Writing a Friendly Letter Friendly Why? letters convey personal information about ourselves. They show caring and concern for friends and relations. Taking the time to hand-write a letter demonstrates our level of caring Formatting Friendly letters should be hand written. Write on the backs of pages, if necessary. Heading The heading includes your address and the date. Write the heading in the upper right-hand corner, about 1” from the top of the page Line up the leading edges, STOP at the margin line 34 Willow Way Lincoln, RI 02865 October 1, 2002 Heading Usually Salutation begins with the word “Dear” and is followed by the person’s name. Place a comma after the person’s name. Leave one blank line after the heading. Write the salutation at the left-hand margin. 34 Willow Way Salutation Dear Jen, Lincoln, RI 02865 October 1, 2002 Skip one line Skip two lines The Body thoughts and ideas you want to share. Skip one line after the salutation, then single space Indent each new paragraph. Keep paragraphs short for easy reading. 34 Willow Way Lincoln, RI 02865 October 1, 2002 Dear Jen, Skip one line How are you doing? It’s been a long time since we talked. I hope you are well. What is new with you? I’ve been doing a lot of new activities. My band is playing a gig this Saturday, actually. We’re pretty good; I think it’s going to be a good show. I’m very excited! School has been going well, too. My new students are very nice, and very smart. I think we’re going to have a fun year. I hope to hear from you soon! Body Skip Closing one line, indent twice. Capitalize only the first word. Follow with a comma Common closing words: Love, Sincerely, Your friend, Respectfully, Regards, Yours truly, 34 Willow Way Lincoln, RI 02865 October 1, 2002 Dear Jen, How are you doing? It’s been a long time are youIdoing? It’sare been a long time since we sinceHow we talked. hope you well. talked. I hope you What is are newwell. with you? I’ve been doing a lot of What is new you? I’ve been doing a lot of new new activities. Mywith band is playing a gig this Saturday, activities. My band is playing gig this Saturday, actually. We’re pretty good; I athink it’s going to be a good actually. good; I think it’s going to be a good show. I’mWe’re very pretty excited! show. I’m very excited! School has been going well, too. My new School been going well, smart. too. MyI new students arehas very nice, and very thinkstudents we’re are very nice, a and smart. I think we’re going to have funvery year. going to have a funtoyear. I hope hear from you soon! I hope to hear from you soon! Closing Skip one line Sincerely, Signature Sign your letter beneath your closing. For friendly letters, your first name is usually enough, unless the person doesn’t know you very well. 34 Willow Way Lincoln, RI 02865 October 1, 2002 Dear Jen, How are you doing? It’s been a long time are youIdoing? It’sare been a long time since we sinceHow we talked. hope you well. talked. I hope you What is are newwell. with you? I’ve been doing a lot of What is new you? I’ve been doing a lot of new new activities. Mywith band is playing a gig this Saturday, activities. My band is playing gig this Saturday, actually. We’re pretty good; I athink it’s going to be a good actually. good; I think it’s going to be a good show. I’mWe’re very pretty excited! show. I’m very excited! School has been going well, too. My new School been going well, smart. too. MyI new students arehas very nice, and very thinkstudents we’re are very nice, a and smart. I think we’re going to have funvery year. going to have a funtoyear. I hope hear from you soon! I hope to hear from you soon! Sincerely, Sincerely, Jake Signature A Post Script (P.S.) postscript is an afterthought that you write at the end of the letter. P.S. stand for the Latin words post (“after”) and script (“writing”). Skip one line after your signature, then write “P.S. - ” at the margin. 34 Willow Way Lincoln, RI 02865 Lincoln, RI 02865 October 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 Dear Jen, Dear Jen, How are youare doing? It’s been long time since How you doing? It’sa been a long timewe since we talked. I hope you are well. talked. hope you are well. since weI talked. I hope you are well. What is new with you? I’ve been doing a lot of What isWhat new with you? I’ve been doing adoing lot ofanew new activities. Myis band new with is playing you? aI’ve gig been this Saturday, lot of actually. We’re pretty good; I think it’s going to be a good activities. My band is playing a gigathis new activities. My band is playing gig Saturday, this Saturday, show. I’m very excited! actually. pretty II think it’s to a actually. We’re We’re School pretty hasgood; good; been going thinkwell, it’s going going too. My to be be new a good good students are very nice, and very smart. I think we’re show. show. I’m I’m very very excited! excited! going to have a fun year. School ISchool has been going well, too. My newMy students hope to hashear been from going you well, soon! too. new are very nice, and nice, very and smart. think we’re students are very veryI smart. I think we’re going going to to have have a a fun fun year. year. II hope hope to to hear hear from from you you soon! soon! Sincerely, Jake Jake Sincerely, P.S. P.S. – Be sure to send me a picture of your new cat! Once you have jotted down your ideas, you are ready to mail it.
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