IELTS GT –

SIR AHSAN ALAM

LETTER
M.PHIL. ENGLISH SIR AHSAN ALAM’s
LINGUISTICS – TEFL USA ACADEMY
Types of Letters:
 1, Formal
 2, Semi Formal
 3, Informal
Formal Letter:
 Formal letters are usually the complaint
letters or letters to the authority or seniors
in the company. In other words, you write
formal letters to unknown people. But
what do you mean by an unknown? It
means all those people who you rarely
meet, and you have no emotional
connection with them.
Semi Formal Letter:
 The semi-formal letters are written to the
reporting manager or immediate boss or
colleagues; in other words, to known
people. Again, “what do I mean by
known people?” I mean all those people
who you meet often but do not share any
emotional bonds like your friends, family
or relatives. For example, your reporting
manager, colleagues, tutor, neighbor, etc
Informal Letter:
 Informal letters are written to friends and
family. These are the people we meet
often or at least wish to meet often, and
we share an emotional bond with these
people.
Sample Letter Question:
 You are working for a company. You need to
take some time off and want to ask your
manager about this.
 Write a letter to your manager.

 In your letter: (Minimum : 150 words)

 Explain why you want to take time off
 Give details of the amount of time you need
 Suggest how your work could be covered while
you are away.
Sample Answer:
Dear Mr. Jones, (Salutation)

I am writing to request a few days of unpaid leave in March. (Para 1: Reason of writing the letter)

It is my parents’ wedding anniversary on 22nd March and they are planning to celebrate their special day
with their children and grandchildren in a cottage, which they have rented to accommodate all the
family. (Para 2: Explanation of bullet point 01)

To participate in this special occasion I would need to be away from work for four days, from Tuesday 19th
to Friday 22nd. (Para 3: Explanation of bullet point 02)

My schedule for that week is relatively light apart from two meetings with clients. Anna would be able to
attend the meetings in my place, as she has dealt with both of these clients in the past. I have no other
meetings nor any other urgent work that needs to be completed at that time. (Para 4: Explanation of bullet
point 03)

I would be very grateful if you could allow me to take these four days off as it is very important to my
parents that I attend and I would appreciate it if you could let me know by the end of the week. (Para 5:
Closing Remarks)

Kind regards, (Closing)

Tom Watson (Name Signature)

Structure of Letter:
 Salutation
 Dear Mr. Jones (Semi Formal)
 Dear Jones (Informal)
 Dear Sir or Madam (Formal)

 Para 1: Reason of writing the letter

 Para 2: Explanation of bullet point 01 (Around 50 Words)

 Para 3: Explanation of bullet point 02 (Around 50 Words)

 Para 4: Explanation of bullet point 03 (Around 50 Words)

 Para 5: Closing Remarks

 Closing:
 Kind regards, (Semi Formal)
 Best wishes, (Informal)
 Yours sincerely (Formal)

 Tom Watson (Name Signature)

Format:
 Block Format (Email Style)
Do‟s and Don‟ts
 Never repeat a word
 Avoid spelling errors
 Avoid punctuation errors
 Every sentence should be either
„Compound or Complex‟
 Use appropriate Cohesive Devices (Every
new sentence or new paragraph should
start with it)
 Write at least 180 words
Compound Sentence:
A compound sentence is made up of two
independent clauses joined by a
coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor,
but, or, yet, or so) and a comma or by a
semicolon alone.
 Example: The pirate captain lost her
treasure map, but she still found the buried
treasure.
Complex Sentence:
 A complex sentence is a sentence that
contains an independent clause and one or
more dependent clauses.
 Example:
 Because my coffee was too cold, I heated it in
the microwave.
 Although he was wealthy, he was still unhappy.
 She returned the computer after she noticed it
was damaged.
 Whenever prices goes up, customers buy less
products.
 If you work hard, you will succeed.
GOOD LUCK!