ADJ

lengthy, long
brief, short
ten-page, etc.
rambling
countless, endless, numerous
She received countless letters of support while in jail
occasional
Apart from the occasional letter, they had not been in touch for years
incoming
The porter distributes incoming letters to the offices
urgent
airmail
handwritten
anonymous
formal, official
business
personal
confidential, private
open, public
The editor published an open letter to the prime minister
circular
chain
form, standard
specimen
accompanying, covering, explanatory
The conditions are explained in the accompanying letter. Send your CV with a covering letter
thank-you
I wrote my uncle a thank-you letter as soon as I opened the present
congratulatory
warning
rejection
I've had job interviews and received ten rejection letters. |
resignation
suicide
fan
love
affectionate, intimate
charming, delightful
chatty, cheerful, friendly
heartfelt, impassioned
She wrote an impassioned letter to her local newspaper to complain about the new road
courteous, polite
apologetic
angry, rude, strong, strongly-worded, threatening
indignant
critical
frank
poison pen
He had been sending poison pen letters to his neighbours, hoping to make them move away

VERB + LETTER

draft, write
drafting an angry letter to the newspaper
read
get, have, receive
I haven't had a letter from her for ages
post, send
fax
deliver
forward
The letter was forwarded from my old address
register
seal
open
acknowledge, answer, reply to, respond to
I was angry that they didn't even acknowledge my letter
address
The letter was addressed to me
sign
publish
The newspaper refused to publish the letter

LETTER + VERB

arrive, come, reach sb
I hope my last letter has reached you
be dated …
The letter is dated 7 July
cross
Our letters crossed in the post
be lost, go astray
announce sth, ask (sb) sth, begin, start (off)
The letter started off by thanking us for our offer
continue, go on
His letter wen
conclude, end
The letter concluded with a threat of possible legal action
contain sth
The letter contained information that only the killer could know
enclose sth
The charity received an anonymous letter enclosing a large cheque
appear
A letter headed 'Advertising Mania' appeared in the paper

LETTER + NOUN

writing
box
The postman put a bundle of letters through the letter box
bomb

PREP

by ~
Please reply by letter
in a/the ~
In your letter of 5 June …
~ about/ concerning/regarding, ~ from, ~ of
a letter of application/apology
~ to
a letter to the editor

ADJ

big, large
block, capital, upper-case
Fill in the form in block letters
lower-case, small
bold
initial
The company's name is made from the initial letters of his children's names
double
Words with double letters, such as 'accommodation' , are commonly misspelt
silent
words such as 'debt' and 'half' , which contain silent letters

PREP

in … ~s
His name was written in large white letters over the doorway

PHRASES

the letters of the alphabet