Did you know that 37 percent of Americans haven’t written a letter in over five years? Meanwhile, 15 percent have never sent a letter before! Sadly, the art of letter writing is becoming less and less common.
However, writing personalized letters is a great way to stay in touch with loved ones, express your feelings, and show them you care. Moreover, the recipient will get a pleasant surprise in their mailbox, strengthening your bond and brightening their day!
Although there are many benefits to writing a letter, many people have never done so before. If that’s true for you, don’t worry! It’s easier than you’d think!
This guide will help you learn how to write and mail a letter to a friend or relative. So, keep reading to find out all you need to know!
Formulate Your Thoughts
When writing a letter, you should first think about what you want to say and your purpose for sending it.
For example, you may write your friend to catch up after a long time without speaking or wish to share some exciting news. And, if you are writing to someone dear to you, you could share your feelings for them and tell them how much you appreciate them.
Of course, you can also write to ask your friend how they are doing, especially if you haven’t heard from them in a while.
Pick Your Stationary
Another important aspect to consider when writing a letter is the stationery you will put it on. Letters don’t have to be fancy, but personalized stationery is a nice touch and is especially classy.
You can usually purchase letter-writing sets at office supply stores or online, so check it out if you want to make your notes extra special.
Decide Whether You’ll Write or Type It
Although most people choose to handwrite their letters, you don’t have to go this route. If you are worried about your penmanship, you can always type the letter out and print it on your stationery.
Yet, no matter how your handwriting looks, your loved ones will feel pleased to read your thoughts and feelings! So, don’t hesitate to write the letter by hand.
Format Your Letter
If you’ve never written a letter, you may not know how to format one. And even if it’s been some time since you last mailed a letter, you may need a quick refresher. So here are a few tips.
Start with a Salutation
If you’re writing to a friend, your greeting can be casual, such as:
- Dear (person’s name),
- Dearest (person’s name),
- Hello,
- Hi,
However, you could also address the recipient by their name as a greeting if you prefer. In any case, the salutation should be about an inch from the top left corner of the paper and followed by a comma.
Write the Body
After writing the salutation, skip a few lines and start the body of your letter by acknowledging them. Perhaps you can say something like “I hope this letter finds you well” or “I have so much to share.”
After, you can write your message, such as how your life has been since you last spoke. You can share however little or much as you’d like, depending on the nature of your relationship.
Next, it’s a good idea to ask the recipient some questions, such as whether there’s anything new in their life. Doing so encourages them to write back and shows that you are interested in learning about their life.
Sign-Off
Finally, you should jump a few spaces and sign off. Here are some phrases you can use to do so:
- Love,
- Fondly,
- Yours truly,
- Take care,
Even if you type your letter, it’s a nice touch to sign your name by hand.
Proofread
After you finish your letter, take a break before proofreading it. Doing so allows you to check for grammatical errors with a new point of view. In addition, check that the tone of your letter is clear and friendly.
If you typed the letter, this part would be easy since you can use spellcheck and a program that checks for grammar mistakes, such as Grammarly.
Address Your Envelope
If you are satisfied with your letter, it’s time to address the envelope!
In the top left corner of the envelope, write your name and address. If you plan on writing letters often, you may wish to invest in self inking address stamps since these make this task a breeze! Yet, if you don’t have a self inking address stamp, you can write this information by hand or print it on a label.
Next, you should write your friend’s name and address in the center of the envelope. And if they live abroad, don’t forget to include the name of their country in the address and ensure it is formatted properly.
Get the Right Postage
Now that your envelope is properly addressed, it’s time to put the letter inside and seal it. If you don’t want to lick the envelope, you can use a wet cotton ball to moisten the seal of stickers to close it!
Before mailing a letter, you’ll also need to check the required postage. Standard letters usually only need one stamp, but if you are including anything other than a sheet of paper in the envelope, you should visit the post office for help sending a letter. There, you can also purchase personalized stamps for a nice touch!
Sending Personalized Letters Is Easier Than You Think!
After reading this post, you know how to send personalized letters to your friends and family members! Of course, it may take a bit of practice to get the hang of writing nice letters. However, your recipients will likely be touched by the gesture and hard work you put into writing them, and they’ll feel grateful.
So, buy some stationery and start writing friendly letters today! And, if you would like to learn more interesting lifestyle tips, check out more of our content!
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