Formal letter of complaint

Tick all the correct options: Your letter of complaint should

• be formal

• consist of multiple paragraphs

• include "your" address and the address of the recipient

• not contain any salutations

How do you ensure that your letter is formal? Multiple options may be correct.

• Use formal language

• Use contracted forms ("I´m" instead of "I am")

• use a proper formal opening/closing formula

• It should be informal

Choose 2 correct answers: The address of the recipient is ...............

• on the left side

• on the right side

• below your address

• above your address

Your address is at the top of the page on the (a)   side (write either LEFT or RIGHT)

The date should be

• below your address (right side)

• above the address of the recipient (left side)

• above "Dear Sir...."

• at the end of the letter

Which opening salutations are formal enough for a formal letter of complaint? Pick them all to get the point.

• Hello,

• Dear Sir or Madam,

• Dear Jones

• To whom it may concern,

Select 2 formal closing formulas/salutations

• Bye,

• Best,

• Yours sincerely,

• Kind regards,

Which one is correct in a formal letter?

• Yours sincerely = if you know the name of the person

• Yours faithfully = only if you know the name of the person

• Kind regards = only if you do not know the name of the person

• Bye = always acceptable

• See ya!

Answer explanation

Kind regards = always acceptable / Yours sincerely = only if you know the name / Yours faithfully = only if you do not know the name.

My suggestion: Use "Kind regards,", "Yours truly," or "Respectfully yours" as these are always correct.

Except for "Kind regards", which closing salutations are also acceptable?

• Best regards/wishes

• Yours truly

• Thanks.

• See you later

When you are writing a letter of complaint, you are seeking compensation. Where would you usually put it?

• very beginning of the letter

• towards the end (last body paragraph)

• always in the middle

• I do not include it