Letters

Even though the telephone and computers are easier and faster to use than a letter, sometimes letters are still the most effective way to communicate with someone else. You may send Christmas and birthday cards to friends and family. Isn't it nicer to get a card that has a letter in it? Writing friendly letters helps us keep in touch with family and friends who may live far away and people feel special when they receive mail.

Business or formal letters are also important. Sometimes a business you may be dealing with does not have a telephone number that you can call if you have a complaint. How do you get your complaint to the company? You have to write a letter. Also, sending a letter can be better than phoning when you want to have a record of what you've written to a company, a boss, a newspaper editor or wherever you write the letter.

Friendly Letters

Friendly letters are just that: letters to friends and family. However, friendly letters can have more than one purpose. You write friendly letters to let people know what is going on in your life and to ask questions about other's lives. You can also write letters of thank-you for gifts and letters of acceptance or regret if you're invited to something.

One thing to remember about writing friendly letters is just that: they are friendly. Write a friendly letter as if you were speaking to the person. Use language that you would use in speech. Ask questions like you would if you were talking to the person. Here is a list of things to remember when you're writing a friendly letter:

• Think about what you want to write about. Pick a few things to write about and focus on them. Give the person news about yourself. Write about anything that's been going on in your life or what's been going on in the place where you live. You may give specific news of events or a funny situation or some more general information about yourself and your family.

• Ask questions about the person you're writing to. This will help them reply quickly if they have something specific to write about.

• If the person has written to you before, answer any questions that they may have asked in the last letter.