4.3. Informal Letters
When to Write Informally
You write an informal letter when the question tells you to write to a friend or close family member. Look for clues like:
- "Write a letter to your friend"
- "Write a letter to a family member"
- The question uses a first name: "Write a letter to Jack"
What Makes a Letter Informal
Informal letters should sound like you're talking to someone you know well. If your letter to a friend reads like it could be a complaint to a company, you're doing it wrong.
The Key Differences
| Feature | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Dear Sir or Madam, | Hi Jack! / Hey Sarah, / Dear Tom, |
| Closing | Yours faithfully, | Best wishes, / Take care, / Cheers, / See you soon, / Lots of love, |
| Contractions | Never | Always — I'm, don't, can't, I'd, it's, we'll |
| Phrasal verbs | Avoid | Use naturally — look into, sort out, come over, hang out, get back to |
| Vocabulary | Formal register | Casual — cool, brilliant, hectic, loads of, a bit |
| Sentences | Longer, complex | Shorter, more conversational |
| Questions | Would it be possible to...? | Any chance you could...? / Could you...? / Want to...? |
| Exclamations | None | Occasional — "Great news!" / "Can't wait!" |
Phrases That Signal Informal Tone
| Function | Informal phrases |
|---|---|
| Greeting | Hope you're well! / How's it going? / Long time no see! / Great to hear from you! |
| Apologising | Sorry I haven't been in touch / Sorry for the late reply / I know it's been ages! |
| Giving news | Guess what? / You'll never believe this! / I've got some exciting news! |
| Asking for help | Any chance you could help me with...? / Would you mind...? / Could you do me a favour? |
| Suggesting | How about...? / Why don't we...? / What do you reckon? / I was thinking we could... |
| Inviting | Do you fancy coming to...? / Want to come along? / You should definitely come! |
| Recommending | You should check out... / You'd love it! / I'd definitely recommend... |
| Closing | Give me a ring/call when you get a chance / Drop me a line / Let me know what you think / Can't wait to see you! |
Using Contractions Naturally
In informal writing, not using contractions sounds stiff and unnatural. Compare:
| Without contractions (too formal) | With contractions (natural) |
|---|---|
| "I am writing to let you know that I have been accepted at university." | "I'm writing to let you know I've been accepted at university!" |
| "I do not think I will be able to come on Saturday." | "I don't think I'll be able to make it on Saturday." |
| "It would be great if you could help me." | "It'd be great if you could help me out." |
Tip: Read your letter aloud. If it sounds like you're talking to your friend, the tone is right. If it sounds like you're writing to the Queen, it's too formal.
Using Your Imagination
Informal letters require the most imagination. You need to create a natural, believable situation with specific details. The question gives you the framework; you fill in the life.
Key principle: Draw from your real life. It's much easier to write about things you actually know.
| What the question says | What you invent |
|---|---|
| "You're moving to a new country" | Which country, when, why |
| "You attended an event" | What event, where, when, who was there, what happened |
| "You want to recommend a restaurant" | Which restaurant, what food, why it's good |
| "You're planning a trip" | Where, when, how long, what you want to do |
Informal Letter — Worked Example 1
Question:
A friend has written to ask you for advice about a holiday destination. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- recommend a place to visit
- describe what your friend can do there
- suggest the best time to go
Response:
Hey Maria,
Great to hear from you! So glad you're finally taking some time off — you definitely deserve it.
If you're looking for somewhere amazing, I'd really recommend Barcelona. I went there last summer and absolutely loved it. The city has such an incredible atmosphere, and the food is unbelievable — you have to try the tapas in the Gothic Quarter!
There's loads to do there. You could spend a whole day just exploring Gaudi's buildings — the Sagrada Familia is honestly breathtaking. The beaches are gorgeous too, so you can combine sightseeing with relaxing by the sea. And if you're into nightlife, the bars in El Born are fantastic. Oh, and make sure you walk down La Rambla at least once — it's such a buzzy street.
I'd say the best time to go is May or early June. It's warm enough to enjoy the beach but not as crazy hot as July and August. Plus it's less crowded and cheaper before the peak tourist season kicks in.
Let me know if you want any more tips — I've got loads! Have an amazing trip!
Take care, Adi
Analysis:
| Feature | How it's done |
|---|---|
| Tone | Consistently informal — contractions, casual vocabulary, exclamation marks |
| Personality | Feels like a real person writing to a real friend — enthusiasm, personal opinions |
| Bullet 1 | Recommends Barcelona with personal reason (went last summer, loved it) |
| Bullet 2 | Specific activities: Gaudi buildings, Sagrada Familia, beaches, bars, La Rambla |
| Bullet 3 | May/June — with reasons (warm, less crowded, cheaper) |
| Vocabulary | amazing, incredible, gorgeous, fantastic, buzzy, loads — natural informal register |
| Closing | Offers more help, wishes well — warm and friendly |
Informal Letter — Worked Example 2
Question:
You recently attended a music concert with a friend. However, there were some problems. Write a letter to another friend who is thinking of going to a similar concert. In your letter:
- describe the concert and what you enjoyed
- explain what the problems were
- give your friend advice about attending
Response:
Hi Sam,
I heard you're thinking about going to the summer music festival next month — I actually went to one last weekend with Tom, so I thought I'd fill you in!
The music was honestly brilliant. We saw three bands, and the headliners were absolutely incredible live. The atmosphere was electric — everyone was singing along and the sound quality was really good. Tom and I had such a great time during the actual performances.
That said, there were a few issues you should know about. Getting there was a nightmare — the car park was full by the time we arrived, so we had to walk about 20 minutes from where we parked. Also, the queues for food and drinks were ridiculously long. We waited nearly 40 minutes just to get a burger, and it wasn't even that good! Oh, and it rained for about an hour in the evening and there was basically no shelter anywhere.
My advice? Get there really early to grab a decent parking spot. Bring your own snacks and drinks to avoid the queues. And definitely pack a waterproof jacket, just in case. If you do all that, you'll have an amazing time — it's definitely worth going.
Let me know how it goes!
Cheers, Adi
Common Situations and Opening Lines
| Situation | Opening line |
|---|---|
| Giving news | "I've got some great/exciting news — ..." |
| Responding to news | "Congratulations on...! / Sorry to hear about..." |
| Giving advice | "I heard you're thinking about... — I thought I'd share some tips!" |
| Inviting | "I'm having a get-together on Saturday and I'd love it if you could come!" |
| Apologising | "I'm really sorry about... / I feel terrible about..." |
| Thanking | "I just wanted to say thanks so much for... / I really appreciated..." |
| Recommending | "You absolutely have to try/visit/see..." |
Common Mistakes in Informal Letters
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Being too formal | "I am writing to inform you..." to a friend | Use casual language — "Just wanted to let you know..." |
| No personality | Reads like a report, not a letter | Add reactions, opinions, exclamations |
| Too short | Only 100 words, bullet points barely addressed | Develop each point with specific details and personality |
| No contractions | "I do not think I will be able to" | "I don't think I'll be able to" — contractions are expected |
| Generic details | "I went to a place and it was nice" | Be specific — "I went to Barcelona and the tapas in the Gothic Quarter were incredible" |
| Overly casual/slang | Using text speak (u, r, 2) or heavy slang | Informal doesn't mean sloppy — write naturally but clearly |
Practice
Write an informal letter for this question (20 minutes):
You recently started a new hobby that you are really enjoying. Write a letter to a friend. In your letter:
- describe the hobby and how you started it
- explain why you enjoy it
- invite your friend to try it with you
Self-assessment checklist:
- Informal tone throughout (Hi/Hey + first name, contractions, casual vocabulary)
- All 3 bullet points covered with specific details
- Personality and enthusiasm — does it sound like YOU writing to YOUR friend?
- Contractions used naturally
- At least 150 words
- Warm opening and closing
- Specific details (not "I started a hobby and it's fun" but "I started rock climbing at the local centre and it's amazing")
Key Takeaways
- Informal letters are for friends and family — the tone should sound like you talking to them
- Use contractions (I'm, don't, can't), phrasal verbs (sort out, hang out), and casual vocabulary (loads of, brilliant, cool)
- Show personality — opinions, enthusiasm, humour, genuine reactions
- Invent specific, realistic details from your own life experience
- Read your letter aloud — if it sounds natural, the tone is right
- Still cover all 3 bullet points with equal depth
- Common openings: "Hope you're well!", "Great to hear from you!", "Guess what?"
- Common closings: "Let me know!", "Can't wait to see you!", "Give me a ring!"
- Informal doesn't mean sloppy — still check spelling, grammar, and that you've answered the question