What are the two main formats for writing letters

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As mentioned above different types of letter writing follow certain formats which have been established over the years. Letter formats are applicable by and large to formal type of letters. Informal letters do not require a certain pattern of writing and can be written in number of ways. But for guidance purposes we have included few varieties of informal ways of writing which can be termed as sorts of informal formats. These formats makes the letter writing process a convenient one.

As a general rule most letters follow:

Informal Letters Formats

Formal Letters Format

Formal letter writing format is inclusive of the Four mentioned below:

Full Block Style
Semi-Block Style
Modified Block Style
Modified Semi-Block Style

Full Block Style

Full block style is a letter format characterised by the below shown

LETTER HEAD
( 6 – 10 SPACES)

DATE

(1-4 Spaces)

Recipients’ Name

Recipient’s Address

(2 Spaces)

SALUTATION, ----------------------- Salutation is followed by Comma or Colon

(2 SPACES)

Ref/Sub

(2 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left (Paragraphs – Not indented)

(2-3 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left

(2-3 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left

(2 -3 SPACES)

CLOSING, ------------------Closing followed by Comma

(3-4 SPACES)

SIGNATURE

(2 SPACES)

Enc

(2 SPACES)

SEMI BLOCK STYLE

LETTER HEAD
(6 – 10 SPACES)

DATE (2-4 Spaces)

Recipients’ Name
Recipient’s Address

(2-3 SPACES)

SALUTATION, ----------------------- Salutation is followed by Comma or Colon

(2 SPACES)

Ref/Sub

(2-3 SPACES)

Paragraph Indented, Left, Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left

(2-3 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left

(2-3 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left

(2 -3 SPACES)

CLOSING, ----------------- Closing followed by Comma

(4 SPACES)

SIGNATURE (2 SPACES)

Enc

(2 SPACES)

MODIFIED BLOCK STYLE

LETTER HEAD
(6 – 10 SPACES)

DATE

(2-4 Spaces)

Recipients’ Name
Recipient’s Address

(2-3 SPACES)

SALUTATION, ----------------------- Salutation is followed by Comma or Colon

(2 SPACES)

Ref/Sub

(2-3 SPACES)

Paragraph not Indented, Left, Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left
(Paragraph not indented) (2-3 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left

(2-3 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left

(2 -3 SPACES)

CLOSING, (followed by Comma) (4 SPACES)

SIGNATURE
(2 SPACES)

Enc

(2 SPACES)

MODIFIED SEMI BLOCK STYLE

LETTER HEAD
(6 – 10 SPACES)

DATE
(2-4 Spaces)

Recipients’ Name
Recipient’s Address

(2-3 SPACES)

SALUTATION, ----------------------- Salutation is followed by Comma or Colon

(2 SPACES)

Ref/Sub

(2-3 SPACES)

Paragraph Indented to Left, Left, Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left
(Paragraph indented) (2-3 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left

(2-3 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left, Text Aligned Left

(2 -3 SPACES)

CLOSING, (followed by Comma) (4 SPACES)

SIGNATURE

(2 SPACES)

Enc

(2 SPACES)

Informal Letters Format – When Letters do not follow any particular format while writing is called Informal Letters Format. So can it be considered that letters have either a Formal or Informal structure? Yes and No. Yes, because most of the letters are written with one or the other style in mind. No, because some letters can be written with partial observance of formal or informal styles. For example, an Address Change Letter is basically a Formal letter, however when it is written to a friend it becomes an informal letter as the motive of the letter doesn’t require a style to be followed before it is written. Differentiating features can be that informal letters are personal in nature and length of the letter varies as per the information.

Informal letter writing Formats

Informal Letter Writing Format 1

DATE (can be placed after Sender’s Name and Address)

(2-4 SPACES)

Sender’s Name
Sender’s Address

(2 SPACES)

Informal SALUTATION, ----------------------- Salutation is followed by Comma or Colon

(2 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left OR Text Aligned Centre OR Text Aligned Right

(2-3 SPACES)

Text Aligned Left OR Text Aligned Centre OR Text Aligned Right

(2-3 SPACES)