Formal versus Informal

The basic difference between a formal and informal letter is that you write an informal letter to someone you either know personally or might want to get to know personally and you write a formal letter to someone you don’t know personally or, for the purposes of the letter at least, won’t ever need to know personally.

Within this broad definition, it is important to say that there is no black and white distinction between ‘formal’ and ‘informal’. The table shows how different recipients may require more or less formal letters on a scale rather than a strict division, with (1), (2) and (3) being generally informal and (4), (5) and (6) being generally formal.

Very informal (1)

 

(2)

 

(3)

 

(4)

 

(5)

Very formal (6)

Boyfriend

Girlfriend etc

Pen-friend

Grandparents

Teacher

Newspaper or magazine

Possible employer

Best friend

New friend

Relatives you hardly ever see

Club leader

Information bureau

Solicitor, bank, manager of a business etc