Formal writing vs informal writing

Letter writing
Mansoor Ahmed Memon
Objectives:

• Formal and informal writing

• Why we need to write a letter
• Classification of letters
• Structure of a letter
What is formal and informal writing:

• Formal English: We use it when writing essays for school,

cover letters to apply for jobs, or emails and letters at
work.
• Informal English: We use it with friends, children, and
relatives.
Formal and Informal writing
• Informal
• Contractions (didn’t)
• Idioms
• Phrasal verbs (Find out/go
up)
• Use of Imperative (send it
soon!)
• (Relax English language)
• Shorter sentences
• Formal
• No contractions
• No Idioms
• Verbs: discover/increase
• (Serious language)
• You may send it at your earliest
convenience.
• Longer sentences
Continue:

• Informal: • Formal:
• Very, totally, really • Strongly
• To top it all off/on top of • Furthermore/ Moreover
it all (Connecting ideas) (also/and)
• TV • Television
Identify following sentences as formal or informal sentences:

1. I didn’t need any help.

2. Let’s watch some TV this weekend.
3. We found out when they met up.
4. Many children in the world lack adequate food and housing.
5. I’ve been under the weather lately. Formal/ informal
6. I would like to apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused.
7. Furthermore, we have seen the number of units sold increase dramatical
8. Lots of kids have dropped their courses this fall.
9. Write back ASAP.
10.To top it all off, I have an essay to write by Monday.
 Introduction

• Letter writing is an essential skill. Despite the popularity of

emails and text messages, everyone has to write letters at
some point.
Types of letters:

• Complaint Letters
• Adjustment letters
• Inquiry letters
• Follow-Up Letters
• Letters of Recommendation
• Acknowledgment Letters
• Cover Letters
• Letters of Resignation
• Thank you letters
 Label the following features of formal letters with
the letters (a-l) from the left margin.

You have applied for a place on an MSc course at a British university.

Read the letter on next slide you have received in reply.

• ( ) Date • ( ) Reason for writing

• ( ) Address of recipient • ( ) Greeting
• ( ) Ending • ( ) Sender’s reference
• ( ) Address of sender • ( ) Further details
• ( ) Request for response • ( ) Writer’s name and job title
• ( ) Signature
• ( ) Subject headline
 Note the following points:

• (a) The example above is addressed to a known individual and the

ending
is ‘Yours sincerely’. However, when writing to somebody whose name
you do not know, e.g. The Manager, use Dear Sir and Yours faithfully.
• (b) A formal letter generally uses the family name in the greeting
(Dear
Ms Tan). Certain organisations may, however, use a first name with a
family name or even a first name alone (Dear Jane Tan, Dear Jane).
• (c) If the sender includes a reference it is helpful to quote it in your
reply.
 Practice:

Write a reply to Mr Bramble making the following points:

(a) You will attend the interview on the date given.
(b) You would like to have the interview one hour later, due
to train times.