Collocations with LETTER

• Are you unsure whether to say “big letter” or “capital letter”?
• Do you know which verbs naturally pair with “cover letter” in a job application?
• Have you ever wondered if you “make,” “do,” or “write” a letter?

Mastering collocations—words that naturally hang out together—is the fastest way to move from sounding like a student to sounding like a fluent English speaker. In this guide, we will explore the essential collocations for “letter” so you can communicate clearly in both professional and casual settings.

Essential Collocations using LETTER as a Noun

Common Verbs Used with Letters

In English, we don’t just “do” letters. We use specific action words depending on the stage of the communication.

• Write a letter: The act of creating the content. (e.g., “I need to write a letter of complaint to the manager.”)
• Send/Post/Mail a letter: The act of dispatching it. (e.g., “Don’t forget to post the letter on your way to work.”)
• Receive/Get a letter: When the communication arrives. (e.g., “I received a letter from the bank this morning.”)
• Sign a letter: Adding your name at the bottom. (e.g., “Please read the document before you sign the letter.”)
• Open a letter: Breaking the seal of the envelope. (e.g., “He hesitantly opened the letter from the university.”)

Types of Correspondence (Adjective + Noun)

Different situations require different types of letters. These are the most common compound nouns used in 2024.

• Cover letter: The document sent with a CV/Resume. (e.g., “Your cover letter should highlight your best skills.”)
• Formal/Informal letter: Referring to the tone. (e.g., “Business invitations require a formal letter.”)
• Anonymous letter: A letter where the sender is unknown. (e.g., “The police received an anonymous letter regarding the case.”)
• Open letter: A letter published for everyone to read, often to a public figure. (e.g., “The doctors wrote an open letter to the government.”)
• Recommendation letter: A letter supporting someone’s job or school application. (e.g., “My professor wrote a glowing recommendation letter for me.”)

Letters of the Alphabet

When “letter” refers to the individual characters (A, B, C), we use these specific collocations.

• Capital letter: Large letters like A, B, C. (e.g., “Proper nouns must start with a capital letter.”)
• Lowercase letter: Small letters like a, b, c. (e.g., “Your password must include at least one lowercase letter.”)
• Block letters: Writing clearly without joining the characters. (e.g., “Please fill out the form in block letters.”)
• Silent letter: A letter that is written but not pronounced, like the ‘k’ in ‘know’. (e.g., “English is full of silent letters.”)

Common Collocations with LETTER as a Verb

While less common than the noun form, “letter” can be used as a verb in specific professional and academic contexts.

Professional Lettering and Design

In the world of art and signage, “to letter” means to draw or paint letters onto a surface.

• Hand-lettered: Creating text by hand. (e.g., “The wedding invitations were beautifully hand-lettered.”)
• Letter a sign: To put text on a physical sign. (e.g., “He spent the afternoon lettering the shop window.”)

Academic and Sports Contexts (North America)

In US English, “to letter” means to earn an award (a “varsity letter”) for participating in school sports.

• Letter in [Sport]: (e.g., “She lettered in basketball and track during high school.”)

The Master Summary Table

Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural

Contextual Story

“When applying for the position, Sarah made sure to write a letter of interest that stood out. She carefully drafted her cover letter, ensuring every sentence started with a capital letter and her contact details were in block letters for clarity. She finally posted the letter on Monday, and by Thursday, she received a letter inviting her for an interview. She followed the instructions to the letter to ensure she arrived exactly on time.”

Frequently Asked Questions about Letter Collocations