| Formal Letters | Informal Letters |
| Formal letters follow fixed pattern of styles | Informal letters have varied patterns of styles |
| Formal letters are mostly used in working environments like offices | Informal letters have very limited usage in working environments |
| The language of the letter in formal letters is by and large impersonal or work related | The language of the letter in informal letters is by and large personal or related to social aspects |
| Formal letters can have informal tone whilst writing under certain circumstances | Informal letters do not have a formal tone as they are meant to express emotions and social communication |
| Informal words like ‘Gonna’, ‘Wanna’, ‘Dude’, ‘Bro’ etc. cannot be used in formal letters | Informal letters are not restricted in language. Slang words and non conventional terminology is acceptable in these letters |
| A lot of care is taken to write the appropriate Salutations in formal letters | 2-3 types of salutations are acceptable for informal letters as there is not much need of formality |
| Length of the letter is very important and it shouldn’t be too long | Length of the informal letters varies depending upon the subject matter |
| Closing or Complimentary gestures vary in formal letters | Closing or Complimentary gestures don’t vary as much in informal letters |
| Letter Head is a conventional practice in formal letters | Letter Head is not a conventional practice in informal letters |
Letters can also be categorised as per their purposes. Since most of the letters are written for academic, business, personal and reference purposes they can be categorised in a similar manner
The most common purposes for which letters are written divide them into:
- Academic Letters – Letters concerned with academic affairs of various academic institutions or pertaining to academics under various capacities are known as academic letters.
Some of the types of academic letters
- Announcement Letter
- Application Letter
- Leave Letter
- Recommendation Letter
- Business Letters – Letters written for purpose related to business and its’ relative processes are known as business letters.
Some of the types of business letters
- Acceptance Letter
- Acknowledgement Letter
- Adjustment Letter
- Request Letter
- Resolution Letter
- Sales Letter
- Personal Letters – Letters written for sharing personal information, views, opinions etc. are known as personal letters. They are akin to Informal Letters.
Some of the types of personal letters
- Cancellation Letter
- Condolence Letter
- Farewell Letter
- Friendly Letter
- Get Well Letter
- Holiday Letter
- Love Letter
- Reference Letters – Letters written by an authoritative person for an acquaintance, to introduce the acquaintance to the concerned for employment, admission and/or other objectives. These letters are similar to formal letters.
Some of the types of reference letters
- Adoption Reference Letter
- Business Reference Letter
- Character Reference Letter
- Employer Reference Letter / Job Reference Letter
- Scholarship Reference Letter
- Teacher Reference Letter
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