Introduction:

Informal letters are friendly letters that we write to friends and family members on a personal
basis.
In addition to giving news, they are often used to give information, congratulate, give advice
and expressing concern.

Step by step

1. Write the address of sender on the right hand corner

Examples:
Taman Melawati,
PO Box 221, 99808,
Tenom, Sabah.

OR

332, Taman Jutaria

11992, Sarawak.
2. Write the date bellow the address

Example: 23 July 2017

3. Salutations with the name of the person you are writing to

Examples:

Dear Maria, Dear Aunt Alice, Dear Mum

4. Opening

Useful phrases for the opening

How are you? / How have the family been? / I hope you are well.
Thank you / Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter / postcard.
It was good / nice / great to hear from you again.
I was so surprised to hear that...
I’m sorry I haven’t written / haven't been in touch for such a long time.
It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you're well / you and your family are well.
How are things? / How are you? / How’s it going?

5. State the purpose of your writing

Useful phrases to state the purpose of your writing

Referring to news
Great news about … Glad to hear that … Sorry to hear about …

Giving news
Listen, did I tell you about …? You’ll never believe what …
Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that …
I thought you might be interested to hear about / know that …
By the way, have you heard about / did you know that …?

Apologies
I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu.
I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was busy with my new job.

Invitations
I’m / We’re having a party on Friday 19th and I / we hope you’ll be able to come.
Would you like to come / go to see ‘Room With a View’ with me at the weekend?
I was wondering if you’d like to go to the theatre / come on holiday with us.
Could you let me / us know if you can come / you’d like to join us?
Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come.
Thank you for asking / inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …

Requests
I’m writing to ask for your help / you (if you could do me) a favour.
I wonder if / I was wondering if you could help me / do me a favour.
I hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …?
I’d be very / really / terribly grateful if you could …
 Thank you / Congratulations / Good Luck
I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality / the wonderful present.
It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you.
I really appreciated all your help / advice.
Congratulations on passing your exams / your excellent exam results!
I wish you good luck / Good luck in / with your exams / your driving test / your interview.
Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do well / pass.
Do be on time, won’t you, and don’t forget to …

Making suggestions and recommendations

Why don’t you …? / Maybe you could …? / How about …?
You can’t leave New York without (...doing sth)
I’m sure you will enjoy (...doing sth). If you like, we can …
Do visit ... / Don’t forget to ...

6. Contents/Body

Write in paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain new theme

7. Closing remarks

Examples:
Give a reason why you're ending the letter:
Anyway, I must go and get on with my work! / I guess it's time I got on with that studying I've
been avoiding.

Send greetings and/or make reference for future contact:

Give my love / regards to... / Say hello to... / Anyway, don't forget to let me know the dates of
the party. / I'll try and phone you at the weekend to check the times. / We must try and meet up
soon. / I can't wait to hear from you / Look forward to seeing you again / Hope to hear from you
soon / See you soon / Write soon

8. End of letter
Write you end of letter on right hand corner.
Examples:Yours Sincerely, Yours affectionately(for closer person), Your loving
daughter/son, Your cousin
Make sure to write your name as clear as possible instead of just some random signature
scribble
Tips and Important Notes
1. Read the questions carefully
2. The tone of the letter can be as personal as possible BUT remember that yo are answering
a question in an examination.
3. If you are writing to a friend, the tone is casual.
4. If you are writing to someone older, the tone is polite.
5. Use casual or informal language, for example, ‘I’ve’, ‘I’m’
FAQ: Can I use the terms ‘wanna’, ‘gonna’, ‘gotta’, and so on in my essay?Answer: NO. Not
recommended.
6. Organise your letter into paragraphs for easier marking experience for your teacher.
7. Be polite even if you are writing to a friend.
8. Keep your writing content positive.
9. Reread your essay after writing every paragraphs to avoid grammar errors.
10. Include idioms!
11. Manage your time properly so you won’t be rushing later
12. Add your own points
 P.O. Box 445,
Kampung Amboi 2,
Tenom, Sabah.
21 July 2016
Dear Razif,

I was disappointed to hear from Mum that you got into trouble with your discipline teacher. I
was surprised to hear it, as I know that you do like your school and have done well in your exams
so far. Mum said that you have to take extra classes now as a punishment. It seems not bad and I
hope you take it in good spirit.

Please do not skip classes again. It is a big mistake. Mum and Dad trust you to attend
classes and do well while they work hard to earn money. You will let them down badly if you do not
do what is expected of you. As it is, Mum was quite upset.

When you miss classes, you will find it hard to follow your lessons. This will become a
bigger problem when you cannot finish your homework or projects and lose marks in the school
assessment. Eventually, you will feel overwhelmed at the work you have to put in to catch up.

I don’t have to tell you that you are starting a bad habit by cutting classes. You’re the one
who is earning the bad implications out of this. Even the teachers will have a poor impression of
you.

You have been given a one in a million chance to study in an excellent school. So take
this golden opportunity well. Second chances are rare and hard to come by.

Do you realize that your careless actions may be reflected in your testimonial? You will
need a good testimonial to enter a good university, which will also allow you to get a job in the
future. Don’t spoil your chance by acting foolishly. There is plenty of time for you to enjoy without
cutting classes.

I am sure you will act responsibly and be more conscientious and hard-working. This is
your future we are talking about, so please don’t play truant again. No use looking back in regret
one day.

Do well, Razif, and I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,
Michele
-MR
Introduction:

Informal letters are friendly letters that we write to friends and family members on a personal basis.

In addition to giving news, they are often used to give information, congratulate, give advice and
expressing concern.

Step by step

1. Write the address of sender on the right hand corner

Examples:

Taman Melawati,

PO Box 221, 99808,

Tenom, Sabah.

OR

332, Taman Jutaria

11992, Sarawak.

2. Write the date bellow the address

Example: 23 July 2017

3. Salutations with the name of the person you are writing to

Examples:

Dear Maria, Dear Aunt Alice, Dear Mum

4. Opening
Useful phrases for the opening

§ How are you? / How have the family been? / I hope you are well.

§ Thank you / Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter / postcard.

§ It was good / nice / great to hear from you again.

§ I was so surprised to hear that...

§ I’m sorry I haven’t written / haven't been in touch for such a long time.

§ It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you're well / you and your family are well.

§ How are things? / How are you? / How’s it going?

5. State the purpose of your writing

Useful phrases to state the purpose of your writing

Referring to news

§ Great news about … Glad to hear that … Sorry to hear about …

Giving news

§ Listen, did I tell you about …? You’ll never believe what …

§ Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that …

§ I thought you might be interested to hear about / know that …

§ By the way, have you heard about / did you know that …?

Apologies

§ I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu.

§ I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was busy with my new job.

Invitations

§ I’m / We’re having a party on Friday 19th and I / we hope you’ll be able to come.
§ Would you like to come / go to see ‘Room With a View’ with me at the weekend?

§ I was wondering if you’d like to go to the theatre / come on holiday with us.

§ Could you let me / us know if you can come / you’d like to join us?

§ Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come.

§ Thank you for asking / inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …

Requests

§ I’m writing to ask for your help / you (if you could do me) a favour.

§ I wonder if / I was wondering if you could help me / do me a favour.

§ I hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …?

§ I’d be very / really / terribly grateful if you could …

Thank you / Congratulations / Good Luck

§ I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality / the wonderful present.

§ It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you.

§ I really appreciated all your help / advice.

§ Congratulations on passing your exams / your excellent exam results!

§ I wish you good luck / Good luck in / with your exams / your driving test / your interview.

§ Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do well / pass.

§ Do be on time, won’t you, and don’t forget to …

Making suggestions and recommendations

§ Why don’t you …? / Maybe you could …? / How about …?

§ You can’t leave New York without (...doing sth)

§ I’m sure you will enjoy (...doing sth). If you like, we can …

§ Do visit ... / Don’t forget to ...

6. Contents/Body

Write in paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain new theme

7. Closing remarks

Examples:

Give a reason why you're ending the letter:

Anyway, I must go and get on with my work! / I guess it's time I got on with that studying I've been
avoiding.

Send greetings and/or make reference for future contact:

Give my love / regards to... / Say hello to... / Anyway, don't forget to let me know the dates of the
party. / I'll try and phone you at the weekend to check the times. / We must try and meet up soon. / I
can't wait to hear from you / Look forward to seeing you again / Hope to hear from you soon / See you
soon / Write soon

8. End of letter

Write you end of letter on right hand corner.

Examples:Yours Sincerely, Yours affectionately(for closer person), Your loving daughter/son, Your
cousin

Make sure to write your name as clear as possible instead of just some random signature scribble

Tips and Important Notes

1. Read the questions carefully

2. The tone of the letter can be as personal as possible BUT remember that yo are answering a
question in an examination.

3. If you are writing to a friend, the tone is casual.

4. If you are writing to someone older, the tone is polite.

5. Use casual or informal language, for example, ‘I’ve’, ‘I’m’

FAQ: Can I use the terms ‘wanna’, ‘gonna’, ‘gotta’, and so on in my essay?Answer: NO. Not
recommended.

6. Organise your letter into paragraphs for easier marking experience for your teacher.

7. Be polite even if you are writing to a friend.

8. Keep your writing content positive.

9. Reread your essay after writing every paragraphs to avoid grammar errors.

10. Include idioms!

11. Manage your time properly so you won’t be rushing later

12. Add your own points