5.4. Informal Letter Phrases
Write to a friend in full sentences with everyday phrases, and still cover every bullet, one step at a time.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You recently had a new washing machine delivered and installed by a local shop, but it has leaked water into your kitchen twice since it was fitted.
Write a letter to the shop's customer service manager. In your letter:
- give details of the purchase and the installation
- describe the problems the machine has caused
- say what you would like the shop to do
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Write at least 150 words.
The short version
When the task says a friend or your cousin, the letter is informal: everyday words, contractions, a warm first line.
I hope you're well. I'm writing because… One line to them, then your purpose.
Contractions belong here: you'd, I'm, can't. Slang and text-message forms do not.
Friendly still has to cover all three bullets, in full sentences, over 150 words.
What you have to do
The test shows a situation, the reader, and three bullets. You write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. It is marked on four things: covering the bullets in a tone that fits the reader, organisation, vocabulary and grammar. The task above is to a manager, so it is formal. When the reader is a friend or a relative, the letter is informal. It has the same length and the same three bullets, written the way you would speak to that person.
Informal is a tone, not a shortcut
An informal letter uses contractions (I'm, you'll) and everyday verbs (get, sort out). It asks the reader questions and starts with a line about them. It still has a greeting, a purpose line, one paragraph per bullet and a sign-off. Text-message English is not informal writing: u, gonna and missing capitals are marked as errors.
I hope you’re well. / Great to hear from you. / I’m writing because…
I was wondering if you’d like to… / It would be great if you could…
You’ll never guess… / The good news is… / Guess what?
Write back soon. / Can’t wait to see you. Best wishes, / Love,
Step by step
- 1Read the situation, the reader and the three bullets first
The reader tells you the tone before you read anything else. On the task above, the reader is a manager you have never met, so that letter is formal. When the task says a friend, your cousin or a family member, the letter is informal. Then read the three bullets: whatever the tone, they are still your three paragraphs.
- 2Decide what the task demands: every bullet, one tone, a purpose line
An informal letter is marked exactly like a formal one. All three bullets, each in its own paragraph. One friendly tone from Dear Lina to Best wishes. And a purpose line: one sentence saying why you are writing (I'm writing because I've got a spare room in August). It comes after one line to your friend (I hope you're well). Friendly does not mean short: 150 words is still the minimum.
- 3Use the bullets' words to plan one paragraph each
Turn each bullet into the first line of a paragraph, in your own words and in everyday English. Say when the room is free becomes The room's free from the 9th to the 23rd. Describe the area becomes You'll love the market on the corner. Add one concrete detail to each: a date, a bus time, a shop. Keep the bullets in the order the task gives them.
- 4Leave out what the bullets do not ask for
Friendly letters drift into news the bullets never asked for: the weather, the neighbours, a whole update on your job. If a sentence serves no bullet, cut it. Slang and text-message forms go too. u, gonna and lol are not informal writing. To the examiner they are errors, and each one costs you.
- 5If you are stuck, use the fallback plan
Greeting with the friend's name. One line to them: I hope you're well or Great to hear from you. One sentence of purpose: I'm writing because... Then one short paragraph per bullet with one concrete detail each. Then a closing line, Write back soon, and Best wishes with your first name. Five parts, and every bullet is covered.
The room looks over Quay Lane, so you’ll hear the market in the morning, and the bus to Fen only takes twelve minutes. There’s a good bakery on the corner. I’m at work most weekdays, but the key’s with the cafe downstairs, so you can come and go whenever you like.
- VocabularyA contraction and a picture. This is the friendly register: everyday words in a full sentence.
- TaskOne concrete detail for the bullet. A bus time is invented, specific and easy.
- CoherenceSo links the key to what it means for the reader. The paragraph stays on the area and never drifts into other news.
Coloured text shows what the examiner is looking for.
Quiz time4 questions
Each drill gives you the task or the sentences it needs, so nothing has to be looked up. Practise one judgement at a time.
Pick the opening that fits
Read the task, find the reader, then choose the opening that fits them.
Read thisTask: A friend has just moved to another city. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: say how you are, tell them about a change at work, invite them to visit.
Which opening fits this reader?
Spot the sentence that sounds like a bank
Four sentences from one letter to a cousin. One is far too formal. Find it.
Read thisFrom a letter to a cousin, inviting them to stay for a week in the summer.
Which sentence contains the error?
Bullet or drift?
Read the three bullets, then the sentence. Does it answer a bullet?
Read thisTask: Write a letter to a friend who has moved away. In your letter: say how you are, tell them about a change at work, invite them to visit.
The weather's been awful here, and my neighbour has finally sold his old car, which he'd been going on about for months.
Make it sound like a friend
This sentence is formal. Rewrite it for the reader the task names, keeping the facts.
Read thisTask: Write a letter to a friend who is coming to stay. Bullet 3: tell them what they need to bring.
I would be grateful if you could bring a sleeping bag, as I do not have a spare one.
Set up your learning path at the top of this lesson to get band-specific feedback.
The full model
Below is an informal task with a complete letter written the way the five steps produce it. Read it once for the phrases, then once to check each bullet has its paragraph.
Write a letter to a cousin. You have a spare room for two weeks in August. In your letter: - say when the room is free - describe the area - tell them what they would need to bring Write at least 150 words.
Dear Lina, I hope you’re well. I’m writing because I’ve got a spare room free from Saturday 9 to Saturday 23 August, and I was wondering if you’d like to use it. You did say you wanted a cheap week or two by the harbour. The room looks over Quay Lane, so you’ll hear the market in the morning, and the bus to Fen only takes twelve minutes. There’s a good bakery on the corner. I’m at work most weekdays, but the key’s with the cafe downstairs, so you can come and go whenever you like. Could you bring a towel and a sheet set? I’ve got a spare pillow, and you’re welcome to use the kitchen. If you fancy a swim, the leisure centre is a ten-minute walk, though do check it’s reopened by then. Write back soon and tell me which days you’d come. If August is no good, I’ve got a long weekend free in September. Best wishes, Jordan
The contractions run all the way through, and the invitation uses one of the phrases from the cards. Every bullet is still covered, the letter clears 150 words, and informal means full sentences, not a text message.
Your turn to write2 questions
Check
Choose the correct answer.
An informal letter still needs to…
Your turn: one bullet
Write only the paragraph for bullet 2 (describe the area), but about the area where you actually live. Keep the friendly tone, but write full sentences.
Your cousin has never visited you. Give them two or three concrete things about your area: a shop or market, how long the bus or walk takes to somewhere useful, and something to do in the evening.
0 / 20 words
Set up your learning path at the top of this lesson to get band-specific feedback.
Tips
- Start with a line to them
I hope you're well or Great to hear from you costs six words and sets the tone before your own news starts.
- Contractions, yes; slang, no
I'm, you'll and can't are informal writing. gonna, u and lol are a text message, and the examiner marks them as errors.
- Count the bullets before you sign off
Chatty letters run out of room. Before Best wishes, check that each bullet has its own paragraph and one concrete detail.
Recap
Open with a line to them, then say why you are writing.
Use the everyday phrases: I was wondering if you'd like to…, Could you let me know…
Friendly writing still covers every bullet, in full sentences, over 150 words.
Next: the essay, which is worth two thirds of your mark.