
• Precis Writing
• Travel Writer
• Report Writing
• Script Writing 
• Article Writing

Isn’t it satisfying to send a nicely crafted letter? A well-written letter, without a doubt, has the best chance of succeeding. To ensure that your letter truly shines, it must be error-free and create the appropriate tone. Use any writing assistance to detect spelling and grammatical errors, and provide formatting tips and guidance to help you produce clear, easy-to-follow emails that keep your recipient’s attention. Write the perfect letter and stand out for your amazing choice of words and structure.

Related Articles

Ans. To start writing a letter, you will have to know who you are writing to and the reason behind the letter. With that in mind, you can start drafting your letter with the Sender’s address on the left-hand side of the paper at the beginning, followed by the date.

Ans. Formal Letters and Informal Letters are the two basic styles of letter writing. Informal letters are written for whatever you wish to tell your friends or family, whereas formal letters are prepared for official purposes.

Ans. A letter can be divided into six halves. The sender’s address and date, the receiver’s address and date, the salutation, the body of the letter, the complimentary close, and the signature are all included.

Ans. The five steps of writing a letter are – writing the name, contact information, and date, writing the receiver’s name and information, writing the greeting and main body of the letter, writing complimentary closure, your name, and signature, and sending the letter.

Ans. The three types of letters are formal letters, semi-formal letters, and informal letters.

Thus, letter writing is an art in which one can excel with sufficient practice. If you are clueless about how to proceed after class 12th, then take the assistance of the professionals at Leverage Edu who will not only guide you in choosing the right university but will also help in completing the admission-related formalities!

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• Knowledge Base
• How to structure an essay: Templates and tips

How to Structure an Essay | Tips & Templates

Published on September 18, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction , a body , and a conclusion . But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body.

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Table of contents

The basics of essay structure, chronological structure, compare-and-contrast structure, problems-methods-solutions structure, signposting to clarify your structure, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay structure.

There are two main things to keep in mind when working on your essay structure: making sure to include the right information in each part, and deciding how you’ll organize the information within the body.

Parts of an essay

The three parts that make up all essays are described in the table below.

Order of information

You’ll also have to consider how to present information within the body. There are a few general principles that can guide you here.

The first is that your argument should move from the simplest claim to the most complex . The body of a good argumentative essay often begins with simple and widely accepted claims, and then moves towards more complex and contentious ones.

For example, you might begin by describing a generally accepted philosophical concept, and then apply it to a new topic. The grounding in the general concept will allow the reader to understand your unique application of it.

The second principle is that background information should appear towards the beginning of your essay . General background is presented in the introduction. If you have additional background to present, this information will usually come at the start of the body.

The third principle is that everything in your essay should be relevant to the thesis . Ask yourself whether each piece of information advances your argument or provides necessary background. And make sure that the text clearly expresses each piece of information’s relevance.

The sections below present several organizational templates for essays: the chronological approach, the compare-and-contrast approach, and the problems-methods-solutions approach.

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The chronological approach (sometimes called the cause-and-effect approach) is probably the simplest way to structure an essay. It just means discussing events in the order in which they occurred, discussing how they are related (i.e. the cause and effect involved) as you go.

A chronological approach can be useful when your essay is about a series of events. Don’t rule out other approaches, though—even when the chronological approach is the obvious one, you might be able to bring out more with a different structure.

Explore the tabs below to see a general template and a specific example outline from an essay on the invention of the printing press.

• Thesis statement
• Discussion of event/period
• Consequences
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement
• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages
• Background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press
• Thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation
• High levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe
• Literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites
• Consequence: this discouraged political and religious change
• Invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg
• Implications of the new technology for book production
• Consequence: Rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible
• Trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention
• Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation
• Consequence: The large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics
• Summarize the history described
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period

Essays with two or more main subjects are often structured around comparing and contrasting . For example, a literary analysis essay might compare two different texts, and an argumentative essay might compare the strengths of different arguments.

There are two main ways of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay: the alternating method, and the block method.

Alternating

In the alternating method, each paragraph compares your subjects in terms of a specific point of comparison. These points of comparison are therefore what defines each paragraph.

The tabs below show a general template for this structure, and a specific example for an essay comparing and contrasting distance learning with traditional classroom learning.

• Synthesis of arguments
• Topical relevance of distance learning in lockdown
• Increasing prevalence of distance learning over the last decade
• Thesis statement: While distance learning has certain advantages, it introduces multiple new accessibility issues that must be addressed for it to be as effective as classroom learning
• Classroom learning: Ease of identifying difficulties and privately discussing them
• Distance learning: Difficulty of noticing and unobtrusively helping
• Classroom learning: Difficulties accessing the classroom (disability, distance travelled from home)
• Distance learning: Difficulties with online work (lack of tech literacy, unreliable connection, distractions)
• Classroom learning: Tends to encourage personal engagement among students and with teacher, more relaxed social environment
• Distance learning: Greater ability to reach out to teacher privately
• Sum up, emphasize that distance learning introduces more difficulties than it solves
• Stress the importance of addressing issues with distance learning as it becomes increasingly common
• Distance learning may prove to be the future, but it still has a long way to go

In the block method, each subject is covered all in one go, potentially across multiple paragraphs. For example, you might write two paragraphs about your first subject and then two about your second subject, making comparisons back to the first.

The tabs again show a general template, followed by another essay on distance learning, this time with the body structured in blocks.

• Point 1 (compare)
• Point 2 (compare)
• Point 3 (compare)
• Point 4 (compare)
• Advantages: Flexibility, accessibility
• Disadvantages: Discomfort, challenges for those with poor internet or tech literacy
• Advantages: Potential for teacher to discuss issues with a student in a separate private call
• Disadvantages: Difficulty of identifying struggling students and aiding them unobtrusively, lack of personal interaction among students
• Advantages: More accessible to those with low tech literacy, equality of all sharing one learning environment
• Disadvantages: Students must live close enough to attend, commutes may vary, classrooms not always accessible for disabled students
• Advantages: Ease of picking up on signs a student is struggling, more personal interaction among students
• Disadvantages: May be harder for students to approach teacher privately in person to raise issues

An essay that concerns a specific problem (practical or theoretical) may be structured according to the problems-methods-solutions approach.

This is just what it sounds like: You define the problem, characterize a method or theory that may solve it, and finally analyze the problem, using this method or theory to arrive at a solution. If the problem is theoretical, the solution might be the analysis you present in the essay itself; otherwise, you might just present a proposed solution.

The tabs below show a template for this structure and an example outline for an essay about the problem of fake news.

• Introduce the problem
• Provide background
• Describe your approach to solving it
• Define the problem precisely
• Describe why it’s important
• Indicate previous approaches to the problem
• Present your new approach, and why it’s better
• Apply the new method or theory to the problem
• Indicate the solution you arrive at by doing so
• Assess (potential or actual) effectiveness of solution
• Describe the implications
• Problem: The growth of “fake news” online
• Prevalence of polarized/conspiracy-focused news sources online
• Thesis statement: Rather than attempting to stamp out online fake news through social media moderation, an effective approach to combating it must work with educational institutions to improve media literacy
• Definition: Deliberate disinformation designed to spread virally online
• Popularization of the term, growth of the phenomenon
• Previous approaches: Labeling and moderation on social media platforms
• Critique: This approach feeds conspiracies; the real solution is to improve media literacy so users can better identify fake news
• Greater emphasis should be placed on media literacy education in schools
• This allows people to assess news sources independently, rather than just being told which ones to trust
• This is a long-term solution but could be highly effective
• It would require significant organization and investment, but would equip people to judge news sources more effectively
• Rather than trying to contain the spread of fake news, we must teach the next generation not to fall for it

Signposting means guiding the reader through your essay with language that describes or hints at the structure of what follows.  It can help you clarify your structure for yourself as well as helping your reader follow your ideas.

The essay overview

In longer essays whose body is split into multiple named sections, the introduction often ends with an overview of the rest of the essay. This gives a brief description of the main idea or argument of each section.

The overview allows the reader to immediately understand what will be covered in the essay and in what order. Though it describes what  comes later in the text, it is generally written in the present tense . The following example is from a literary analysis essay on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

Transitions

Transition words and phrases are used throughout all good essays to link together different ideas. They help guide the reader through your text, and an essay that uses them effectively will be much easier to follow.

Various different relationships can be expressed by transition words, as shown in this example.

Because Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany. Although it was an outcome the Allies had hoped to avoid, they were prepared to back up their ultimatum in order to combat the existential threat posed by the Third Reich.

Transition sentences may be included to transition between different paragraphs or sections of an essay. A good transition sentence moves the reader on to the next topic while indicating how it relates to the previous one.

… Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

However , considering the issue of personal interaction among students presents a different picture.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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The enduring power of letter writing in the digital age

In an era where digital communication has become the norm, the practice of writing letters by hand might seem outdated, even quaint. However, as World Letter Writing Day on September 1st reminds us, this seemingly old-fashioned activity offers unique and powerful benefits. From nurturing mental well-being to enhancing critical communication skills, the act of putting pen to paper—or stylus to tablet—can still have a profound impact on our lives.

Mental health benefits through deliberate communication

Letter writing, unlike digital communication, demands a slower, more thoughtful approach. The process of crafting a letter by hand encourages a person to reflect deeply on their thoughts and emotions. This form of introspection can have significant mental health benefits. Studies have shown that writing about one's feelings can help manage stress, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and even improve mood. The act of writing a letter to a loved one or even to oneself fosters a sense of connection and understanding, which is crucial for emotional well-being.

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Moreover, letter writing allows for a pause in the hectic pace of modern life. In an age where notifications constantly vie for our attention, the deliberate nature of letter writing—where one must consider each word and sentence—can serve as a form of mindfulness, promoting a sense of calm and focus. This deliberate pace contrasts starkly with the rapid-fire exchanges typical of instant messaging, offering a sanctuary from the demands of immediacy.

Skill development through structured expression

Beyond its mental health benefits, letter writing plays a critical role in the development of essential communication skills. For young children, the practice of writing letters helps hone their spelling, grammar, and sentence structure in a meaningful context. Unlike the shorthand and often fragmented language used in texting, letter writing requires the writer to organize their thoughts coherently, resulting in the development of stronger writing skills over time.

For adults and professionals, regular letter writing can refine communication skills crucial in both academic and professional settings. The ability to convey ideas clearly and persuasively on paper is a valuable asset in any field. Furthermore, letter writing encourages creativity and originality, allowing individuals to express themselves in ways that might not be possible through digital mediums.

The evolution of letter writing in the digital space

While traditional letter writing remains valuable, it has inevitably evolved with the advent of digital technology. One such innovation is the Lettre app , designed exclusively for the Apple iPad. Lettre merges the nostalgic charm of handwritten letters with the convenience and reach of digital communication, offering a unique platform for deliberate communication in the modern era.

The app not only allows users to write and send digital letters but also integrates features that enhance the traditional letter-writing experience. Users can collect digital stamps, each uniquely designed and serving as more than just a decorative element—they are collectible assets within the app's ecosystem. These stamps can be traded, gifted, or appraised, creating a vibrant community of stamp enthusiasts.

In addition, Lettre supports the creation of global pen-pal connections, enabling users to engage with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, further broadening their horizons. This 'slow messaging' concept helps build deeper, more meaningful connections that are often lost in the immediacy of modern communication.

Letter writing may have transformed with time, but its essence remains the same. Whether through the tactile pleasure of paper and ink or the innovative digital platforms that bring letters into the 21st century, this practice continues to offer a meaningful way to connect, reflect, and grow. As we embrace these modern tools, we should not lose sight of the timeless benefits that come from a thoughtfully written letter, in whatever form it takes.

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The Hechinger Report

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OPINION: English language arts instruction needs to change immediately. Here are some ways that can work

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In many middle and high schools, students spend hundreds of hours a year on English language arts (ELA) assignments that don’t ask enough of them. Too many students are working on below-grade-level tasks using below-grade-level texts. 

That approach, while well-intentioned, is not closing gaps or preparing students for life after high school. Is it any wonder that reading scores haven’t improved in 30 years?

Students from low-income families, multilingual learners and those with disabilities are even less likely to receive tasks appropriate for their grade level. Yet research shows that grade-level tasks and texts should be the start — not the finish — to strong instruction . 

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data indicates that only 37 percent of 12th graders are academically prepared for college in reading, and employers say that young people haven’t learned the reading, writing and verbal communication skills most important to workplace success. 

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Reading classic texts and learning to write the five-paragraph essay are both important, but students need much more. Teachers need training and help to understand grade-level standards and how to assign authentic writing tasks without leveling down content — something many New York City and Los Angeles public school teachers had a chance to learn recently via an intensive literacy project.

In the project, students were given focused grade-level tasks and were asked to read related grade-level complex texts and write in response to those texts. An independent evaluation that followed the project found that those students gained an additional four to nine months of learning compared to their peers. This happened with just two to 12 weeks of grade-level instruction. 

Those and other results, from a decade of research with 100,000 educators and 2.4 million students , continue to show that this standards-first approach to curriculum, instruction and professional development can help students effectively double their growth each school year.

So, why aren’t more schools doing this? There are many reasons. Here are a few:

• There is a culture of low expectations. While 82 percent of teachers support their state’s standards, only 44 percent expect their students to have success with them, one study found. Even when students earned A’s and B’s, most were not demonstrating grade-level work on their assignments. 
• Teachers are not assigning grade-level tasks and texts. The Common Core State Standards were released in 2010, and ELA teachers still often assign tasks and texts based on independent reading levels rather than on a student’s grade level. Research shows that since Covid this practice has actually been increasing .
• Teacher training is inadequate. Despite the fact that $18 billion is spent annually on professional development, most teachers don’t believe it’s helping — and they’re right. One study found that teachers were spending approximately 19 days a year on such training, but it did not appear to substantially improve their instruction and student outcomes weren’t improving. 
• Many ELA curriculum programs are weak. Teachers spend too much time sifting through resources that claim to be “standards-aligned” or “standards-compliant.” To become truly standards-driven, teachers need materials that are intentionally designed from specific standards, allowing students to build the cognitive skills and engage in the practice needed to successfully respond to grade-level tasks. 

Related: Should teachers customize their lessons or just stick to the ‘script’? 

To turn things around, students and teachers must be supported with pathways to meet grade-level standards and develop a better sense of what high-quality teaching looks like . Here are a few ways to help:

• Start with grade-level tasks on day 1, not by day 180. Grade-level thinking is not a destination; it requires daily practice. Teachers (and curricula) need to assume that every student can read, think and write about rich and complex ideas using complex texts. Teachers and curriculum programs can target instruction to meet individual needs while engaging all learners in the same rigorous grade-level texts and tasks. 
• Shift the focus from what students consume to what they produce. In a standards-driven curriculum, the focus isn’t on the text; it’s on how students demonstrate grade-level thinking through the speaking and writing they do in response to text-based ideas. This changes the classroom focus from what students consume (specific texts) to what they create (specific oral and written products). In addition, when students are given opportunities to create different authentic writing products for different audiences and purposes, it helps them build skills they can transfer to real-world settings.
• Build teachers’ knowledge and skills. Teachers need training that is easily accessible and useful in their daily work. Professional development should be embedded in curriculum programs so that teachers can deepen their understanding of the standards and be able to recognize students’ demonstrations of specific standards. Curricula can and must intentionally build teacher knowledge and expertise so teachers learn while they teach.

Any ELA classroom can be transformed into a highly effective learning environment. Research demonstrates that when a student is given grade-level tasks driven from grade-level standards, and their teacher is trained to teach those standards, both will rise to the challenge. The time to insist on demonstrable learning outcomes is now. Teachers and students are ready to do the work.

Suzanne Simons is the chief literacy and languages officer for Carnegie Learning . She is also a senior advisor with the nonprofit Literacy Design Collaborative and was its founding chief academic officer. 

This story about ELA instruction was produced by The Hechinger Report , a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for Hechinger’s weekly newsletter .

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Letters from Our Readers

Caring for cats.

Still reeling from the recent loss of two beloved cats, I wondered if I had the stomach to read Sloane Crosley’s piece about the death of her own cat (“ The Tail End ,” August 12th). To my relief, I was buoyed by her words, which radiated a love instantly recognizable to other ailurophiles. Both of my twenty-year-old companions left swiftly, with help from magnificent vets, while I rocked them in my arms and felt the sickening lurch of our power imbalance. Since then, I have gained some comfort from the knowledge that, from the moment they entered my home, my cats knew adoration, care, and delicious snacks. In their last hours, they had no notion of regret, for the past or for a stolen future. We just curled up, like normal, until the purring stopped. Would that we were all afforded an end with such grace. Condolences to Crosley, and thank you for expressing so well the nuanced grief that accompanies the loss of an animal.

Anna Caswell Austin,Texas

Nothing but the Truth

I was surprised to see, in Clare Malone’s Profile of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., that the magazine published without challenge a quotation from a former managing editor of Rolling Stone which stated that Kennedy’s writing was full of factual errors “because he’s not a journalist. He’s a lawyer. He’s more about making arguments than about trying to communicate the truth” (“ The Inheritor ,” August 12th). Contrary to popular opinion, lawyers have a professional obligation not to lie or to misrepresent. That Kennedy wrote, and that Rolling Stone published, an article “riddled with errors,” which “falsely reported” and “misrepresented” a number of facts and which “required a number of major corrections,” cannot and should not be attributed to his status as a lawyer.

Margaret Raymond Warren P. Knowles Chair and Professor of Law University of Wisconsin Law School Madison, Wis.

Writing About Infidelity

As the journalist who runs chumplady.com, the infidelity-support blog that Parul Sehgal derides in her review of Sarah Manguso’s book “Liars,” I was surprised to find myself characterized in The New Yorker as some sort of snarky Svengali who warped Manguso’s views on infidelity ( Books , August 12th). I can tell you with authority that scores of women will see themselves in the toxically lopsided marriage described in Manguso’s novel and will applaud her truthtelling. But I was even more surprised that Sehgal would attack an author’s former online support group. Does she always probe the acknowledgments to make sense of her authors? I don’t fault Sehgal for being tone-deaf about the pain of betrayal—I would never wish that kind of understanding on her. But I do fault her apparent lack of empathy and curiosity.

Tracy Schorn Waterford, Va.

Art in Print

It’s interesting that the print version of Jackson Arn’s thoughtful description of the Surrealists should unintentionally present a Surrealist touch (“ The Art World ,” August 12th). The much discussed self-portrait by Leonora Carrington is so severely cropped that it no longer includes a section of the painting which Arn focusses on. Unfamiliar with the work, I looked in vain for the details described. I cleaned my glasses. Luckily, I decided to Google the painting. Imagine my surprise. In full, Carrington’s work is much richer. And Arn’s point was finally revealed.

Bob Alley Barrington, R.I.

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