INFORMAL LETTERS

Informal letters are letters written to friends and family members regarding personal matters. They are also known as friendly letters. Informal letters are written to:

Keep in touch with family members, relatives and friends. Thank someone Give advice/encouragement Say goodbye Congratulate Give condolence

Format of Informal Letters

_1.Senders details __

_____address_______

___________________

_______2.Date______

______3.Salutation__________,

_______4.Introduction______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________5.Body______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______6.Closing___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____7.Signature___,

__________________

Guidelines

1. Sender’s Detailsa. Write your address at the top right-hand corner of the letter

2. Datea. Write the date below the address.

b. The date must be written formally but can be written either uppercase or

lowercase

i. 1 MARCH 2010

ii. 1 March 2010

3. Salutationa. Write the salutation on the next line on the left-hand side of the letter.

b. Address the person you are writing with “Dear”…..,

c. Make sure you have a comma after the greeting.

4. Introductiona. Enquire after the person’s health or well being by asking

i. How are you? I hope you are fine…..:, I am glad to hear that….”

5. Bodya. Use informal language. Keep the tone personal

b. Use simple sentences

c. You can use contractions like

i. I’ll

ii. She’s

iii. They’re

d. Use informal linking expressions such as “anyway”,”yet”,”still” and “also”.

e. Do not use slang or too many casual expressions.

f. Minimise the use of lengthy sentences.

6. Closinga. End your letter with a reference to the reason you wrote and send regards

where appropriate. Write the closing for your letter using informal phrases like

b. “Love”, “Best Wishes” and “All the best”.

7. Signature

a. Only the first word of the signing off begins with a capital letter and the last

word ends with a comma, for example :

b. “Your cousin”, “Your beloved granddaughter”, and “Your concerned friend”.

Sample Question and AnswerYour friend in Singapore has written to you to inform you that his cousin in Penang was

down with dengue fever. He would like to know the situation in Malaysia as he plans to bring

his family over for the holidays in April. Write a letter to brief him about the current situation.

In your letter, include the following:

Express concern over the health of your friend’s cousin

News about the situation

Steps taken by authorities

Present situation

Do remember to:

Use the informal letter format

Use all the points given

Expand each of the points given

Write in paragraphs

Model Answer

12 Taman Damansara Heights,

Sri Damansara,

57000 Ipoh

Perak.

26 March 2010

Dear Calvin,

How are you? I’m sorry to hear that your cousin in Malaysia had dengue fever. This

problem seems to have become very serious all of a sudden. We always feel that the

problem is not our concern until someone close to us affected.

My neighbour’s daughter who was in Standard 6 last year could not sit for the UPSR

exam because she was down with dengue fever on the eve of the exam. Fortunately, the

authorities gave her an exemption so she is now in Form One.

According to the news students made up nearly 30 per cent of the 1500 suspected

cases over the first three weeks of the year. About 53 per cent of 621 confirmed cases last

year comprised children and youths under the age if 24.These statistics are quite worrying.

This has prompted the health ministry to increase checks on aedes breeding grounds in

schools and public areas. The construction sites are largely to be blamed. The problem is

made worse by the rainy season.

The authorities have taken various steps to control the situation. Fogging has been

carried out in many public areas and most of the housing estates. Contractors at

construction sites have been instructed to take appropriate actions and warned to clean up.

They could be fined up to RM3000 for breeding aedes mosquitoes. Before the long holiday

for the Chinese New Year, schools all over Malaysia carried out a clean-up campaign of the

school compound. The residents’ association in my housing area also organised a family

day clean-up of the housing estate. There were huge piles of rubbish especially old tyres

and containers littered by the hawkers near the might market site.

The situation in Malaysia has improved since the end of January. There have been

no reports of new cases of dengue. So, don’t worry. You can bring your family for a holiday

here in April. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.

Yours sincerely,

Practice 1Your junior, a Form 5 student in SMK Sri Kelana has been recently appointed as head

prefect to replace you. Write a letter to congratulate him on his new appointment.

In your letter, include the following

Congratulate him on his new appointment

Assure him that he will do well

Ex-head prefect in your school – advise him on how to carry out duties

Send regards to his family

Do remember to:

Use the informal letter format

Use all the points given

Expand each of the points given

Write in paragraphs

Practice 2

Ranjit a former classmate who had to start working immediately after SPM has decided to

stop working because he has to look after his father who is recovering from a hit and run

accident. He would be working on a part-time basis. Write a letter to him, expressing your

concern and advising him about furthering his studies to build up his career and how to take

care of his father.

In your letter, include the following:

Express concern about his situation

Advice him on his career and working part-time

Ways to take care of his father

Offer help to him

Do remember to:

Use the informal letter format

Use all the points given

Expand each of the points given

Write in paragraphs