Letters of Application & Letters to the Editor

Letters of Application & Letters to the Editor

Two common formal letters, each with a clear audience and purpose.

Letter of Application — written to apply for a job, internship, or position, usually in response to an advertisement. It must be formal, confident, and to the point, and is often accompanied by a brief bio-data/résumé.

Letter to the Editor — written to a newspaper to raise a public concern (a civic problem, a social issue, a suggestion) so that it reaches the authorities and the public. It is formal, reasoned, and solution-oriented.

Exact format expected. Both follow the block format: sender's address → date → receiver (The HR Manager / The Editor, with the paper's name and city) → subject → salutation ("Dear Sir/Madam,") → body → "Yours faithfully," → signature, name.

• Application body: (a) reference to the advertisement and post applied for; (b) your qualifications, skills, and relevant experience; (c) a polite request for consideration and mention of an enclosed bio-data.
• Editor body: (a) state the problem and where you noticed it; (b) explain its causes/effects with concrete detail; (c) suggest remedies and appeal to the authorities. Writers often add "Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw attention to...".

CBSE marking scheme (typically 5 marks). Roughly: Format – about 1 mark; Content (relevant, complete, well-ordered) – about 2 marks; Expression (tone, grammar, coherence) – about 2 marks.

Model example (Letter to the Editor).

12, Lake View Road

Bengaluru - 560001

14 August 2026

The Editor

The City Herald

Bengaluru

Subject: Unsafe and broken footpaths in our locality

Dear Sir/Madam,

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the municipal authorities to the dangerous state of footpaths in the Lake View area. Several slabs are broken or missing, and pedestrians — especially the elderly and schoolchildren — are forced onto the busy road.

Repeated complaints to the local office have gone unheard. I urge the authorities to repair these footpaths and ensure regular inspection before a serious accident occurs.

Thank you for giving this issue space in your paper.

Yours faithfully,

Ananya Rao …