WRITING - Practical Tips

The Friendly / Informal Letter

The Greeting / Salutation:
► Dear (X-name),

Par. 1: The Introduction / Opening Paragraph

(Reference to your friend’s letter +reason for writing)
a) Thanks very much for your letter. I was really glad to hear from you. …
OR
b) Hi! How’s everything going? I thought I would drop you a line and…
OR
c) It was great ( wonderful) to hear from you again. I’m writing …
OR
d) It’s been ages since I heard from you and I thought of dropping you a line to tell you…
OR
e) You can’t imagine how glad I was to hear that…
OR
f) I’m writing because I’ve got so much news to tell you.
OR
g) Hi! I’m very well and I hope you are too. Sorry I was late in answering your letter but I was busy studying for
my exams./Sorry I haven’t written to you for such a long time/long but I’ve been busy…
OR
h) Hello! How are you? I got your letter this morning and I’m writing to tell you about…
OR
i) I got your letter this morning and decided to write back straight away.

Par. 2: The Main Body of the Friendly / Informal Letter

Blah-blah (details)

Par. 3: The Closing Paragraph of the Main Letter

(Ask for an answer to your letter)
a) Well, that’s all my news for now. Please write back and tell me what you’ve been doing (’ve been up to).
OR
b) I have to leave you now because mum wants me to help her with the chores and shopping. Write soon.
OR
c) Well, I’d better go and do some work. Please write soon and tell me all your news.
OR
d) And it’s goodbye from me. I look forward to your letter.
OR
e) That’s all for now. Write soon and let me know what you’ve been up to since I last heard from you.
OR
f) I have to sign off now! Please write back as soon as you can.
OR
g) I hope that everything will turn out all right. Drop me a line to let me know how things go!(letter of advice)

Par. 4: The Ending / Conclusion (Choose one of the following)

Love, / Love from, / Lots of love,
Greetings, / Greetings from,
Yours,
Kisses, / Kisses from,
Best wishes,

Par. 5: The Postscript:

P.S. Give my best wishes to your parents.
OR ► Send my regards to your brother. /Give a big hug to your sister.
Friendly Letters (Samples)

Dear Sam,
It’s been ages since I heard from you and I thought of dropping you a line to tell you my news. I’m very sorry for
being late in answering your letter but I’ve been busy studying and taking exams. Hopefully the exam period is over
and I did very well. How are you? I’m very well and hope you are well, too.

Do you remember our old friend Eva Jones? Well, she’s getting married next Sunday morning to a wealthy guy who I
met a fortnight ago. Lucky her! He’s a nice type of person and seems to like her a lot. Anyway, I’ll be going to her
wedding and hope to meet lots of our old friends there. I’ll write back and give you all the details. You have kisses and
greetings from my girlfriend Annabel and my parents, too. As for my news about the future, I’m going abroad for six
months, probably to sunny Greece for a holiday before going to London College to study mechanical engineering,
which is something I’ve always wanted to do.

I have to close my letter now as Annabel wants us to go shopping. Her birthday is at the end of the month and I want
to buy her something. Drop me a line to let me know how things are.

Love,
Peter

P.S.
Give my best wishes to your parents and a big hug to your sister Jane.

(Source Model 2: Choices, Burlington Books)