Writing skills : Informal letter format

Friendly Letter Format

Return Address Line 1 1 Return Address Line 2 Date (Month Day, Year) 2 Dear Name of Recipient, 3                                                                                                            Body Paragraph 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . .         Body Paragraph 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         Body Paragraph 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Closing (Sincerely...), 5 Signature 6 P.S. 7

In the friendly letter format, your address, date, the closing, signature, and printed name are all indented to the right half of the page (how far you indent in is up to you as long as the heading and closing is lined up, use your own discretion and make sure it looks presentable). Also the first line of each paragraph is indented.

Your Address 1
All that is needed is your street address on the first line and the city, state and zip on the second line. 

Date 2
Put the date on which the letter was written in the format Month Day Year e.g. August 30, 2003. Never skip a line between the date and the salutation.

Salutation 3
Usually starts out with Dear. Note: There is a comma after the end of the salutation.

Body 4
The body is where you write the content of the letter; the paragraphs should be single spaced with no skipped line between paragraphs. Skip no lines between the end of the body and the closing.

Closing 5
Let's the reader know that you are finished with your letter; usually ends with Sincerely, Sincerely yours, Thank you, and so on. Note that there is a comma after the end of the closing and only the first word in the closing is capitalized.

Signature 6
Your signature will go in this section, usually signed in black or blue ink with a pen. Skip a line after your signature and the P.S.

P.S. 7
If you want to add anything additional to the letter you write a P.S. (post script) and the message after that. You can also add a P.P.S after that and a P.P.P.S. after that and so on.

(* Normally, the SSC/HSC boards of Maharashtra, India do not accept the signature part. You are supposed to write your name ( Not the actual name but three letters like ABC or XYZ ) after you are done with the letter )