Writing an informal letter is easier than writing a formal letter because there are fewer rules to follow. Simply address the letter to the person you are addressing, fill in the body of the letter with what you want to convey, and put a signature at the bottom of the letter to show the identity of the author to the recipient. If you want to send the letter by post instead of giving it in person, make sure you put the letter in an envelope that has the address written on and stamped on.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Formatting a Letter
Step 1. Write the recipient's address and date (optional)
In the upper-left corner of a blank piece of paper or a new document in a word-processing program, write your address on a line or two. Below that, list the date the letter was written. Make sure you mention at least the month and year of writing.
- You can write down the full date ("Wednesday, February 12, 2018") or use the numeric abbreviation form ("12/2/2018") to simplify writing.
- Adding details like this is a great way to let the recipient know when and where the letter was written. This information in itself is useful, especially if you and the recipient of the letter live in different countries.
Step 2. Write the recipient's name at the top of the letter
Begin the letter by greeting the recipient by name. Usually, the greeting is added in the top-left corner of the page, but you can add it anywhere as long as you have plenty of room to fit the main message below it.
- If you want, you can add a respectful greeting before the recipient's name, such as “My best friend”, “My friend”, “My dear”, or even simply “Hi”.
- If you're writing an open letter and don't know the name of the person who will read it, start the letter with the phrase "To whoever reads it."
Step 3. Fill in the main body of the letter with your message
Use the field below the recipient's name to convey whatever you want. The length of the body/main part of the letter depends on your preference so don't feel constrained and force yourself to write all your messages on one page. Pour out all your heart and mind!
- Once you run out of space on the first page, create a new page or turn the paper over and continue writing the letter on the next page (back of the letter).
- Choose lined paper (eg notebook or journal paper) to keep your handwriting neat and organized.
Step 4. Write a short closing to end the letter
After conveying all the messages in the body of the letter, leave a little space (about one line) below the last sentence to include a brief closing. Closing lines or remarks you can say include “Greetings”, “With love”, or “From me”.
- The closing part basically tells the reader that he has reached the end of the letter.
- Since you're not sending a formal letter, you don't have to add a closing section if you don't want to. You can always end a letter by name only.
Tip:
Choose a closing section that reflects the reason for writing the letter. For example, a letter of condolence could end with "With my deepest sympathies."
Step 5. Put your name at the bottom of the letter
Add the name just below the closing line (if you added one) so that it acts as the signature opening. You can write your name in cursive or formal writing if you prefer. However, it doesn't matter if you want to print it or type it as is.
You can use your full name, first name, or nickname, depending on how close you are to the recipient
Method 2 of 3: Adding Style
Step 1. Stick to the language of the chat so that the tone of the letter feels familiar
Informal letters are written to be read casually and casually. Feel free to use contractions, hypothetical questions, jokes that only the two of you know, and other figures of speech. These elements help convey or reflect your “natural voice” to the reader.
If you don't know what to say, it's a good idea to imagine having a live chat with him (as a friend) and writing the letter as you speak
Tip:
You can start the body/main part of the letter with, for example, “Hi, guys! Time flies so fast, doesn't it? We used to join PERSAMI together, now you know you're getting married! Being an adult feels weird too, doesn't it?”
Step 2. Use pens or colorful fonts to liven up the letter
Black ink or font is used for rigid newspapers and formal letters. Take a light colored pen or change the color of the main text in a word processing program and reflect your personality on the page of the letter. Colors like blue, green, red, and other quirky hues can grab the reader's attention, especially if you're writing a letter to a close friend.
- Using multiple colors can be a fun way to get rid of boredom and emphasize important words or phrases.
- Make sure the color used is sufficiently contrasted with the color of the letter paper so that the writing can be read. Otherwise, your letter will be difficult to read.
Step 3. Create your own margins on handwritten letters to reflect your visual talents
Take advantage of the extra space on either side of the page by drawing on it, adding symbols, or leaving quirky notes. Elements like these allow you to express yourself creatively and give the reader something he or she can see and enjoy.
- For example, you can enrich the description of a Mampang clown that you see at the mall by including an illustration or picture of the clown that you made yourself.
- Also, if you find a glitch while rereading a letter, you can turn it into a joke by crossing it out and inserting "Actually, I can still spell you !" beside him.
Method 3 of 3: Sending Mail
Step 1. Fold the letter twice vertically to fit in the envelope
Grasp the bottom two ends of the letter paper and fold it 1/3 of the way up the paper. After that, fold the folded part back up to make a neat fold that will fit into a business/standard size envelope.
This method is suitable for standard size (8.5 x 11 inches or 22 x 28 cm) printing paper. However, you can also follow this method for folding other sizes of paper
Step 2. Put the letter in the envelope and close the envelope
Place the letter in the envelope flat to fit. To seal the envelope, lick or wet a strip of glue on the inside of the tongue to moisten the glue. After that, close and press the tongue of the envelope for a few seconds until the glue attaches the tongue to the "body" of the envelope.
Keep in mind that envelopes are sold in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you're having trouble getting your letter into a standard/business envelope, try buying a larger envelope
Tip:
If you don't want to lick the tongue of the envelope, use a damp sponge, cotton swab, or glue stick to make sure the tongue sticks to the main body of the envelope and closes tightly.
Step 3. Print the recipient's address information on the front of the envelope
In the center of the envelope, write the recipient's first and last name, full address (including city, state, or province), and postal code of residence.
- Don't forget to include the apartment number after the street name if the recipient doesn't live in a tenement.
- If you want the recipient to know the sender's identity before opening the letter, write your address in the top-left corner (or back) of the envelope.
Step 4. Paste the stamp on the top right corner of the envelope
Place the postage stamp directly opposite the mailing return address so that the postal officer can clearly see it. Once you've entered the correct postal address, you're ready to put the letter in the post box and send it to the recipient!
- Most regular letters only require one stamp, unless they are of different shape or of unequal thickness.
- Placing a postage stamp somewhere other than the top right corner of the envelope can confuse the sorting machine at the post office. Sometimes, letters you want to send are even returned to you.
Tips
- Purchase a unique stationery that reflects your personality before writing an informal letter.
- Handwritten letters can be a fun and meaningful medium for staying in touch with loved ones you rarely see.
- Informal letters should only be used to communicate with friends, family and loved ones. If you're sending a letter to a company, institution, or someone you don't know closely, make sure you stick to the rules of writing a formal letter.
