Writing: Informal Letter Writing, Format and Language for SS 1

Informal Letter Writing

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. describe an informal letter;
2. describe the features of an informal letter;
3. write informal letters.

Description of an Informal Letter

An informal letter is a personal letter written to individuals with whom the writer shares a close, familiar relationship, such as family members, friends, classmates or relatives.

Unlike formal letters, which are written for official, business or professional purposes, informal letters are personal and relaxed. The primary purpose of writing an informal letter is to maintain personal relationships, share news, offer congratulations, express sympathy, make invitations or seek advice. The tone of an informal letter is warm, friendly and conversational, reflecting the close bond between the writer and the recipient.

Features of an Informal Letter

An informal letter has specific structural and language features that distinguish it from other forms of writing. Understanding these features is essential for writing effective personal letters and scoring high marks in English Language examinations.

Structural Features

The structural layout of an informal letter consists of several key components placed in specific positions on the page.

The key structural features of an informal letter include:

1. The Writer’s Address: This is written at the top right-hand corner of the page. It contains the sender’s residential, school or postal address. Commas are used at the end of each line of the address, with a full stop at the end of the final line.
2. The Date: This is written directly below the address. The date must be written in full, such as “24th May, 2024” or “May 24, 2024”. Abbreviations of months are not acceptable in formal examinations.
3. The Salutation: This is the greeting, written on the left-hand side of the page, a line below the date. It usually begins with the word “Dear” followed by the first name of the recipient or their relationship to the writer, such as “Dear Emeka,” or “Dear Uncle,”. A comma must follow the name or title.
4. The Introduction: This is the opening paragraph of the letter. It is used to exchange pleasantries, ask about the recipient’s health or well-being, and state the general reason for writing.
5. The Body: This contains the main message of the letter. It is divided into paragraphs, with each paragraph discussing a distinct point, idea or piece of news.
6. The Conclusion: This is the final paragraph where the writer wraps up the letter. It often contains warm regards to other family members or friends, and expresses hope to hear from the recipient soon.
7. The Subscription: This is the complementary close, written on the bottom right-hand side of the page. Common expressions include “Yours sincerely,” “Your loving friend,” or “Your brother,”. A comma must follow the subscription, and only the first letter of the first word is capitalised.
8. The First Name: The writer’s first name is written directly below the subscription. No surname or signature is required in an informal letter.

Language and Style Features

The language of an informal letter is conversational and expressive. It allows the writer to project their personality and emotions directly to the reader.

The main language features of an informal letter include:

1. Conversational Tone: The language is relaxed and sounds like a natural spoken conversation between two close people.
2. Use of Contractions: Shortened forms of words, such as “I’m” instead of “I am”, “don’t” instead of “do not”, and “we’ll” instead of “we will”, are acceptable and encouraged.
3. Active Voice: Sentences are usually direct and active, making the writing lively and engaging.
4. Colloquialisms and Idioms: Informal expressions, local idioms and friendly slang that are easily understood by the recipient can be used. However, offensive language or text-message abbreviations must be avoided.
5. Punctuation for Emotion: Exclamation marks can be used to express excitement, surprise, joy or strong feelings.

How to Write an Informal Letter

Writing an informal letter requires careful planning and execution to ensure that the message is clear and the tone remains appropriate.

The process of writing an informal letter involves the following steps:

1. Plan the Letter: Identify the recipient and the main purpose of the letter. Jot down the key points to be discussed in the body paragraphs.
2. Write the Address and Date: Place the address at the top right corner of the page. Ensure correct punctuation, with commas at the end of each line and a full stop at the end of the state. Write the date clearly below the address.
3. Choose an Appropriate Salutation: Write the greeting on the left margin. Use “Dear” followed by the recipient’s first name or relationship title, followed by a comma.
4. Draft the Introduction: Begin with a warm, friendly opening. Ask about the recipient’s welfare and state the reason for writing.
5. Develop the Body Paragraphs: Write the main content. Use a new paragraph for each new idea or event. Keep the language natural, conversational and expressive.
6. Write the Conclusion: Summarise the letter with a friendly closing remark. Ask the recipient to reply and send regards to others.
7. Add the Subscription and Name: Write the complementary close on the right side, followed by a comma. Write the first name directly below it.
8. Review and Edit: Read through the letter to check for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Ensure the tone remains warm and informal throughout.

Model Informal Letter

Below is a model informal letter written by a student in a boarding school to a friend in another town, describing a recent school event.

Government College,
P.M.B. 1234,
Enugu,
Enugu State.
24th May, 2024.

Dear Tunde,

How are you and how is your family? I hope you are doing well in your studies. It has been a while since we last spoke, and I have been eager to share some exciting news with you. Our school recently held its annual inter-house sports competition, and it was an unforgettable event.

The preparation for the event started three weeks earlier. Every house practiced hard on the school field every afternoon. I belong to Red House, and we spent hours perfecting our relay passes and marching steps. The entire school was filled with excitement as students decorated their house tents with colorful banners and balloons.

On the day of the competition, the atmosphere was electric. Parents, teachers and invited guests filled the stands. The event started with a colorful march-past. Red House came second in the march-past, which gave us a great boost of confidence. The track events were highly competitive. I ran in the 100-metre race and managed to win a silver medal for my house. The crowd cheered so loudly that my ears buzzed!

The highlight of the day was the invitation relay race, where schools from around Enugu competed. The race was intense, but our school team won first place. At the end of the day, Blue House emerged as the overall winner, while Red House took the second position. Although we did not win the main trophy, we were extremely proud of our performance and celebrated late into the evening.

I wish you were there to witness the exciting events. How was the term at your school? Please write back soon and tell me all about your recent activities. Extend my warm regards to your parents and siblings.

Yours sincerely,

Chidi

Evaluation Guide

The following exercises are designed to test the understanding of informal letter writing:

1. Define an informal letter and state three situations where it is appropriate to write one.
2. List and explain five key structural features of an informal letter.
3. Write a letter to a cousin who lives in another town, describing how the last holiday was spent.
4. Write a letter to a classmate who has been absent from school due to illness, wishing them a speedy recovery and updating them on recent school events.