FORMAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Formal letters are letters that are written to editors, principals, officers, companies, clients, vendors,
neighbours or strangers. They are different from informal letters in tone and style. The tone is formal and
polite with use of formal language and etiquette. Formal letters are used to make inquiries, send replies,
place or supply orders, thank others, complain against somebody/something, send or ask for payments or
information, persuade others, request for something, make job offers, seek redressal of our problems, sell
products or services to list a few.

A letter to an editor of a newspaper is a formal letter to the editor-in-chief of any newspaper by a citizen or a
group or an organization or a company, wishing to address some pertinent issue. Most letters to the editor
are written by citizens who wish to comment on the type of articles being printed or who might want to
insist on a particular type of articles to be printed.

Some writers can also be activists who want more stress to be laid by the newspaper on certain issues.
Letters to the editor can also be letters of complaint and criticism. The writer may be finding the content of
the newspaper bad or offensive and may, therefore write a letter to the editor.

At the same time, letters to the editor can also contain positive feedback and praise. The writer can write
about how the newspaper creates influence on the people by their news. If the writer feels that most of the
news appearing in the paper is not important, he/she can ask them or request them to publish more useful
stuff in the paper. In that case, it is better to start writing a letter mentioning how great the newspaper was
in the old times and how it has lost its value in the recent times. Finally, the point that the writer wants to
share should be clear with a positive phrase.

Letter To The Editor Writing Tips:

 Always be courteous and polite. This is included if you are writing a letter of praise.
 If you are writing a letter of complaint, keep in mind that you cannot rant or vent.
 You should have carefully constructed sentences.
 Always keep the length of your letter short. Never be too hasty, but try not to be expressive as well.
 Be concise and end your point as soon as you have stated its importance.
 In the end, mention how their newspaper was a useful thing to the public.

Letter To The Editor Format:

1. Sender’s Address

(leave a blank line)

2. Date (In formal manner-month to be written in words)

(leave a blank line)

3. Receiver’s Address
(leave a blank line)

4. Salutation (Sir/Madam)

(leave a blank line)

5. Subject: (Not a complete sentence. Each word to begin with capital letter. Underline the subject)

(leave a blank line)

6. Body of the letter: (Leave a blank line when you change the para) (Min. 3 paras)

Para 1: Introduction & purpose of writing

Para 2: Details of the problem/topic/issue

Para 3: What you would like the reader/the editor to do

(leave a blank line)

7. Thank you (only where applicable)

(leave a blank line)

8. Yours sincerely/truly

Signature

NAME

Letter To The Editor Sample:

Q. Write a letter to the Editor of the newspaper, The National Daily, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi in about 100-
150 words expressing your views against the insensitive use of loudspeakers. You are Amit/Amita Gandhi
from House no. 551, Sushant Lok, Phase II, Gurugram.

House no. 551

Sushant Lok, Phase II
Gurugram

26th February 2019/ February 26, 2019

The Editor
The National Daily
Malviya Nagar
New Delhi

Sir/Madam
Sub: Insensitive Use of Loudspeakers

I wish to bring to the attention of all, the growing level of nuisance in our cities due to the insensitive use of
loudspeakers. The most annoying thing is that loudspeakers have now become an integral part of almost all
celebrations. People seem to believe that even private occasions like marriages and birthday parties would
be incomplete without the blaring of loudspeakers.

Noise pollution is already one of the greatest problems that people living in cities have to deal with. The
excessive use of loudspeakers makes it even worse. Ofcourse, there are occasions when their use is
absolutely necessary, but I see no justification in their use during every party, celebration or meeting. The
worst hit by this improper use of loudspeakers are the elderly and the children. Due to excessive noise, the
elderly cannot sleep properly and the children cannot concentrate on their studies.

It is high time the authorities did something to regulate the use of loudspeakers. In my opinion it would be
very helpful if you could highlight this issue by publishing my views in your newspaper to create awareness in
public and hope that the authorities would take appropriate measures to curb the menace.

Thank you

Yours truly

Amit/Amita Gandhi

Practice Questions:
Q.1. Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper, The Daily National, Adarsh Vihar, New Delhi expressing
your views against the wastage of food in Indian weddings. This wastage can be prevented by using the
leftover food to feed the hungry. You are Arun/Aruna Ganpaty from Flat no. 51, Green Residency, Sushant
Lok, Gurugram. (100-150 words)

Q. 2. You went to visit a glass factory with your friends. You were shocked to see young children working in
the dark and in very hot rooms. You are pained to see that instead of going to school, they are working as
child labourers. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper about child labourers and suggesting how they
can be sent to schools instead of factories. You are Surabhi Kumar/Saurabh Kumar. (100-150 words)

Q. 3. In most Indian families, particularly in rural areas, there is great discrimination against the girl child.
They are not sent to school for various reasons. Write a letter to the editor suggesting the facilities and
awareness required for promoting the education of the girl child. You are Rakesh Ram/Ragini Ram. (100-150
words)