Writing letters is an art form lost in this era of technology and instant messaging. The ability to find the perfect words to weave together to form an idea and organizing those ideas to form a meaningful message has met a significant decline. Although there are easier and faster means to communicate and convey ideas, writing a letter holds a sort of traditional formality that makes it great for business correspondence, gives a touch of romance to declarations of love, and adds bittersweet sentimentality to those who write to bid farewell.
In this article are Sample Letters accompanied by guidelines and tips on writing letters that would achieve their purpose.
Resignation Letter Example
Resignation Appointment Letter
Teacher Resignation Letter
Cover Letter Example
Resume Cover Letter
Internship Cover Letter
Application Letter Example
Job Application Letter
Scholarship Application Letter
Formal Letter Example
Resignation Formal Letter
Formal Request Letter
Business Letter Example
Personal Business Letter
Business Proposal Letter
What Is a Letter?
A letter is a written message from one party to another. In ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China, letters were used to self-educate. It was a way to develop one’s critical thinking skills, self-expression, polemical writing, and exchanging of ideas. Some saw letter writing as a sort of written performance where the writer showcases their skills through their way with words and the strength of their vocabulary. Inspection of old letters sent and received in prior years show that there is, indeed, a manner that the people of those days spoke that add an intelligent and poetic tone to their words.
Advantages of Writing Letters
The advances in technology has provided an alternative method of communication that achieves the purpose of traditional letter-writing but in an easier and more instant fashion. While letter-writing remains to be preferred method of communication in the business and corporate setting, it has lost its popularity in other respects. Here are some reasons why this dying form of communication deserve a comeback:
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You don’t need a special device to be able to receive a letter, just a postal address.
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You can read the letter immediately without having to worry about Internet connection.
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A letter is a tangible and physical record of communication.
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A letter, because they are usually signed off with a signature, are more difficult to falsify.
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A letter, when written by the writer’s own hand, is more personal.
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Sometimes, small trinkets or tokens can be enclosed in an envelope along with the letter.
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Malware and other harmful files cannot be sent along with a letter.
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Letter-writing practices the writer’s handwriting.
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Letter-writing leads to the mastery of communication techniques.
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Letter-writing can be a form of self-expression.
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Letter-writing provides an extension of a physical therapeutic encounter.
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Letters can be sprayed with scents that could invoke memories.
Reference Letter Example
Landlord Reference Letter
Character Reference Letter
Complaint Letter Example
Customer Complaint Letter
Complaint Response Letter
Informal Letter Example
Informal Invitation Letter
Informal Advice Letter
Letter of Recommendation Example
Nursing Letter of Recommendation
Letter of Recommendation for Friend
Authorization Letter Example
Marketing Authorization Letter
Medical Treatment Authorization Letter
Collection Letter Example
Debt Collection Letter
Collection Agency Letter
Claim Letter Example
Insurance Claim Authorization Letter
Claim Denial Letter
Donation Letter Example
Donation Request Letter
Church Donation Letter
Demand Letter Example
Personal Injury Demand Letter
Final Demand Letter
Disclosure Letter Example
Voluntary Disclosure Letter
Termination Disclosure Letter
Types of Letters
Letters are not exclusively written and sent by those involved in a professional relationship, although it most often feels that way. Aside from Grandma who sends the annual birthday and holiday cards with a few greens tucked in them, there aren’t many people who employ this method of correspondence anymore. Here are some of the kinds of letters that could be written for the people around you, some of which will be discussed in further detail in this article:
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Application Letters
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Cover Letters
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Resignation Letters
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Request Letters
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Complaint Letters
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Authorization Letters
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Love Letters
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Farewell Letters
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Thank-You Letters
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Dear John Letters
These are letters that were written to and by people who have loved, felt, sought, and lost. Letters carry with them an emotion that cannot be conveyed in any other way aside from through the strokes of a pen. Know that many of the most tear-jerking letters written throughout history are not the most poetic nor the most eloquent, but those that displayed sincere emotions and burning passion.
Cover Letters
Cover letters are the first real impression you could make on a potential employer. A well-written cover letter tells a recruitment officer that your resume is worth paying attention to. When writing a cover letter, take note of the following tips:
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Know the name and position of the intended recipient and their company’s name and location.
Knowing to whom the letter should be sent to makes sure that the letter will be read and received by the right person. Also, it leaves a good impression when you make the effort to find out whom you should be addressing as this displays professionalism and courtesy. Always remember that addressing a letter to a general “To Whom It May Concern” should be a last and desperate move.
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Avoid beating around the bush.
Chances are, the person you are sending your letter to already has their plates filled with things to do. Avoid wasting both your and their time by making sure that they could understand the gist of your letter after reading the first paragraph.
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Make sure your cover letter complements your resume, not copies it.
Your cover letter is your chance to give depth to what you’ve written in your resume. Prove what you claim to be your interests, skills, and abilities by mentioning situations where you displayed them in your cover letter.
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End with a call to action.
Take control of the situation by ending the letter with a “call by” date. This makes sure that you don’t have to spend so much time anxiously waiting by the phone for a call that may or may not come.
Disciplinary Letter Example
Employee Disciplinary Letter
Disciplinary Appeal Letter
Inquiry Letter Example
Business Inquiry Letter
Nursing Job Inquiry Letter
Excuse Letter Example
Medical Excuse Letter
Formal Excuse Letter
Employment Letter Example
Proof of Employment Letter
Employment Recommendation Letter
Endorsement Letter Example
Endorsement Letter to Download
Principal Endorsement Letter
Fundraising Letter Example
Business Fundraising Letter
Fundraising Request Letter
Followup Letter Example
Follow Up Letter After Phone Interview
Follow Up Letter Format
Grievance Letter Example
Formal Grievance Letter
Job Grievance Letter
Hardship Letter Example
Short Sale Hardship Letter
Medical Hardship Letter
Invitation Letter Example
Workshop Invitation Letter
Tender Invitation Letter
Resignation Letters
Not many people stick to one job their entire lives. Sometimes, a job is simply a stepping stone into bigger, better things. Sometimes, it just isn’t meant for you. Either way, employees come and go. But walking away isn’t as simple as packing your bags and leaving. Certain formalities must be observed before one can officially leave a company. When writing a resignation letter, makes sure to include the following:
- The correct name, position, and company address of the intended recipient.
Find out to whom you should address your resignation letter to. Often, this would be your immediate supervisor or the human resource department.
- Express your intentions and be straight to the point.
Do not beat around the bush. Make sure that the recipient will be able to tell what the purpose of your letter is immediately. In business correspondence, there is no need to worry about being poetic.
- Explain your decision and thank the company for the opportunities you were given.
Be honest in your letter and tell the company why you’ve decided to let go of your job position. Remember to be gracious and thank them for the chance they took on you. Remember that you might, one day, find yourself returning to the company and asking them for favors like recommendation letters and such. Make sure that, as much as possible, you end your affiliations with the companies you work for in good terms.
IT Cover Letter Example
IT Manager Cover Letter
IT Resume Cover Letter
Introduction Letter Example
Company Introduction Letter
Survey Introduction Letter
Intent Letter Example
Statement of Intent Letter
Intent to Vacate Letter
Job Offer Letter Example
Job Offer Acceptance Letter
Job Offer Rejection Letter
Leave Letter Example
Leave of Absence Letter
Medical Leave Letter
Love Letter Example
Love Letter to Girlfriend
Short Love Letter
Layoff Letter Example
Notice of Layoff Letter
Temporary Layoff Letter
Management Letter Example
Audit Management Letter
Management Representation Letter
Motivation Letter Example
Motivation Cover Letter
MBA Motivation Letter
Mitigation Letter Example
Mitigation Announcement Letter
Mitigation Letter in PDF
Authorization Letters
There are personal businesses that we have to delegate to other people for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the legal authorization of an entrusted individual would be required. This is called granting someone a Special Power of Attorney. However, some cases may not be so serious that a legal appointment would be needed. For these, a simple authorization letter would do.
An authorization letter is a letter that gives a person permission to claim or act on behalf of someone or granting one the access to certain information. Authorization letters are usually signed by the grantor and accompanied by a copy or two of the grantor’s and appointed’s valid IDs.
Complaint Letters
If you are unsatisfied with a service or product, it wouldn’t be right to simply let it go. Neither would it be right to confront the company that provided the unsatisfying product or service and throwing a tantrum. The right way to handle a situation like this would be to write a letter informing the company of your complaint. When writing a letter of complaint, keep these tips in mind:
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Find the right person to address your grievances to
It will be so much faster to come up with a resolution to your complaint if it is addressed to the right department or person.
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Go right to the point
Go right to the point about why you’re writing. If the reader does not immediately understand the purpose of your letter, they might dismiss it as junk.
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Be as detailed as possible
Tell the reader exactly what happened, when it happened, and how it happened. This will make it easier to track the events so they could figure out exactly what needs to be done to remedy the situation.
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Attach copies of supporting documents
Make sure to keep the original documents and only attach the photocopies with your letter. Do not send the original documents with the complaint letter as these might be misplaced.
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Tell them what you want done to resolve the matter
Be specific with what you want to be done. Don’t expect the company to read your mind.
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Give a deadline
A deadline will ensure that the company will act fast instead of putting your letter off until it is forgotten about.
Notice Letter Example
Two Weeks Notice Letter
Final Notice Letter
Nomination Letter Example
Award Nomination Letter
Nomination Acceptance Letter
Notification Letter Example
Audit Notification Letter
Formal Notification Letter
Notary Letter Example
Notary Public Letter
Notary Cover Letter
Order Letter Example
Purchase Order Confirmation Letter
Business Letter Order Form
Official Letter Example
Official Resignation Letter
Official Complaint Letter
Offer Letter Example
Offer of Employment Letter
Offer Acceptance Letter
Opinion Letter Example
Tax Opinion Letter
Legal Opinion Letter
Persuasive Letter Example
Business Persuasive Letter
Persuasive Letter Format
Proposal Letter Example
Sponsorship Proposal Letter
Project Proposal Letter
Love Letters
With the continuous development of technology, what is the point of going through the trouble of writing a love letter when an instant message would do? Now, there is nothing wrong with expressing your love with the help of technology and doing so does not diminish the sincerity of your message nor the depth of your love. But love letters are a privilege, not a right. Knowing that someone took the time off from their busy schedules in an attempt to pour their heart to you in their own hand is enough to feel butterflies in your stomach.
While society has made it seem so, it is not necessary that a love letter should be sent between lovers exclusively. Love letters are written to express your emotions and love for a person. Love letters may be written for
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your father and mother;
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your brothers and sisters;
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your aunts and uncles;
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your cousins and friends;
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your grandfather and grandmother;
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your former romantic partners;
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your romantic partner;
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your potential romantic partner; or
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your teachers, coaches, and mentors.
There are not very many tips nor tricks in writing love letters as its format mostly depends on the writer. What is important to remember when composing love letters is that above all, it is the thought that counts. No matter how eloquently and poetic you sound, if your letter does not have heart, it’s just a piece of paper with a bunch of words on it.
Personal Letter Example
Personal Statement Letter
Personal Reference Letter
Promotion Letter Example
Sales Promotion Letter
Promotion Announcement Letter
Professional Letter Example
Professional Cover Letter
Professional Letter Request Form
Retirement Letter Example
Teacher Retirement Letter
Retirement Notice Letter
Referral Letter Example
Referral Request Letter
Employee Referral Letter
Retreat Letter Example
Retreat Information Letter
Retreat Parent Letter
Request Letter Example
Transfer Request Letter
Financial Aid Request Letter
Sales Letter Example
Marketing Sales Letter
Sales Letter for Advertising Services
Sponsorship Letter Example
Event Sponsorship Letter
Sponsorship Request Letter
Solicitation Letter Example
Solicitation Letter Format
Solicitation Letter to Download
Thank-You Letter Example
Scholarship Thank-You Letter
Interview Thank-You Letter
Transmittal Letter Example
Proposal Transmittal Letter
Transmittal Letter Example
Termination Letter Example
Lease Termination Letter
Contract Termination Letter
Letter Format Example
Business Letter Format
Cover Letter Format
Vacation Letter Example
Vacation Request Letter
Vacation Leave Letter
Letter-Writing in a Modern World
Writing letters have become a rare and valuable skill in today’s world that is dominated by shortcuts and text lingo. The ability to find the exact word to fit the context and arranging ideas in a way that makes the transition from one to the next is now a highly admired talent.
While today’s world does not require for one to utilize an extensive vocabulary in composing a letter, it is important to make sure that the letters you write are appropriate, especially in today’s sensitive society.
If you find yourself having trouble coming up with the right words to compose a proper letter, see the wide collection of Sample Letters we have available on the site and its accompanying guidelines.
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