What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
letters
Example
I received a letter from my friend who lives in another country. [letter: noun]
Example
She carefully wrote each letter of her name on the paper. [letter: noun]
Example
He enjoys writing letters to his grandparents every week. [letters: verb]
epistle
Example
The book contains a collection of Paul's epistles to various churches. [epistles: noun]
Example
The politician wrote an epistle to his constituents outlining his plans for the future. [epistle: noun]
Example
She penned an epistle to her former teacher expressing her gratitude for the impact he had on her life. [epistle: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Letter is more commonly used than epistle in everyday language. Letter is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while epistle is less common and has a more specific and formal connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between letters and epistle?
Epistle is a more formal and literary term that is often associated with religious or philosophical content. Letter, on the other hand, is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
