Writing Letters: The Letter Format In This Article: Whether
you're writing a thank-you letter or an apology letter (or even
a Dear John letter), here are a few do's and don'ts, tips, and
samples to help you along the way. Live and Learn If you thanked
the giver at the time the gift was presented to you, it may not
be necessary to write a thank-you note. For example, when your
sister who lives a block away gives you a gift in person, you
need not send a note (although it's nice to do so). When your
Aunt Tillie, visiting from across the country, presents you with
a hand-knit sweater, you should acknowledge all her efforts with
some extra effort of your own. These notes can be boring—boring
to write, boring to read: “Thank you for the present. It was
nice of you to think of me.” To avoid this sort of letter, you
can follow my foolproof, three-step formula: - Be sure to thank
the person for the specific gift and mention the gift by name. -
Acknowledge the effort and energy the giver put into selecting,
purchasing