Informal Letter Writing: Format, Definition, Examples, Tips, Practice Questions

An informal letter is a letter written to one’s family, relatives, friends, or close acquaintances. The tone of these letters is more languid, casual, and friendly. There is no strict structure or rules about the tone and language. Informal letters follow a basic and simple structure that ensures that the message is relayed in a coherent sense. Although previously written on papers or envelopes, informal letters are now also written digitally via email or other means. Letter writing comes in handy whether you’re somebody who’s preparing for entrance exams/homework or simply seeking to comfort of delivering a handwritten message to a loved one.

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As discussed above, informal letters do not follow a rigid pattern or set of rules. The very concept of these types of letters is to express oneself freely in an informal setting. However, there’s still a basic format for informal letter that one needs to use to ensure that the letter is written in a cohesive and acceptable way. Find below a detailed structure for an informal letter in English:

Sender’s Address:

First thing to mention is the address of the sender. This needs to be mentioned at the very top, in the left corner. Mention the house number, landmark, district, state, and pin code.

Example:

RZ 613, Sec 7

Near Mother Dairy

Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

Date

Mention the date on which the letter was written. While writing the date, mention it in DDMMYY format.

Example:

13 Jun 2025

Salutation

Unlike formal letters, salutations in informal letters are often very casual as the letters are addressed in a more casual way. Some common salutations used in informal letters include Dear, Hi, Mrs, Mr, Miss, etc.

Example:

• Dear Harry,
• Kim,
• Watson,
• Hi Buddy!
• Dear Mother,

Note: There is usually no subject line in an informal letter. Instead, the purpose of the letter is usually mentioned in the first few lines of the letter.

Introductory Paragraph

The opening paragraph usually starts with a general idea of what the letter may entail. Asking about the receiver’s well-being is a good way to start.

Example:

• How are you? I hope everything’s going well with you and your family.
• How are you and your family these days? Hoping that everything’s going well at your end.

Body of Letter

In the next few paragraphs, you can start talking about the purpose of writing the letter. It is where you mention the personal details. Find below some common topics to discuss while writing an informal letter’s main body:

• Sharing some personal news
• Talking about the topic of the letter
• Ask questions
• Express your thoughts and feelings

Note: If you’re writing the letter in an academic setting (for school homework, exams, etc.), it is advised not to get too casual as it is not an actual letter being written to your close family and friends, but part of your academia. Taking note of not messing up grammar is also crucial in these cases. However, the structure can be followed.

Closing Statement

To end the letter, write a few lines with wishes to meet soon, or wrap up the essence of the letter in a crisp way.

Example:

I’ll be waiting for your response.

I wish to see you soon.

I’ll await your response eagerly.

Complimentary Closing Remark

To end the note on a sweet or personal note, one can write the following warm wishes:

• Yours lovingly, (Sender’s Name)
• Your friend, (Sender’s Name)
• Your (sender’s name) – Example: Your Jane
• Your (sender’s relationship with the receiver) – Example: Your Sister

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Informal Letter Example #1

Q: Write an informal letter to your cousin about your experience at the new college.

RZ 613, Sec 7

Near Mother Dairy

Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

2 Jul 2025

Dear Ruby,

How are you, Ruby? I’m faring well and hope everything is going smoothly back at home. It’s been a couple of weeks, but I’m finally getting the hang of my new college. It took me a while, but I’m slowly settling in. Thought I’d share a few exciting experiences I’ve had here so far with you.

One thing I’ve realised is that college is so different from school. There’s so much freedom, too many people from different backgrounds and cultures, but also a lot more responsibilities. My campus has a beautiful garden and a massive library where I spend most of my time when I’m not in classes. Remember how we used to dream about going to that big library located in the city centre? Well, this one is just as big, if not bigger. I think of you every time I pick a new book.

I’ve also made new friends here – Riya and Ruhani. They’re very helpful and fun to be around. My professors are very kind but also somewhat strict. I recently learned about forensic analysis in one of my lectures, and it was fascinating.

How are your parents and grandma? Is your younger sister still asking for that doll she saw in the mall that day? Has something interesting happened in your life recently? I’ll be awaiting your reply. Don’t forget to pack my favourite pickles along with the letter.

You dear cousin,

Radha

Q: Write a letter to your sibling giving them tips to prepare for their upcoming exams.

RZ 613, Sec 7

Near Mother Dairy

Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

2 Jul 2025

Dear Mukul,

How are you, my brother? I know your term-end exams are just around the corner, so I just wanted to wish you good luck. In case you’re worrying about your exams and taking unnecessary stress, let me remind you that marks don’t define your future. But don’t take this as an excuse not to do well.

Remember to memorise everything and never skip on your revision. Make a timetable and stick to it! Let go of your games for a while. I’m not saying to get rid of them, but don’t spend all your time playing and focus on your studies as well. Make sure that you double-check all the essentials- admit card, ID card, pen, etc., before you leave the house.

Stay calm, stick to the timetable, revise daily and remember to believe in yourself. Don’t skip eating or sleeping, as it’ll only make you even more tired. Sending you lots of love and strength. Send my regards to our parents, and write me back whenever you feel down.

Your loving sister,

Madhvi

Have you ever wondered about the difference between formal and informal letters? The basic difference is the tone and intent of the letter. Formal letters are professional and polite, whereas informal letters are casual and friendly. There is also a slight difference between the informal and formal letter format. Take a look at the following table to know about the key differences between writing formal and informal letters in English:

Particulars	Informal Letter	Formal Letter
Tone and Language of the letter	Friendly, Approachable, Personal, Casual, may include slang or informal terms	Professional, Polite, Respectful, NO usage of slang or informal terminology
Intent	To write to friends, family, and acquaintances,	Official purposes, to write to authorities, teachers, at work, etc.
Salutation	Ex: Dear Ruby, Mrs. Potter, Mr. Lupin, Hi Mirae, etc.	Ex: Respected Ma’am/ Sir, Hon’ble Sir/ Madam
Structure	Flexible structure, no subject line required	Fixed Structure + subject line is essential + formal closing
Closing	Use formal closure phrases only. Ex: Yours faithfully, Yours truly, etc.	Use of informal closing remarks, such as Take care, Love you, See you soon, etc.

To master writing informal letters in English, one must pay attention to several points, including the intent, vocabulary, tone, and structure of the letter. If you’re a student trying to polish your letter-writing skills, then remember to keep the following tips to write letters that will definitely help you in exams and class work:

• Be natural and use everyday language instead of writing fancy expressions. However, don’t make the letter too casual if you’re writing it in an exam or for your homework.
• Express your emotions clearly: Letters are written to express one’s feelings; don’t shy away from expressing your emotions.
• Divide the letter into paragraphs: Don’t club the entire body into one single paragraph. Make at least three paragraphs, the length of which is up to you (or the given word limit).
• Practice letter writing by looking up different topics on informal letters. You can find plenty of examples both online and offline.

 

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Check out the table below to know about some of the popular books that will come in handy if you’re looking to learn more about informal letters in English, their format and common examples:

Book Name	Author/ Publication
A Handbook for Letter Writing	S.C Gupta
Guidance for Informal Letters	Sree. S
The Gist of Informal Letter	Firoz Tata
Descriptive English	S.P Bakshi

You can purchase these books online or visit your nearest book market/ bookstore as well. Alternatively, you may also look at online PDFs for the same.

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Best Books for Prefix	Best Books to Prepare for Gerunds in Grammar	Books for Adjectives in English
Best Books to Learn Composition	Best Books for Prepositions in English	Best Books for Para Jumbles

Letter writing in English is one of the core topics in English grammar across various classes. Additionally, informal letter is a recurring topic in many national and international tests. Many school boards, such as CBSE, ICSE, etc. include informal letter writing in their syllabi. This tests the following:

• Student’s creativity
• Language fluency
• English grammar
• Ability to sound cohesive while expressing one’s thoughts clearly

An additional benefit is to revive and relive the nostalgic charm of writing letters, which can be preserved by the receiver.

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