Writing a Friendly Letter

What is a friendly letter?

A friendly letter is a message you write to someone you know, like a friend, a grandparent or a cousin. It is a lovely way to share news, say thank you, or just keep in touch. Even with phones around, a handwritten letter is a special gift to receive.

A friendly letter has five main parts. Once you know them, you can write a letter to anyone.

The five parts of a letter

1. The date Write the date in the top corner so the reader knows when you wrote it.

30th May 2026

2. The greeting Say hello with the word Dear and the person's name. Put a comma after it.

Dear Grandma,

3. The body This is the main part where you share your news. Ask how they are, tell them what you have been doing, and ask questions. Write it in tidy paragraphs.

How are you? I had a great week. On Saturday I learned to ride my bike without stabilisers!

4. The closing Say goodbye nicely with a friendly word, followed by a comma.

Love,

Other closings include From, Your friend, and Best wishes,.

5. The signature Sign your name underneath so they know who it is from.

Maya

Put it all together

Here is a short letter with all five parts:

30th May 2026 Dear Grandma, How are you? I had a great week. I learned to ride my bike! I hope you can visit soon so I can show you. Love, Maya

Tips for a great letter

• Be polite and kind — write as if you are talking to them.
• Ask questions so they have something to reply to.
• Check your capital letters and full stops before you send it.
• Read it aloud to catch any mistakes.

Try it yourself

Write a short letter to someone you love. Did you remember all five parts? Tick them off: date, greeting, body, closing, signature.

Before posting, give your letter a quick check using editing and proofreading your work. And remember to start every sentence neatly with capital letters and full stops.