Formal Letters

These are letters we write to people in their official positions.

Features of a formal letter

1. Writer’s Address and Date: This is written at the top right hand corner. The date is written beneath the address.
2. Receiver’s Address: This is written at the left hand corner beneath the writer’s address.
3. Salutation: The acceptable salutation is Dear Sir or Dear Madam.
4. Heading or Topic or Title: This is written below the salutation
5. Introduction: This should be straight forward and precise
6. Body of the letter: This should consist of at least three well developed paragraph.
7. Conclusion: this should be done in a paragraph.
8. Subscript (Complimentary close): The acceptable closing is ‘Yours faithfully’ followed by a comma. The signature is appended beneath the closing with the full name written below the signature.

Sample Question: Write a letter to the Commissioner of Education, informing him about the plan of your council to engage in the expansion of the only secondary school in your town and how the council intends to implement its programme of aid to the school.

Format

Top College,

Agric,

P.O. Box 1055,

Ikorodu,

Lagos State,

22^th Jamuary, 2020

The Commissioner,

Ministry of Education,

Ikeja

 

Dear Sir,

Expansion Programme for Top College

Body of the Letter

 

Yours faithfully,

(Signature)

Hope Peters

Informal Letters: These are the letters we write to people who are very familiar to us.

Features of an informal letter.

1. Writer’s Address and Date
2. Salutation
3. Introduction
4. Body of the letter
5. Subscript