Letter: Form

Understanding the letter form is crucial. Where the letter is formal, typically used for business or official purposes, maintain a level of professionalism and accuracy; conversely, a casual thematic letter may require a more personal touch.
The letter should always begin with a standard address at the top right-hand corner of the page, followed by the recipient’s information on the left-hand side.
Another key aspect of letter form is the opening and closing. For a formal letter, consider starting with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, and ending with ‘Yours faithfully’. For informality, ‘Dear [First Name],’ and ‘Yours sincerely’ or ‘Kind regards’ could work.
The main body of the letter needs to be divided into clear, fully developed paragraphs. Each paragraph should explore a different point or aspect of the overall topic, avoiding the overlap of ideas.
Use a variety of sentence structures to showcase your writing ability. This could involve a mixture of short, long, complex and compound sentences.
In terms of language style, formal letters necessitate formal language - avoid colloquialisms, contractions or slang. However, for informal letters, you can be more lax with language rules.
Make use of appropriate vocabulary to convey your point effectively. Employing sophisticated or subject-specific terminology, where suitable, can demonstrate an expert level of understanding.
Ensure to sign off the letter correctly after the concluding paragraph, adding your name and date. This validates the letter and marks its completion.
Proofreading your letter for grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, or potential areas of confusion is essential. Precision and technical accuracy will contribute towards a better score.
Lastly, the overall presentation of the letter matters. Ensure your writing is legible; if writing by hand, use clear and clean handwriting; if typing, pick a standard font and size.