Dearest Mum,
Thank you for the birthday presents. I love them all. As you know, I anxiously wait for the D-Day to open your thoughtful gifts. The clock strikes 12:00 a.m. and I am digging into the gift table to find the presents from you. My favourite is the pair of shimmering danglers (earrings) that you chose for me. I wore them along with my birthday dress. I can’t wait to share the photos. Mum, did I tell you, this trimester is a lot tougher than the last one and I have to cross a mountain of barriers—the one that gets me the most is statistics. You know how much I hate it, don’t you?
Imagine the above is a snippet of a letter that your mum found while cleaning her wardrobe: a letter that you had written to her during college days. The smile and the twinkle in her eyes while reading the letter would bring her solace. Wouldn’t it be incredibly satiating to see her relive those days? Writing letters to loved ones (friends/family/acquaintances/penfriends) are a part of informal letter structure. The best part about informal letters is that you can keep the tone conversational and use contractions (unlike the formal letter structure).
In an informal letter, you convey your regards and inform the recipient about updates in your life. Be honest about your feelings, as the goal is to keep the connection between the sender and the recipient warm. Throughout this article, we would be looking at a few examples and the key ingredients to write impressive, friendly and personal letters.
Do you have a friend or a cousin who lives in another city/country? How would you persuade your friend/cousin to visit your city and indulge in the authentic vibe? Surely, tourist attractions are on the checklist, but talking about some unique experiences and places would impress the recipient and he/she would be on his/her toes to visit the place, right?
Let’s assume you’ve moved to a new country and would like to invite your best friend for the experience of a lifetime. Consider the following example:
Hello Miranda,
Hope all is well at your end. I reached Melbourne last month and finally rented a house at Parkdale, a suburb in the southeastern part of Melbourne. As promised, I will tell you all about the city and I bet you would love to visit me soon. Before I begin, tell me, how’s the family doing? Also, hope your lovely dog Max is doing fine. Dogs at the beach here remind me so much about Max.
Australia is full of beaches, and the locals say that if you haven’t lived near a beach, you’ve never really lived in Australia. So, I decided to choose a house very close to the beach and as I am writing this letter, I can hear the waves slapping against the rocks and a cool breeze seeping through the study window. It’s the weekend and hence, I can hear people heading down the Beach Road to find a perfect spot for sunbathing. Oh, you would love this Fish and Chips joint called Mordialloc Cafe, which is next to a surfing shop. I am planning to join surfing classes—it’s kind of a big deal here. Also, have you heard of chocolate infused mint yogurt? Yes! You heard that right—Yo My Goodness (YOMG) is a unique cafe specialising in yogurts: I must take you there. I insist.
In the example, the sender talks about some unique experiences that one cannot find in a guidebook or over the internet. This kind of creative information makes the content of the letter interesting. Also note, the letter aims to make it more personal by enquiring about the closest members of the recipient’s family. Do you write letters to your grandparents? They probably write back to you and maybe you read the letter over and over again as you feel their energy reaching out to you. Consider another example:
Dearest Nana,
How are you? How is Grandpa doing? Are you both going for your morning walks? I hope you are, as it is crucial for your well-being. It’s been a while since I wrote to you. The other day, I was watching a movie and I missed you so much. It was about the friendship between a granny and her grandson (like you and me). Do you still have the porch swing that I love so much?
You would be glad to hear that I aced my swimming competition. I am planning to compete with seniors this trimester, cool, isn’t it? Maybe I will ask Dad to videotape and send it to you. Have you learnt to use the touch screen yet? I am sure you have; after all, I taught you well, didn’t I? Just kidding!
The example contains personal information that bonds a grandparent and grandchild. Do you see the use of informal language? That’s the beauty of informal letters—write as you feel.
By now, you must have got some ideas on how to structure the informal letters. Let’s look at the key pointers:
- Sender’s address followed by the date (on the top right corner). Always mention date. After date follows salutation. Example:
9/25 Monaco Street
Parkdale, Melbourne 3195
05/01/2023
Dear J/Hi Granny, etc.
- The opening of the letter: include updates from your life and enquire about the receiver’s well-being. Some useful phrases to remember: I hope you are well/Thanks for your letter/How’s it going?/How are things? etc.
- The body of the letter contains information on the topic. Remember to maintain an informal and friendly tone to convey the information. Useful phrases that could be used: you’re not going to believe what I am about to tell you/Oh, have you heard about/You know what?/I’d love for you to join me/I hope you don’t mind/Don’t worry buddy/Come on, do you still believe that? etc.
- The conclusion of the letter should convey your regards. You could send well wishes and provide a reason for sign off. Example: Anyway, the space is cramped for me to write all about my experience in this new vibrant city. YOMG is calling out for a strawberry flavoured yogurt now—hungry yet? Say hello to Buddy for me, will you? Hope to hear back from you soon. Book your tickets now!
- Closing statement and sign-off: Unlike formal letters, you can close with a personalised message that connects you. It could be Love/Lots of hugs/Take care/Cheers/Best wishes, etc.
- Skip a line to sign-off with your first name or your nickname or a short version of your name.
Key Takeaways:
- Informal language: informal vocabulary and contractions are allowed in an informal letter, as long as they are not offensive.
- Informal phrases: well/by the way/oh/come on/you’ll/you’re/I’ve/now/anyway/cut to the chase, etc.
- Emotive language: express honest emotions and feelings that connect the sender with the recipient.
- Exclamations: use exclamatory statements or words, but wisely. Don’t use them excessively, else the meaning gets lost inside the content.
- The most important point to remember is to be polite. Yes, you are to use a friendly and informal tone, but it should not offend anyone. Converse, not command.