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.