How to Write a Letter

Intro: When writing an important letter you want everything to be perfect. In today’s age, letters are less of a common practice and therefore younger people have not had any formal training in letter writing. Follow my steps below to learn the proper way to write someone a letter.

Step 1: At the beginning of the letter you should include all the information the reader needs to know. If it is a personal letter to a friend, then you may need nothing more than the date. If it is a professional business letter you should include your address and contact information.

Step 2: Underneath your information you should double space and then put the date.

Step 3: After the date add 3-4 spaces and then put the recipient’s name, address, and contact information.

Step 4: After the recipient’s information, double space and write “Dear _____:” Remember to write “Mr.” or “Ms.”

Step 5: Double space again and start writing your letter. The opening paragraph should sum up the entire letter or provide an overview of the rest of the letter.

Step 6: The body of the letter should contain the information you are sharing. Keep your letter as brief as possible. You will lose the attention of your reader if you letter is over 600 words long or is more than one page.

Step 7: The last paragraph should contain a summary of what your letter stated and should contain a way for them to respond, such as “Please feel free to email or call me. I look forward to hearing from you.”

Step 8: End the letter with “Sincerely” if it is a business letter or something less formal if it is a personal letter, such as “Cheers.”

Step 9: After you write your closing, you should double space and then sign your name. Underneath your signature you should print your name.

Step 10: Address the envelope with the recipient’s address on the front center portion. You should include your name and address at the top left corner of the letter. Fold your letter to fit in the envelope, seal it, add the appropriate amount of postage, and send it away.

Tips: You should be very formal if you are writing a professional business letter.

Warnings: Don’t forget to be politically correct in your professional letters. If you offend your reader you may not get the response you are looking for.

Comments (0)