Class 3: Formal Letters

Class 3: Writing Formal Letters

Formal letters are also called business letters. These are letters you write to apply for a college or a job, to complain about a product or service, to request for information or clarification, to make or cancel an order, to compliment or recommend an employee and so on.

The format for a formal letter varies from company to company and from time to time. The format that I recommend is the one below:

Your Address

Date

Recipient's Position in the Company
Recipient's Company Name & Address


Dear Sir/Madam (or the name of the person if you know it)


Re: This is the topic of your letter (bold or underline it)


The first paragraph should state the purpose of your letter. Be brief but informative. Provide names, dates and places if necessary. If you are applying for a job, give the name and date of the source (eg. newspaper) that you saw the advertisement in.

The second paragraph should provide the details of why and how. If you are applying for a college, tell them a little about yourself and why you think they should admit you. If you are making a complaint, describe what you are dissatisfied about.

The last paragraph should conclude your letter. You can request for some sort of action and provide your contact details here.


Yours sincerely/faithfully,

Sign your name here

PRINT YOUR NAME HERE



Assignment 3:


Choose one of the following to write:


1. Write to a university requesting for information about a course you are interested in.

2. Write to a company for a job you saw advertised in a magazine.

3. Write a letter of complaint to a restaurant about bad service you received from a waiter there.