DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, BOPAL, AHMEDABAD

CLASS XII (2022-23)

ENGLISH NOTES
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Want to make your voice heard? Do you feel strongly about something?
Are you always driven by that desire to change the world?
Why not express your views through a letter?

Most newspapers publish letters written by their readers. When you write a letter to the
editor of a widely circulated newspaper, you are actually reaching out to a much larger
audience. If your letter to the editor gets published, it will be read by millions of people.

The subject matter of letters to the editor varies widely. However, the most common topics
include:

 Supporting or opposing a stance taken by the publication in its editorial, or responding

to another writer's letter to the editor.
 Commenting on a current issue being debated by a governing body – local, regional
or national depending on the publication's circulation. Often, the writer will urge
elected officials to make their decision based on his/her viewpoint.
 Remarking on materials (such as a news story) that have appeared in a previous
edition. Such letters may either be critical or praising.
 Correcting a perceived error or misrepresentation.

Students need to write the letter to the editor as per the format provided
below:
1. Sender’s address: First you need to write the address and contact details of the
sender.
2. Date: Now, below the sender’s address, leave a space or line and then write the date.
3. Receiving Editor’s address: Here you need to write the recipient of the mail i.e. the
editor.
4. Salutation: For formal letter, the salutation to be used is Sir / Respected sir / Madam
5. Subject of the letter: Write the main purpose of the letter in one line. It must convey
the matter for which you are writing the letter for.
6. Body: Write the matter of the letter here. You can divide it into 3 paragraphs.
 First para of the body: Introduce yourself and explain the purpose of
writing the letter in brief.
 Second para of the body: Give a complete detail of the matter.
 Third para of the body: Conclude by mentioning what you expect to be
done. For example, you may want him to highlight the issue in his
newspaper / magazine.

7. Complimentary Closing: You can conclude the letter using Thanks / Thank You

8. Sender’s name and designation

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Here are a few helpful tips

 Keep your letter under 120-150 words.

 Make sure your most important points are stated in the first paragraph..
 Refer to a recent event in your community or to a recent article – make a connection
and make it relevant.
 Use local statistics and personal stories to better illustrate your point
 Begin with…….. Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper…….

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Mark Distribution:
Format - 1 mark
Expression - 2 marks
Content - 2 marks

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Note: Formal letter must be written fully in block format as per CBSE curriculum.
Remember the following points about block format:

● Each block begins with the margin on left hand side.

● A line should be left between different sections and paragraphs.
● Omit punctuation marks in address and date.

Format

Sender’s address

Date-expanded notation

Addressee’s address

Sir/Ma’am

Subject: ………………………………………………………………………

Body of the letter

First paragraph

The first paragraph should be short and state the purpose of the letter- to express your
opinion about a topic, to show your agreement or disagreement, to discuss a problem and
suggest solutions

Here are some options for starting your letter:

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw your attention
towards……..
I am writing in connection with…
I am writing about the recent article published in your newspaper regarding……
I am writing to express my approval/disapproval/support for….

Second Paragraph
The paragraph or paragraphs (in the middle of the letter to the editor) should contain the
relevant information behind the purpose of writing of the letter. Keep the information to the
essentials and concentrate on organizing it in a clear and logical manner.

Problems
Consequences
Suggestions
Results

Last Paragraph
Conclude by mentioning what you expect to be done by the editor. For example, you may
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 want him to highlight the issue in the newspaper / magazine. Do not ask the editor to take
action in context of the issue discussed. Here are some expressions you can use to end any
letter to the editor.

I request you to publish my letter in your newspaper to draw the attention of the readers and
the concerned authorities/Government/Council/Municipal Authorities etc.

I would be grateful if you could publish my letter …

Yours faithfully / sincerely

Name

SAMPLE QUESTION

Write a letter to the editor of The Deccan Herald expressing your views against the
insensitive use of loudspeakers. Give suggestions to mitigate this problem. You are Samantha
Sen, a resident of 207-A, Whitefield, Bengaluru.

207-A, Whitefield
Bengaluru

10 July 2020

The Editor
The Deccan Herald
Fraser Town
Bengaluru

Sir/Ma’am

Subject: Nuisance due to loudspeakers

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw your attention
towards the excessive and insensitive use of loudspeakers. This is a nuisance that is plaguing
the residents of my locality.

Loudspeakers have become an integral part of all celebrations. People seem to believe that
private celebrations like birthday parties and weddings would be incomplete without blaring
loudspeakers. Noise pollution is one of the problems city dwellers have to contend with. The
excessive use of loudspeakers makes it even worse. The use of loudspeakers and the music
that accompanies them is one of the biggest causes of neighbourhood disputes.

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The constant onslaught of such high degree of noise has been polluting the ecosystem in our
locality. Furthermore, the sick, the elderly, the infants and the students are severely disturbed
when people indiscriminately play amplified music through DJ systems and loudspeakers. It
is unlawful for any person to use, or allow use of a sound system which generates any noise
which annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of
persons in or beyond the vicinity.

On behalf of the troubled residents of Whitefield area, I would like to suggest some measures
to mitigate this nuisance. Loudspeakers should only be used after obtaining permission from
the District Magistrate or Police Commissioner. A toll-free number shall be provided to the
citizens in order to make the complaints in relation to noise pollution. Authority concerned
should take action against offender in terms of Rule 7 of Rules, 2000.

It is my earnest request to publish my letter in your newspaper to draw the attention of the
law enforcement authorities of our locality.

Yours sincerely

Samantha Sen

Practice Questions:

Question 1:

West Bengal was pounded by Amphan on 20 May 2020. There was massive loss of life and
damage to property. Cyclone Amphan felled more than 6,000 trees in the city of Kolkata.
Write a letter to the editor of The Statesman highlighting the need to replant similar trees.

Question 2:

Senior citizens must continue to take precautions against COVID even after restrictions are
lifted. According to the global census, 70% of those affected are above 60 years of age. Write
a letter to the editor of The Hindu highlighting the need for the elderly to be careful as their
immunological response will be lower.

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