How To Write A Formal Letter

Tips for formal letter writing

19th January 2022

There are many ways to do it, but knowing how to write a formal letter is an important part of business.

In this blog, we want to share with you a few formal letter examples that you need to be aware of when it comes to formal letters.

Sometimes when writing, mistakes can happen, even to the best writer

The Dos and Don’ts of Formal Letters

All formal letters, no matter if you’re writing one to resign, make an inquiry or applying for a position with a cover letter, have a few standard dos and don’ts when it comes to writing them. To start with, the format in general doesn’t change a great deal, so you will need to make sure that you:

  • Write your name, the recipient’s name and your contact information.
  • Write the date that you are sending the formal letter.
  • After that, you want to write the main content of the letter.
  • Finally, end with a complimentary close and send it to the recipient.

Formal Letter for Work Examples

The structure of your letter may look like this:

[Your name]
[Your work address]

[Company name]

[Today’s date]

[Recipient name]
[Recipient job title]

Dear [recipient name],

[Main content – 2 to 5 paragraphs depending on the content]

[Professional sign off],
[Print name]
[Signature]

Types of Formal Letters

What types are there and when do you need to use them? For formal letters, there are numerous different types which you can use to achieve the desired result that you’re looking for. Types of formal letters include:

  • Cover letter
  • Inquiry letter
  • Legal letter
  • Letter of intent
  • Reference letter
  • Resignation letter

Formal letters are different to e-mails, they are by nature, more formal, and often start the beginning or end of something, like a career or an action that will have consequences.

One Last Thing to Remember for Formal Letters

Writing a formal letter is great and upon finishing it you’ll feel like it’s a job well done. However, one thing you absolutely must do upon completion is to proofread it. This is particularly important when writing a cover letter that goes with a well-written CV. 

Sometimes when writing, mistakes can happen, even to the best writer, so make sure to glance over your work or get someone else to do so with a fresh pair of eyes. You wouldn’t want to send a formal letter over with a spelling mistake.

Formal Letters with PE Global

Whether you are looking to find a job and write a cover letter or a resignation letter to move on, or perhaps you’re an employer looking to write a formal letter to offer a position, get in touch with us at PE Global, to find the next step forward for your career, or your business.

Connect with us

You can email us, phone us, DM us, post a letter to us at our offices in Cork, Dublin or London - whatever your preference, find all our contact details here.

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