informal letter essay

• Letter Writing
• Informal Letter Format

Informal Letter Format - How to Write, Parts, Sample Informal Letters

To write an informal letter in English, you need to know the way in which it is written. Informal letter writing is easier than you think. It is just like a long talk with a friend or relative.

In this article, the format of an informal letter is explored under the following headings.

What Is an Informal Letter?

What can you write about in an informal letter, how to write an informal letter.

• Informal Letter Format 1 – Letter to Your Cousin Inquiring about Her First Visit to Ethiopia
• Informal Letter Format 2 – Letter to Your Friend about Arranging a Get-Together
• Informal Letter Format 3 – Reply Regretting Inability To Join
• FAQ On Informal Letter Format

Informal letters are personal letters that are written to let your friends or family know about what is going on in your life and to convey your regards. An informal letter is usually written to a family member, a close acquaintance, or a friend. The language used in an informal letter is casual and personal.

You can literally write about anything you feel or think you want to convey. Informal letters can be written to inform your dear ones about your success in a competition, about a movie you watched recently, about the trip that you would be going on, and so on. It can also be to enquire about their well-being, to invite them to go along with you on a trip, to congratulate them on their new job, to convey your regards, etc. You can be as personal as you want when writing an informal letter.

Like any letter, there is a format to write an informal letter in English. Unlike a formal letter , an informal letter does not need to state something specific. It can be written in an easy, conversational style. They are in the nature of a friendly chat, so it can include a variety of topics. It can have all that you want to tell your dear one about. You can use colloquial expressions, unlike formal letters. There are a few easy guidelines that you can follow to be able to write impressive informal letters.

• Forms of Greeting/Salutation: In informal letters to friends and family, you can address them by their names prefixed by qualifying terms such as Dear, My dear, Dearest, etc. You can also address them by their pet names (Eg: Dearest Rosy, Dear Andy, My dear Sweety…) or by their relationship with you (Dear Uncle, Dearest Grandma, My dear Cousin…). If you are writing to an ordinary friend who is older than you are, or of superior rank, it is respectful to use prefixes such as Mr, Mrs, Ms, etc. For example, Dear Mr Reddy.
• Introduction and Body of the Letter: The words you use determine the nature of your letter. You can start your informal letter with an introduction to set the tone of the matter that is going to be discussed. You can begin by enquiring about the health and well-being of the recipient. For instance, I hope this letter of mine finds you in the pink of health. You can then explain the reason behind the letter and provide the details as elaborate as you wish to, unlike formal letters. The letter can be more like a friendly chat than an essay. You can write in a very casual and personal tone. If you are writing to an older person, do not use disrespectful terms or sentences.
• Conclusion: End the informal letter on a friendly note. Use words in such a way that the recipient feels like they have had a wonderful time chatting with you. See to that you make sure you let them know that you would be awaiting their response to your letter.
• Forms of Subscription/Signature: You can use the following in informal letters to relatives and near friends: Yours affectionately, Yours lovingly, Your loving friend, With love, etc., followed by your name (mostly your first name).If you are writing to a close acquaintance whom you have addressed as Dear Mr, Mrs, etc., you can use Yours sincerely, Kind regards, etc.

Informal Letter Format Samples

Let us now look at some examples of informal letter formats to help you understand better.

Informal Letter Format 1 – Letter to Your Cousin Enquiring about Her First Visit to Ethiopia

34, Park Avenue

Mumbai – 400023

24 th September, 2021

Dearest Maria,

I was so glad to hear from my mother that you are back home after the trip. Hope you had a safe and enjoyable trip. I have been waiting to hear all about the trip from you.

Since this was the first time you have been to a foreign land, I guess every little bit of the trip was as exciting as you expected it to be. I have heard from my friends residing there that the place is extremely beautiful and that the people there are very endearing. However, I was worried when I knew that there were a few bomb blasts during your stay there. Hope all of you there were safe. I hope everything else was fine except for this.

I had spoken to your mother earlier, and she told me that you would be coming home after two weeks. I saw your pictures on Instagram as well. I can’t wait to meet you and hear all your stories. Waiting eagerly for your reply.

Your loving cousin,

Informal Letter Format 2 – Letter to a Friend about Arranging a Get-together

Allahabad – 211005

Dear Surya,

Hope you are keeping well, and everyone at home is keeping safe and healthy. It has been a long time since all of us have met, so I was thinking we could all meet up. I have planned to have a get-together next month. I would love to discuss more about it.

All of us could meet on Friday evening and stay over the weekend at a resort in Munnar. The climate in Munnar is great and it will be a good stress reliever. We could also go around the tourist spots if everyone is interested. If you are ready, we could talk to the others also. I will visit you next weekend to discuss more on this.

Awaiting your reply and hoping to meet you soon.

Informal Letter Format 3 – Reply Regretting Inability to Join

144, Stark Lane

Mumbai – 400054

Dear Sreya,

It is extremely thoughtful of you to plan a get-together for all of us. I wish I could join you, but I am sorry to say that I have a project starting next month, and it would not be possible for me to be there. If there is any way of preponing the get-together to any time before the month-end, I can definitely make it to our gathering.

I hope we can reschedule the get-together and not miss the chance to meet up. Waiting to hear from you.

Explore more informal letter samples,

• Letter to Your Friend about Coronavirus
• Letter to Your Friend about Covid-19 Precautions
• Letter to Your Friend about Lockdown
• Letter to your Friend about Your Hobby
• Letter to Your Friend about Your School Trip
• Letter to Your Friend about Your School
• Letter to Your Friend about Your Summer Holidays
• Letter to Your Friend Describing Your Ancestral House
• Letter to Your Friend Describing Your Birthday Party
• Writing a Letter to Your Friend

FAQ on Informal Letter Format

How can you write an informal letter.

An informal letter should include:

• The Sender’s address
• Greeting/Salutation
• Introduction
• Body of the letter

How do you start an informal letter?

As far as an informal letter is concerned, you can start by greeting the person and conveying regards. You can then state the purpose of your letter.

What is the difference between a formal letter and an informal letter?

A formal letter is written in a professional manner where you directly state the intent of your letter and what you expect; whereas, an informal letter can be written to anyone whom you are close to about anything you want to share.

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How to write an informal Letter/Email ? | C1 Advanced (CAE)

FCE, CAE, CPE

Practice tests online.

Informal letters are sent to people you know well (for example, friends, relatives, etc.) about your recent news, personal problems, the information you need, etc. They are written in an informal style with a personal tone.

In informal letters we use:

• Direct and personal tone ‘ I think’, ‘You should’ and direct sentences ‘ I think it’s a good idea’  instead of ‘It would be a good idea’
• Informal vocabulary, ‘totally, lots of stuff’ including phrasal verbs ( ‘go on ’ instead of ‘continue)
• Contractions/short forms I’ve just heard you’ve been to…
• Informal linking words ‘ Plus, Also, Well, Anyway, To sum up, In a nutshell’
• Idioms ‘ Call it a day’, ‘break the leg’, ‘It’s not rocket science’
• Colloquial expressions ‘I’m most interested’ instead of ‘I am really interested’
• Slang ‘ loaded, lit, gutted, cheeky, dude, go bananas’
• Abbreviations  ‘ASAP, TV, photo, cell, net’
• Punctuation using exclamation marks (don’t overuse it)

  The CAE test does not require you to include dates or addresses in any of your letters, whether formal or informal.

C1 Advanced (CAE) Informal Letter/Email: Structure

Practice, write & improve, c1 advanced (cae) informal letter/email: writing guide, 1. salutation.

Start with Dear followed by the first name of the person to whom you are writing. In emails, you can also start with Hi (and the person’s name). Dear Ben , or Hi Ben , (Don’t forget to use only the first name of the person you are writing to and not Dear Mr John, which is never used, or Dear Mr John Brown, which sounds too formal.)

Dear Jim Hello Jim Hi Jim

2. The first paragraph (opening)

When writing an informal letter, you are usually replying to another letter. You would normally start with a greeting, then acknowledge the letter to which you are replying . It is often a good idea to acknowledge some key information given in the original letter too.

Example opening phrases:

Example 1: Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter. And it is great you are finally …. Example 2: How are you? I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you ….. but…. Example 3: It was good /nice/great to hear from you again ….

3. The next paragraphs (main content)

Say why you are writing. If you need to change agreements or turn someone down, give reasons. Give the information that you have been told to give. Add some more details of your own if you like.

Paragraph 1: First of all, you absolutely need to…. Paragraph 2: Secondly, I would advise you to…. Paragraph 3: On your free weekend you should ….

4. Closing and signing off

The end of your letter is as important as the beginning. There are some standard ways of finishing an informal letter or email.

Give a reason why you’re ending the letter: 

Anyway, I must go and get on with my work. I guess it’s time I got on with that studying I’ve been avoiding.

Send greetings and/or make reference for future contact:

Give my love /regards to… We must try and meet up soon…

Closing and signing off Love /Lots of love / All the best / Take care / Bestwishes Julia [your name]

C1 Advanced (CAE) Informal Letter/Email: Example Letters

Cae example informal letter/email.

Read part of an email from a friend who is planning on spending their Erasmus year in your country.

It goes without saying that I will need to learn Spanish, or at least have a good base before I come, but this is easier said than done. Are there any ways that I could save time doing this?

Could you give me any useful tips to improve quickly?

Reply to the email message offering your friend some advice. Write your email in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.

Model answer

Long time, no see! What a surprise to receive your email. How long has it been? I think I last saw you when we were backpacking in Peru.

To start with, as far as I remember your Spanish was pretty good back then so what you really need to do is brush up on what you have studied in the past. You are a very sociable person and I am sure you will learn in no time once you are here, but I would recommend studying a little online beforehand. Have you heard of the websites www.appf.es or www.intercambioidiomasonline.com? They have some great resources for you to get started.

Providing that you have time to get out and about, I would also recommend finding a language learning partner to keep up you motivation. It would be a great idea to join a conversation group to get some practise. Having said that, on the internet you can also join groups of Facebook to chat to other language learners.

Another thing is to make sure you are consistent. It is a great idea to study a little very day, doing things that you enjoy. So, what I would advise is to do the magic combination of an online course, a language learning partner and also a general course book so that you can get up to speed with grammar structures and common vocabulary.

If you need anything else, give me a buzz at 622950782 and we can have a chat.

Ok, catch you later.

Get Your (CAE) Letter Checked!

You have received a letter from an English friend:

My new job is great, and next month I get to travel on business. Guess what – I’m actually coming to your town for a week!

I’ll be free some evenings and one weekend. I want to make the most of this opportunity, so I’d like your advice please: where to go, what to do, and why?

Cheers, Chris

Write your letter in reply. You do not need to include postal addresses

Congratulations on getting a new job! And it is great you are finally getting a chance to visit our town.

First of all, you absolutely need to visit our new waterpark ,,Aqua 3000”, it’s got all the awesome waterslides, the most amazing shapes and heights. We have different kinds of saunas there as well, if you fancy. As it is winter already, visiting the waterpark can be a nice opportunity to relax and warm your bones a little.

Secondly, I would advise you to visit our new 5D cinema. I remember, you have told me once you’d really love to visit one of those, well, here is your chance! It is an exciting and unforgettable experience, you’ll be sitting in a moving chair, feel the wind or even water dripping down on your head. I know you are a big fan of horror movies, and our cinema has a large choice of them.

On your free weekend you should visit our famous club ,,31/11”. At the time of your visit there will be performing an awesome DJ Skream, you have probably heard of him. The club itself is a superb place to hang out at and to dance. The bartender makes the most delicious cocktails in the world, I swear.

I hope some of my suggestions will proof useful to you. May be on one of your free evenings you will find time to stop by my house and we’ll have a nice chat about your new job.

Take care, Julia

Here is part of a letter you have just received from an English pen friend:

I really don’t know what to do. Although I enjoy college life in general, I’m finding the work really difficult. I’m sure I won’t pass my final exams this summer. Perhaps I Should give up the course now? My parents would be furious thought! What would you do if you were me? Love Jane

Write a letter to your friend, advising her whether to continue the course or not and giving her some reassurance.

Thanks for your letter. I was very sorry to hear that you are struggling a bit at college. Between you and me, I’ve felt the same way at times, but I’ve never considered giving up my studies. I don’t think you should either!

You should keep telling yourself that it’s only for another six months. That’s not very long to wait, is it? You ‘ve already spent two and an half years at college – it would be such a shame to stop now. I’m sure you’d regret it at some stage in your life if you did leave, too.

Try to set aside a little more time for studying, then you won’t find it all so hard. How about drawing up a weekly plan of what you need to do, in advance? And if it means missing some parties, I’m afraid that’s tough! You may enjoy the social side of being at college, but once exams loom up on the horizon, you have to forget about going out with your friends for a while.

I think your parents would have every right to be ‘furious ‘ if you quit. They have paid for a lot of the course, haven’t they? See it through to the end, for their sake and yours. After ail, the qualification will help you to get a good job afterwards, won’t it?

Jane, stick with it, okay? I’ll be thinking of you over the next few months – and remember, it will soon be over. The very best of luck!

Love Eleanor

C1 Advanced (CAE) Informal Letter/Email: Example Questions

Cae informal letter & email topic 1.

You’ve received a letter from someone who was a friend at school. Your friend moved to another part of the country and you lost touch with each other. Reply to the letter giving your news and suggesting a meeting.

Now write your letter . You do not need to include any postal addresses

CAE Informal Letter & Email Topic 2

You have received a letter form an English friend:

“My job is great, and next month I get to travel on business. Guess what – I’m actually coming to your town for a week! I’ll be free some evenings and one weekend. I want to make the most of this opportunity, so I’d like your advice please: where to go, what to do, and why?

Cheers Chris”

CEA Informal Letter & Email Topic 3

Read part of an email from a friend who is planning to come and live in your country.

Of course, I’d really need to learn the language. I know you’ve been learning English for years, so you’ve had loads of experience. Are there any tricks of the trade that might help me pick up your language a bit more quickly?

Write your email in an appropriate style.

C1 Advanced (CAE) Informal Letter/Email: Tips & Strategy

• Use paragraphs in which you cover each of the points mentioned in the task input.
• As well as the points mentioned in the task input, think of some of your own ideas.
• Identify the function(s) you should use (e.g. advising, reminding, requesting, suggesting…).
• Make sure the points covered follow a logical right order so that the whole letter/email is coherent .
• Finish the letter/email in a natural way, by arranging to see or contact the person you are writing to again soon.
• Remember to use an informal tone.

C1 Advanced (CAE) Informal Letter/Email: Writing Checklist

After writing your text, you can check it yourself using the writing checklist below.

How to do that? Simply check your text/email by answering the questions one by one:

• Have I covered all the key information required by the task?
• Have I written only information which is relevant to the task?
• Have I developed the basic points in the task with my own ideas?

Communicative Achievement

• Have I achieved the main purpose(s) of the text (for example, explaining, persuading, suggesting, apologising, comparing, etc.)?
• Have I used a suitable mix of fact and opinion?
• Have I used a suitable style and register (formal or informal) for the task?

Organisation

• Have I used paragraphs appropriately to organise my ideas?
• Have I used other organisational features appropriately for the genre of the text (for example, titles, headings, openings, closings, etc.)?
• Is the connection between my ideas clear and easy for the reader to follow? (For example, have I used appropriate linking words, pronouns, etc. to refer to different things within the text?)
• Are the ideas balanced appropriately, with suitable attention and space given to each one?
• Have I used a wide range of vocabulary?
• Have I avoided repeating the same words and phrases?
• Have I used a range of simple and more complex grammatical structures?
• Have I correctly used any common phrases which are relevant to the specific task or topic?
• Is my use of grammar accurate?
• Is my spelling accurate?

More than Practice Tests

C1 advanced (cae) informal letter/email: useful phrases.

Useful phrases for an informal letter: (use as set phrases in the exam, don´t experiment with new vocabulary or grammar)

Thanks for your letter, it´s great to hear from you Long time, no see! What a surprise to receive your email. It was great to receive your email Thanks for the email, it seems to me that I´m glad that…. What I think/reckon is (that)

Referring to good news:

Glad to hear about. I’m really glad to hear about I’m very happy to hear about I was very happy to read about

Referring to bad news:

I’m extremely sorry to hear about. I’m very sorry to hear about. Sorry to read about. Its very sad to hear about you. I can’t tell you how sad I am that.

I’m writing to ask for your help/you (if you could do me) a favour. I wonder if/l was wondering if you could help me/do me a favour. | hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …? I’d be very/really/terribly grateful if you could …

Making suggestions and recommend

Why don’t you …? Maybe you could …? How about …? You can’t leave New York without doing sth I’m sure you will enjoy doing sth If you like, we can … Do visit (somewhere). Don’t forget to (do sth) (Imperative -> Strong Recommendation) I’m told that … People say that … (If you heard sth is good)

 Introducing points:

By the way Did you hear about Did you see Have you seen Tell me about Oh, another thing

Giving news

Listen, did I tell you about …? You’ll never believe what … Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that … I thought you might be interested to hear about/know that … By the way, have you heard about/did you know that …

I look forward to hearing from you soon. I hope to hear from you soon. Ok, catch you later. Ok, well, see you soon. Well, time to go Well, it’s time to go Well, got to go Well, time to close I’ve got to leave off now Write soon Make sure you write soon Love Lots of love All my love Will write again soon Look after yourself Take care of yourself All the best Everything good

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Informal Letters

Letter writing is an important skill to develop. Written communication in both the formal and personal matters is crucial and so it is necessary to develop a skill for letter writing . Here we will focus on how to effectively write informal letters, and tips to improve our efforts. Let us get started.

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Informal letters are written to close acquaintances of the writer, their friends, family, relatives, etc. Since they are written to close relations the letters have an informal and personal tone. Casual language is used while writing informal letters. And sometimes the letters may even have an emotional undertone.

Informal letters are mainly used for personal communication . So they do not have to follow any specific pattern, format or conventions. They can be written as per the writer’s wishes and the requirement of the situation. So the letter is written in a personal fashion in casual unassuming language.

(An Example of an Informal Letter)

Format of Informal Letter

As we discussed earlier there is no set format when writing an informal letter. But there is a general pattern, some conventions that people usually follow. We will be looking at this pattern and certain tips on how to write effective and attractive informal letters. These can act as guidelines when you are drafting a letter, they are not hard and fast rules. Let us begin.

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The first thing to write is your address, i.e. the address of the writer. We usually write the address on the left-hand side of the page at the very top. The address should be accurate and complete. Even when writing to close friends or relatives the address must be written, so they can reply back to the letter with ease. If the recipient of the letter is in another country, do not forget to write your country as well in the address.

Next just below the address we write the date. This allows the reader to have a reference as to when the address was written. He can then relate better to the contents of the letter.

Now since you know the person you are writing to, the greeting can be informal as well. If it is a friend or someone close to your age you can greet them by their first name, like “Dear Alex”. If you are writing to your relative like your mother/father/aunt/uncle etc, you may greet them as such, for example, “Dear Mom”. And if you are writing to an elder person, someone you respect greatly you can address them as Mr or Mrs. Like say for example you were writing a congratulatory letter to your teacher, it can be addressed as “Dear Mrs. Alex”.

Introduction Paragraph

And now we begin writing the actual letter. The introductory paragraph sets the tone for the whole letter. You might begin by asking the recipient about their well being. Or you may say that you hope the letter finds them in good health and great spirits. The opening of informal letters should be casual and comforting. It must not be formal and direct as in business letters .

Learn how to write amazing stories from this Story Writing Guide .

Body of the Letter

The letter overall should maintain a friendly tone. But you have to adjust the language and the wordings according to who you are writing to. With a friend, you can afford to be very casual and flippant even. But if you are writing to an elder relative, you must be extremely respectful and considerate.

One way to determine the tonality of your letter is to remember how you talk to the person in a conversation. And then apply the same syntax and sentiments to the letter.

In the conclusive paragraph sum up the reason for writing the letter, i.e. summarize the letter. Say a meaningful and affectionate goodbye to the reader. And do not forget to invite the reader to write back or reply to your letter. It shows an intention to keep the conversation going.

There is no one way to sign off informal letters. Since they do not follow a strict format, you may sign off as you please. Some commonly used phrases are

• Lots of Love
• Best Wishes,
• Kind Regards,

Pick the one that best suits the occasion and then simply sign your name below the greeting.

Writing a Formal Letter? Learn the correct format of  formal letter here .

Solved Example for You

Q: Hannah had stayed at a friend’s house for a week, but she left a briefcase there, which had several important documents in it. In a letter to her friend, Jeremy Simmons, she asks him to send her the briefcase as soon as possible. Which of the following would be a suitable closure for the letter?

• Yours Faithfully
• Yours Sincerely
• Warm Regards
• All of the above

Ans: The correct answer is C. When writing a letter to a friend, we end it with a closing that expresses the friendly nature of your relationship. Hence “Warm Regards” is the correct option as it does so. The other two options lack the emotional connect and are strictly professional. They are better suited to formal letters.

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• How to write a B2 First informal email/letter

• Posted on 07/04/2021
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: B2 First , Cambridge Exams , FCE , First Certificate , Resources to learn English , Writing

You’re probably very familiar with sending emails (and sometimes letters) in your first language. But how about in English? Writing in another language is not always so simple. If you want to pass your B2 First Certificate exam (FCE), this is an essential skill to have.

In the B2 First exam you must produce two pieces of writing in 1 hour and twenty minutes. One of the pieces will be an essay (part 1). And the other, students get to choose from a list of three options (part 2). These could be a report , a review , an article , or perhaps an email/letter.

Today we’re going to look at how to write an informal email/letter. Cambridge may also offer you a formal email/letter. But we’ll save that for another time!

Three steps to write an excellent informal email/letter

First thing’s first. What’s the difference between writing an email and writing a letter? Although there are some slight differences, essentially the tone, structure and language stay the same.

These days, an informal email question is much more likely to crop up in the B2 First exam than a letter. So let’s see what that question might look like:

You have received this email from your English-speaking friend David.

Write your email . (You should write between 140 and 190 words)

Question taken from Cambridge Assessment English sample paper 1 for B2 First

Step One: Make a plan

Once you’ve turned over the B2 First Writing paper, and read the email question, ask yourself these questions first. Addressing them will help you spark some initial ideas.

• Who are you writing to? Is it a friend, a family member or a classmate?
• What is the purpose? Maybe they’re asking for suggestions, advice or a favour
• What is the topic or theme? A holiday, party, cinema trip or city recommendation?

Next, it’s important to consider the content of your informal email/letter. Make sure you spend the first fifteen minutes of your time thinking about these things and make some notes:

The tone depends on who you’re writing to and the purpose. In this case of David, we know he’s an English-speaking friend. So you want to keep the tone relaxed, chatty and informal.

Brainstorm some good, B2 level, topic-based vocabulary related to holidays, your town, history and travel, e.g. cable car, football stadium, monuments, sightseeing, views .

Think about any engaging, descriptive adjectives that could make your informal email or letter more interesting, e.g. unmissable, bustling, the oldest, the best, the most spectacular, the fastest, the cheapest .

Phrasal verbs e.g. get away, set off, get back and colloquial expressions e.g. Guess what! will also help your B2 First informal email or letter sound natural and fluent. And if you can use some idioms, then you’ve really hit the jackpot!

Good grammar is key when doing your B2 First writing exam. And there are a few grammar tricks to writing an informal email in English. Contractions are common for example. We’re much more likely to say I’m than I am or We’d than we would .

You could also try using the second conditional to give advice such as If I were you … This is sure to score you top marks in your Writing paper.

Punctuation

In a B2 First informal email/letter you can also be a bit more experimental with punctuation. Try using exclamation marks, dashes (-) or ellipsis (…). If you’re making a list for friends, why not use bullet points?

The best thing about writing informal emails and letters is that the layout more or less stays the same every time. Your work should be clearly organised into paragraphs. And emails in particular work well with short simple sentences. An ideal structure for any email or letter is Opening, Main body and Closing , which we’ll look at in more detail now.

Step Two: Write it

Now you’ve made your plan, you should be ready and raring to go! Here’s how to put it all together and write the perfect B2 First informal email/letter.

There are a few different ways to start an informal email/letter in English:

• Hello David,
• Dear David,

Hi is much more common in an informal email. Whereas Dear is more appropriate in an informal letter. After you’ve written the person’s name, always remember to write a comma then start a new line.

Introductory sentence

The opening is normally followed by an introductory sentence. This sets the tone of the email, shows your interest in the reader or refers back to a previous correspondence.

• How have you been?
• How are things?
• Thanks so much for your last email/letter.
• Sorry I haven’t been in touch for such a long time.

This is where you introduce the topic of your B2 First email/letter. Remember to look back at the question and answer any questions from the sender. In the case of David, he’s writing to ask for recommendations for his friends. So you want to include lots of language for making suggestions. Here are some phrases you could use:

• It’s great to hear that…
• You must tell them to visit…
• Why don’t they visit…?
• They should definitely go to…
• I’d really recommend (+ verb ing or subject + base infinitive)

Connecting ideas

To keep your informal email flowing and natural sounding, use some informal connectors to link your ideas. Here are some examples:

• Well,… (to introduce a new topic)
• Anyway,…(to go back to a previous topic)
• Oh, by the way…(to add additional information)
• As for…

Final paragraph

The closing paragraph of your B2 First informal email/letter should be one or two sentences before you sign off and say goodbye. It could be to make an excuse to finish the letter/email, or leave the reader with some kind of action they need to take.

• I hope they have a nice time on their trip!
• Let me know if they need any more information.
• I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
• Have a good one, and let’s catch up soon.

This is where you end your informal email/letter and write your name. Remember, never end with the word Bye . Instead use one of the informal and neutral phrases below. And don’t forget to write your name underneath.

• See you soon!
• All the best,
• Lots of love,

Step Three: Check it

Always take five minutes to check your informal email/letter at the end. Ask yourself these questions:

• Have I answered all parts of the email question?
• Is the tone friendly and informal?
• Do I use enough topic based vocabulary?
• Is my spelling, grammar and punctuation correct?
• Does it look like a letter/email?
• Have I opened and signed off appropriately?

If you’d like more help in preparing for your B2 First Writing exam, why not sign up to one of our B2 First Cambridge preparation courses ? We’ll give you all the training you need, plus free mock exams to get you ready for the big day.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Crop up (pv): to appear unexpectedly.

Spark (v): to cause an idea or an event.

Hit the jackpot (exp): to have great or unexpected success.

Layout (n): the way in which text or images are arranged on a page.

Ready and raring (exp): really ready and enthusiastic for something.

Flow (v): to move smoothly and continuously.

Sign off (pv): to end a letter or an email with your name.

exp = expression

pv = phrasal verb

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How can I teach my kids English at home? Here are some fun ways

• Posted on 29/03/2021

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• Posted on 21/04/2021

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• Letter Writing

How to Write an Informal Letter

Last Updated: March 10, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Tami Claytor . Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 168,892 times.

Writing an informal letter is easier than writing a formal one because there are fewer rules to follow. Just address your letter to the person you're writing, fill out the body with what you want to say, then sign your name at the bottom to let your recipient know who it's from. If you want to mail your letter rather than handing it off in person, be sure to put it in an envelope that's been properly addressed and stamped.

Formatting Your Letter

• You can either spell out the full date ("Wednesday, February 12th, 2018") or use the abbreviated numeral form ("2/12/18") to keep things simple.
• Including these details is a good way to let your recipient know when and where the letter was written, which can be especially useful if you're in different parts of the world.

• If you want, you can add a salutation before your recipient's name, such as “Dear,” “My darling,” or even just “Hey.”
• If you're composing an open letter and don't know the name of the person who will be reading it, start with a general address like, “To whom it may concern” or “To whoever reads this letter.” [3] X Research source

• Once you run out of room on the first page, start a new one or flip your paper over and continue writing on the back.
• Picking out a lined type of paper, like notebook or journal paper, can help you keep your handwriting neat and organized.

• The closing essentially signals to your recipient that they've reached the end of the letter.
• Since you're not sending a formal letter, there's no need to add a closing if you don't want to—you can always just sign off with your name.

Tip: Come up with a closing that reflects your reason for writing. A letter of condolence, for instance, could end with “My deepest sympathies.” [6] X Research source

• You might use your full name, first name, or a nickname depending on your level of familiarity with the person you're writing to.

Adding Some Style

• If you're not sure what to say, it can be helpful to imagine that you're having a conversation with a friend and simply write the way you would talk.

Tip: You might kick off the body of your letter with something like this: “Hey bestie! Isn't it crazy how time flies? One minute we're chasing boys at summer camp, and the next you're getting married! Being an adult is WEIRD!”

• Mixing up your use of colors is a great way to break up the monotony and emphasize key words or phrases.
• Make sure the color you choose contrasts your letter paper enough to be plainly visible. Otherwise, your message may be hard to read.

• You might spice up your description of that time you spotted Bigfoot at the mall by including an artist's rendering of what he looked like.
• Similarly, if you happen to catch a typo while reading back over your letter, you could turn it into a joke by crossing it out and scribbling, “I promise I know how to spell!” next to it.

Mailing Your Letter

• This method works best with standard 8.5 inches (22 cm) x 11 inches (28 cm) printer paper, but it can be used to fold papers of other sizes, too.

• Keep in mind that envelopes come in various shapes and sizes. If you're having trouble cramming your letter into a standard business envelope, try shopping around for one that's a better fit.

Tip: If you don't like the idea of licking your envelope, you can also use a damp sponge, cotton swab, or glue stick to make sure it stays closed.

• Don't forget to specify an apartment number after the street address if your recipient doesn't live in a house.
• If you want the person to know who the letter is from before they open it, scribble your own address in the upper lefthand corner of the envelope. [11] X Research source

• Know How Many Stamps to Use Most letters up to 1 oz require one stamp, unless they are an odd shape or not uniform in thickness.
• Affixing your postage somewhere other than the upper righthand corner of the envelope could confuse the sorting machine at the post office. In some cases, your letter may even be sent back to you.

Informal Letter Template

Community Q&A

• Shop around for unique stationery that reflects your personality to use for writing informal letters. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Mailing handwritten letters can be a fun and meaningful way to stay connected with loved ones who you don't see very often. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Informal letters should only be used to communicate with friends, family, and other people you're close to. If you're writing to a business, institution, or someone you don't know well, be sure to adhere to the guidelines of formal letter writing . Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Things You'll Need

• Letter paper
• Ink pen or pencil
• Multicolored writing utensils (optional)
• Envelope (optional)
• Postage stamp (optional)

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.toppr.com/guides/english/writing/informal-letters/
• ↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/article/introduction-letter-writing#act4
• ↑ https://www.skillsyouneed.com/write/letter-writing.html
• ↑ https://www.letters.org/letter-closings.html
• ↑ https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/choose-the-right-greeting-and-sign-off
• ↑ https://www.skillsyouneed.com/write/formal-or-informal.html
• ↑ https://www.familyeducation.com/life/writing-letters/writing-letters-letter-format
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5gelIkXXLg
• ↑ https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=ReturnAddress
• ↑ https://www.usps.com/ship/letters.htm

About This Article

To write an informal letter, start by writing your recipient’s name at the top of the letter with an appropriate salutation, like “Dear,” “My darling,” or “Hi.” Once you greet your recipient, fill out the body of the letter with your message, which can be as long or as short as needed. When you’re done writing your message, write a short closing to wrap up the letter, like “Sincerely,” “Yours truly,” or “With love.” After this closing, sign your first name, full name, or nickname, depending on your level of familiarity with the person you’re writing to. If you want to add a personal touch to your letter, use fun colored ink or draw pictures in the margins. To learn how to send your informal letter, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Informal Letter: Definition, Format, & Examples

Updated On Dec 04, 2023

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An informal letter is a personal letter that is written to friends, family, or other close acquaintances. It is typically written in a casual and friendly tone and does not follow any specific format. However, there are some basic parts that all informal letters should include.

And those parts are listed in the next section of the blog.

Parts of an Informal Letter

The following are the basic parts of an informal letter:

• Sender’s address:  This is the address of the person who is writing the letter. It is usually written in the top left corner of the page.
• Date:  The date of the letter is written below the sender’s address.
• Recipient’s address:  This is the address of the person who is receiving the letter. It is usually written in the top right corner of the page.
• Salutation:  The salutation is the greeting that you use to address the recipient of the letter. It is usually followed by the recipient’s name.
• Body:  The body of the letter is where you write the main content of your letter. This is where you can share news, ask questions, or just chat with the recipient.
• Closing:  The closing is the farewell that you use to end your letter. It is usually followed by your signature.

How to Write an Informal Letter?

Here are some tips on how to write an informal letter:

• Use a casual and friendly tone. This is not a formal letter, so there is no need to use formal language or grammar.
• Start by introducing yourself and saying hello.
• Share some news or updates about your life.
• Ask the recipient about their life.
• End the letter with a friendly closing and your signature.

Samples of Informal letter questions asked in the IELTS General exam are:

Structural Breakdown of  an Informal Letter

The proper format for writing an informal letter is given below:

Informal Letter Format

The letter’s opening salutation should begin with ‘dear, Hi, Hey, etc’ and use the first name of the receiver.

For example:

Dear Jasmeet

Body Paragraph 1

This is also known as the  opening paragraph . It includes the purpose of the letter and what you are going to discuss in the letter. You can paraphrase the question and begin the letter with expressions like ‘How are you?’, ‘I hope you are in good health,’ etc.

Body Paragraph 2

This paragraph includes the supporting details covering all the bullet points mentioned below the question. Close the paragraph with 1 or 2 concluding lines.

The complementary closure

This closure is not mandatory, but you can include a few words or a single line. It can help you enhance your test scores.  For example:  Looking forward to hearing from you

Closing Salutation

The closing salutation of the informal letter includes your best wishes and your name along with it.  For example:  Warm Regards

A Brief Explanation of the Structure of the  Informal Letter

The tone of the letter.

The tone of the informal letter should be friendly. But it does not mean you can use abbreviations and acronyms like ‘bcz,’ ‘LOL,’ ‘IDK,’ ‘luv,’ ‘ASAP,’ etc. But in order to show the examiner that you are aware of writing informal letters, you can use contractions like ‘I’m,” I’d,” she’s/he’s’ etc.

Check more samples:   IELTS  Informal Letter s

Context and the types of letters or essays and so forth and so on are very important to know and to practice all such formats and patterns. Here we have our  IELTS online classes  just for you.

Also, check :

• Semi Formal
• IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days

Here are the 10 examples for the IELTS General Writing Task 1 Sample Informal Letters:

Frequently asked questions.

What are the things to remember while attempting an informal letter?

What is the format of the informal letter?

What is the difference between informal and formal letters?

Mention the types of informal letters

Is vocabulary important in an informal letter?

Practice IELTS General Writing Task 1

Band 9 IELTS Vocabulary for Academic Writing Task 1 + PDF

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Soon after graduating with a Master’s in Literature from Southern Arkansas University, she joined an institute as an English language trainer. She has had innumerous student interactions and has produced a couple of research papers on English language teaching. She soon found that non-native speakers struggled to meet the English language requirements set by foreign universities. It was when she decided to jump ship into IELTS training. From then on, she has been mentoring IELTS aspirants. She joined IELTSMaterial about a year ago, and her contributions have been exceptional. Her essay ideas and vocabulary have taken many students to a band 9.

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How to write a letter

HOW TO WRITE A LETTER:  A GUIDE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

In this age of digital communication, writing letters is becoming something of a lost art. Emails and text messages can be sent instantly and for a fraction of the cost good old-fashioned snail mail can offer.

So, why bother teaching letter-writing at all? Well, though electronic ‘letters’ are often freer in formatting and language than physical letters, we can also apply letter-writing rules to electronic media. However, physical letters do offer some distinct benefits of their own too.

A WELL-WRITTEN LETTER CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

Whilst we pride ourselves here on how to write a great essay, information report, or another text type that is primarily used in an educational setting, the ability to craft a powerful letter or email has literally changed people’s lives, altered the course of history and been the difference between life and death in some cases.

It can be the one opportunity to remove all the noise and confusion on any subject area and honestly tell someone how you feel straight from the heart.  Pen to paper.  

For whatever reason, a thousand emails, tweets, and likes will never have the same impact as a well-crafted handwritten letter.  Its very creation and existence show your reader how passionate and genuine about what it contains.

Letters fall under the transactional writing category; if you want to know more about transactional texts, be sure to check out our in-depth guide here.

COMPLETE LETTER WRITING UNIT FOR STUDENTS

Over 100 PAGES of engaging RESOURCES , various letter SAMPLES , LESSON PLANS and INTERACTIVE DIGITAL RESOURCES to teach your students how to write amazing LETTERS and EMAILS .

Teach this life skill with confidence through this excellent ALL-IN-ONE RESOURCE . No preparation is required.

3 REASONS TO TEACH LETTER WRITING

1. the personal touch: .

Those of us who grew up in an age before the internet got going will remember the excitement of waiting for and receiving a letter. Many of us will have had childhood pen pals we never met or received love letters from our teenage sweethearts. Maybe some treasured letters are still securely stored in a bedside drawer.

There is something extremely personal and intimate about the letter that email cannot capture. Letters are physical, and their increasing rarity makes them seem even more intimate today.

In this day and age, receiving a personally written letter is something a unicorn in communication terms. Students who know how to produce a well-crafted letter can use it to their advantage. For example, any business hiring manager will undoubtedly be numbed by the constant torrent of emails flooding their inbox.

That mailed resume accompanied by a handwritten letter that waits for them on their desk in the morning will surely stand out and secure an attentive read. The letter, in its various forms, is guaranteed to stand out and make an impact in an age where the vast majority of communication is digital.

3. Handwriting

Just as letter writing has declined in popularity, so too has the emphasis on well-developed handwriting skills. You can, if you wish, take the opportunity here to have the students work on their handwriting skills.

While students may protest that they can accomplish the task much quicker by word-processing, another benefit of handwriting a letter is that the speed becomes almost meditative. This allows students to focus carefully on their grammar and punctuation without always resorting to the crutch of spell-checkers and grammar correction software.

FORMAL AND INFORMAL LETTER WRITING:  WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

The table below outlines whether your letter should be written formally or informally, with some suggested prompts .  Whilst there are many similarities, a formal letter should always be considered as a document with a real purpose and ramifications.

FORMAL LETTER FEATURES

USED FOR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION THESE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW A PRESCRIBED FORMAT. THEY ARE WRITTEN IN A PASSIVE VOICE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND IN MANY CASES ARE LEGALLY BINDING. SOME EXAMPLES ARE.

INVITATION Make someone feel special about an upcoming event.

APPLICATION Write a professional letter of application for a job or group you wish to join.

REFEREE / REFERENCE Vouch for another’s skills, personality or credibility.

ACCEPTANCE & REJECTION Approve or deny an applicant in a professional manner.

MAKE AN OFFER Make a formal and binding offer in writing.

EXIT / RESIGNATION Formally leave or step down in a professional and dignified manner.

INFORMAL LETTER FEATURES

USED FOR PERSONAL COMMUNICATION THESE LETTERS HAVE NO PRESCRIBED FORMAT AND ARE WRITTEN IN AN ACTIVE VOICE.

THANK YOU Let someone know you appreciate their efforts.

CONGRATULATIONS Acknowledge someone’s achievements in life.

GRIEVANCE / LOSS Acknowledge someones personal loss or suffering and let them know you care.

FRIENDSHIP & LOVE Tell someone how special they are to you and why?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR / MAYOR ETC. Let someone know how their actions and adversely affect you and others.

LETTER TO SELF Give your older or younger self some words of advice and wisdom.

INFORMATIONAL UPDATE Write a letter back home telling them what you have been up to.

HOW TO WRITE FORMAL LETTERS

The writing process begins with planning.

As with all genres of writing, the process of formal letter writing should start with planning. This should involve sketching a brief outline from which to work rather than a comprehensive detailing of minutiae. The plan should include:

• Note addresses, names etc. – who are you writing to?
• Record the purpose of the letter – what do you want to say?
• List points to be made (each will form a paragraph) – how will you say it?
• State action point – what do you want the reader to do?

Formal letters can be written for a wide range of purposes and may come in various shapes, including a letter of complaint, a cover letter accompanying a job application, a letter of invitation, a reference letter, or a proposal letter – to name a few. Though each will adhere to its own rules of formatting and tone when writing formal letters, students should avoid using slang or contractions.

Language should be straightforward and polite. Encourage students to avoid bursts of purple prose in favor of direct, functional language. Usually, a formal letter will be written to achieve a particular end and should be written with that end foremost in mind. Students should avoid meanderings and stay firmly focused on the task at hand.

TIPS FOR WRITING GREAT FORMAL LETTERS

• The writer’s address should be in the top right-hand corner.
• The date should be written below the writer’s address
• The recipient’s name and address are below that on the left-hand side
• Use the correct opening (Dear Sir / Madam, Dear Mrs Ferguson, etc.)
• Use Standard English
• The opening sentence should explain the purpose of the letter
• Each paragraph should make a single specific point
• Use an appropriate formal tone and register in the wording of the letter
• Avoid contractions, slang, and abbreviations
• The concluding ‘action point’ paragraph states what you want the recipient to do
• The formal ending, such as Yours Sincerely or Yours Faithfully

A Note on Salutations

If the student knows the intended recipient’s name, start with Dear Mr. / Mrs Surname and end with Yours Sincerely. If they don’t know the recipient’s name, start with Dear Sir / Madam and end with Yours Faithfully.

Use of Rhetorical Devices

As mentioned, formal letter writing focuses on attempting to convince someone to take some course of action or other. To do this, it is helpful to employ some rhetorical devices to make the writing more persuasive . Some useful techniques to encourage your students to employ include:

Direct Address: Using the pronoun ‘you’ in a formal letter makes the reader feel that you are speaking directly to them. This helps to engage the reader and encourage them to continue reading the letter.

Emotive Language: Where students are trying to convince the reader to take a course of action, the use of emotive language can often be a powerful tool. Students can use either positive or negative colored words to create the desired response in the reader.

Facts and Figures: Another way to persuade and convince is to employ facts and figures to support the points made in the letter.

FORMAL LETTER STUDENT EXAMPLES

How to write an informal letter

Common features of informal letters:.

There are far fewer rules to follow when writing an informal letter, but there are still some practical guidelines to follow that will prove helpful for students engaged in writing informally.

As with any piece of writing, it is important to consider who the audience is and the reason for writing in the first place. In particular, this will help decide the tone and the language register. The more intimate the relationship, the more informal the language can be.

Though the letter will be informal, it will still have a purpose. Information should still be organized into paragraphs, as would be done with a formal, more ‘official’ letter. Students sometimes struggle with this aspect, as they often conflate ‘informal’ with ‘disorganized.’ Making them plan their informal letter before writing can help ensure it is sufficiently organized.

HOW TO START AN INFORMAL LETTER

Informal letters will start with a greeting appropriate to how close the relationship is. For acquaintances, this may be ‘Dear Tom,’ (using the first name instead of the surname) to a very informal ‘Hi Jane,’. Don’t forget the comma after the name!

After the greeting, a general opening sentence should follow. Usually, this will be something like a ‘How are you?’ or a ‘How have you been?’. If the recipient is married or has kids, you may wish to ask how their spouse or children are.

Next, students should state the reason for writing. The language should be open and friendly in tone and, in contrast to the formal letter, colloquial language, idiomatic expressions, and contractions are perfectly okay and even desirable.

Just as the opening salutation to an informal letter is much more relaxed, so too will the closing salutation. There are many possibilities for the students to choose here, and their decision will depend on who they are writing to and their personal preferences. Some examples of possible closings include ‘Love’, ‘Best regards’, ‘All the best’, and ‘Thanks’.

INFORMAL LETTER STUDENT EXAMPLES

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

PRACTICE LETTER WRITING WITH THESE ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS

The most effective way for students to internalize all the features of letter writing, formal or informal, is to gain experience by writing various letters for differing purposes. The following activities offer some suggestions for students to get practising today:

1. FICTION AS A SPRINGBOARD

Have students write as if they were a character from a piece of fiction you have been reading in class. Choosing a dramatic point in the plot , ask students to imagine they are one of the characters writing a letter to another character in the story. This writer may be either formal or informal, depending on the scenario presented. This will give students realistic letter-writing practice while also getting them to engage closely with the text and respond imaginatively to its themes.

2. THE AGONY AUNT

Either offer a range of possible life predicaments or cut out the questions from the ‘agony aunt’ page of a local newspaper. Students must write back offering advice in response to the predicaments expressed in the question or predicament. The response should be written in full letter format. This activity also lends itself to several variations. The response may be written to a close friend, for example, or written from the perspective of a professional agony aunt employing a more formal tone and presentation.

3. A LETTER OF COMPLAINT

Have students think of their favorite candy bar or clothing item. Encourage them to imagine they have bought this product lately and found it to be substandard. Students must write a formal letter of complaint to the manufacturer outlining their complaint and recommending a course of action to satisfactorily resolve that complaint. They must use all the features of a formal letter as outlined above.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HANDWRITTEN LETTERS LOOK OLD AND AUTHENTIC.

• Write in pencil or a calligraphy pen,
• screw them up tightly and carefully unfold and flatten.
• Lightly dab coffee stains over the paper to make it look aged.
• Carefully singe or burn the edges of your paper.
• Add some sepia-filtered photos for effect.

SIGNING-OFF

As students become more confident in their understanding of letter-writing formats, encourage them to exchange letters with each other for peer assessment. You may wish to provide them with a checklist of features to look for while reading over their partner’s work.

Letter-writing can also be a great way to partner up with schools overseas; often, children studying English as a second language will be delighted to receive letters from (and write to) students in English-speaking countries. And though email increasingly encroaches on the traditional territory of the letter, many of the skills garnered in the practice of letter writing are transferable to the modern manifestation. There is ample opportunity here to link letter-writing learning with approaches to writing emails too.

Letter-writing can provide a focus for a wide range of learning objectives while also teaching students valuable practical skills that will serve them well beyond their school years, both in their personal and work lives. And who knows, perhaps in years to come, one of the letters your student writes in your class may become a treasured keepsake in someone’s bedside drawer.

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Content for this page has been written by Shane Mac Donnchaidh.  A former principal of an international school and university English lecturer with 15 years of teaching and administration experience.  Editing and support content has been provided by the literacyideas  team.

Writing Part 2 Writing an Informal Letter

C1 Advanced Exam

Informal Letter

It’s very common to have the option to write a letter or an email in part 2 of the C1 Advanced Exam.

Emails and letters are essentially the same thing, except that one is digital and the other is on paper. 

We use the same techniques for both styles.

Time Management

Both texts are the same amount of words, and worth the same amount of points. Spend 45 minutes per text. Give time to both plan and check your work:

Planning - 10 minutes

Writing - 30 minutes

Checking - 5 minutes

Length: 220-260 words  

Most people want to skip planning and start writing immediately. However, this often leads to disorganized essays. Since you’re being marked on organization, you should plan. You’ll have fewer problems while writing and your work will be easier to read.

Here's an example question:

You have received the following letter from your English-speaking friend.

.............Thanks for inviting me to stay with you when I visit your country next month. I'm not sure how to get to your apartment from the airport. Could you write back giving me some basic instructions? What would be the best method of transport for me? I'd prefer one that isn't too expensive! Just one other thing - what will the weather be like when I get there? (Just so I'll know what clothes to pack!) .........

Write your letter to your friend (around 220-260 words).  

What to write about

Know your audience.

In the example above, it clearly states that we are writing to an English-speaking friend .

Because we are writing to a friend, we know we must use an informal tone.

Know the Topic

The question tells us exactly what to write.  

You should take a few minutes to read the question very carefully, and underline topic words and underline the things you must write about in the letter.

Here’s the same letter as before. I’ve underlined the topic words in red and the things we must respond to in green :

.............Thanks for inviting me to stay with you when I visit your country next month. I'm not sure how to get to your apartment from the airport . Could you write back giving me some basic instructions? What would be the best method of transport for me? I'd prefer one that isn't too expensive! Just one other thing - what will the weather be like when I get there? (Just so I'll know what clothes to pack!) .........

Since this is a letter for a friend, we’re going to use a casual, informal greeting and sign-off. Here’s the format I use:

Hi / Dear [First name only of friend],

Paragraph 1- Say why you are writing to them (I’m just writing to let you know that….)

Paragraph 2- Point 1 and supporting details 

Paragraph 3- Point 2 and supporting details 

Paragraph 4- Point 2 and supporting details 

Closing statement (if needed)

All the best,

[Your first name only]

Here are many ways you could organize your paragraphs. I suggest this way:

Each supporting paragraph should have:

One of the points.

Supporting details.

Example or Reason.

Remember, we need to use logical paragraphs to make sure we get good marks for organization.

260 words actually aren’t a lot. You will not be able to write about too many things for each point. Use this to your advantage, because writing less actually means less chance for mistakes.

Plan your Paragraphs

I take the three points and quickly brainstorm some ideas.

How to get to the airport to apartment

baby sitter

time it takes

major streets

side streets

Type of transportation to take

shuttle service

a bit cool - autumn 

umbrella footwear

Then, I narrow down what I’ll talk about. It’s always best to pick 1 thing, expand on it, and then give a reason or an example. This will help us create a well-organized letter. Having too many ideas per paragraph is bad and risks confusing the examiner.

time - 2 hours

highway 401

side streets .- Rideau

landmarks - train station

shuttle service - cheapest

a bit cool - autumn / october

suggest some clothes

warm jacket

jeans or long pants

long sleeve shirts

umbrella - rain

boots for rain

Writing the Letter

Here's the question again for reference:

Opening Paragraph

The best way to make an opening paragraph is by making reference to the original letter.

Since the original question doesn’t specify a name, I’ve made one up:

Thanks for getting in touch. I can’t wait for your trip to Canada and I really look forward to seeing you again .

You can see I haven’t added any details. The details will come in the body of the letter. 

Body Paragraphs

The easiest way to organize the letter is by dedicating one paragraph per point. Remember to not go off topic or you will lose points.

I decided to describe how to get to one of my old apartments from the major airport in the region. 

How to get from the airport to the apartment:

Getting to my apartment from the airport is actually pretty easy. I live 2 hours away, which may seem far, but t's actually not. If you decide to rent a car, just take Highway 401 south and turn off on Exit 2 once you get to Stratford. This will bring you right downtown, just don't leave this road until you reach Main Street — it’s right after the train station, which will be on the left. Turn left onto Main Street and drive 2 more minutes. You’ll go over a bridge and my apartment is the 4th house on the left, right after the bridge.

It’s often easiest to describe something you know, but if you can’t think of something, just make it up! Remember, as long as your responses are plausible, you will never lose points.

In my city, there were several ways you could get from the airport to downtown. However, it’s best to just focus on 1 option. This will make it easier for the examiner. So. just pick something and go with it. 

Recommendation of the type of transport to take (cheapest):

An easier option would be to take the shuttle bus. It costs only $40, and I actually think this will be the best and cheapest option for you. Their terminal is only 2 blocks from my house and I can even come and meet you there when you get in. 

For the paragraph about weather, I just picked a random month and talked about what one would typically wear during that time. Since our writer mentioned clothes, I made a few recommendations. 

Finally, it’s a bit chilly here. October can actually get pretty cool, and I know you already know that Canada has pretty chilly winters. You'll want to bring a warm jacket, shirts with long sleeves, some pairs of long pants and possibly a hooded sweatshirt or two. Also, I highly recommend bringing some boots and un umbrella since October can be pretty rainy. 

We don’t need to add much for a conclusion. It’s usually easiest to just say you are available to answer questions, and say that you look forward to hearing from them.

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to write me. 

We’ve gone over the word limit. However, remember that that’s okay. You will never lose points for writing too much as long as what you say is on topic and relevant. You will lose marks if you add too many unimportant details. Also, writing more increases the chances for mistakes so try to stay near the word count.

Let’s put it all together with some sequencing words and some editing:

Thanks for getting in touch. I can’t wait for your trip to Canada! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, so it will be great to hang out again.

Getting to my apartment from the airport is actually pretty easy. I live 2 hours away, which may seem far, but t's actually not. If you decide to rent a car, just take Highway 401 southbound and turn off on Exit 2 once you get to Stratford. This will bring you right downtown, just don't leave this road until you’ve reached Main Street — it’s right after the train station which will be on the left. Turn left onto Main Street and drive for 2 more minutes. You’ll go over a bridge. My apartment is the 4th house on the left after the bridge.

An easier option would be to take the shuttle bus, however. It costs only $40, and I actually think this will be the best and cheapest option for you. Their terminal is only 2 blocks from my house and I can easily come and meet you there when you get in, if you’d like, and help you with your luggage.

Finally, it’s a bit chilly here. October can actually get pretty cool, and I know you know that Canada has pretty chilly winters. You'll want to bring a warm jacket, shirts with long sleeves, some pairs of long pants and possibly a hooded sweatshirt or two. Also, I highly recommend bringing some boots and un umbrella since October can be rather rainy. 

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to write me. I can't wait to see you!

[word count: 256]

Extended Essay: Formal vs. Informal Writing

• Extended Essay- The Basics
• Step 1. Choose a Subject
• Step 2. Educate yourself!
• Using Brainstorming and Mind Maps
• Identify Keywords
• Do Background Reading
• Define Your Topic
• Conduct Research in a Specific Discipline
• Step 5. Draft a Research Question
• Step 6. Create a Timeline
• Find Articles
• Find Primary Sources
• Get Help from Experts
• Search Engines, Repositories, & Directories
• Databases and Websites by Subject Area
• Create an Annotated Bibliography
• Advice (and Warnings) from the IB
• Chicago Citation Syle
• MLA Works Cited & In-Text Citations
• Step 9. Set Deadlines for Yourself
• Step 10. Plan a structure for your essay
• Evaluate & Select: the CRAAP Test
• Conducting Secondary Research
• Conducting Primary Research
• Formal vs. Informal Writing
• Presentation Requirements
• Evaluating Your Work

Differences Between Informal and Formal Essays

When writing your extended essay you should use language that is formal and academic in tone.  The chart below gives you some idea of the differences between informal and formal essays. See the box below for examples of the differences in tone in informal and formal essays written on identical topics. A PDF of this chart, and the examples below, is in the box to the right , along with a list of tips for avoiding colloquial writing.

Examples of Informal and Formal Tone in Essay Writing

The following examples highlight the differences between formal and informal tone.

Language B - English

• Formal vs. Informal Writing A chart giving the differences between informal and formal essays in seven areas (author's viewpoint; subject/content (sources of evidence); tone; structure; location of the research question; vocabulary; and purpose. Also included are examples comparing informal and formal writing for essays in English, biology, and psychology.
• How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing While it may be acceptable in friendly e-mails and chat rooms, excessive colloquialism is a major pitfall that lowers the quality of formal written text. Here are some steps/tips that you can follow to help improve your overall writing.
• << Previous: Plagiarism
• Next: Presentation Requirements >>
• Last Updated: May 8, 2024 3:48 PM
• URL: https://libguides.westsoundacademy.org/ee

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IELTS General Writing Task 1: Informal Letter

IELTS Informal Letter, also known as a personal letter, is an informal type of letter that is usually written to a friend, a family member or someone you know personally .

When it says "write a letter to a friend", make sure you always use informal language. Even if the task asks you to write about work-related topic.

Here is an example how the task may look like:

WRITING TASK 1 (General)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Write a letter to your friend from a different country. Invite him/her to a party at your home and include the following:

• what the party is about
• give directions on how to get to your place
• suggest how to accommodate him/her

Write at least 150 words.

Begin your letter as follows:

Note! You will find the IELTS Informal Letter Sample with grammar corrections and estimated band score down below.

IELTS Informal Letter Structure & Vocabulary

For writing an IELTS Informal Letter, we have listed the letter structure with a wide selection of useful vocabulary and phrases.

INFORMAL LETTER

• 1 Dear John, / My dearest Julianne,
• 2 Apologise, give purpose, else
• 3 More details
• 4 Informal ending, name, signature
• Dear John, / My dearest Julianne,
• I am sorry I haven't written for so long. My work keeps / studies keep me so busy, that I never have a minute to myself
• I am really sorry it has taken me so long to write but I have ...
• Give purpose
• I am writing to thank / tell / ask / apologise / wish / congratulate …
• I regret to inform you that
• Hello Sofia! Do you remember me? I'm the girl you met ...
• It was really great hearing from you
• Expressing congratulations
• Marvellous to hear that ... / What a surprise to hear that!
• I am happy for you / Good for you!
• How wonderful that you are getting married!
• You should be so proud of yourself
• Expressing regret

• Unfortunately, I've got some bad news for you
• I find it hard to tell you that
• I can't find an easy way to tell you this
• Words can't express how much I regret
• If you need anything, I'd be glad to ...
• Expressing thanks
• How nice of you to think of me / Thanks again!
• I won't forget your kind gesture
• Giving advice
• If I were you I'd ... / ... how about doing this
• Why don't you ... / Let me give you some advice
• Hope this helped / Let me know how it went
• Letters of invitation / accepting or refusing an invitation
• I'd love it if you could come to
• I hope you will be able to make it
• I hope we can get together some other time. How about next week instead?
• With best wishes, Jo
• With love and many thanks from me, Jo
• With love, Jo

Be careful when you are writing to your manager/trainer. Many people are friends with their managers/trainers, but please disregard this when writing an IELTS letter. In this case, "manager/trainer" is the same as colleague or co-worker and the letter will, therefore, be a semi-formal type of letter .

Informal tone doesn't mean you can write like you would in a text message to your friend. Therefore, avoid using abbreviations (see ya) and don't use acronyms (OMG). But it's a good idea to use contractions. Using academic language would be inappropriate and will reduce your score.

IELTS Informal Letter Sample (Corrected)

Begin as follows: Dear ... ,

Dear Matthew,

I am writing to invite you to a party I'm going to have at my home on March 12.

The party I'm going to arrange is ( planned ) to start with a poker tournament at 3 o'clock and this should take the a maximum of three hours. After that I've got some mates coming over who will play some good music and so on.

As you have visited my home before I assume you remember how to find this it . However, in case you don't, I'll give you some directions. Take a bus number 13 at Central Station and ride go towards Mitchell's Shopping Centre. Just after you've passed that the Centre, there is a bus stop before the junction on the right. Then move go along the same street for about 100 meters metres and you should see my house at 67 Mitchell Street. As I've got plenty of free space in my house you don't need to worry about accommodation. I could reserve you a separate room if you are interested I can keep a room for you .

Please let me know what thoughts you have regarding to that this/ the party and whether it suits fits into your time schedule.

I look forward to your reply!

Best wishes,

(191 words)

Band Score Estimate (prior to corrections)

Brief comments:

• metre = 100cm (UK), parking meter
• when referring back, use 'this'
• 'suits your schedule' or 'fits into your schedule'

LETTER RESOURCES

Types of Letters

Job Application Letter

Complaint Letter

Business Letter

Request Letter

Informal Letter

Linking words for IELTS

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Whether you have any questions, want to leave feedback or discuss cooperation possibilities, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and will answer as soon as possible. In the meantime, discover our site and let it help you smooth your IELTS journey and make your studies more efficient.

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PT3ENGLISH.com

For teachers and students, how to write an informal letter.

No body writes informal letter anymore. Yes, that may be true. But, you might need this one day when the internet breaks down during the zombie apocalypse era.  Who knows?

Here are some simple steps to help you and your learners to produce a simple piece of writing.

STEP 1: Write the address and the date.

Step 2: dear ___________,, step 3: start with greetings..

• If you want to make things simple, hop over to check out our   How to Start and End 3(j)   article. You could literally use the same sentences in any informal letter writing.
• Before you move to your first point, you need to state the reason  you write the letter. (you can find from the question)

STEP 4: Build your content

I recommend you to have 1 paragraph for 1 point.

For a start, I recommend you to go with these steps – CPEE

STEP 5: Pen off

Like any letter, you will have to say goodbye.

STEP 6: Sign off.

Easy-intermediate.

INTERMEDIATE- HIGH

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• Ielts Sample Letters

IELTS Sample Letters

These IELTS sample letters illustrate the different types you may come across in the test.

Letters tend to be one of these types:

• Informal (e.g. to a friend or family member)
• Semi-formal (e.g. to your landlord or employer, who you know)
• Formal (e.g. to the manager of a company)

They also have broad purposes such as a complaint, resignation, arrangement, advice, request, explanation or apology, though any one letter may include several of these purposes based on the bullet points.

• Sample 1: Letter to landlord - see below (request)
• Sample 2: Letter to insurance company (complaint)
• Sample 3: Letter to theatre manager (complaint)
• Sample 4: Letter to friend (apology/explanation)
• Sample 5: Letter to train company (complaint)
• Sample 6: Letter to head teacher (complaint)
• Sample 7: Letter to restaurant (job application)
• Sample 8: Letter to employer (request)
• Sample 9: Letter to friend (arrangement)
• Sample 10: Letter to friend (advice)

You can also view letters that have been written by students practicing for the test:

• IELTS Student Letters

IELTS Letter to Landlord

You are experiencing financial problems and want to ask your landlord if you can pay your rent late.  Write a letter to your landlord.

In your letter explain:

• Why you cannot pay the rent
• When you will pay the rent.
• How you will ensure you can pay your rent in the future

Write at least 150 words

You do  NOT  need to write any addresses

Begin your letter as follows:

Model Answer

Dear Mr Strickland,

I am writing to you to request that you allow me to pay my rent late this month.

The reason is that I am having a few financial problems at the moment. Last month, I was made redundant from my job due to the fact that the company I work for is closing down. Because I have not worked at the company for long, I have not received a redundancy payment, therefore leaving me short of money this month.

I can assure you that I will be able to pay the rent on the 15th of next month. I have now found another job, and they have kindly agreed to give me an advance on my wages, but they are unable to arrange this until next week.

I can assure you that I will be able to continue to pay rent at the full rate and on time in the future. As I mentioned, I have a new job and this is on a long-term contract, meaning that I will have a secure and timely income. I may also set up a direct debit so the payment goes to your automatically each month. 

I hope this will be acceptable to you, but please contact me if it is a problem.

Yours sincerely,

John Streetham.

(210 Words)

The letter is well-structured as the writer makes it clear in the first sentence why the letter is being written, gives further details of the problem in the first body paragraph, and then sets out when payment will be made, finally discussing the future.

The tone of the letter is appropriate as it is polite ( I am writing to you to request..., I can assure you...., I apologise for this problem..., please contact me if it is a problem...  ).

The opening and closing of the letter are correct for a semi-formal letter to someone if you know their name ( Dear Mr Strickland..., Yours sincerely...  ).

There are good examples of correct use of tenses, demonstrating that the writer has a very good working use of grammar:

• present continuous for what is happening now:  I am having a few financial problems at the moment
• past simple passive for events in the past and when the subject is not doing the verb:  I was made redundant
• Future:  I can assure you that I will be able to pay
• Present perfect:  I have now found

More on IELTS Letters:

Task 1 Letter: Complaint to Train Company

In a task 1 letter of complaint you usually need to explain why you are not pleased with an aspect of customer service.

Task 1 GT Letter: Making a Complaint

This sample Task 1 GT Letter is about making a complaint about problems at a recreation ground.

IELTS Complaint Letter

IELTS Complaint Letter - Get the best tips and strategies on how to write a letter of complaint for the IELTS General Training.

IELTS Letter Feedback Forum

IELTS Letter Feedback Forum - would you like to get feedback on a task 1 letter for General Training IELTS? Then post it here. Other students can comment.

IELTS Advice letter: Advising a Friend

This is an IELTS advice letter in which you have to write to a friend and advise them whether to go to college or apply for a job.

IELTS Letter Tenses

Learn about how to ensure the tenses you use in IELTS letters are correct to get a high band score.

IELTS Band 9 Letters

Tips for IELTS band 9 letters, showing you how to get 9 for task achievement, coherence, lexis and grammar.

Opening and Closing a Letter

In this lesson you will learn about opening and closing a letter for the IELTS task 1 General Training.

IELTS Formal Letter to an Insurance Company

This is an IELTS formal letter to an insurance company It is an example of how to write a letter of complaint.

IELTS Arrangement Letter: Holiday with a Friend

This is a sample IELTS Arrangement Letter in which you have to contact a friend to explain how your holiday plans have changed.

IELTS Letter Lessons: Writing Letters for the Task 1 General

An IELTS letter has to be written for the task 1 of IELTS general training. Take lessons on how to write high-scoring answers.

IELTS Informal Letter: Getting the Tone Right

This is an IELTS informal letter sample and shows you how to use the right tone when its not formal.

IELTS Letter: Job Application to Restaurant

In this IELTS letter you are have to write a job application for a position in a restaurant.

IELTS Request Letter: Time Off Work

This is an IELTS request letter in which you need to take leave from your work of over one month for personal reasons.

IELTS Formal Letter Sample: Theatre Visit

This IELTS formal letter sample is regarding a visit to the theatre. It's a complaint letter as person did not enjoy it.

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• About the Author
• PT3 English Essay Examples
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• Poem - Notes & Exercises

Saturday 29 July 2017

Informal letter (pt3 & spm).

Step by step

Taman Melawati, PO Box 221, 99808, Tenom, Sabah.

332, Taman Jutaria 11992, Sarawak. 

Example : 23 July 2017

Examples: Dear Maria, Dear Aunt Alice, Dear Mum

Examples: Yours Sincerely, Yours affectionately( for closer person ), Your loving daughter/son, Your cousin

Tips and Important Notes

FAQ: Can I use the terms ‘wanna’, ‘gonna’, ‘gotta’, and so on in my essay? Answer: NO. Not recommended. 

Example Essays

17 comments:

Informal Letter to a Friend is should be prepapred letter.

This is very helpful. Thank you!

This comment has been removed by the author.

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• School Education /

Write a Letter to Your Sister About Your Studies: Check Samples and Format

• Updated on  
• May 18, 2024

Sisters are like second mothers who look up to you as a child. From listening to all of your secrets to guiding you through your academic journey, she plays an important role in one’s life. Here, we’ll cover how to write a letter to your sister about your studies. You will find the samples and letter format in the section itself. Keep reading to learn more.

Table of Contents

• 1 Sample-1: Write A Letter To Your Sister About Your Studies
• 2 Sample 2: Write A Letter To Your Sister About Your Studies
• 3 Sample 3: Write A Letter To Your Sister About Your Studies
• 4 Format of Write A Letter To Your Sister About Your Studies
• 5 FAQs 

Sample-1: Write A Letter To Your Sister About Your Studies

Also Read: Write a Letter to the Superintendent of Police About the Nuisance of Loudspeaker

Sample 2: Write A Letter To Your Sister About Your Studies

Also Read: Write a Letter to the Editor of a National Newspaper to Express your Views on Growing Fitness Craze in Youth

Sample 3: Write A Letter To Your Sister About Your Studies

Also Read: Write a Letter to Municipal Corporation About Garbage in Your Area

Format of Write A Letter To Your Sister About Your Studies

Download the Format of Informal Letter from Here!!

Ans: Sisters are like second mothers who look up to you as a child. From listening to all of your secrets to guiding you through your academic journey, she plays an important role in one’s life.

Ans: The format for writing a letter to your sister is given in this section. You may read that for a better understanding.

Ans: Yes, writing a letter to your sister comes under an informal letter. Informal letters are sent for personal reasons, such as sharing information with family and friends or paying them regards. 

Popular Letter Writing Topics

We hope the above-listed sample letters will improve your letter-writing skills. For more such interesting topics, visit our Letter Writing page and follow Leverage Edu. 

Bhumika Sharma

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After the nation was left in a state of shock following the mass failure recorded in the recently released results of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with less than 500,000 candidates scoring above the average mark of 200, the attention has now been shifted to the impending West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), which also bears a lot on how better students are placed in getting admission into Nigerian universities.

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English language is a very crucial and important subject. It is mandatory for all students to register and sit for its examination, regardless of department - be it science, commerce or art - ambition in the future as even students aiming to study Yoruba , Igbo or Hausa language in the University are required to take English test.

The English Language needs extra attention because it dictates the fate of other subjects. One may ace all others, but if English is deficient, the result will be inadmissible anywhere.

Hence, the rationale for the spotlighting. In this piece, tips on how to ace the essay part of the examination will be discussed.

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WASSCE's English Language Theory section always has five questions containing essay and letter writing topics, with the students free to choose one of the topics they feel they are most proficient in.

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Below are tips to note to ace essay topics if you are choosing the essay question:

What type of essay

It might be impossible to guess what type of essay will be written for the examination as there are different types. There is a narrative essay, which is always reported in the past, except for where someone is being quoted or special grammatical exceptions like when a verb follows 'to' or the modal verbs.

Argumentative essays or debate questions might require a student to take a stance either for or against a given topic. While partly the same, the latter requires greeting and acknowledgement of the participant.

Barring informal letters , all other forms of essay questions require a heading. Whether it is an expository, argumentative, narrative, or formal essay, the heading is compulsory.

In letters, the heading always comes after the salutation - not before it.

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It is important to note that the question can never be the heading. It is wrong to rewrite the question verbatim as the subject of the letter or essay.

Read the question well

Don't just jump into writing. Read and understand the question thoroughly. Ensure you have gotten all that the examiner is seeking. For the part where you are required to write about causes and effects, don't be too carried away in the causes that you forget the effect part.

Make an Outline

It is very advisable that you jot down points somewhere at the back of your booklets—points that you will later develop when you start writing. Jot the points down in the order you want them in paragraphs, and let them be your guiding light.

Brief Introduction

At most, three paragraphs. The introduction should not be too long. And remember to declare your intention or goal in the introduction.

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Body of the paragraph

This is where you start to develop the points you have noted down before you begin the writing. You make it a point per paragraph. All are linked together by conjunctions like firstly, secondly, however, moreover, in conclusion, etc. Also, remember to input the topic sentence in each paragraph. The topic sentence states the key point of the whole paragraph.

This, like the introduction, should be brief and straightforward. Summarise all that you have written in the body of the piece.

Many excel 2023 WASSCE

Legit.ng had earlier reported that the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) had said 84.38% of the candidates who sat the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates in Nigeria obtained credits.

The examination body stated that 84% got credits and above in a minimum of any five WAEC subjects.

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Source: Legit.ng

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Robert Costello, Defense Witness in Trump Trial, Advised Cohen Before a Falling Out

Mr. Costello is expected to cast Michael D. Cohen, the witness at the heart of the prosecution’s case, as a liar.

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By Ben Protess

• May 20, 2024, 4:05 p.m. ET

After the prosecution rested its case against Donald J. Trump on Monday, the defense began a simple mission: destroy the credibility of the prosecution’s star witness.

And so the defense called Robert J. Costello, a lawyer who once advised Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former fixer and the man at the heart of the prosecution’s case. They had a falling out years ago, and Mr. Costello is expected to cast Mr. Cohen as a liar.

In 2018, Mr. Costello acted as Mr. Cohen’s back channel to Mr. Trump’s legal team. This role — which came by dint of Mr. Costello’s close ties to Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer at the time, Rudolph W. Giuliani — was mostly informal. Mr. Cohen never officially retained Mr. Costello or paid him a cent.

When questioning Mr. Cohen last week, the prosecution spotlighted his communications with Mr. Costello. Their emails and calls, Mr. Cohen said, left him with the impression that Mr. Costello was doing Mr. Trump’s bidding, delivering implicit instructions to, in the former fixer’s words, “stay in the fold, don’t flip, don’t speak.”

But Mr. Costello disputes that characterization, and Mr. Cohen’s testimony opened the door for the defense to call him to tell the other side of the story.

Mr. Costello, a former federal prosecutor turned defense lawyer, is expected to say that he encouraged Mr. Cohen to cooperate with prosecutors if he had anything truthful to offer. But, Mr. Costello has said, Mr. Cohen claimed he had no incriminating evidence to provide.

Mr. Costello will also likely testify that Mr. Cohen manufactured stories about Mr. Trump to save himself from prison.

Mr. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018, served more than a year behind bars. His crimes included orchestrating a hush-money payment to a porn star in the final days of the 2016 campaign, a deal at the center of the current state case against the former president. Mr. Cohen paid off the woman, Stormy Daniels, to silence her story of a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump.

The Cohen and Costello relationship began in the chaotic spring of 2018, after the F.B.I. searched Mr. Cohen’s home and office as part of the sprawling investigation.

They met through Jeffrey Citron, who was Mr. Costello’s law partner and Mr. Cohen’s acquaintance. Mr. Citron asked Mr. Cohen over email whether he wanted to connect with Mr. Costello and obtain “his insight into your situation, it would be my pleasure to arrange.” Mr. Cohen jumped at the offer: “I do. Can you connect me to him?”

When Mr. Trump hired Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Costello alerted Mr. Cohen to the potential upside: “I told you my relationship with Rudy which could be very very useful for you,” he wrote in an email. Mr. Cohen replied: “Great news.”

The records show that Mr. Costello pursued the relationship with Mr. Cohen.

As Mr. Costello lost patience, he wrote to Mr. Cohen complaining that he had “failed to communicate with me despite several text messages and emails.”

Mr. Costello also appeared to make a veiled reference to fear in Mr. Trump’s orbit that Mr. Cohen was poised to cooperate with prosecutors, writing: “We have continued our dialogue and need to bring you up to date concerning serious concerns on the part of our friends.”

Mr. Cohen was noncommittal. “When the right time comes, and now is not the right time, we will advance our conversations regarding this issue.”

But Mr. Cohen kept the channel open. For example, he sent Mr. Costello an article with the headline “Trump’s campaign to discredit Michael Cohen is already underway,” and added: “They are again on a bad path.”

And when Mr. Cohen’s relationship with Mr. Trump soured in summer 2018, he asked Mr. Costello to use Mr. Giuliani as a conduit for his assurances that he would remain loyal to Mr. Trump, according to Mr. Costello.

After Mr. Costello relayed the message, he told Mr. Cohen in an email that he had “conveyed all of your expressed concerns” to Mr. Giuliani “for transmission to his client” — the president. Mr. Cohen replied, thanking him.

Mr. Costello has said he was merely relaying messages from Mr. Trump’s legal team, including Mr. Giuliani, a former New York mayor. (Mr. Costello later represented Mr. Giuliani in criminal and congressional investigations.)

In one email to Mr. Cohen, Mr. Costello wrote, “Sleep well tonight, you have friends in high places.”

But in the end, no one remained friends, and much of the tension stemmed from money.

Mr. Costello and Mr. Cohen had a falling out, partly over unpaid legal bills. Last year, Mr. Costello testified before the grand jury that ultimately indicted Mr. Trump, seeking to undercut Mr. Cohen’s credibility.

Mr. Costello also sued Mr. Giuliani over delinquent bills.

And when Mr. Trump stopped paying Mr. Cohen’s legal fees, their relationship imploded as well. Mr. Cohen vowed to turn on Mr. Trump, a promise he is now fulfilling on the stand.

Ben Protess is an investigative reporter at The Times, writing about public corruption. He has been covering the various criminal investigations into former President Trump and his allies. More about Ben Protess

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

News and Analysis

Michael Cohen, the star witness against Donald Trump, took the stand for a fourth and final day . The prosecution rested once Cohen left the stand.

The first major defense witness is Robert Costello , a lawyer who once advised Cohen. He is expected to cast Cohen as a liar.

An entourage of more than a dozen supporters who joined Trump at the courthouse included Chuck Zito , a former leader of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang who spent years in prison on drug charges.

More on Trump’s Legal Troubles

Key Inquiries: Trump faces several investigations  at both the state and the federal levels, into matters related to his business and political careers.

Case Tracker:  Keep track of the developments in the criminal cases  involving the former president.

What if Trump Is Convicted?: Could he go to prison ? And will any of the proceedings hinder Trump’s presidential campaign? Here is what we know , and what we don’t know .

Trump on Trial Newsletter: Sign up here  to get the latest news and analysis  on the cases in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C.