Learning personal letter formats to master letter-writing skills can be incredibly rewarding for US University and college students. The art of writing personal letters may seem tedious, outdated, and useless in today’s digital world. Anyone can deliver any message to anyone at any time with just a single click. Thanks to digital technology! However, mastering letter-writing skills will enhance your communication and writing skills and help you express your thoughts and feelings meaningfully. You will foster a deeper connection with your loved ones, stay connected with them, and share memories most effectively.
So, stop procrastinating on your personal letter assignment and start today. With the help of this blog post, you will easily craft a perfect personal letter with expert formatting.
So, if you want to do yourself a favor, dive deep into this blog post—it’s made only for you!
Personal Letter Format
Personal letter format is the same whether you are writing a formal or informal letter. The tone, style, and language vary, but the structure of the personal letter remains the same. So, suppose you are assigned to write a formal business letter to your team lead/HR manager or a get-well letter to your grandfather for his speedy recovery; learning the art of crafting a personal letter format is essential.
1. Sender’s Address
Before you start writing a personal letter, always include your address at the top right corner of the letter. Even though you don’t need an address in today’s digital age, it still adds a formal touch to your letter. Most importantly, when you are writing by hand, placing your address will give the recipient an easy way to respond. The sender’s address includes your street name, city, country, and zip code.
Example:
123 Elm Street
Springfield, IL 62408
USA
2. Letter Of The Date
you need to add the date directly below your address. Ensure you write the exact date in the standard format when responding to the recipient. Writing date holds significance in many ways; it gives the writer and the recipient a precise timeline of when they wrote the letter.
Most importantly, dates hold a significant importance in many people’s lives. They add a nostalgic element to the letter that arouses new sentiments and emotions, especially after reading them for several years.
Example:
October 22, 2024
3. Recipient’s Address
Many skip this part if you are writing an informal letter. However, we recommend writing the recipient’s complete address below the date to maintain the flow of the letter. This procedure entails a proper format and structure of the personal letter. It adds coherence and cohesiveness to the letter, making it more pleasing to the eyes.
However, adding the recipient’s address is necessary if you are writing a formal letter via postal mail.
Example:
Ms. Robert Dutch
876 maple Avenue
Hartford, CT 06103
USA
4. Start With A Salutation
You start your personal letter with a salutation. So, your salutation defines how you will approach the conversation. It is the time when you get connected with your recipient. So, if you are writing a formal letter, using a formal tone, such as Dear, respected, is recommended. If you write an informal personal letter, get more creative and use intimate expressions such as My dearest friend (name), Hi sweety, hello munchkin, and even nicknames.
Formal Example:
- Dear John,
- Respected Ms. Alberta,
Informal Example:
- Hi Suze,
- Hello Sweety Pie,
- Hey Angel,
5. Subject Line
The subject line gives the recipient an idea about the topic of the letter. So, the subject provides the reader with the context of the message. Generally, it is a must for a formal letter to include a subject line. Meanwhile, subject lines are not necessary for informal letters.
Example:
- An Invitation To Attend A Seminar On Navigation Digital Transformation In Business
- Confirmation Of Appointment On 22 November 2024 For HR Manager
- Notice Of Upcoming Changes To Our Customer Support Service- Effective October 10, 2026
6. Introductory Paragraph
The first paragraph is the most crucial part of the personal letter; you also inquire about his well-being and address the letter’s objective to the recipient. Within your first paragraph, your opening statement must connect the writer and the recipient. Ensure that your opening is warm, thoughtful, and welcoming.
So, before you jump to the news or update, it’s essential to acknowledge the recipient. Create a sense of dialogue and engage the reader with a personalized touch.
You can ask about the recipient’s well-being in a formal personal letter. In an informal letter, you can comment on the recipient’s recent life and refer to a shared memory that would add a personal touch.
Example Of Opening Lines Of The Formal Letter:
- I am pleased to inform you that you are shortlisted for the content writing position.
- I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to discuss the new support channels we are introducing within our website.
Example Of Opening Lines Of The Informal Letter:
- I hope this letter finds you well! I have been looking forward to talking to you for a long time.
- How have you been? I have missed you and wanted to reconnect.
- I hope all is well with you! I wanted to share some exciting news with you.
7. Body Of The Letter
The body of the personal letter contains the main message you want to deliver to your recipient. There is no word limit, but keep your writing brief, precise, and at most three paragraphs.
It is best if you convey different information in different paragraphs. Keep your tone and style formal for a formal letter and maintain coherence. Whereas, if you are writing a personal letter to your loved ones, you share your experiences, offer bits of advice, discuss what happens in your life, and express your feelings, emotions, thoughts, and reflections you want to share.
Please do not rush through this section. Make it engaging. Connect with your recipient with your stories, plans, experiences, and feelings. You can also ask questions and create a two-way dialogue, like the recipient’s recent activities, ideas, or thoughts about the news you shared, or ask them for advice. Questions within a letter create deep connections and trigger conversation.
8. Concluding Paragraph
A concluding paragraph summarizes the main points of the letter. So, make it short and brief. Your concluding paragraph in a formal business letter must include a call to action. So, you need to indicate the recipient about the response. Moreover, if you are setting up a meeting, you must inform the receiver of the time of the meeting. If you send them an invitation to the event, mention that they need to tell you whether they will attend it.
On the other hand, an informal personal letter leaves the reader with a positive and heartfelt closing. Offer wishes and express excitement about hearing back from them. Ensure that you conclude your letter with warmth and love. Remember, personal letters that end on a high note always leave a long-lasting impact on the minds and hearts of the reader. So, create the emotional touch. It’s always worth it!
Formal Letter Concluding Line Example:
- Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response
- Please feel free to reach out if you have any queries.
Informal Letter Concluding Line Example:
- I look forward to hearing from you and catching up soon. Please say my regards to Asala.
- Hope to see you soon! Take care and keep in touch.
9. Complimentary Close
Complimentary closes are short, consisting of a few words. Your complimentary close reflects the tone of your letter. So, it is best to use a formal complimentary close such as Sincerely or Best Regards for a formal letter. Meanwhile, for informal letters, you can also use them with my love, take care, yours truly, and even nicknames. Make sure to look into the following features:
- Always leave a blank space before writing a complimentary close.
- Write the complimentary close in capital letters
- Include a comma
Formal Example:
- Yours sincerely,
John
- Regards,
Adam
Informal Example:
- Take care,
Alberta
- Yours truly,
David
10. Signature Line
After the complimentary close, you can add your signature. It is recommended to leave a space after a complimentary close and allocate two or three lines for an unmistakable signature. If you are sending a physical copy of the letter, use a handwritten signature, as it adds a personal touch to the letter.
Before sending the personal letter, ensure you have thoroughly read the letter. Proofread it and check for spelling and grammatical errors. Moreover, ensure the spacing between the paragraphs and the line indentation is according to the letter format. You don’t want to lose marks on your letter-writing assignment because you did not overlook the formatting.
Tips To Write A Perfect Personal Letter
To write a perfect personal letter, you need to be an expert. So, to achieve the professional approach, the following tips are vital:
- Maintain your tone
- Express your thoughts clearly and stay focused on the topic
- Follow proper formatting rules
- Strengthen your connection and add a personalized touch
- Create coherence within the document
- Proofread the letter
Sample of Personal Letter Format: 10 Best Ways For Students
Conclusion
The art of personal letter writing boosts your communication and abilities and positively impacts the reader. With this blog post’s help, you can craft a robust personal letter for your upcoming assignment. So, whether you are assigned a formal or informal personal letter, this guide will be your mentor. However, if you need assistance writing a clear, well-organized, and impactful personal letter, Presto Experts is here to help you. Our expert letter writer and academic writers will provide expert guidance and help you craft a well-structured letter within your tightest deadline. So worry not. We have got you covered! Presto Experts letter writing services are affordable and cost-effective and offer customized academic writing services.
