This document provides guidance on writing a formal letter. It defines a formal letter as a letter written for official or professional communication that can be used to apply for jobs or scholarships, complain, or provide information. The document outlines the structure of a formal letter, including addressing the sender and receiver, writing a date, title, salutation, 3-4 body paragraphs introducing the purpose and details, and a closing with a signature and valediction. It emphasizes using formal language, grammar, punctuation and a respectful tone. Examples and references are provided to illustrate formal letter writing techniques.

1. Formal letter
PRESENTED BY MISS KUBONI
A THIRD YEAR STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

2. lesson
objectives

3. At the end of the lesson,
learners must be able to:
define what a formal letter is.
explain how to write a formal letter.
discuss when to write a formal letter
construct a formal letter.
distinguish between a formal/business
letter and an informal/friendly letter.

4. What is a letter

5. A letter is a written, typed or printed communication sent in an
envelope by post or messenger.
OR
A letter is a written message conveyed from one person to another
through a medium and it can either be formal or informal.

6. what is a
formal letter
and
its purpose

7. Well…
A formal letter also known as
a business letter is a letter
written for official or
professional communication.
A formal letter serves many
purposes such as; to
complain, to give
information, to apply for a
job, to apply at universities
and for bursaries, in
response to a letter or fax,
to apply for a position and
so on.

8. what to know about a formal letter
 Scribendi (2014) state that in today’s Internet- and email driven society,
the need to write a formal letter arises less often than it did in the past.
 Nonetheless, formal letters are still important and they are still utilized
for professional purposes.

9. CONTI...
BEFORE WE MOVE ON…
LET’S FIRSTLY WATCH A VIDEO
TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW A
FORMAL LETTER LOOKS LIKE

10. An
interesting
video
exploring
formal letter
writing

11. Now let’s get to it!!!!
 Steps of writing a formal letter:
 Addresses ( Your address (sender) at the top, usually on the left side, followed by the receiver’s
address written on the right side. DO NOT FORGET TO SKIP A LINE.
 DATE. (write the date at the end of your address( the sender), before skipping the line).
 TITLE. (give your letter a tittle, underline or write it in bold).
 Salutation (it could be dear sir/madam or to whom it may concern if you do not know the gender of
the person).
PDIRESEARCH (2014) points out that if a salutation begins with “Dear Sir” (if you do not know
the name of the person) then the valediction should be “yours Faithfully” and if you address
a person by their name in the salutation “Dear John” then the valediction should be “Yours
Sincerely”.

12. Conti…
 Body (preferable 3 body paragraphs but can be sometimes 4)
Let’s say you are applying for a bursary, how would you write your body paragraphs?
1. First paragraph – introduce the purpose of the letter. (state that you are
applying for a bursary, the name of the bursary (funza lushaka bursary if you want to be a teacher etc)
Dingwayo (2012) mentions that state the aim of your formal letter in the first paragraph, do not deviate
from the subject.
2. Second paragraph – state the main points of the letter in detail.
(state why should you be given the bursary)
3. Third paragraph- conclude your letter. (promise that if you get the bursary you will dedicate
yourself to your studies and briefly write what it would mean to you).
 closure/ending (it usually ends with Yours Faithfully, Yours Sincerely etc. Put your signature as well)

13. Don’t forget to pay attention to these;
● According to Abdelghany (2013), a formal letter should be PRESENTED in a tone that is
more formal. Hence an appropriate English language should be used. AVOID USING TEEN
JARGONS AND SLANG. For example, use can not instead of can’t.
● Your letter should be clear, short and concise.
● The letter should be well structured and organized.
● Bhowmik (2020) states that a formal letter should be written in a formal language
and idioms. No exclamation.
● Use correct gramma and punctuation.
● There should be flow in paragraphs (logic and sequence)
● write in a respectful and polite manner.
EDIT YOUR WORK AND PROOFREAD

14. your
complete
letter should
look like
something
like this…

16. Reference list
Abdelghany. (2013) Steps of writing a formal letter. Retrieved from:
of-writing-a-formal-letter [accessed on 14 August 2020]
Bhowmik, P. (2020). Formal letter writing tricks. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/PrajnaparamitaBhowmik/formal-
letter-writing-tricks-easy-letter-writing-writingskills-learningisfun [accessed on 14 August 2020]
Dingwayo, S. (2017) Presenting a formal letter. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/SIYABONGADINGWAYO/write-a-
formal-letter [accessed on 14 August 2020]
PDIFResearch. (2013). English Language Composition Situational writing formal letters. Available at:
https://www.slideshare.net/PDIFResearch/bmc-on-englishlanguagecompositionsituational-writingformal-
letterslideshare[accessed on 14 August 2020]
Scibendi. (2015). How to write a formal letter. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/Scribendi_Editing/how-to-write-a-
formal-letter-45658684 [accessed on 14 August 2020]