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Formal and Informal Letter Format | ICSE Class 8

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English LanguageICSE Class 8 · Letter Writing

Formal and Informal Letter Format, Tone and Content: ICSE Class 8

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

An informal letter has your address, date, a warm salutation, paragraphs and a subscription such as With love, and your first name. A formal letter has the sender's address, date, receiver's designation and address, Dear Sir or Madam, a purposeful body, Yours faithfully and your full name. In the CISCE format neither has a subject line.

Compare the two layouts: informal ends With love and a first name; formal ends Yours faithfully and a full name, and neither has a subject line.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Formal and Informal Letters: Format, Tone and Content

Informal letter (to family and friends), in order: your address (house, street, locality, city with PIN); the date in full ("12th January 2027"); salutation ("Dear Nani,", "My dear Arjun,"); body paragraphs (a warm opening, the points asked, a closing); subscription ("With love,", "Yours lovingly,", "Yours affectionately,"); your first name. There is no receiver's address and no subject line.

Formal letter (to a principal, editor, officer or company), in order: sender's address and date; the receiver's designation and address; salutation "Dear Sir," or "Dear Madam,"; body (purpose first, details in the middle, a polite request or close); "Yours faithfully,"; full name (class and section when writing to your principal). In the CISCE suggested format, there is no subject line.

Matching pairs. Formal: Dear Sir or Dear Madam with Yours faithfully and a full name. Informal: Dear Didi or My dear Kabir with Yours affectionately or With love and a first name. Avoid "Your's" with an apostrophe; it is always "Yours".

Content. Underline each point the question names and give it two or three specific details: names, places, dates, effects. In a complaint describe the problem (what, where, since when, its effects) and suggest a practical remedy.

Tone. Informal letters may be chatty, with contractions and questions, but avoid the stale "I am fine and hope you are also fine". Formal letters are polite and impersonal, with no contractions or slang. Useful formal openings: "I am writing to bring to your notice...", "I wish to request your permission to...". Useful closings: "I hope you will consider my request favourably."

Formal and Informal Letters: Format, Tone and Content: key facts

Informal letter order
  • Your address
  • Date
  • Dear ...
  • Body
  • With love
  • First name
No receiver's address; no subject line.
Formal letter order
  • Sender's address and date
  • Receiver's designation and address
  • Dear Sir or Madam
  • Body
  • Yours faithfully
  • Full name
No subject line in the CISCE format.
Matching ends
Dear Sir: Yours faithfully | My dear Kabir: Yours affectionately
Never Your's.

How to answer Formal and Informal Letters: Format, Tone and Content questions

Use this for any letter question.

  1. 1Decide whether the reader needs a formal or informal letter.
  2. 2Underline every point the question lists.
  3. 3Lay out the parts in order for that type.
  4. 4Develop each point with two or three specific details, opening and closing politely.
  5. 5Match the subscription to the salutation and sign correctly.

Formal and Informal Letters: Format, Tone and Content in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A hypothetical lost lunch box

Suppose a pupil must write to the Principal asking permission to start a lost-and-found box, and also tell a cousin about it.

Which letter is formal and which informal, and what closing does each use?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The Principal letter is formal: Dear Sir ... Yours faithfully, full name.
  2. The cousin letter is informal: Dear Meera ... Yours affectionately, first name.

Answer: The letter to the Principal is formal; the one to the cousin is informal.

Memory hook: Sir faithfully, friends affectionately.

Tricks to remember Formal and Informal Letters: Format, Tone and Content

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Faithful sir

    Dear Sir goes with Yours faithfully.

    Use it when: Formal pair.

  • No subject line

    CISCE letters have none.

    Use it when: Format check.

Formal and Informal Letters: Format, Tone and Content: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Correct subscription · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Which closing goes with "Dear Sir,"?
(a) Yours affectionately (b) With love (c) Yours faithfully (d) Your's truly

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Dear Sir is formal.
  2. Formal letters close with Yours faithfully.

Answer: (c) Yours faithfully.

Example 2: Spot the format error · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

A student begins an informal letter to a cousin with the receiver's address and a subject line. Say what is wrong. (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. No receiver's address in an informal letter (1).
  2. No subject line (1).

Answer: An informal letter has only the sender's address, date and salutation; the receiver's address and the subject line should be removed.

Example 3: Write the opening of a formal letter · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Write the opening part (address block to salutation) of a letter to the Principal of St. John's School, Pune, from Asha Rao of Class VIII-B, 14 Lake Road, Pune 411001, dated 12th March 2027. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Sender's address and date (1).
  2. Receiver's designation and address (1).
  3. Dear Sir or Madam (1).

Answer: 14 Lake Road,
Pune 411001
12th March 2027

The Principal,
St. John's School,
Pune

Dear Sir,

Example 4: Body for a request · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Write a body paragraph (about 50 words) requesting permission for the Class 8 pupils to hold a book fair. Give two reasons. (4 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Purpose in the first line (1).
  2. Two reasons (2).
  3. A polite close (1).

Answer: I wish to request your permission to hold a book fair for Class VIII in the school library next month. It would encourage reading and let pupils buy affordable books. The fair would run on a Saturday morning under the supervision of teachers. I hope you will consider my request favourably.

Example 5: Improve a thin complaint · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

A letter to a newspaper says only "The road is bad. Please look into the matter." Rewrite it as a body paragraph of about 60 words with detail and a suggestion. (4 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. What and where (1).
  2. Since when (1).
  3. Effect (1).
  4. A practical suggestion (1).

Answer: I wish to draw attention to the state of Station Road, where deep potholes have remained for over a month. Two-wheelers skid there and school buses crawl, making children late. I request the municipal authorities to repair the road before the rains and to put up a warning sign. Residents have complained repeatedly, and I would appreciate a written reply.

Where students lose marks in Formal and Informal Letters: Format, Tone and Content

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: A subject line in the letter

    The CISCE suggested format has none.

    Wrong working

    Subject: Request for permission.

    Right working

    No subject line.

    Do this: Skip it.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

  • Mistake: Writing Your's

    It is always Yours.

    Wrong working

    Your's faithfully,

    Right working

    Yours faithfully,

    Do this: No apostrophe.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

  • Mistake: Thin content

    Each point needs detail.

    Wrong working

    Please look into the matter.

    Right working

    Describe what, where, since when, effect and a suggestion.

    Do this: Give two or three details per point.

    Usually costs: 2 marks

Exam tips

  • Underline every point in the question.
  • Match salutation and subscription.
  • Write the date in full.
  • Keep formal letters polite and without contractions.

Practice questions on Formal and Informal Letters: Format, Tone and Content

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Which opening is suitable for a formal letter?
    (a) You won't believe what happened! (b) I wish to request your permission to... (c) Hi there! (d) I am fine and hope you are also fine.

    Hint

    Polite and impersonal.

    Answer

    (b) I wish to request your permission to...

  2. Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

    List the parts of an informal letter in order. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Address first, name last.

    Answer

    Sender's address; date; salutation; body; subscription; first name.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Write the closing lines of a formal letter and of an informal letter to a friend. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Match the salutation.

    Answer

    Formal: Yours faithfully, Neha Verma, Class VIII-A. Informal: Yours affectionately, Neha.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Write the body (about 60 words) of a letter to a friend describing a day on which you were lost in a market. (4 marks)

    Hint

    Chatty, with feelings and detail.

    Answer

    You will not believe what happened on Sunday! I got separated from Mum in the crowded Sadar market and could not find her for twenty minutes. My heart pounded as I walked past rows of stalls until a shopkeeper let me use his phone. Never again will I let go of her hand!

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    A pupil writes "Respected Sir ... Your obedient student" to the Principal. Comment on this against the CISCE formal format and rewrite the two lines. (4 marks)

    Hint

    CISCE formal salutation and subscription.

    Answer

    The CISCE formal format uses "Dear Sir," and "Yours faithfully,", not "Respected Sir" or "Your obedient student". Rewrite: Dear Sir, ... Yours faithfully, followed by the full name and class.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Closing for Dear Sir?Show answer

    Yours faithfully.

  2. 2.Does an informal letter have the receiver's address?Show answer

    No.

  3. 3.Name an informal subscription.Show answer

    With love or Yours affectionately.

  4. 4.Is there a subject line in the CISCE format?Show answer

    No.

  5. 5.How to write the date?Show answer

    In full, as 12th January 2027.

  6. 6.Which name for formal signing?Show answer

    Full name.

Formal and Informal Letters: Format, Tone and Content: frequently asked questions

Is Dear Sir/Madam allowed?

Yes, if you do not know the receiver's gender.

Can I use contractions in a formal letter?

No.

Does the format come from CISCE?

The CISCE suggested format has no subject line; follow the format taught in your school if it differs.