How to Write a letter to the Editor for Class 10, 12 English Syllabus
Why do people write Letters to the Editor?
Lots of people write letters to editors of newspapers, magazines and journals, both printed and electronic, to:
- express their opinions on a problem, issue or event that has implications for the general public
- draw the attention of the general public and concerned government officials/departments to the problem, issue or event
- respond to an article or a news item-praise it, criticize it or point out errors in it
- give information on some subject, issue or development
- clarify something or to set the record straight on a public matter
Just remember the Editor you are writing to may not be in a position to solve the matter for you, but he/she can certainly provide you a public platform to express your views on an issue.
How to Write a Letter to the Editor?
Keep the following tips in mind when writing a letter to an editor:
- Be sure you are familiar with the topic you want to write about. Stay focused on it.
- Be polite and formal in your tone.
- Start by introducing yourself and describing the purpose of writing. For example: to comment on a recent news item, event or incident.
- Briefly describe the news item and date of its publication.
- Give your comments or feedback on it.
- If you are writing about a problem in your area, briefly give its details and seek or suggest a solution.
- Write in a simple, concise and straightforward style. Avoid wordiness.
- Provide evidence in support of your views – include necessary references, data, statistics or survey results.
- Relate a personal story or experience to make a larger point.
- Conclude with a hope or an appeal, or a warning or a suggestion, as required.
- Stick to the word limit.
- Proofread your letter & check it for accuracy of vocabulary, grammar and paragraphing before you send it.
Formal Letter Writing Format
(Letter to the Editor)
PARTS OF A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
HEADING:
Sender’s Address is written here. Write the house numbers first, followed by the street, town & pin code. (if you know it). It includes the sender’s address at the top left hand corner of the letter depending on the layout you are choosing. Beside the house office number, name of the building. name of the street, and name of the village, town or city where it is located, the sender’s address may also include the sender’s email address and phone number.
DATE:
It appears just below the address, after leaving some space. Always write the full date:
9th May 2017 (British) May 9, 2017 (American) Avoid using “9/5/2017” (x)
RECEIVING EDITOR’S ADDRESS:
Address your letter to the editor as shown below:
The Editor
(Complete name of the newspaper)
(Complete address of the newspaper)
SALUTATION:
You can address a letter to the editor in the following ways:
Dear Editor/Sir/Madam
This salutation is placed just below the receiver’s address.
SUBJECT:
State the topic on which you are writing in a simple, straightforward and concise manner. Underline and highlight it to make it stand out. The subject can be placed either below or above the salutation.
BODY:
It forms the very soul of your letter to an editor. It contains the message that you want to convey. You may like to divide the body into several paragraphs as required but usually three are more than sufficient. In the first one briefly introduce yourself and state the purpose of your writing, in the second give details of your topic and in the third draw a conclusion or make an appeal or sound a warning or draw the attention of a third party. Sometimes you may need a fourth paragraph to summarize your ideas and/or to make a request for publishing your letter in the paper/magazine.
Para 1:
Who you are and why you are writing.
Para 2/3:
Details of the problem/topic/issue.
Para 4:
What you would like the reader to do.
Your hope, appeal, warning, conclusion, comment
CLOSING:
It is a polite way of ending the letter. The expression used must match the salutation.
Sign off your letter in one of the following ways:
Sincerely / Yours Truly / Yours truly
Remember: The word ‘yours’ never takes an apostrophe.
Yours (correct)
Your’s (x)
Yours’ (x)
SENDERS NAME AND SIGNATURE
Write or type it just below the ‘complimentary close’ and include your signature, name and designation.
21 Gandhi Nagar
Jammu
27 August 2020
The Editor
Tribune Star
New Delhi
Dear Sir/Madam
Subject: Alarming Increase in the cases of Drug Abuse among Sportspersons
I am a regular reader of your magazine and I am writing to express my concern at the alarming increase in the cases of drug abuse among the country’s sportspersons.
The recent case of Indian weight Lifters and wrestlers testing positive for banned substances came as a rude shock to the nation. Although abuse of performance enhancing drugs is nothing new in the world of sports, the fact that many Indian Sports stars have been caught unaware is very shameful, to say the least.
Often athletes and sportspersons know that they are using banned substances, but they pretend to be ignorant about those substances being banned, although WADA and NADA, the agencies that monitor drug abuse by athletes at the international and national level respectively keep informing and warning athletes against the use of such substances.
But the greed for medals is perhaps too much to resist sometimes. Unfortunately many times it is coaches and doctors who initiate athletes into substance abuse. This is indeed very alarming and contrary to the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.
I laud the Indian Wrestling Association decision to ban the indicted athletes from future competitions. I believe government and sports associations in the country must take harsh steps to nip the evil in the bud. Life ban for athletes and sportspersons indulging in substance abuse should act as a good deterrent for the current and potential abusers.
Thank you
Yours truly
Deepika Grover
