Make a request, complaint or application to someone you do not know, and make it easy to say yes to.
Writing for: An official you have never met. They are busy and will skim for what you want.
Register: Formal
Length: Usually 200–350 words. Check your paper's stated range.
Audience: An official you have never met
Sender's address
Top right, no name above it, no punctuation at line ends.
Date
Below the sender's address, written in full.
14 March 2026
Recipient's address
Left-aligned, below the date.
Salutation
'Dear Sir or Madam' if unnamed; 'Dear Mr Okafor' if named. Never 'Dear Sir/Madam,' with a slash.
Opening paragraph
State why you are writing in the first sentence. No preamble.
I am writing to apply for the position of volunteer coordinator advertised in the March newsletter.
Body
One paragraph per point, strongest first. Evidence over assertion.
Closing paragraph
State what you want to happen next and by when.
I would be grateful if you could confirm arrangements before the end of term.
Sign-off
'Yours faithfully' when you opened with Sir or Madam; 'Yours sincerely' when you used a name. This pairing is a mark.
Content
Language
Word counts, paper numbers and mark allocations are set by the syllabus for your session and change between series. Always check your current syllabus and your teacher's guidance before relying on a length or a mark split given here.
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