Features of an Informal Letter

The following brief points will help you review features of an informal letter:

1.       Informal letters are only bound by principle of ethics.

2.       They tend to be longer than formal letters usually because of more and big paragraphs.

3.       They do not follow any uniform style/pattern of writing. For example block style is mostly used in formal           letters.

4.       ‘Subject line’ is mostly avoided.

5.       ‘Complimentary closure’ may include a relationship, for example ‘Your loving father/mother/etc.’, or                   emotions, for example ‘Yours lovingly ‘, ‘Your best friend’, etc.

6.       Address of sender and recipient usually does not form part of the main letter. Instead, they are only                 written on the envelope.

7.       Purpose of sending informal letters is dependent upon ‘Relationship Dimension’ of sender and recipient.                   Its examples include:

+         From mother/father to son/daughter:

-  To inquire about his/her job/education progress.

-  In case son/daughter is a student, to ask if he/she needs any financial assistance for education purpose.

-  In case son/daughter is working, to ask for financial assistance to manage home finances.

-  To discuss about health, vacation plans or any other issue(s).

+         From son/daughter to mother/father:

-  To update them about his/her job/education progress.

-  In case son/daughter is a student, to ask for financial assistance for education purpose.

-  In case son/daughter is working, to ask if additional financial assistance is needed to manage home finances.

-  To discuss about health, vacation plans or any other issue(s).

+         Between friends:

-  To discuss health, education and job opportunities/issues, ask for any kind of help/assistance, plans of reunion, etc.

     8.       In informal letters, personal relationship between the sender and recipient prevails over cultural norms.            For example, any specific color in the geographical location of your recipient is considered as offensive            or disrespect. But because your recipient loves that color, you plan to use an envelope of this color.