How to Write an English Letter: 6 Important Tips!


by Jane Sumerset - Date: 2008-10-29 - Word Count: 412 Share This!



Perfect English letter writing software - Knowing how to write a letter is a fundamental writing skill that will never go out of style. While much correspondence today takes the form of phone calls, faxes and emails, there is still the need to write an old fashioned "snail mail" type letter. Just as importantly, the same skills and techniques that work for letters can be applied to emails.



1. Use Proper Format



This means putting the date on top, followed by the name and address of the recipient. There is not one single correct format or manner of addressing someone, but if it's someone you haven't met the traditional "Dear..." is recommended. Many people today simply write the person's name, or perhaps, "Hi.." but these are rather informal. At the conclusion of the letter, you should end with "Sincerely," or "Regards." Sign your name. Underneath this, write your name and contact information.



2. Address It To A Specific Person



When possible, address your letter to a specific person, not simply a company or department. You can usually find out the best person to receive your letter. It might take two minutes of research, but it's worth it. It shows that you have taken the trouble to know who you are writing to.



3. Watch for Mistakes and Typos



Sending out a letter full of spelling mistakes or typos is a sure way to reduce its effectiveness. Proofread it and use a spell checker or grammar correcting software,



4. Be Concise



Be direct and to the point. If the subject of the letter requires any substantial length, split it up into paragraphs to make it easier to read. Busy people today will often scan long documents, if they read them at all.



5. Be Polite But Assertive



This depends on the subject matter, of course, but rudeness seldom gets results. Even if you have a complaint, show respect for the person you are addressing and they are more likely to respond. But if you want a particular result from them, also be assertive enough that you state specifically what you are looking for, whether it's an interview, a refund, a meeting or information.



6. Promise to Follow Up



Let the person know that you will follow up in a certain amount of time, maybe two weeks, with a phone call, email or another letter. This is a polite way of letting them know that you will not simply disappear if you are ignored.


Related Tags: letter writing, how to write an english letter, write letter, how to write letter, how to write a letter, writing english letter, writing english letters


Watch how advanced English writing software instantly improves your writing and learn how innovative NLP technology can help you to write professional letters.

Jane Sumerset is a professional proofreader in the UK. She's also a regular writer on topics like "how to write English letters" on englishsoftware.org the renowned British English writing knowledge base.

Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

© The article above is copyrighted by it's author. You're allowed to distribute this work according to the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs license.
 

Recent articles in this category:



Most viewed articles in this category: