How to Write a Letter to the Editor

Traditionally, a Letter to the Editor starts with a salutation like 'Dear Editor', 'Dear Sir', or 'Dear Sir/Madam'. These days, it has become more common to write the letter as you would like to see it in print. It is therefore quite common to start the letter with a title.

If you want to be taken seriously, you should not attack people in your letter. Most editors will not print an abusive letter. You should comment on an issue, not a person.

Use relevant facts and express yourself clearly and to the point. Avoid bragging about yourself; this will come across as arrogant, and people will be less likely to listen to what you have to say.

There is no fixed structure for a Letter to the Editor. It may be long or short, balanced or one-sided, angry or humorous. It is common to use formal and polite language. It is OK to use irony, sarcasm, and hyperbole. Remember that the reader will consider how you express yourself, not only what you actually say.

While a Letter to the Editor can be about any topic, it will usually discuss a local or national issue that affects a lot of people. You will often feel compelled to write because the topic has touched you emotionally; it will have made you happy, annoyed, angry, or sad.

Always sign your name. An editor will sometimes allow a letter to be published anonymously if it sheds light on an important issue and if there is good reason to think that the letter-writer may be punished for sharing their information. In these cases, the editor will always know the identity of the letter writer. A reputable paper will not publish a letter from an unknown source.

Letters to the Editor are written by ordinary people. Therefore, they are important indicators of what people are concerned about and a valuable method for people to voice their opinions. In a democracy, everyone should have the opportunity to be heard.

Below, you can watch a short film about the genre Letter to the Editor.