informal letters
Friendly written messages
Informal letters are personal correspondence written in a casual, conversational tone—to friends, family, or close acquaintances rather than businesses or officials.
They follow looser conventions than formal letters, allowing colloquial language, contractions, and personal asides: She wrote informal letters to her college roommate for decades.
The form has largely given way to email and texting.
- abbreviationsTruncated word forms
- conversational toneInformal, natural speaking style
- postcardsMailable souvenir notes
- snail mailPhysical letter delivery
- pen palsFriends who exchange letters
long time no see · love letters · personal anecdotes · thank-you notes · apology letters · holiday greetings · greeting · handwritten notes · playful banter · chatty · catch-up · how are you · birthday wishes · text messages · friendly · newsy · mailbox · warmth
- correspondenceletters, handwritten letters, family letters, missives, thank you letters
- lettersa, d, e, h, q
informal lettersformal letters
Structured professional written messages
official correspondence · business letters · form letters · legal documents · official letters
informal letterslegal notices
Officially required announcements
business correspondence · official documents · court summons · business contracts · memoranda