ZIMSEC O Level · English Language · Form 1, Form 2, Form 3, Form 4
Informal letters (to friends and family)
- Your address and the date in the top right corner.
- Greeting: “Dear Rudo,”
- Friendly, personal tone; contractions are allowed.
- Ending: “Your friend,” or “Love,” followed by your first name.
Formal letters (to organisations and officials)
- Your address and the date at the top right; the recipient's title and address on the left, below.
- Greeting: “Dear Sir/Madam,” or “Dear Mr Moyo,”
- A subject line, e.g. “RE: APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF SHOP ASSISTANT” (underlined or in capitals).
- Polite, clear and to the point: introduction (why you are writing), body (details), conclusion (what you want done).
- Ending: “Yours faithfully,” after “Dear Sir/Madam”; “Yours sincerely,” after a named person. Then your signature and full name.
Common formal letters
Applications for jobs or places, complaints, requests, letters to the editor.
Exam tip: Match the ending to the greeting – “Dear Sir/Madam” goes with “Yours faithfully”.
Check yourself
- Which ending goes with “Dear Mrs Ncube”?
- Give two differences between a formal and an informal letter.
- Write a suitable subject line for a letter complaining about burst sewer pipes in your area.
Show answers
- Yours sincerely,
- Any two: formal has the recipient's address, a subject line, formal language and “Yours faithfully/sincerely”; informal is chatty and uses first names.
- RE: BURST SEWER PIPES IN [AREA NAME]
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