This document provides guidance on writing formal letters. It notes that formal letters are used to make complaints, apply for jobs, request information, and enclose CVs. Formal letters must follow certain conventions, including having a standard structure without indented paragraphs and using formal language without abbreviations or contractions. Any formal letter should include the sender's address, date, recipient's name and address, a formal greeting, an opening stating the purpose, the body with details, a conclusion requesting a response, a closing like "yours faithfully" or "yours sincerely", and a signature with the full name. The document provides examples of letters requesting information and of a job application letter to demonstrate the proper format and language to use in

1. FORMAL LETTERS
Ricardo Forner 2010

2. When do we write formal letters?
To make a complaint.
To apply for a job.
To request information.
To enclose our CV.
In business letters…
Ricardo Forner 2010

3. There are some conventions we must respect when
writing formal letters.
We have to keep its structure in mind and do not indent
paragraphs.
We must use formal language. It is not an informal letter
or an e-mail we are writing to a friend. Therefore we will
not use:
– Abbreviations
– Colloquial or familiar expressions
– Contractions…
Ricardo Forner 2010

4. Any formal letter has got these parts:
1). The sender’s address
2)- The date
3)- The name and address of the person being written to
4)- A formal greeting
5)- The text which usually contains:
- an opening: you state the reason for writing
- the body: you explain yourself or ask for information.
- the conclusion: you request a response.
6)- A closing or formal ending
7)- Signature with full name written underneath.
Ricardo Forner 2010

5. 1). WRITER’S ADDRESS
2). DATE
3). NAME and ADDRESS of the
person or business being written to.
4). FORMAL GREETING
5). TEXT:
- Opening
- Body
- Conclusion
6). CLOSING or formal ending.
7). SIGNATURE with full name
written underneath.
Ricardo Forner 2010

6. Now, let’s have some models.
First we have a formal letter
requesting information.
Ricardo Forner 2010

7. Ricardo Forner 2010

8. And the next example is a letter
of application.
Ricardo Forner 2010

9. Ricardo Forner 2010

10. As a greeting we can use:
- Dear Sir / Madam
- Dear Mr / Mrs / Ms…
Ricardo Forner 2010

11. To introduce the opening paragraph (the purpose of
writing) you can say:
- I am writing in reply to your advertisement in…
- I am writing in order to apply for the position of…
- I would like to apply for the position of …
Ricardo Forner 2010

12. As a way of conclusion:
- I hope you will consider my application favourably.
- Enclosed please find a photograph of myself.
- Please contact me if you require any further information.
- I look forward to hearing from you in the near future (or
as soon as possible)
Ricardo Forner 2010

13. Finally, as a formal ending we may use:
- Yours faithfully
- Yours sincerely
Using one expression or the other depends on the greeting
we have previously used:
- We will use Yours faithfully with “Dear Sir / Madam”
- We will use Yours sincerely with “Dear Mr. / Mrs. “
Ricardo Forner 2010