Letter Writing made easy for you.
Is Letter Writing Difficult for You?
I can’t write letters. I am not confident in writing letters. Do you run away from writing letters? Do you think that you can’t write official letters / applications?
You are good at writing anything to your friends but when you have to write an application, you have to take support of your friends.
You have poor level of confidence because many of your questions are unanswered.
Don’t worry. I am here to answer all your questions.
Actually, you must know the basics of letter writing
The Art of Letter Writing
Basics of Letter Writing
You
know letter writing is very common among people. Students have to write letters
in their language studies and language learning. However, people do not take
the job of letter writing very seriously. They have a casual approach towards
letter writing. The advent of cell phone which facilitates Email and messaging
has increased this casualness towards letter writing. People write letters as
they wish without a thought for its format and appropriateness of the language.
People are not aware of where to use formal language and where to use informal
language.
But
I advise you to take this job seriously and first of all know the basics of
letter writing.
There
are two basic things about the letters that you must know:-
1. Language:- ( What language I have to use with which person)
2. Elements:- ( What are the elements that I have to use in the letter I am writing and how many elements overall there are that I have to use?)
3. Format- (Which piece of information
to be written where)
1. Language:- The first thing is the language that you have to use in the letter. You can’t use same type of language with all the people you are writing letter. You have to decide your language with the person before you according to your relation with him/her. We can use informal language if we are writing an informal letter i.e. the letter to our friends, relatives and family members. Similarly, formal language must be used in formal or official letters.
The elements of courtesy for the beginning and ending of the letters too differ from each other.
Your language depends upon whether you have informal relation with the person or formal relations.
The category of the letter decides this fact.
2. Elements- Next thing is the overall elements that you need to include in the letter. It means that you don't have to write only the message that you want to convey but there are several other things that you have to write before and after the main message for example in an informal letter you have to write your address, date, salutation before the main message and complimentary close and signature after the main message.
3. Format- The next important thing that you must pay attention to is that the letters have to be written in a proper format otherwise there shall be no difference between a paragraph and a letter. All kinds of letters have a distinct format. Format is also known as Style of Presentation. According to Format or Style of Presentation, you decide the Layout. Layout means "What things to write where."
The Art of Letter Writing
The art of letter writing may be divided into two types of letters as follows:-
Informal Letter
All the
letters that we write to the people with whom we have informal relationship
e.g. our friends and relatives (father, mother, uncle, aunt, sister, brother
etc.) are called informal letters.
Formal Letter
All the
letters that we write to the people with whom we have formal relationship e.g.
the head of an institution/ a government organization/business organization etc
come under the category of formal letters.
These are
the letters that we address to the Principal of a school, the head of a
government office, or the head of an office belonging to business organization
or an office bearer. All the business letters are formal letters.
Elements of an Informal Letter
Style of Presentation/Formats of letters
Lay out of an Informal Letter
Block Style
1 . Return Address
2. Date
3.
Salutation ( Dear friend, Dear Father etc.)
4.
Main Body of the letter
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5. Complimentary Close
(Yours
affectionately
Yours
truly etc)
6. Signature
(Your
name).
.................................................................................................................
Sample Letter
( Specimen Block Style)
Lay out of an Informal Letter
Complete Block Style
1 . Return Address
2. Date
3. Salutation ( Dear friend, Dear Father etc.)
4. Main Body of the letter
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5. Complimentary Close
(Yours affectionately
Yours truly etc)
6. Signature
(Your name).
Sample Letter Complete Block Style
Some samples of Informal Letters
Sardar Patel Hostel
University of Allahabad
26 February,2005
Dear Daddy,
I am quite fine here and hope that this letter of mine finds you in the best of your health and cheerful mood. I hope that Mom and Dolly too are happy and cheerful.
My examinations are going to start from 15 March 2005. I am well prepared for the examination. Besides this, I hope that I shall be able to cross the preliminary examination of IAS in my first attempt.
My teacher has suggested some more good books which are useful for some papers of final year and for IAS Examination also. Please send me Rs 500 more so that I may be able to buy these books.
Love to Mom and Dolly.
Affectionately yours,
Sudhir Agrawal
Rajendra Nagar Satna(MP)
28 October,2005
Dear friend,
I feel extremely sorry at the sad and sudden demise of your father.
It is an infinite loss not only to you but to me as well. He has been a guide to both of us in the struggle of life. I request you not to feel alone at this hour of tragedy.
However, “Man proposes; God disposes”. God’s will is above all. Therefore, have faith in the Almighty. “Do thy duty; reward is not thy concern”. “Whatever God does, does for good”. We all are with you.
I request you to resume the charge of your duties and work with the same spirit. After all, this is all that your father really wanted from you.
We all stand by you in this hour of grief.
Yours truly,
Rajesh Kumar
Elements of an Application to the Principal
1.Inside Address-Inside Address is the address of the receiver of the letter/application.
Write at place no.1:-
The Principal
The Address of the School/College
( You can write “To The Principal” also however ‘To’ is not necessary because this place is meant for the receiver of the application. But remember that “P” must be capital when you write “The Principal”.)
Write the address of the school or college under “The Principal”.
2. Salutation-Write “Respected Sir” Or “Sir” at place no 2.
3. Subject- It should be as brief as possible.
4.Main Body-You may start the main body of application in the following manner:-
I beg to say that.............
Or
I beg to state that................
Or
Sir,
Most respectfully I beg to say that.................
Or
You may come directly on the point
5. Complimentary Close- You may write “Yours faithfully” or “Yours obediently” for complimentary close of the application at place no 6.
6. Signature- Put down your signature under complimentary close and then write your name.
7+ 8- Besides this, on the left margin, you should write the date (Always spell the name of the month) and the name of the place from where you are writing the letter/application.
Application to the Principal
Lay out of an Application to the Principal
Block Style
1. Inside Address
The Principal
XYZ School/College
Address ................
2. Salutation
(Respected Sir)
3. Subject Line:
4. Main Body
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5. Complimentary Close
(Yours faithfully
or
Yours obediently)
6. Signature
(Your name)
7. Place
8. Date
Application to the Principal
Lay out of an Application to the Principal
Complete Block Style
1. Inside Address
The Principal
XYZ School/College
Address ................
2. Salutation
(Respected Sir)
3. Subject Line:
4. Main Body
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5. Complimentary Close
(Yours faithfully
or
Yours obediently)
6. Signature
(Your name)
7. Place
8. Date
Specimen Application to the Principal
Block Style
The Principal
JP Institute of Technology
Chhatarpur Road Sagar (MP)
Sir
Subject-Application for the membership of ISTE
Most respectfully, I beg to say that I want to become a member of ISTE. I am Rupesh Ahuja from Electrical Engineering 6th Semester. I have come to know from our professors that all the faculty members have become members of ISTE. Students too can become members of this society. This society publishes a magazine and there are various advantages that we can get from it.
I request you to permit me to become a member of ISTE and provide necessary support.
I am ready to pay the subscription there of.
Thank you,
Yours faithfully
Rupesh Ahuja
Place- Sagar
Date- 12 July,2005
*****
Specimen Application to the Principal
Complete Block Style
The Principal
JP Institute of Technology
Chhatarpur Road Sagar (MP)
Sir
Subject-Application for the membership of ISTE
Most respectfully, I beg to say that I want to become a member of ISTE. I am Rupesh Ahuja from Electrical Engineering 6th Semester. I have come to know from our professors that all the faculty members have become members of ISTE. Students too can become members of this society. This society publishes a magazine and there are various advantages that we can get from it.
I request you to permit me to become a member of ISTE and provide necessary support.
I am ready to pay the subscription there of.
Thank you,
Yours faithfully
Rupesh Ahuja
Place- Sagar
Date- 12 July,2005
Lay out of an application to the Collector
or
Head of any Public / Private Institution
Block Style
1 . Return Address
2. Date
3.
Inside Address
The Collector/ The Manager
XYZ Department / Organisation,
Address ................
4.
Salutation ( Respected Sir / Dear Sir / Sir etc.)
5.
Subject Line:
6.
Main Body of the letter
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
7. Complimentary Close
(Yours
faithfully
Yours
truly etc)
8. Signature
(Your name)
*****
Lay out of an application to the Collector
or
Head of any Public / Private Institution
Complete Block Style
1 . Return Address
2. Date
3. Inside Address
The Collector/ The Manager
XYZ Department / Organisation,
Address ................
4. Salutation ( Respected Sir / Dear Sir / Sir etc.)
5. Subject Line:
6. Main Body of the letter
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
7. Complimentary Close
(Yours faithfully
Yours truly etc)
8. Signature
(Your name)
******
Specimen Application to the Collector
Block Style
Krishna Nagar
Satna (MP)
17 July 2015
The Collector
Civil Lines Satna (MP)
Respected Sir,
Subject: Application to ban loudspeakers.
I regret to bring it to your kind consideration that loudspeakers in my locality are creating a great disturbance in our studies.
I am a student of class XII. Our examinations are going to start next week but since it is the time of marriages, people are playing film songs on the loudspeakers round the clock. Besides this, marriage processions use high volume loudspeakers. Besides being a nuisance to our studies, these loudspeakers are harmful to health also.
You know very well how precious our time is. We cannot do any reading because of these loudspeakers.
Therefore I request you to put a ban on the use of loudspeakers during our examination time and oblige.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Rajesh Shukla
.............................................................
Specimen Application to the Collector
Complete Block Style
Krishna Nagar
Satna (MP)
17 July 2015
The Collector
Civil Lines Satna (MP)
Respected Sir,
Subject: Application to ban loudspeakers.
I regret to bring it to your kind consideration that loudspeakers in my locality are creating a great disturbance in our studies.
I am a student of class XII. Our examinations are going to start next week but since it is the time of marriages, people are playing film songs on the loudspeakers round the clock. Besides this, marriage processions use high volume loudspeakers. Besides being a nuisance to our studies, these loudspeakers are harmful to health also.
You know very well how precious our time is. We cannot do any reading because of these loudspeakers.
Therefore I request you to put a ban on the use of loudspeakers during our examination time and oblige.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Rajesh Shukla
...........................................................
The following book has many informal letters, formal letters, Application to the Principal/ Collector/Editor/ Any Head of an Organization and Application Letter for job.
...............................................................................................
Business Letter
Lay Out for a Business Letter
A business letter has more elements than an informal letter or any other formal letter therefore it needs greater attention. You can see the following figure to check all the important elements of a business letter.
Block Style
Structure and Layout of a Business Letter
Complete Block Style
..................................................................................
1. Letter Head ( Name and Address of the Organisation)
............................................................................................
2.Date
3. Reference (your
reference/ our reference)
4. Personal Notation
5. Inside Address
6. Attention Line
7. Salutation
8. Subject Line
....................................................................................................
9. Main Body of the
letter (Main Message)
............................................................................................
10. Complimentary Close
11. Signature
(Typed name and designation)
12. Identification marks
13. Enclosure
14. Mailing Notation
15. C.C. (Copy to)
16. Post Script
.............................................................................................................................
1. Letterhead
This is the top side of the letter. It is an already printed parted of the letter popularly known as letterhead or heading. It contains the name and address of the organization along with phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail address, and website.. (Place no 1 in the figure)
2. Date
The date is printed two spaces below the last line of the letterhead. You can write the date at place no 2 as shown in the figure. like
23July, 2008
OR
July23, 2008
3. Reference
It is a unique identity of a letter. Every out going letter is assigned with a unique number and put in records for future. The Receipt and Dispatch Department of an organization keeps the record of all the incoming and outgoing letters. Every entry is maintained on the basis of this number.
Place no.3 (two spaces below the date / last line of the letterhead).
4. Personal Notation
(Place no 4 in the figure) If the letter is a confidential, and it has to be read only by a particular person, the word Personal or Confidential is used at this place and on the envelop also.
5. Inside Address
(Place no 5 in the figure)
The inside address is the receiver’s address. It is the name / designation of the person and / or the address of the organization to whom the letter is being written.
e.g.
The Chief Accounts Officer
Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd
Lajpat Nagar
New Delhi-110011
The Personal Manager
Prism Cement Ltd
Mankahari Satna (MP)
Or
Sri R K Shukla
Ultratech Cement Ltd.
Sarojini Nagar Jaipur-550045
6. Attention Line
To ensure prompt attention especially in very big organizations a line of attention is added after the inside address:-
Attention: The Purchase Manager
Or
Attention: for Mr. Sudesh Gautam
Or
For the kind attention of Mr. Sudesh Gautam
(See place no 6 in the figure)
7. Salutation
Salutation is the respectful beginning of the letter. It is like greeting a person when you meet him.
(See place No 7 in the figure).
Most common salutation for business correspondence is ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Dear Madam’ or ‘Dear Sirs’ or ‘Dear Madams’
8. Subject
(Place no 8 in the figure)
This line simply indicates what the letter is about therefore it should not exceed more than one line.
9. Main Body
(Place no 9 in the figure)
It is the main message. It is always better to disclose your purpose of writing at the very first line. Keep the language simple. Then You can mention the detail and end with what action n you require from the reader.
10. Complimentary Close
(Place no 10 in the figure)
Complimentary close is a polite way of ending the letter or taking leave courteously. The most common complimentary closes are ‘Yours faithfully’ and ‘Yours truly’ etc.
11. Signature
(Place no 11 in the figure)
The person who writes/replies the letter has to sign here. It is placed below the complimentary close.
12. Identification Marks
(Place no 12 in the figure)
It is like a secret code denoting the persons involved in preparing the letter. If the assistant is Mr. Ravi Varma and The typist is Kusum Singh the identification may be written as:-
RV-KS
This mark is very necessary because it assigns responsibility and it is possible to trace who committed the mistake in the letter.
13. Mailing Notation
(Place no 13 in the figure). This notation states the method of mailing: whether the letter is sent registered, airmail, special delivery…etc, it is typed directly below the identification line or enclosure notation. It serves as a record to indicate that the letter was sent by other than regular mail.
14. Enclosure
(Place no 14 in the figure)
If any document is attached with the letter, it is mentioned here as follows:-
Encl-2
Or
Enclosures-2
Or
Encls -1. A copy of agreement (
2. A cheque of Rs 400000 No. 346877 SBI
Or
Enclosures - 1. A copy of agreement (
2. A cheque of Rs 400000 No. 346877 SBI
15. CC: (Carbon Copy or Courtesy Copy)
(Place no 15 in the figure)
If you are sending one or more copies of your letter to other office bearers/Heads of Departments, you need to mention all of them here as follows:-
Copy to 1. The Chief Minister of MP
2. The Minister for Railways
3. The Minister for Industries
16. Postscript
Postscript is used to write forgotten material after the letter has been finalized or finally printed. It may be hand written also. But a good letter should not have a postscript because it does not reflect a good picture of the letter writer.
Question 1. -- Write a letter inviting quotation.
Answer:-
Block Style
See the above letter how it may be written in complete block style
Complete Block Style
Sarita Cement Ltd.
Maihar Road Katni (MP)
486002
Phones-07674-3035449,
50, 51,52,53,
Fax-07674-3035460, 61,
62,63,
E-mail – swastikacement@rediffmail.com
Visit us on www. saritacement.com
24 April, 2009
Reference-P-Q-F-369
The Sales Manager
Comfy Electricals Ltd.
SB Road Bandra Mumbai
220076
Dear Sir,
Subject – Requirement of quotation for ceiling fans
We are a fast-growing cement company with our state- of –the- art
plant at Katni (MP), having a turnover of Rs 3000 crores annually.
Under an expansion plan, we are opening our new offices in North
Indian cities. For these offices, we require ceiling fans in bulk quantity.
The fans must have 1200 rpm and at least three stage speed
control.
Please quote the prices of 100 (one hundred) ceiling fans.
Please note that we have to finalize this deal by 31 May 2009 and
you must be in a position to deliver the consignment by 30 June 2009 by an
insured rail transport only.
We pay our suppliers by cheque or DD whatever they prefer.
We do not accept the consignment other than insured rail
transport.
Thanks,
Yours faithfully,
Ravi Sharma
The Purchase Manager
PSK-LV
Question 2. -- Write a letter sending quotation.
Answer:-
Block Style

See the above letter how it may be written in complete block style
Complete Block Style
Comfy Electricals Ltd.
SB Road Bandra Mumbai 220076
Phones-022-2035439, 40,
41, 42, 43,
Fax-022-2035450, 51, 52,
53,
E-mail – comfyelectriclas@yahoomail.com
Visit us on www.comfyelectricals.com
30 April, 2009
Your Reference-P-Q-F-369
Our
Reference-S-Q-F-12009
The Purchase Manager
Sarita Cement Ltd.
Maihar Road Katni (MP) 486002
Dear Sir,
Subject – Quotation for ceiling fans
Thank you very much for your letter dated 24 April 2009 inviting
quotation for ceiling fans.
I quote the prices for the same as under: -
.........................................................................................................................................
SN Item
Description
Price per unit
........................................................................................................................................
1. Ceiling fan Three blades with wingspan of sixty
centimeters Rs 900=00
Breeze 1200 rpm three speed control
colour white Rs Nine hundred only
.......................................................................................................................................
2. Ceiling fan Three blades with
wingspan of seventy centimeters Rs 1100=00
Storme 1200
rpm three speed control colour white Rs One thousand
and
one hundred only
.........................................................................................................................................
Please note that we have quoted most reasonable prices because you
intend to purchase the fans in bulk quantity. However, you have yet another
chance for getting a further discount in the prices. It is that presently we
are giving a ten percent discount on all cash purchases. Therefore, if your
order reaches us by 15 May, 2009, along with the DD of full amount, we will
give you a ten percent discount.
We have a huge ready stock of fans with us and we can manage to
deliver the consignment by 30 June, 2009 easily.
We always send our consignment by an insured rail transport only.
We accept DD’s only.
Finally, I request you to have a look at one more fan in the above
table, at serial number 2. It is our latest fan. If you find it suitable for
your needs, you can include it with your order.
Thanks,
Yours faithfully,
Mohan Sharma
The Sales Manager
RKD-SM
Question 3. -- Write a letter placing the order.
Answer:-
Block Style

See the above letter how it may be written in complete block style
Complete Block Style
Sarita Cement Ltd.
Maihar Road Katni (MP)
486002
Phones-07674-3035449,
50, 51,52,53,
Fax-07674-3035460, 61,
62,63,
E-mail – swastikacement@rediffmail.com
Visit us on swastikacement.com
5 May, 2009
Your Reference-S-Q-F-12009
Our Reference – P – Ord -
25567
The Sales Manager
Comfy Electricals Ltd.
SB Road Bandra Mumbai
220076
Dear Sir,
Subject – Order for ceiling fans
Thank you very much for your letter dated 30 April 2009 offering
the quotation for ceiling fans of our requirement.
We are pleased to inform you that your quotation has been found
most reasonable.
I hereby place the order for the following ceiling fans:
.........................................................................................................................................
SN Item
Description
Quantity in
units
........................................................................................................................................
1. Ceiling fan Three blades with wingspan of sixty
centimeters 90 only
Breeze 1200 rpm three speed control
colour white ( Ninety only)
.......................................................................................................................................
2. Ceiling fan Three blades with
wingspan of seventy centimeters 10 only
Storme 1200
rpm three speed control colour white
Ten only
.........................................................................................................................................
We are sending a DD of Rs 90819=00 (ninety thousand eight
hundred and nineteen only) with this letter as full payment of the ceiling
fans. We have already deducted a 10 % cash purchase discount from the total
price. We are sure that you shall receive this order well before 15 May 2009.
We hope that the delivery of the fans will be complete well before
30 June. 2009.
Please send the fans by an insured rail transport only.
Thanks,
Yours faithfully,
Ravi Sharma
The Purchase Manager
A DD of Rs 90819=00
issued by SBI Katni
Dated 5 May, 2009
PSK-LV
Question 4. -- Write a letter of complaint.
Answer:
Block Style

See the above letter how it may be written in complete block style
Complete Block Style
Sarita Cement Ltd.
Maihar Road Katni (MP)
486002
Phones-07674-3035449,
50, 51,52,53,
Fax-07674-3035460, 61, 62,63,
E-mail – saritacement@rediffmail.com
Visit us on saritacement.com
15 May, 2009
Reference – P – Cl – 431
The Sales Manager
Comfy Electricals Ltd.
SB Road Bandra Mumbai
220076
Dear Sir,
Subject – Complaint about poor quality fans
I regret to inform you that the ceiling fans sent by you (Invoice
Number- OF – 23654) as per our order dated 5May, 2009 (Ref-P-Ord-25567 Item 4)
have been found with manufacturing defect as per claim made by you of 1200 rpm
(Ref.-S-Q-F-12009).
As per your claim, this fan Storme must have 1200 rpm but three
out of ten ceiling fans have poor rpm (800 rpm only) while other seven Stome
fans have 1200 rpm. This fact came to light when they were installed test run
for testing.
(Please see the certificate issued by our Store Manager enclosed
with this letter.)
I request you to change the above - mentioned fans or return the
money.
I am sure that our grievances shall be listened to and provided
for.
Thanks,
Yours faithfully,
Ravi Sharma
The Purchase Manager
Encl. A copy of certificate
issued by our
store manager.
PSK-LV
...........................................................................................
Note:- A business letter may be written in any of the nine styles/formats that are popular across the world. At present, business email has become most popular and you must be well-versed in writing a business email. To become an expert in business correspondence and business email, buy either of the books given below:-
1. All Letters, Applications, Business Letters and Business Email
Click here to see and buy the book
2. Business Correspondence
Important
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