LETTER WRITING

1. LETTER WRITING

2. When writing letters decide if they are going to be formal or informal

3. FORMAL To people you don’t know To an organisation such as a bank or the council Possibly letters of complaint or letters asking for information INFORMAL To people you know such as friends or relatives

4. Writing a formal letter • One side of the paper only • Plan before you write • Keep it simple

6. NOTE ADDRESSES AND DATE Space for signature but write or type your name clearly underneath

7. Always Keep to the point be precise Use short sentences and simple words No commas outside the main body of the letter. Use proper paragraphs Never Use slang Use jargon When writing formal letters

8. Writing formats • Say Dear Sir or Madam if you do not know the name of the person you are writing to. • This would end in Yours faithfully • If you know the name write • Dear Mr....../Dear Mrs....../ Or Dear Ms........... • These would end in Yours sincerely • Type or print your name at the bottom and leave a space just above it for your signature. Put Mr Mrs or Ms in brackets next to it.

9. Remember Layout of formal letters • Your address on left hand side • Date under address • Their address under date • Greetings Dear Sir/ Mr Jones • 1st Paragraph introduction • 2nd and maybe 3rd paragraph what you are writing about • Final paragraph what you want them to do about it. • Endings Dear Sir – Yours faithfully Dear Mr Jones – Your sincerely

10. Exercise 1 The Government has to save money and are making a lot of cuts to services. • Write a formal letter to your local MP putting a case what cuts you think they should reconsider.

11. Exercise 2 You bought a second hand car for £700. It had only been running for a week when the engine broke down. Another garage says it will cost over £400 to repair. Write a letter: To the garage where you bought the car asking for your money back.