Examples of Informal Letter Beginnings in English

The opening of an informal letter sets the tone for the entire message. These greetings can vary widely depending on the relationship between the sender and recipient and the purpose of the letter. Here are some examples and suggestions for beginning an informal letter in English.

Understanding the Context

Before diving into the examples, it's important to understand the context of an informal letter. These are typically written to friends, family, or people you are familiar with. The tone and style are more relaxed and friendly compared to formal letters. The language used can be casual and conversational.

Starting with Greetings

Without further ado, here are some informal letter beginnings:

I hope this letter of mine finds you in good health and good spirits. How have you been? Lovely to hear from you. How are you? How are you, dear friend? Hi [person's name], it's been a long time since I last wrote to you. Hello, dear [person's name], I have been thinking about you a lot lately.

Customizing with Relationship and Purpose

The choice of greeting will depend on your relationship with the recipient and the purpose of the letter. Here are some examples:

To a Colleague/Professional:

Hello ____________, How are you doing [write your letter]

To a Family Member or Friend:

Dear [first name, or just the name], I am delighted to talk to you. Your letter gave me great pleasure, how are you?

To a Neighbor:

Hi [name], how are things at your end?

To an Old Friend or Casual Acquaintance:

Dear [first name, or just the name], I was wondering if you had a moment to spare to catch up on old times? Hello, I thought Id write to tell/ask you [your reason for writing].

Advise Against Unintentionally Impolite Warnings

It's also important to be mindful of the tone you set. For instance, advice like, "If you're thinking about ICSE or ISC boards, don't be so friendly with the examiner, he will cut marks for him and all." can come across as overly negative and unhelpful. Always aim for a positive and friendly tone.

Sample Letters

Here are some complete sample letters to give you a better idea of how to structure your informal letters:

Sample 1

Dear Sarah,

I hope this letter of mine finds you in good health. How are you, dear friend? Loving to hear that everything is well with you. Everything is fine on my end too.

Can we catch up over a cup of coffee sometime? I have been thinking about you a lot lately and would love to hear all about your life.

Best regards,

Sarah

Sample 2

Dear John,

How have you been, Jon? I have been thinking about you a lot lately and thought I should write you a letter. How are things at your end? Any exciting news?

I am doing well too. You are such a great friend.

Miss you a lot and look forward to your reply.

Best regards,

John

Sample 3

Hi [first name, or just the name],

How are things? I have not heard from you in a while and was wondering if you had a moment to spare to catch up on old times.

Your letter made my week, and I hope you are well. If you are free, can we catch up in person sometime?

Thinking of you, take care.

Yours truly,

Name