When and Why do people write letters?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>After a few years break, I will be teaching a university EFL writing course starting in April. In the past, one topic I covered was business and “friendly” letters–including proper layout and addresses-- but thinking it over, I’m wondering how often people write real letters these days–the kind with stamps and envelopes.</p>

<p>I’d appreciate hearing from you what sorts of letters you think a contemporary 20 year old might need to be able to write --if learning English as a foreign language at the advanced level.</p>

2

<p>Thank you notes. Birthday cards. Get well cards. <em>Christmas letters</em>. Letters to people who don’t use computers . . .</p>

3

<p>I think mstee has it about right. Beginning in the late 90’s, email communications rapidly altered the business world. I am sure I receive or send several thousand emails for every letter I write. The very few letters I write are usually of legal or regulatory significance. On very rare occasions I write a letter because I do not have an email address and cannot reach someone by phone. Most of the letters I receive are mass mailings for advertising or announcements.</p>

<p>Letter formatting is also a concern of the past. As soon as you go to write a letter and type “dear”, microsoft word asks if you want help with formatting.</p>

4

<p>Pyewacket, we are obsessive letter writers. It started when my daughter was very small, and growing up in a single parent home with no living relatives, I taught her to write to people who interacted with her who were kind or influential in some positive way - my intention was to build a strong, supportive network of mentors etc. around her. I had rules - she couldn’t play with the new toy or eat the candy or whatever until the thank you note was in the mail, and, that morphed into as she grew up, she began writing to people who mentored her or assisted her in some way.</p>

<p>Today, she and her best friend since kindergarten have been writing letters back and forth all through their four years of college (in spite of email and IM); she writes TONS of thank you notes and letters (for gifts, excellent service, someone who may have helped her with something), also letters of congratulations, referrals to other people for positions or activities, etc. </p>

<p>We have an entire third of a room dedicated to workspace for writing and it has every variety of stationery you can imagine, and I’d guess we each send something like ten letters a week for social purposes. </p>

<p>In business, I write letters of congratulations, thanks, updates, business projections, etc. daily. It’s astonishing to me how my email communications can be given average consideration, but, if I write a traditional letter to an executive (client) - that letter will be examined very carefully, copied, distributed; I’ll get calls and questions about what I wrote; people will come up to me at some function months later about a letter I sent. </p>

<p>Of course, we’re really careful what we write - we have a supply of style manuals, etc. - these are mostly for me though so that I do not write something stupid. </p>

<p>At the end of the day, everyone loves getting mail - the kind that is personal in nature and a welcome surprise in the pile of bills, publications, junk, etc. I think this is especially true as email becomes so commonplace and even a personal email feels like it has a “work” association. </p>

<p>One very serious rule though, and I’m sure you’re already planning to cover it - never, ever write anything in any context that might be embarassing if it resurfaces 25 years later…</p>

5

<p>

This is a good list. I would add legal and formal business letters (say, writing to an organization pledging a certain significant amount of money), sympathy cards and invitations, and I think you have the main ones.</p>

6

<p>People still like to see letters from their lawyers. I can’t speak to other businesses.</p>

7

<p>When I write letters of recommendation, I write real letters.</p>

<p>Also, any confidential business should be through real mail; email is not considered to be secure. For instance, the college i work at, and I think this is the norm, does not send email about academic probation or other sensitive subjects.</p>

8

<p>Both my kids this year had to ask me how to write an official letter. “Where does the date go again?” Ack! One was writing a letter to camp to ask them to send him the forms for applying for a summer job. The other was writing thank you letter attached to self addressed stamped envelopes for one of the guys who was going to be writing college recommendation letters. I write quite a few letters in my job. I write letters to my Mom. (Though sometimes we e-mail.) I write letters to the school about various things.</p>

9

<p>Condolences, especially those with memories included. I received more letters of condolence when my parents died than cards. They were respected in their community and many people took time out to share stories.</p>

<p>And of course letters of recommendation.</p>

10

<p>LOVE LETTERS!! Paper & stamps are essential for love letters!</p>

<p>Recently I have made a concerted effort to write long letters to my closest old friends who live far away. It is so much nicer than email. People appreciate it so much.</p>

<p>I was quite a good correspondent when I was college age. I have a huge box of letters people wrote to me. I recently looked through it. It was so great to have that history-- the friendships, the news, the gossip, etc-- on paper.</p>

11

<p>Letters are also required for any note that deserves an authentic signature.</p>

12

<p>While there are certainly many “official” letters, it is also important to understand how to write an effective email. Possibly more important.</p>

<p>Email is actually harder to write WELL than a letter. It needs to be short, have a good subject line that’s also accurate, and should be spelled correctly and be grammatically correct. I would suggest that a good business writing course should address email as well as snail mail, and also address when one kind is better than the other.</p>

<p>For example: a thank you note (snail mail) for an interview but an email reply when you receive an email from the interviewer asking for additional information.</p>

13

<p>dmd77, I agree. Emails tend to be poorly written. Emails at work need to be well written. Some people also seem to forget these should be considered permanent records. Emails are often forwarded and circulated and great care must be taken to avoid unpleasant consequences.</p>

14

<p>I moved to this country more than a decade ago and I had a hard beginning with no friends or family around, so I dedicated most of those first months writing letters. I kept the record of everything I sent and everything I received, and it counted 1038 letters going, 379 coming the first year, the second year was: 722 going, 201 coming, and the third: 228 going, 96 coming, and I stopped counting letters after that, I was already adapted to my new life.
I still write letters but just occasionally. I write to my children telling then my own stories when I was their age and giving then advices for their future, sometimes, I received something very nice back that says how much my letter was appreciated.
I love letters; you put your soul in them.</p>

15

<p>I really appreciate all your responses. It doesn’t surprise me that those of us born in the 50s, 60s and even 70s still write letters, but I’d like to hear more about what your kids do and what your experience at work has been with younger colleagues.</p>

16

<p>Does anybody ever write cover letters with resumes anymore?</p>

17

<p>Both of my kids write thank you notes and mail them, and my daughter sends birthday cards to her friends and relatives. My son (18) calls people on their birthday, instead, but will buy a card if he plans to see the person.
The cell phone and email seem to have replaced pesonal letters in their world. Too bad, I think. I love getting personal mail, and still write to relatives and friends, send photos, etc.</p>

<p>My son has sent resumes through email, including the cover letter.
It seems to be what they ask for.</p>

18

<p>The “kids” that I work with (22 & 23) are pretty adept at business letter writing, but they’re also well educated.</p>

<p>I have a feeling that “traditional” letter writing (like cursive) is going by the wayside.</p>

<p>A form of evolution?</p>