Art of Writing Letters

Art of Writing Letters

The success of any relationship depends on healthy communication. Letters are the best mode of expression of one's feelings. The language used by us reveals our motives and emotions we wish to convey to our friends and near and dear ones. Art of writing letters has not lost its role in promoting healthy relationships inspite of the development of modern information technology. Invention of tele communications like telephone, fax, e-mail, e-commerce and even video-phone has not diminished the art of writing letters. With the help of letters a person can be just what he wants to be, a good salesman, a charming friend or a gracious host.

It is true that everyone likes to receive letters but for various reasons no one likes to write them. In modern age, we find hardly a man who can sit down and write a wonderful letter. In fact, writing letters should be made part of our daily life. The principle behind writing letters comprises two important facts. One should be timely and one should be oneself. It may be a personal, official or a business letter. Applications need more attention of the writer because while writing application you expect that your request will be granted by him for whom the application is addressed. For the convenience of the students, letters should be placed under following heads—
1. Personal Letters
2. Official Letters
3. Business Letters
4. Applications

1. Personal Letters - Personal Letters come under the category of informal or social letters. These letters include private letters to relations, friends and notes of invitation.

2. Official Letters - They are letters addressed to newspapers, leaders and high officials. They come under the category of formal letters.

3. Business Letters - Business letters are addressed to business houses, manag¬ers of the firms, suppliers and customers. Sometime they are in the form of circulars also.

4. Applications - Applications are addressed to higher officials designed to achieve a specific object.

Every letter has four important parts. These are —
1. The Heading
The heading of any letter consists of the writer's address and date.
F - 44/2, Shaheen Bagh
Jamia Nagar
April 02, 2018/2nd April, 18

2. Salutation
Salutation or form of address will depend on the kind of letter.
a. Personal Letter
(i) To members of family
          Dear Mother, My dear father, Dear Daud, Rahul
(i) To friends
        Dear Rohan, Dear Vishal.
b. Business letters
Dear Sir, Dear Sirs, Dear Madam
c. Official letters, applications
Sir,/Madam,

3. Body of the letters
These are the contents of a letter that form the main theme of the subject I of any letter.

4. Courteous leave taking
a. Personal Letter
(i) To members of family
          With regards, With love, yours affectionately
(ii) To friends
        With best wishes, Yours sincerely
b. Business letters
Thanking you, Awaiting an early reply, Yours faithfully
c. Official letters, applications
Thanking you, Yours truly, Yours faithfully