Formal Letter Writing SS3 English Studies Lesson Note

REVISING FORMAL LETTER WRITING

Letter writing is the art of communicating by writing one’s request, feelings, ideas, opinions and so on to someone, as if the person were physically present.

 Formal letter

Another name for formal letters is official letter. They are letters we write to people in their official positions. Even when we know them personally, the rule demands that we still write them impersonal or official letters.

Formal letters can be in the form of applications for admission or employment requests for casual leave by staff in offices, official queries and replies to them, letters to local government Chairmen, Commissioners or Minister of Education requesting for changes in the school system and other such topics.

 Features of a Formal Letter

Writer’s Address: This should be written at the top right hand corner of the page like this:

Federal Government College

P.M.B. 1075,

Owerri,

Imo State

15th July, 2002.

Receiver’s Address

This is written on the line following the date on the left hand side of the page. Other names for the receiver are: (1) the recipient

(11) The addressee e.g.

The Director,

Adebisi Associated Enterprises,

P.M.B. 10016,

Akure.

3. Salutation: The salutation is the greeting which comes after the receiver’s address: Dear Sir,or Dear Madam,.
4. Heading or Topic or Title

This comes directly after the salutation but not on the same line. E.g. Complaints about the lack of facilities in my area.

5. Body of the letter: Here, you go straight to what the question states you should do. There should be no room for exchange of pleasantries or personal matters, slang, colloquialism, abbreviations and contracted words like won’t, I’m, You know, Yea, Whats up, US, NAFDAC are not allowed.

6. Subscript (Complimentary close)

The most correct way of ending a formal letter is Yours faithfully, at the right hand corner of the page immediately after the letter. It’s followed by the writer’s signature and full names written under the signature:

Yours faithfully,

(Signature)

EzeChima

NOTE- Capital letter “Y” and small letter “f” while your signature must come before your name.

Evaluation: Write a letter to the chairman of your local government complaining to him about the lack of facilities in your area.

Reading Assignment: Page 203 of Effective English.

FOREIGN ELEMENT IN ENGLISH USAGE

Some of the foreign words and expressions that have come into English language are listed below:

CLASS ACTIVITY: The students are to study more words on page 102 of their textbook.

EVALUATION: Using the dictionary, find out the meaning of the words above.

ASSIGNMENT: Find the meanings of the words listed below and use them in sentences.

• Malaise
• Cadre
• Finesse
• Milieu
• Patois
• Vis-à-vis
• Bourgeoisie
• Precis
• Esprit de corps
• Fracas