Types of Letter and how to write a letter

1. LETTER WRITING
(THIRD OF FIVE PARTS)
Ma. Jezia P. Talavera
BA Linguistics
University of the Philippines Diliman

2. 1. LETTER FORMAT
Address of Recipient
Date of Letter
(Dear) Recipient's Name:
People read business letters quickly. Therefore, get to the point in
the first paragraph--the first sentence, if possible. In other words, state
what you want up front.
Single space your letters and use a serif typeface. Skip a line
between paragraphs. Because people read business letters quickly, use
shorter sentences and paragraphs than you would in a longer document.
Sentences should average fewer than twenty words, and paragraphs
should average fewer than seven lines.
Space your letter on the page so that it does not crowd the top.
However, if possible, keep your letter to one page. Second pages often are
not read. Send copies to anyone whose name you mention in the letter or
who would be directly affected by the letter.
Final paragraphs should tell readers what you want them to do or
what you will do for them.
Sincerely,
Signature
Full name

3. 2. SAMPLE LETTERS

4. 2.1. FRIENDLY LETTER
506 Country Lane
North Baysville, CA 53286
July 16, 2007
Dear Susan,
It feels like such a long time since the last time I saw
you. I know it's only been several weeks since I saw you. So far
my summer has been great!
I spend my all my weekends at the beach. I am getting a
nice tan and you can no longer say I am paler than you. I have
been playing lots of volleyball, surfing and building a nice
collection of sea shells. Just this past weekend I took second
place in a sandcastle building contest!
I hope the summer's been going well for you too. There's
only a month and a half left in summer vacation and after that
it's back to school. Would you like to meet up some time before
school starts?
Your friend,
Signature
Name

5. 2.1. FRIENDLY LETTER
506 Country Lane
North Baysville, CA 53286
July 16, 2007
Dear Susan,
It feels like such a long time since the last time I
saw you. I know it's only been several weeks since I saw you.
So far my summer has been great!
I spend my all my weekends at the beach. I am
getting a nice tan and you can no longer say I am paler than
you. I have been playing lots of volleyball, surfing and building
a nice collection of sea shells. Just this past weekend I took
second place in a sandcastle building contest!
I hope the summer's been going well for you too.
There's only a month and a half left in summer vacation and
after that it's back to school. Would you like to meet up some
time before school starts?
Your friend,
Signature
Name

6. ACTIVITY
Write a short
friendly letter in 10
minutes.

7. 2.2. REQUEST LETTER
764 Freedom Lane
Clearwater Falls, FL 23619
September 27, 2013
Mr. Louis Henderson
Store Manager
Dear Mr. Henderson:
My name is Cathy Pettis and I'm the chair of the Clearwater Falls
Elementary School Fundraising Committee. The committee is planning to
hold a fundraiser next month to raise funds for this years field trips and
we're looking for donors to help out with providing goods for the
fundraising event.
If The Corner Cafe is willing to help donate some coffee and cups,
we would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for your time and consideration, if you need to contact me
with any questions, feel free to call me at 555-555-5555, I'm available to
speak between 10am-5pm on weekdays.
Sincerely,
Signature
Name

8. 2.2. REQUEST LETTER
764 Freedom Lane
Clearwater Falls, FL 23619
September 27, 2013
Mr. Louis Henderson
Store Manager
Dear Mr. Henderson:
My name is Cathy Pettis and I'm the chair of the Clearwater
Falls Elementary School Fundraising Committee. The committee is
planning to hold a fundraiser next month to raise funds for this years field
trips and we're looking for donors to help out with providing goods for the
fundraising event.
If The Corner Cafe is willing to help donate some coffee and cups,
we would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for your time and consideration, if you need to contact
me with any questions, feel free to call me at 555-555-5555, I'm available
to speak between 10am-5pm on weekdays.
Sincerely,
Signature
Name

9. ACTIVITY
Write a short request
letter in 10 minutes.

10. 2.3. APOLOGY LETTER (INFORMAL)
68 Pine Zaggat Lane
Hampervile, NE 25385
January 5, 2005
Dear Jolene,
I am sorry about forgetting about our lunch date. It
was completely my fault; I was so busy at work that it
must have slipped my mind. How about I treat you to
lunch next Wednesday at the new Italian restaurant
Julie's at 12:30PM? I have marked this date in my planner
so I will not forget about it. I'd just like to apologize again
for missing the lunch date.
Your friend,
Name

11. 2.3. APOLOGY LETTER (INFORMAL)
68 Pine Zaggat Lane
Hampervile, NE 25385
January 5, 2005
Dear Jolene,
I am sorry about forgetting about our lunch date. It
was completely my fault; I was so busy at work that it
must have slipped my mind. How about I treat you to
lunch next Wednesday at the new Italian restaurant
Julie's at 12:30PM? I have marked this date in my planner
so I will not forget about it. I'd just like to apologize
again for missing the lunch date.
Your friend,
Name

12. ACTIVITY
Write a short apology
letter in 10 minutes.

13. 2.4. INVITATION LETTER
97 Fir Crescent
Denver, CO 80409
December 17, 2008
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,
As the parents of the bride, I would like to take this
opportunity to invite you to the wedding of our daughter, Sandra
Green to her fiancé, Adam Locke. On this joyous occasion, we wish to
share the day with our closest friends and family members.
The formal event will be located at the Fire Lake Golf and
Country Club on the fifteenth of August at three o'clock, two
thousand and nine.
Please RSVP by the fifteenth of June to ensure attendance.
We hope to see you there to enjoy this special day with friends
and family.
Sincerely yours,
Signature
Name

14. 2.4. INVITATION LETTER
97 Fir Crescent
Denver, CO 80409
December 17, 2008
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,
As the parents of the bride, I would like to take this
opportunity to invite you to the wedding of our daughter, Sandra
Green to her fiancé, Adam Locke. On this joyous occasion, we wish to
share the day with our closest friends and family members.
The formal event will be located at the Fire Lake Golf
and Country Club on the fifteenth of August at three o'clock,
two thousand and nine.
Please RSVP by the fifteenth of June to ensure attendance.
We hope to see you there to enjoy this special day with
friends and family.
Sincerely yours,
Signature
Name

15. ACTIVITY
Write a short
invitation letter in 10
minutes.

16. 2.5. THANK YOU LETTER
August 25, 1987
Hi Aunt Kelly!
Thanks for the new bike you bought me for my
birthday; it's just what I wanted. The color red fits the bike
well! It is my favorite color. I plan on riding the bike
around my neighborhood every day right after school. I
look forward to seeing you soon! Thanks again for the bike.
Love,
Name

17. 2.5. THANK YOU LETTER
August 25, 1987
Hi Aunt Kelly!
Thanks for the new bike you bought me for my
birthday; it's just what I wanted. The color red fits the bike
well! It is my favorite color. I plan on riding the bike
around my neighborhood every day right after school. I
look forward to seeing you soon! Thanks again for the
bike.
Love,
Name

18. ACTIVITY
Write a short thank
you letter in 10
minutes.

19. 2.6. LOVE LETTER
December 18, 2002
Dear Michael,
It's after midnight, but I'm not sleepy. All I want to do is talk to
you, but I know that there's a two-hour time difference between us, and
your sweet self is already sleeping.
I don't really have much to say, except one little thing. When I was
a teenager, I made a list of everything I thought a perfect man should be.
Later, I looked back on that as silly and told myself there was no point
because there was no perfect man for me. But then I met you: you're kind,
funny, smart, ambitious, honest, patient and gentle... and good-looking,
too! You meet every point on my list (well, except that you don't drive a
convertible... but maybe my teenage priorities were a little messed up).
What I love about you is that you've never wanted me to change.
You love me for who I am, even though I'm far from perfect. I know I can
trust you with all of my heart, and when you're around me is the only time
I ever feel totally safe.
Love,
Name

20. 2.6. LOVE LETTER
December 18, 2002
Dear Michael,
It's after midnight, but I'm not sleepy. All I want to do is talk to
you, but I know that there's a two-hour time difference between us, and
your sweet self is already sleeping.
I don't really have much to say, except one little thing. When I was
a teenager, I made a list of everything I thought a perfect man
should be. Later, I looked back on that as silly and told myself there was
no point because there was no perfect man for me. But then I met you:
you're kind, funny, smart, ambitious, honest, patient and gentle... and
good-looking, too! You meet every point on my list (well, except that you
don't drive a convertible... but maybe my teenage priorities were a little
messed up).
What I love about you is that you've never wanted me to change.
You love me for who I am, even though I'm far from perfect. I know I can
trust you with all of my heart, and when you're around me is the only time
I ever feel totally safe.
Love,
Name

21. ACTIVITY
Write a short love
you letter in 10
minutes.

22. REFERENCES
 Sample Love Letter. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from
http://www.freelettersamples.com/love1.htm
 Sample Apology Letter. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from
http://www.letterwritingguide.com/samplerequest.htm
 Sample Friendly Letter. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from
http://www.letterwritingguide.com/samplefriendlyletter.htm
 Sample Letter Format. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from
http://www.writing.engr.psu.edu/workbooks/letter_format.ht
ml
 Sample Invitation Letter. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from
http://www.letterwritingguide.com/sampleinvitationpersonal
.htm
 Sample Thank you Letter. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from
http://www.letterwritingguide.com/thankyounotesample.htm