letter
A1Neutral (common in all registers from formal to informal).
Definition
Meaning
A written or printed character representing a sound in a language (e.g., the letter 'A'), or a written message sent, typically by post, in an envelope.
A symbol in an alphabet or system of writing; a literal interpretation of a law or text; a person authorized to use a particular initial (as in "lettered athlete"); or the basic units of written communication from which words are formed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The polysemy between the character sense and the message sense is fundamental. The 'character' sense is concrete and countable. The 'message' sense implies a physical or digital document intended for a recipient. The phrase "the letter of the law" contrasts with "the spirit of the law."
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'post' is used for the system/mail; in the US, 'mail' is standard. The UK uses 'postman/postwoman'; the US uses 'mail carrier/mailman'. The verb form ('to letter' as in inscribing) is more common in US English, especially in crafting/sign-making contexts.
Connotations
Similar for both. A 'letter' (message) can connote formality (e.g., a legal letter) or personal connection (e.g., a love letter), regardless of variety.
Frequency
Both senses are extremely high-frequency in both varieties. The message sense may be slightly less frequent in everyday speech now due to email, but the term remains core vocabulary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
write [someone] a lettersend a letter to [someone]receive a letter from [someone]a letter containing [information]the letter [of the alphabet]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to the letter”
- “a dead letter”
- “letter of the law”
- “red-letter day”
- “four-letter word”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal written communication on company letterhead, e.g., 'offer letter,' 'letter of intent,' 'termination letter.'
Academic
Reference to alphabetic characters in linguistics or philology; also 'cover letter' for journal submissions.
Everyday
Personal correspondence, postal mail, learning the alphabet.
Technical
In printing/typography: letterforms, letter-spacing. In law: the precise wording of a statute.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The artisan will letter the sign by hand.
- The trophy was beautifully lettered with his name.
American English
- She hired someone to letter the storefront window.
- He lettered in three sports during high school.
adverb
British English
- This use is extremely rare and non-standard for 'letter'. No common examples.
American English
- This use is extremely rare and non-standard for 'letter'. No common examples.
adjective
British English
- The letter quality of the print was poor.
- A letter-perfect performance.
American English
- We need letter-perfect accuracy for the legal document.
- It was a letter-quality printer.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I can write the letter 'B'.
- She sent a letter to her grandma.
- What is the first letter of your name?
- Please write your answer in capital letters.
- I haven't received a reply to my letter yet.
- He followed the instructions to the letter.
- The contract must be adhered to in both letter and spirit.
- Her application included a compelling cover letter.
- The development of letter forms is a key part of typographic history.
- The judge's ruling was a strict interpretation, focusing purely on the letter of the statute.
- His prose was so dense it demanded to be read almost letter by letter.
- The lettered athletes were honoured at a special banquet.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an envelope with a stamp – it contains a LETTER. The envelope itself has the address written in LETTERs.
Conceptual Metaphor
LETTERS (characters) are BUILDING BLOCKS for words. A LETTER (message) is a CONTAINER for thoughts/information.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- In Russian, 'буква' is only for the alphabetic character. 'Письмо' covers both the message sense of 'letter' and the general concept of 'writing'. Avoid using 'letter' to mean 'writing' as a skill.
- The phrase 'to the letter' translates to 'буквально' or 'дословно', not related to 'письмо'.
- A 'capital letter' is 'заглавная буква', not 'столичная буква'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'later' (time) with 'letter' (pronunciation).
- Using 'a letter' as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'I received letter'). Always use an article or plural: 'a letter,' 'the letter,' 'letters.'
- Misspelling as 'leter'.
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'a red-letter day,' what does 'letter' most closely relate to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'letter' is a single character (e.g., A, b, Z). The 'alphabet' is the complete set of letters in a fixed order (e.g., the English alphabet has 26 letters).
In a broad, traditional sense, an email is a form of electronic correspondence similar to a letter. However, in modern usage, 'letter' typically implies a physical, posted document or a very formal digital document, while 'email' is its own distinct category for everyday digital messages.
Yes. As a verb, 'to letter' means to inscribe, draw, or print letters onto something (e.g., 'to letter a poster'). In American English, it also has a specific meaning in school sports: 'to letter in a sport' means to earn a varsity award (a cloth 'letter' worn on a jacket).
It means following instructions or rules exactly, with no deviation, paying attention to every detail. For example: 'She executed the plan to the letter.'