What are the characteristics of a personal letter?

A personal letter is typically comprised of a date, a salutation usually beginning with "Dear" followed by the recipient's name, an introduction, body, conclusion, a complimentary close using phrases such as "Yours sincerely," or "Love," followed finally by the writer's signature. The tone of a personal letter is informal.

The general language style of a personal letter is usually casual and friendly, with the introduction typically including informal greetings such as "How are you?" along with references to previous correspondence with the recipient. The body is where the writer relates the main content of the letter, followed by the conclusion where they typically ask for a response.