1. Tone:
* Informal: Casual, friendly, conversational, and often humorous.
* Formal: Professional, respectful, objective, and devoid of personal opinions or emotions.
2. Language:
* Informal: Uses contractions, slang, idioms, and informal vocabulary.
* Formal: Uses full words, proper grammar, and formal vocabulary. Avoids slang and colloquialisms.
3. Structure:
* Informal: Flexible structure, may include anecdotes and personal details.
* Formal: Follows a strict format with clear headings, paragraphs, and a formal closing.
4. Salutation & Closing:
* Informal: Uses casual greetings like "Hey," "Hi," or the recipient's first name. Closes with "Best," "Cheers," or "See ya."
* Formal: Uses formal greetings like "Dear Mr./Ms./Dr." followed by the recipient's last name. Closes with "Sincerely," "Respectfully," or "Yours faithfully."
5. Purpose:
* Informal: Usually for personal communication, sharing news, catching up, or expressing personal thoughts.
* Formal: Used for official communication, requesting information, applying for jobs, making complaints, or conveying professional information.
6. Examples:
* Informal: Letters to friends and family, personal notes, thank-you notes for casual occasions.
* Formal: Business letters, cover letters, complaint letters, academic papers, official correspondence.
7. Length:
* Informal: Can be short and concise or long and rambling depending on the context.
* Formal: Typically concise and to the point, focusing on the main message.
In Summary:
The key difference between informal and formal letters lies in their tone, language, and purpose. While informal letters are casual and personal, formal letters maintain a professional and objective tone, adhering to specific structural and linguistic conventions. Choose the appropriate type of letter based on your intended audience and the nature of the communication.