In all letters, the sign off should end with a comma. Some common sign offs for letters of all degrees of formality include Best regards, Sincerely, and Yours truly. As compared to the greeting, you have more options of phrases to use at your disposal. In your final sign off (or closing), you should aim to be brief and courteous. Informal greetings end in a comma rather than a colon. Some writers substitute Hello or Hi for Dear. You may choose to use a more conversational tone.
But because informal letters are reserved for personal correspondence between friends and family members, you have a greater degree of latitude in how you phrase your greeting. Greetings for informal letters should similarly convey friendliness and courtesy. Semi-formal greetings follow the same format as formal greetings however, you may refer the recipient by his or her first name. If you do not know the name of the recipient, use Dear Sir or Madam or To whom it may concern. Letters that aren't addressed to a specific person are less likely to be read.
You should strive to address your letter to a specific person. If you do not know the recipient’s gender, you may use the person's full name and omit the title. If you are unsure of a woman's title preference, use Ms. Be sure to confirm what title the recipient prefers before writing your letter. Formal and semi-formalįor formal letters, address the recipient with a courtesy title (i.e., Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Dr) followed by the person's last name. The most common greeting is Dear followed by the recipient's name. In a formal letter, your greeting (or salutation) should strike a warm yet respectful tone. Most personal correspondence (e.g., informal invitations, letters of condolence) should be informal. Business letters whose recipient you know very well (e.g., a former boss) may be semi-formal. Most business correspondence (e.g., cover letters for job applications, insurance claims, letters of complaint) should be formal. The degree of formality in your letter ( formal, semi-formal, or informal) will determine what kind of greeting and sign off you should use. Formal or informal?īefore you begin writing, think about why you're writing your letter and who will be receiving it. This page offers suggestions for good ways to open and close your letters. Choosing the right greeting and sign off will go a long way toward that goal. It's important to start and end your letter on a strong note so that the recipient will respond favourably to your message.
0 kommentar(er)
