What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
letter
Example
I received a letter from my friend who lives in another country. [letter: noun]
Example
She wrote a letter of complaint to the company. [letter: noun]
Example
He is going to letter his boss about the new project. [letter: verb]
correspondence
Example
The correspondence between the two leaders was leaked to the press. [correspondence: noun]
Example
She handles all the correspondence for the company. [correspondence: noun]
Example
They corresponded regularly for years before finally meeting in person. [corresponded: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Letter is more commonly used than correspondence in everyday language. Letter is a versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts, while correspondence is more specific and formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between letter and correspondence?
Correspondence is typically associated with a formal and official tone, while letter can be used in both formal and informal contexts, allowing it to be more versatile in terms of formality level.
