The Complete Guide to Writing an Informal Letter

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Format and style advice to make your informal messages stand out
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Wanting to send a friend or loved one a letter but don’t know where to start? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Writing and formatting an informal letter is a piece of cake because (spoiler alert) there are no rules. All you have to know is who you’re writing to, what you’re writing about, and where to send the letter. In this article, we’ll break down all the necessary steps and even give you a few tips to make your informal letter more personal.

Steps to Writing an Informal Letter

  1. Start with a friendly greeting, like “Hi” or “Dear.”
  2. Use the space under your greeting to write your message.
  3. End your letter with a personal closing, like “Love” or “Best.”
  4. Sign your name after your closing.

Informal Letter Template & Example

Section 1 of 5:

Formatting Your Letter

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  1. In the upper left-hand corner of a clean sheet of paper or new word processor document, put down your current location in one or two lines. Directly under that, record the day's date, making sure to mention at least the month and year. [1]
    • You can either spell out the full date ("Wednesday, February 12th, 2018") or use the abbreviated numeral form ("2/12/18") to keep things simple.
    • While including these details is optional for an informal letter (it’s most typically used in formal letters), it’s still a good way to let your recipient know when and where the letter was written, which can be useful if you're in different parts of the world.
  2. Begin your letter by addressing the letter to the person it's intended for by name. Traditionally, the opening address goes in the upper left-hand side of the page, but you can put it anywhere you want as long as you have enough room to include your message beneath it. [2]
    • If you want, you can add a salutation before your recipient's name, such as “Dear,” “My darling,” or even just “Hey.”
    • If you're composing an open letter and don't know the name of the person who will be reading it, start with a general address, like “To whom it may concern” or “To whoever reads this letter.” [3]
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  3. Use the space underneath your recipient's name to say whatever you want to say. The body of your letter can be as long or short as you want it to be—there are no rules! [4]
    • If you run out of room on the first page, start a new one or flip your paper over and continue writing on the back.
    • Picking out a lined type of paper, like notebook or journal paper, can help you keep your handwriting neat and organized.
  4. Once you've gotten your message across in the body of your letter, leave a little room (about the space of a single typed line) below your last sentence to include a brief sign-off. Your closing line might say something like, “Sincerely,” “Yours truly,” “Best,” “Thanks,” or “Love.” [5]
    • The closing essentially signals to your recipient that they've reached the end of the letter.
    • Since you're not sending a formal letter, there's no need to add a closing if you don't want to—you can always just sign off with your name.

    Tip: Etiquette coach Tami Claytor recommends coming up with a closing that reflects your reason for writing. A letter of condolence, for instance, could end with “My deepest sympathies.”

  5. Put your name right under your closing line (if you included one) so that the closing acts as a lead-in for your signature. You can sign your name in cursive or formal script if you like, but it's also okay to simply print or type it instead. [6]
    • You might use your full name, first name, or a nickname depending on your level of familiarity with the person you're writing to.
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Section 2 of 5:

Letter Writing & Style Tips

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  1. Informal letters are meant to be read in a relaxed, casual way. Feel free to use contractions, hypothetical questions, inside jokes, and other figures of speech. This will help your natural voice come through to your reader. [7]
    • If you're not sure what to say, it can be helpful to imagine that you're having a conversation with a friend and simply write the way you would talk.

    Tip: You might kick off the body of your letter with something like this: “Hey bestie! Isn't it crazy how time flies? One minute, we're chasing boys at summer camp, and the next, you're getting married! Being an adult is WEIRD!”

  2. The fun thing about informal letters is that they can be totally personal! Use words like “we,” “you,” and “our” to make your letter feel like a conversation. Simply write to your reader as you would text a pal.
    • Now, remember to keep the reader in mind. For instance, you wouldn’t use lingo only your best friend would know if you’re writing to your grandma.
  3. Black ink is for newspapers and dull, rigid formal letters. Grab your most vibrant pens or change the default text color in your word processor and put a little personality on the page. Blue, green, red, and other funky shades can all be fun attention grabbers, especially if you're writing to a close friend. [8]
    • Mixing up your use of colors is a great way to break up the monotony and emphasize keywords or phrases.
    • Make sure the color you choose contrasts your letter paper enough to be plainly visible. Otherwise, your message may be hard to read.
  4. Take advantage of the extra space on either side of the page by filling it with doodles, symbols, or quirky notes. Elements like these will allow you to express yourself creatively and give your reader something else to look at.
    • You might spice up your description of that time you spotted Bigfoot at the mall by including an artist's rendering of what he looked like.
    • Similarly, if you happen to catch a typo while reading back over your letter, you could turn it into a joke by crossing it out and scribbling, “I promise I know how to spell!” next to it.
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Section 3 of 5:

What is an informal letter?

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  1. An informal letter is a personal letter you write to someone you're close with. Informal letters are great ways to stay in contact with friends, family members, or a significant other, especially if you live far apart. Handwritten notes are more personal than a text or email. Plus, you can get more creative with them! What makes an informal letter “informal” is that it’s not strictly structured and rather casual. [9]
    • If you want to write a letter to a business, institution, or someone of great importance, be sure to adhere to the guidelines of formal letter writing . Unlike informal letters, formal letters have strict formatting and style guidelines to make them more official and professional.
Section 4 of 5:

What can you write about in an informal letter?

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  1. The fun thing about informal letters is there are no rules! You can write whatever your heart wants—if you think it, you can write it. Think of it like a regular conversation with a friend. Maybe you write a long-distance friend about a trip you recently went on and include photos you took, or perhaps you send a grandparent a detailed update about how you’re doing in school.
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Mail Your Letter

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  1. Take the bottom two corners of your letter paper and fold them about ⅓ of the way up the sheet. Then, fold the doubled section over one more time to create a neat that will fold in any business envelope. [10]
    • This method works best with standard 8.5 inches (22 cm) x 11 inches (28 cm) printer paper, but it can be used to fold papers of other sizes, too.
  2. Slip your letter into the envelope widthwise to make sure it will fit. To seal the envelope, lick the glue strip lining the inner edge of the flap to moisten it. Then, lower the flap and apply gentle pressure for a few seconds until the adhesive sticks.
    • Keep in mind that envelopes come in various shapes and sizes. If you're having trouble cramming your letter into a standard business envelope, try shopping around for one that's a better fit.
    • Add a bit more pizzazz to an informal letter by sealing the envelope with stickers or decorative tape.

    Tip: If you don't like the idea of licking your envelope, you can also use a damp sponge, cotton swab, or glue stick to make sure it stays closed.

  3. Print your recipient's mailing information on the face of the envelope. As Claytor explains, somewhere near the center of the envelope, write the person's first and last name, their full address, and the city, state or province, and postal code where they live.
    • Don't forget to specify an apartment number after the street address if your recipient doesn't live in a house.
  4. To mail a letter, you must put your address and name on the top left of the front of the envelope. This is called the return address and helps the postal service know where to send the letter if something goes wrong. Plus, the receiver will know who the letter’s from before they open it. [11]
    • First, write your first and last name, then your full address, and your city, state, and postal code—with each element having its own line. [12]
  5. Position your stamp directly across from the return address, where it can easily be seen by your mail handler. Once you've applied the proper postage to your letter, you'll be ready to drop it in the mailbox and send it off to your recipient! [13]
    • Most letters up to 1 oz require one stamp, unless they are an odd shape or not uniform in thickness.
    • Putting the stamp somewhere other than the upper right-hand corner of the envelope could confuse the sorting machine at the post office. In some cases, your letter may even be sent back to you.
    • Buy stamps at your local post office or order them online. [14]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I write a letter as a parent informing my son's teachers that he has a heart disease?
    Tom De Backer
    Top Answerer
    If you can, give them this information in a personal conversation. It's much quicker and much more informal than any letter, and you can easily answer their questions right away. Otherwise, write a letter simply stating the facts, and suggest to talk about this the next time you meet if they have questions.
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    Not Helpful 17 Helpful 37
  • Question
    How do I write a letter to a cousin I met once about 50 years ago? I want information about my family so I can pass down to my children and grandchildren.
    Kim G
    Top Answerer
    You can start by introducing yourself, explaining how you are related to them, and how met. Possibly mention a few other relatives they may know to help break the ice. Then you can explain your reason for writing to them, giving them some examples of what you want to know and why. Always be polite, and respect their wishes. If they don't want to communicate with you, don't take it personally, but it is possible you may be able to reconnect with a family member.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 11
  • Question
    How can I write a letter to my friend telling about my new school, such as student population, payment of school fees, displine, student/teacher activities, school bus, sport activities, laboratories, libraries?
    Kim G
    Top Answerer
    You can start by saying what you enjoy about the school. What activities have you joined, what the classes are like, what types of sports teams they have, what the students are like. Then you can contrast this by writing about some things you miss about your old school, and ask your friend about how they are doing at school. You don't have to include all the information in one single letter, in fact it would be a good way to keep in touch with your friend.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/basic_business_letters/index.html
      2. ↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/article/introduction-letter-writing#act4
      3. ↑ https://www.skillsyouneed.com/write/letter-writing.html
      4. ↑ https://engxam.com/handbook/how-to-write-informal-letter-email-c2-proficient-cpe/
      5. ↑ https://www.letters.org/letter-closings.html
      6. ↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/article/introduction-letter-writing#act4
      7. ↑ https://www.skillsyouneed.com/write/formal-or-informal.html
      8. ↑ https://www.familyeducation.com/life/writing-letters/writing-letters-letter-format
      9. ↑ https://unacademy.com/content/question-answer/english/definition-of-a-formal-letter-and-an-informal-letter/
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/V5gelIkXXLg?t=9
      2. ↑ https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=ReturnAddress
      3. ↑ https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=DeliveryAddress
      4. ↑ https://www.usps.com/ship/letters.htm
      5. ↑ https://about.usps.com/publications/pub192/pub192_004.htm

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To write an informal letter, start by writing your recipient’s name at the top of the letter with an appropriate salutation, like “Dear,” “My darling,” or “Hi.” Once you greet your recipient, fill out the body of the letter with your message, which can be as long or as short as needed. When you’re done writing your message, write a short closing to wrap up the letter, like “Sincerely,” “Yours truly,” or “With love.” After this closing, sign your first name, full name, or nickname, depending on your level of familiarity with the person you’re writing to. If you want to add a personal touch to your letter, use fun colored ink or draw pictures in the margins. To learn how to send your informal letter, keep reading!

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