Letter Writing Tips

Resources - Letter Writing Tips

Here are a few simple letter-writing tips (adopted from Amnesty International).

1. Always be polite and respectful. This is essential and invariable. Your aim is to help stop the SDO, not to vent your own feelings. Government leaders don't respond well to abusive or condemnatory letters (however well deserved).
2. Always write on the basis that the recipient is open to reason and discussion.
3. Never use political jargon. Don't give the impression that you are writing because you are ideologically or politically opposed to or supportive of the government. It is far more effective to stress that your concern is not politically biased in any way.
4. Stick to two or three points, and make them well.
5. Be brief. Long letters are less likely to be read. Only in exceptional cases are long letters effective.