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Formal Letter

Intermediate

Learn to draft letters to editors, principals, municipal authorities, and business partners with a formal register.

WeightageCBSE/Cambridge: 5 Marks
Word Limit120-150 words

Syllabus Guidelines & Introduction

A formal letter is an official document written to authorities, business partners, or news editors. It must be written in a formal, respectful, and objective register, sticking strictly to the point.

Formatting Layout Blocks

Sender Address & Date

Top left contact details and date.

Receiver Designation & Address

Recipient title and address (e.g., The Editor, The Times of India).

Subject Line

Prefixed with 'Subject:', clear, concise, and underlined if possible.

Salutation

'Sir/Madam' or 'Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]'.

Body (3 Paragraphs)

1. Intro (State problem/reason); 2. Detail (Causes, effects, data); 3. Conclusion (Expected action/request).

Subscription & Name

'Yours faithfully' or 'Yours sincerely', followed by name and designation.

Essential Rules to Follow

  • Tone: Always remain polite, professional, and objective. Avoid emotional outbursts, exclamation marks, or casual slang.
  • Spacing: Leave a line space between major blocks (sender address, date, receiver address, subject, salutation, paragraphs).
  • Spelling: Double-check subscription spellings. It is 'faithfully' and 'sincerely' (note the 'e' in sincerely and capitalization of 'Y').

Examiner Evaluation Rubric

Format adherence1 Marks
Content and details2 Marks
Accuracy of grammar and spelling2 Marks