WRITING AN
INFORMAL LETTER
By M. van Eijk/M.A.

Here you can read about how to write Informal
letters in English.
I will provide you with examples of opening and
closing sentences (how to end a letter), address,
date, and the signature, but also advice with
respect to the structure and the content of such a
personal letter. Below you can also find pre-written
samples of complete letters.

WHAT IS AN INFORMAL LETTER?
What is an Informal letter written in English?
It is a letter that is written in a personal fashion.
You can write an informal English letters to
relatives or friends, but also to other people with
whom you have a personal/informal way of
communicating.

WHAT ELEMENTS DOES THE LETTER
INCLUDE?
 Address
 Date
 Opening
 Text / Body / Content
 Closing / End
 Signature

BODY OR CONTENT (TEXT)
When writing an informal letter in English you should use
personal/friendly language. However, it remains important to
adjust your use of language to the person you are writing to. A
good way of assessing how you should write is thinking about
how you would interact with each other in real life.

In the first paragraph of your body you state your reason of
writing. In the second and following paragraphs you say what
you have promised to say in the first paragraph. And in the final
paragraphs you make some concluding remarks.

OPENING OF AN INFORMAL LETTER IN
ENGLISH
How to address someone in English?
This is fairly straight forward. It is usually not of the same
importance as with a business or formal letter, but it still is
relevant. There are a few things that you should know about how
to address someone properly in an informal letter. First of all, in
England there is not . behind Mr., but in American letters there is.
Secondly, you should know that women are addressed with Mrs.
when they are married, and with Ms. when they are not.

EXAMPLES OF HOW TO OPEN AN INFORMAL
LETTER IN ENGLISH
This depends on how well you know the person in question. You
should carefully consider your relationship with the person
concerned. You could simply say: Hi Mark, but it is always safer
to just say Dear ,. Never forget the comma!

OPENING SENTENCES FOR AN INFORMAL
LETTER IN ENGLISH
Examples of opening sentences
Opening sentences of an Informal letter should be casual. Not
so stiff as in Business letters. For examples of more formal
opening sentences you should check out my business letter
article.
How are you?
How have you been?
How is life treating you?
How are the kids?
I hope you are doing well
I hope you, Mike and the kids are having a great time in ...

MORE OPENING SENTENCES
More examples of opening sentences
Thanks for your letter.
Lovely to hear from you.
How are things?
Hope you're well.
I'm sorry to hear/learn ...
I'm so pleased to hear ...
It's great to hear ...
What wonderful news about ...

MORE OPENING SENTENCES
More examples of opening sentences
Thank you for contacting me regarding your concern over
[situation X]
We are sending the information about XX that you requested in
your letter of [date]
I was pleased to receive your invitation
I'm writing to express appreciation for your cooperation
(support, assistance)

TEXT / BODY / CONTENT
Previous contact
Thanks for your e-mail.
Re your e-mail,...
Sorry, I haven't written for ages, but I've been really
busy.
Reason for writing
Just a short note about...
I'm writing about...
Here's the...you wanted.
I got your name from...
Please note that...

TEXT / BODY / CONTENT
Giving information
Just a note to say...
We can confirm that...
Good news!
Unfortunately,...
Asking for information
Can you tell me a little more about...
I'd like to know...
Please send me...

TEXT / BODY / CONTENT
Requests
Please could you...
Could you...?
Can I have...?
I'd appreciate your help on this.
Could you possibly … ?
Promising action
I'll...
I'll look into it.
I'll get back to you soon.

TEXT / BODY / CONTENT
When we agree to a request someone has made
I will be happy to … .
Offering help
Do you want me to...?
Shall I...?
Let me know if you'd like me to...

TEXT / BODY / CONTENT
When apologising
Sorry for the delay in replying.
I am/We are very sorry … .
Sorry for any trouble caused.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
I’m sorry for the trouble I caused.
I apologize for the delay.
I promise it won’t happen again.
I’m sorry, but I can’t make it to the meeting.

TEXT / BODY / CONTENT
When giving bad news
I am sorry to have to tell you that … .
Unfortunately … .
When complaining
I would like to complain about … .
I wanted to inform you about … .
I’m sorry to say that you’re late with the payments.
I hope you won’t mind me saying that the place
you’d recommended to us wasn’t as nice as we’d
expected.

TEXT / BODY / CONTENT
ATTACHING FILES
I’m attaching/sending you the holiday photos.
Sorry, but I can’t open it. Can you send it again in
… format?

ENDING AN INFORMAL LETTER IN
ENGLISH
Final comments
Thanks again for...
Let me know if you need anything else.
Just give me a call if you have any questions. My
number is...

ENDING AN INFORMAL LETTER IN ENGLISH
Examples of closing sentences - how to end an informal letter in English?
Signalling the end
Bye for now,
I’ll finish now as I’m running out of space,
I must go no,
I´d better get going
Closing sentences
I can't wait to hear from you,
I am looking forward to seeing you,
I can't wait to see you soon,
I am looking forward to hearing from you,
I hope to be hearing from you soon,
See you soon,
Send my love to ..
I hope you are doing well,
Give my regards to..,
Talk to you later!

COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE
Here you can be pretty free in your choice of
ending your letter. In informal letter writing, the
complimentary close is always very friendly.
Here are some examples:
Best wishes, an
Kind regards,
Best regards,
Lots of love,
Love,
Lots of love,
Missing you lots,
Yours forever,

POST SCRIPT
Use P.S. to add a short message after the
complimentary close. Use it especially to write down
something that you may have forgotten in the body
of the letter.
Etymology: from the Latin, "written afterwards"

FORMAT INFORMAL LETTER
 Nathan Filmore
21, East View Apartments
4567, Oak Road
Orange County
Los Angeles - 213647
Dear Linda
First Paragraph
Second Paragraph
With lots of love
Nathan
 P.S.

FORMAT INFORMAL LETTER
32-A, Charlton Dr,
North Birmingham,
NSW 2065
23 March, 2015
Hello Samanna,
How are you and the girls? Thanks again for giving
me Brian's number. He will help me with my
presentation.
You know what? The other day I bumped into
Greg. He has made it pretty big, and owns
several restaurants.
I have to go to the market, so will stop writing now.
Looking forward to meeting you all during the
Christmas break. Give my love to Nat and the
kids.
Warm regards,
Anne

EXAMPLE INFORMAL LETTER
10 October 2015
Dear Ian,
Hope you are well.
I'm writing to you, yet again, in your capacity as
"Answer Man."
One of our Zadkine teachers has just e-mailed me
to see if Ihave any more information on “CITO
listening tests" which are to be
administered soon.
I have no information about any such tests. Do
you? If so, could you please let me know.
Thank you kindly.
Best regards,
Salma

EXAMPLE INFORMAL LETTER
10 October 2015
Dear Jane,I hope you are feeling better Are you able to sit in
the garden and enjoy the sunshine?
We all miss you in the office and look forward to your return.
There have been a fewchanges since you went into hospital.
Eric Johnson has now retired (lucky man) andMatthew has
taken over Eric's job. He is struggling at the moment. He
hopes you willreturn soon to rescue him from the muddle.
I thought you would like the book I'm sending you with this
letter I saw it in the bookshop and thought it would make you
laugh. I know you 've always wanted to livein Greece. Anyway,
I hope you enjoy it and find time to read it before you return
towork
Take it easy and look after yourself I'll write again soon.
Best regards
Sheila
P.S. You’re the best!

EXAMPLE INFORMAL LETTER
 16 April 2015
 Dear Karen,
 Hope you are well and that the second semester
is going smoothly for
you.
 The other day when we were talking at the bus
stop you mentioned a
web page on which Linda Holkenson detailed
her reasons for leaving.
 If you don't mind, would you send me the URL for
that web page if you
still have it?
 Thanks a lot.
 Best regards,
Louis

EXAMPLE INFORMAL LETTER27 April 2015
Hi Everyone,
In order to celebrate my new life in New York,
I would like to invite you to a special house
warming party.
When: Friday, 15 May, 2015 at 8 pm
Where: 5th
Avenue – 25th
street
I would like to request that everyone bring
something for 4 to 6 people
to eat or drink.
Please RSVP as soon as you can so that I can
estimate how many people
will be here and what everyone will bring.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours,
Sara Martina
P.S. Stay cool!

FOR THE ADDRESS (USA) ON YOUR
ENVELOPE CHECK THIS POSTCARD:

HERE YOU’LL FIND A SAMPLE OF
A BRITISH ADDRESS:

I HOPE YOU’RE NOW ABLE TO WRITE
A SHORT INFORMAL LETTER.
THANK YOU!
M. VAN EIJK/ MA