Text types: Texts for fun & leisure

Letters

Formal letters

Formal letters are written in a more structured and formal style than personal letters, partly because we are often writing to someone whom we may not know, eg business letters, job applications, letters of complaint, etc. The layout of formal letters follows a stricter pattern than personal letters (eg including the receiver's name, job title and address, plus using a subject heading) and there are certain conventions which we are expected to follow (such as using Yours sincerely only when we have used the person's name in the salutation). 

It is not normally necessary to spend time on this type of writing at primary level. However, for your reference, here is a sample layout to point out some of the differences between personal letters and formal letters: