Personal Letter Format: The Best Ways to Write a Good Personal Letter

‘Writing a personal letter is a thing of the past.’ If that’s what you feel, then you are highly mistaken. Despite technology making communication easy, handwritten words for your loved one or a close friend can still make the other person feel special. 

A personal letter is a form of informal communication between family members, peers, or friends that conveys emotions and feelings. That brings us to the question, ‘Is there a personal letter format that needs to be followed?’ Yes, there is, and that is exactly what we are about to discuss. 

This blog will take you through the correct format and the ways to write a personal letter. Let’s help you understand the different aspects of a friendly letter.

What is the Standard Format of a Personal Letter?

Writing personal letters to your close ones can be more effective than a WhatsApp message or an email. Research shows that 57.3% of children claimed that letter-writing has proved to be the best way to express their thoughts and feelings, while 62.9% felt this to be an effective way to share their ideas and imagination. 

While that can make you think that these letters are just a medium to share your feelings and emotions, there are a few ways to write personal letters. Before we go on and learn about the ways of writing the letter, let’s understand its layout:

A. Your Address

The recipient must know who wrote the letter and where it is from. If your name and address are not printed on the envelope, write them in the upper right-hand corner of the first page. This makes it easier for the recipient to respond. 

B. Date

You must include the date just below your address (sender). The date is important to maintain a record of when the letter was sent. Numerous personal letters of eminent personalities are preserved in museums as historical evidence. The date on those letters helps us understand how important the letter is and when it was written. 

C. Salutation

The formal personal letter format (a bit of an oxymoron) must start with an opening salutation followed by the recipient’s first name. If you want to keep it formal, you can use a salutation like ‘Dear Mr. Jordan,’ in case of an informal salutation, use ‘Dear William, ’ or if you want to keep it casual, use ‘Hi Johnathan.’ This depends on the context in which the personal letter is written. 

D. The Body Paragraph

Start the letter with a warm greeting, and state the reason for writing the letter. In the main section of the letter, convey your message. You must structure your letter to cover everything you want to discuss, whether personal matters or a special message. Break down this section into small paragraphs to keep things simple and engaging. 

E. Closing Paragraph

Wrap up the letter with a summary restating the points you have talked about. Also, express gratitude towards the readers and ask them to reply to your letter (that’s optional). Depending on the intimacy between the reader and writer, the writer can push the reader to respond similarly (again, that’s optional). 

F. Closing and Signature

End the letter with a polite and affectionate closing phrase. This makes the letter more personal. However, you can choose to use a formal closing to your personal letter. You can use ‘Best Regards’ instead of ‘Take Care.’ What you write at the end of a personal letter is completely up to you and your relationship with the reader.

 Before we share a sample of personal letters, let’s learn about the different types of personal letters. You can also learn about leadership statements.

The Different Types of Personal Letters

When it comes to personal letters, there are a few types you must know about. While the main objective for writing a letter to your close ones is to share a few things or inform them about certain things, personal letters are not restricted to that. Here are the different types of personal letters that letter writers must know about: 

A. Friendly Letters

This is the most common type of personal letter. It is used to share news, thoughts, and feelings with friends and family. 

B. Invitations

It’s easy to understand what invitations mean. What you might not know is that this is also a form of personal letter. You use this type to invite people to events, parties, or gatherings. 

C. Thank You Letters

In this type, a letter writer conveys their thanks or gratitude for favors, gifts, or hospitality they received from someone. 

D. Apology Letters

An apology letter contains an apology for any wrongdoing or mistake that may have hurt someone. 

E. Congratulatory Letters

Congratulatory letters are personalized letters sent by someone who has a personal connection with the reader to express happiness and well wishes for special occasions. 

F. Holiday Letters

These personal letters are used to share news and well wishes during holidays. 

G. Pen Pal Messages 

One of the unique types of personal letters, pen pal messages, is used to stay connected with long-distance friends. You can write the letter to show you remember the bond you share with your pen pal. 

In addition to these, love letters are also considered personal letters. In this case, though, the degree of intimacy matters. You cannot send a love letter to anyone. Instead, this type of letter can only be sent to someone with whom you share a great connection.

Difference Between a Handwritten Personal Letter Format and a Typed One

Personal letters may still be considered a better way of communication than emails or other forms of communication. Letters of complaint, inquiry, or announcement are more effective when handwritten. However, many personal letters are typed. So, how are they different from each other? Let’s explore both these forms of letter writing for a better understanding:

That would help you understand the different contexts of handwritten letters and typed letters. Before we end the discussion, let’s help you with a standard personal letter template along with an example. 

Personal Letter Example and Template

Here’s a personal letter template:

Sender’s Address

Date

Salutation: “Dear M”

Body paragraph 1

Body paragraph 2

Body paragraph 3, or more

Closing paragraph

Signature (“Sincerely, Yours Truly, etc. followed by your name)

A simple personal letter format for students is also the same. They can follow it to write letters in school or college. 

Now that you know the structure, go through a personal letter example to clear all your doubts and craft a flawless personal letter: 

456 Oak Street

Gold Coast, CG 91212

March 28, 2025

Dear William,

Hope this letter finds you well. We have not caught up for a long time and I wanted to contact you in an old-fashioned way, hence writing a letter. 

So, tell me how have you been? Where are you working and how is work? I have recently shifted to Chicago and would be happy to catch up at a nearby restaurant whenever you get time. 

Take care and write to me when you receive the letter. Let’s put the plan for a trip into action soon.

Warmest Regards,

Chris 

Hope you understand how you must start your letter and the ways to include a call to action. Since these letters are mostly informal, you need not write your full name or the recipient’s full name in the letter. Also, don’t confuse the format with a traditional assignment format. Use an informal tone and write the letter in a way that conveys the emotion as well as the message clearly. 

All the best!

Frequently Asked Questions