How to Write a Letter to a Friend

Co-authored by Tami Claytor and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: March 3, 2023 References

In the age of emails and text messages, sitting down to write a letter to a friend is a special and heartfelt way to express care for someone. They’ll cherish the thought and effort you put into it, and you’ll get the chance to reflect on your life and relationship, too. There’s just one problem — how do you know what to say in the letter? It’s easier than you think. This wikiHow will give you tips on how to begin your letter, beat writer’s block, and make it memorable.

Sample Letters

Annotated Letter to a Friend

Annotated Letter to a Friend 2

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Starting the Letter

1
Determine the purpose of your letter. There are several reasons you might write a letter to a friend. Maybe you're catching up after a long time apart or you have something exciting to tell them about. Remember that you can also write a letter to ask how your friend is doing.^{[1]
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- If you haven't gotten a letter from your friend in a while, you can send a letter to ask if everything is alright or to find out if things have been busy for them.
2
Include your address and the date. Place your current street address in the upper left-hand corner of the letter. It's always a good idea to include this information, because your friend may have lost your address. You should also put the date, so they have a frame of reference for what you're talking about.^{[2]
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- For example, if you've been writing a lot back and forth, including the date is useful so you can tell if they're responding to a letter that you recently sent them.
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3
Plan for how long you want the letter to be. If you'd like to write a quick note, keep it short. For these fast letters, you can use a small notecard. To write a long letter with a lot of information and detail, get out several pages of stationery or a large card.
- If you don't think you'll be able to fit everything you want to say in a card, use note paper, lined paper or some smart/Pretty stationery. This way you can add extra sheets.
4
Decide if you're going to type or write the letter. Handwriting a letter can make it more personal, but you have to practice good handwriting so your letter is legible. If you like to write in cursive, ensure that your friend can easily read it. It's also fine if you prefer to type up the letter on a computer.

Tip: If you're writing a letter to an elderly friend, you may want to type it so you can print it in a larger, easier to read font.
5
Choose a casual salutation. Since you're writing to a friend, keep the salutation casual. You can address the person by name or call them an endearing term. The salutation can also be happy or excited. For example, use:^{[3]
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- Hello, Joanne!
- Hi, Jo
- Dear Joanne
- Dearest Jo

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Writing the Body of the Letter

1
Acknowledge your reader. Once you've written the salutation, write a line or two greeting your friend before you launch into the body of the letter. Think of this as the beginning of the conversation that you and your friend are having. For example, a few simple starts to a friendly letter could be:^{[4]
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- "I hope this letter finds you well."
- "Thank you for your last letter."
- "I know it's been a while since I've written to you."
- "There's so much I need to share with you!"
2
Start writing the main point of the letter. Fill your friend in on any information or details you want to share. For example, describe a recent trip you took or explain how your daily life has been recently. Although you can write about different things, always put them into new paragraphs, so the letter is easy to follow.
- For example, you might write 2 to 3 paragraphs about a trip you took over spring break. Then write af paragraph about what you've been doing since then.
- If you're unsure of what you can write about, keep it simple. For example, tell your friend about a movie you've seen or a book you've been reading.
3
Turn the discussion to your friend. Once you’ve written about what's new with you, how you've been feeling, or things you want your friend to know, respond to things your friend wrote about in their last letter. This ensures that the letter is a conversation.
- If your friend hasn't written for a while, acknowledge that you haven't heard from them lately and you're wondering how they're doing.
- For example, you might write, "Last time you wrote, you said you'd been feeling poorly. Have you gone to the doctor or are you feeling better?"
Tip: You can also comment on things your friend wrote to you about. For example, say, "I can't believe you're graduating soon. I think you should accept that job offer, so you can move near me!"
4
Ask questions to encourage dialogue. Once you've given new information, introduce new directions for the conversation to continue. This is especially important if you'd like your friend's advice about something.
- For example, say something like, "Now that you know what's been going on, how do you think I should handle my family coming into town?"
- If you're unsure what to ask, you can keep it generic. For example, write, "What's been happening lately with you? Is there anything new to report?"
5
Keep a conversational tone throughout the letter. Use your own writing style and voice when you're writing. If you like, you can use slang, include inside jokes, and make references to people that you both know.^{[5]
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- The tone of the letter should match what you're writing about. So if you're writing about a fun holiday you took, keep the writing happy. However, if you're writing a letter of condolence, be supportive and more serious.
Tip: To tell if you’re using your conversational voice, try reading your letter out loud before finalizing it. If anything sounds weird as you say it out loud, change it.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Finishing the Letter

1
Draw your letter to a close. Once you've included all the information you'd like to share and communicated with your friend about their life, you can finish the letter. Write a few sentences that reference your friendship and future correspondence.
- For example, if you've been away, finish with, "It’s been a lot of fun, but it’d be even more fun if you were here. I’m looking forward to seeing you once I get home!”
- If you and your friend have been having a disagreement, write something like, “I know we’re in a tough patch now, but I want you to know that I'm grateful we’re working through this.”
2
Sign-off to close the letter. Choose a friendly sign-off followed by a comma. Then sign or type your name below the sign-off. For the most personal closing, write your signature instead of printing or typing it. Consider using any of these sign-offs:^{[6]
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- Yours truly,
- With love,
- Hugs and kisses,
- Fondly,
- Take care,
- Cheers,
3
Proofread your letter. Once you finish your letter, take a little break and then read through it, looking for grammatical or spelling errors. If you’re short on time, you might start by typing the letter out into a text document and then running a spellcheck on it.^{[7]
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- You’ll also want to check your letter to ensure that everything you say makes sense. Remember that your tone of voice can be difficult to translate via writing, so be careful that what you say is clear and won't be misinterpreted.
4
Write your address and your friend’s address on the envelope. List your friend's first and last name in the center of the envelope. Write their house number and street address on the line below it. Then write the city, state, and zip code on the line under it. Include all of your information in the same format in the upper left corner.^{[8]
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- If your friend is living in another country, be sure to include the name of the country in the address.
- You don't need to use a formal prefix like "Mr." or "Mrs." on an informal letter, but you can if you'd like.
5
Put the proper postage on the envelope and mail it. Check how much postage is required in your country to mail a letter. Place the postage on the envelope's upper right corner. Lick or tape the envelope shut and drop the letter at the post office.^{[9]
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- You may be able to leave the letter in your mail box. This usually means that you'll need to raise the small red flag on the side of the box to alert the mail carrier that there's a letter to pick up.
- If you’re including anything else in the letter or it’s extra thick, go to the post office and have it weighed before sending it.
Tip: To find out how much it costs to send letters within your country, do a search online for “postage cost [country name] letter.”

Community Q&A

Question

Will it be quicker if the friend lives 5 minutes away from me?

Community Answer

The letter will still have to go to the local post office to be sorted and placed on the proper delivery route, but it will get there more quickly than if the friend lived in another city.
Question

What if my friend doesn't love me?

Community Answer

It is not necessary for everyone to be in love with everyone. In fact, we should accept the fact that someone does not like us and try to know the reason.
Question

What do I do if my best friend is sad, but the person that made her sad is my other best friend?

Community Answer

Try not to pick a side, but you can still comfort your sad friend. If your other friend did something really mean, you might ask her to apologize for it. Otherwise, you should let them work it out for themselves.