Earlier, we used to write personal letters to our family, friends, and relatives, but that is no longer the case. Now, in the modern smartphone era, emails and text messages are the most common modes of communication. Before the invention of the telephone, letters were the only means of communication for sharing both personal and professional information. Except in a few cases, we now rely primarily on emails to convey important information, even for business purposes. Recently, personal letters have vanished. Also, many people don’t know how to write a personal letter format.
Have you ever written an informal letter to someone you care about? If not, consider writing one. Letters contain a lot of emotions and memories when compared to other advanced communication modes. The buzz of the inbox and chat windows in emails and messaging platforms has recently taken over the silent letterboxes. It’s heartbreaking to see the art of letter writing fading away. Mainly, to keep the tradition of informal letter writing alive, we have included examples of how to write a personal letter in this blog post. Continue reading to know the personal letter format.
What is a Personal Letter?
A personal letter is more than simply words on paper; it is a heartfelt snapshot of ideas, feelings, and experiences that the recipient can uncover. A personal letter is only intended for persons with whom you have a personal relationship. The purpose of a personal letter is to interact on a personal level, share news, convey feelings, or just maintain a relationship.
Personal letters in contrast to formal letters are mostly about warmth and intimacy. Hence, it should be written in a warm, pleasant, and conversational tone. In general, a personal letter is the only best way to share everyday joys, express gratitude to a loved one, or make contact with a friend who lives far away. It would be ideal to use personal anecdotes in this letter.
To compose a personal letter, you need not follow any specific format. Freely you can write and allow the conversation to flow. The length and content of a personal letter might vary based on the content and your relationship with the recipient. They can be brief and sweet, or long and detailed.
Types of Personal Letters
The following are the various kinds of personal letters
- Congratulatory letter
- Condolence letter
- Letter of Thanks
- Love Letter
- A letter to seek guidance from a friend
Personal Letter Format and Structure
Non-official letters that are intended to convey personal information to friends, family, or relatives are referred to as personal letters. Unlike other formal business letters, the personal letter doesn’t have many formatting rules. However, regardless of the letter, alignment, punctuation, and spacing must always be given priority.
You can be friendly when writing an informal letter. The majority of the time, personal letters are written to send a message, invite a friend to a birthday or wedding, or congratulate or apologize to people with whom you have a personal relationship.
Especially, while writing a personal letter, you can include the following elements.
Sender’s address
The recipient should know from where you are writing this letter to send a reply letter. So, mention your complete address including your city and zip code in the top right corner of the letter.
Date
This is to indicate on what date you are writing the letter. Right, justify the date on the right below the sender’s address.
Recipient’s address
Mention the complete address of the person to whom you are writing. This section should be included on the left after writing the sender’s address and date on the right.
Greetings
To address the person with a warm greeting, you can use “Dear” followed by their name. As it is an informal letter, you can call out the recipient using their nickname too.
Body
Here comes the purpose of the letter. For personal letters, no restrictions are there regarding the length. You can start with an introductory paragraph and write engaging content to hold the attention of the reader. At the conclusion part, include a call to action in a way that encourages the reader to reply.
Sender’s Signature
Sign off the letter with a thank you note and include your signature at the end with your name. You can use some common phrases like best wishes, lots of love, kind regards, kindly, etc.
If you are writing a personal business letter, then include a well-defined subject line before the greetings. Also, the body should be short and written on a single page only. The tone should not be too personal, especially at the signature block, be formal, and include the contact information like email and phone number at the end. Or else, you can also use a semi-formal tone throughout.
Read also: A simple guide on how to write a Business Letter Format
Tips for Writing a Memorable Personal Letter
If you wish to craft a heartwarming personal letter, then follow these tips
- The opening paragraph is important. Draw the reader in with a humorous story, a recent success, or a thought-provoking query.
- To make the letter look neater, add a blank line after each paragraph.
- Use vivid descriptions and sensory language to create a picture in your words rather than just reporting facts. Your recipient will feel as though they are going through things with you if you do this.
- Any effective communication must involve both parties in a dialogue. Inquire deeply about the recipient’s life and express a sincere interest in their tales.
- Be yourself, don’t attempt to be someone else. Your writing style and humor should reflect your distinct voice and personality.
- Never undervalue the P.S. It is a perfect area to include a joke, an afterthought, or a private message intended just for the receiver.
- End on a sincere and kind note. Try a variety of closures depending on the letter’s tone and the recipient. “Your biggest fan,” “Lots of love,” or just “Warmly” can all be effective greetings.
- Add a personal touch to your message by attaching a little souvenir or remembrance, such as a pressed flower from your trek, a ticket stub from a performance you both attended or a whimsical artwork created by you or someone else.
- Read your letter out loud to yourself after you have written it. This might assist you in identifying any uncomfortable wording or guarantee that the flow is organic.
- Do not hasten the process. Enjoy the process of putting pen to paper and expressing yourself genuinely.
- You can personalize your letter by adding a handwritten signature.
Standard Template of a Personal Letter
There is no defined personal letter format, but you can write it as per the template mentioned below.
[Sender’s Address]
[Date]
[Recipient’s Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Name],
I hope you are doing great. It has been a long time since our last correspondence. I am writing this letter to [mention the purpose of the letter].
[Write your message]
Thank you for your time.
With Love,
[Sender’s Name]
Read more: Claim Letter Format -Easy Ways to Write an Effective Letter
Personal Letter Samples
For your better understanding, here, we have shared some sample personal letters.
Sample 1:
Dear Nancy,
Guess what? I have the most amazing news to share with you! After months of waiting and interviews, I finally received the call that I would be joining the Google team.
The pleasure and gratitude I’m experiencing right now are beyond words. For me, this is a dream come true, and I’m excited to be a member of the creative and accomplished group that is influencing technology in the future.
I must express my gratitude for all of your help and inspiration along this journey. Your belief in me meant everything, and I’m grateful to have people like you who encourage me to pursue my aspirations.
Let’s catch up soon and celebrate over coffee.
With Love,
Jennifer
Sample 2:
Dear Serena,
I was terribly heartbroken to hear about the loss of your loving father. My heart goes out to you and your family during this difficult time.
Your father was an amazing man who had a profound impact on many lives, including mine. His generosity, insight, and gentle smile will always be in my memory. His legacy will live on in the innumerable memories and stories that you and your family treasure.
Please know that I am here for you and want to help in any way I can. If you need someone to chat to, a shoulder to cry on, or simply some company, don’t hesitate to contact me.
I keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. May your father’s love and spirit continue to guide you, and may you take comfort in the fact that he will always be with you in spirit.
With love and deepest condolences,
Shakeena
Wrapping Up
From this blog, by now, you will have understood a lot about personal letters and the effective ways to write a great personal letter. For composing personal letters, you can very well use customized templates or colorfully decorated cards. When compared to business letters, the ones written in a personal tone are special and will always stand close to the heart. So, depending on the scenarios, write an engaging informal letter by pouring a lot of emotions. If you still don’t have an idea about the personal letter format, download a relevant template online and customize it as per your needs. Also, to make memorable letters, you may refer to the personal letter structure and samples shared above. While writing personal letters, don’t ask for repeated things you already know. In the letter, show your positive attitude and spread good vibes through your words.
