WRITING SKILL: A FORMAL LETTER

"Hard-working young assitant wanted for part-time work in a bookshop during July/August. No sales experience needed, but a good understanding of English is essential". Apply in writing to Bookworms.

"Large departmet store seeking young shop-assistants for full-time work during summer time. Previous sales experience needed and a mastery of two languages required (English and Spanish)". Send a letter of application to ZARA fashion shop.

These are 2 job advertisements to work in summer time and earn some extra money. 

Formal letters are usually written either:
- to apply for a job
- to ask for information
- to make a complaint

They are normally sent to people in an official position or people you don't know well (Director of Studies, Personnel Manager...) therefore, they are written in a formal style with a polite, impersonal tone.

A formal letter should consist of:
- a formal greeting (Dear Sir/Madam, when you don't know the person's name; Dear Ms Green, when you know the person's name).
- an introduction in which you write your opening remarks and mention your reason for writing (I'm writing to apply for the position of ...)
- a main body in which you write about the main subjects of the letter in detail, starting a new paragraph for each topic.
- a conclusion in which you write your closing remaks (I look forward to hearing from ñyou as soon as possible...)
- a formal ending (Yours faithfully, when you don't know the person's name, Yours sincerely, when you know the person's name ; + your full name).

Find some guidelines for structure and style in the icon below.


Again, click on the writing icon to find a model to follow.



Remember, practice makes it better!!