In years gone by, before the age of the telegraph or telephone, letter writing was the main means of communication for most people. Since then we have developed faster and more direct ways of contacting people, and personal mail has become relatively rare.
It is true that in many cases where our parents would have written a letter, we prefer to pick up the phone, to email or even to text instead. These are perfectly suitable ways of inviting friends to call round or exchanging news with a family member, for example, and they have the advantage that the communication is immediate and we can receive a reply very quickly. In business, too, fax and email are extremely useful.
However, in my opinion there are times when there is no alternative to a letter. Letters are generally more formal and carefully composed than emails. This makes them more suitable for occasions when they are likely to be kept and re-read, perhaps several times, by the recipient, as with formal letters of thanks or sympathy. In addition, letters provide a written record, unlike telephone calls, so they are also a better way of setting out an important or complex argument, as in official complaints or legal matters.
In conclusion, I would definitely agree that there are fewer times when we need to write letters than in the past. On the other hand, I feel there are still some important occasions when a letter is the most appropriate form of communication.
In years gone by,
before
the age of the telegraph or telephone,
letter
writing was the main means of communication for most
people
. Since
then we
have developed faster and more direct ways of contacting
people
, and personal mail has become
relatively
rare.
It is true that in
many
cases where our parents would have written a
letter
, we prefer to pick up the phone, to email or even to text
instead
. These are
perfectly
suitable ways of inviting friends to call round or exchanging news with a family member,
for example
, and they have the advantage that the communication is
immediate and
we can receive a reply
very
quickly
. In business, too, fax and email are
extremely
useful.
However
, in my opinion there are times when there is no alternative to a
letter
.
Letters
are
generally
more formal and
carefully
composed than emails. This
makes
them more suitable for occasions when they are likely to be
kept
and re-read, perhaps several times, by the recipient, as with formal
letters
of thanks or sympathy.
In addition
,
letters
provide a written record, unlike telephone calls,
so
they are
also
a better way of setting out an
important
or complex argument, as in official complaints or legal matters.
In conclusion
, I would definitely
agree
that there are fewer times when we need to write
letters
than in the past.
On the other hand
, I feel there are
still
some
important
occasions when a
letter
is the most appropriate form of communication.