Advice Letters

Help a friend with a tactful, professionally written letter of advice

Whether your letter of advice needs help with etiquette, professionalism, appropriate wording, or keeping the reader's attention, WriteExpress gives you excellent advice letters that help you find the right words for this situation.

How to write an advice letter:

• Respond quickly to the request for advice. Give yourself time to think your answer through carefully, but let the person know that you care about him/her and the situation by sending your letter within a few days of receiving the request.

• No matter how you may feel personally about the subject you are asked to give advice on or the person who asked for it, keep the tone respectful. In all cases, the tone of this letter should be helpful and congenial.

• Be careful of appearing judgmental. Avoid direct or implied criticism.

• If you cannot give advice, express your regret, and suggest that someone else would be in a better position to do so. Avoid comments or expressions of personal opinion unless they are complimentary.

• If the topic is a sensitive one, consider your approach carefully.

• Avoid strong language that might discourage your reader.

• Give advice only on the subject you have been asked about. Keep your advice simple and to the point.

• Remember that personal advice should be given only when it is clear that someone has sincerely asked you for it. Even then it must be done with caution and sensitivity.

• If someone takes your advice, maintain a tone of appreciation without any hint of condescension or feelings of superiority. Emphasize the reader's strengths, rather than the value of your advice.

• When you are the one seeking advice, look to people you know you can rely on. They should be worthy of your trust and be willing to keep your request confidential.

• When someone responds to your request for advice, whether you ultimately use the advice or not, it is always a good idea to write a thank-you letter or letter of appreciation.

• If you use the advice or suggestion, give appropriate recognition. If you do not use it, you may wish to keep the advice letter at hand for future reference in case you change your mind.

Advice letters are valuable tools because:

• The written word has a motivational power that casual comments or even serious verbal suggestions do not have.

• They allow you to offer your reader help if assistance is appropriate and genuinely available.

• Since a steady flow of good suggestions is vital to the health of an organization, this letter can express appreciation and encourage more open, constructive communication.

• Letters of advice can, when handled carefully and tactfully, build goodwill and trust.

• They can be used to motivate the reader to achieve a goal or complete an objective, give up a harmful habit, try something new, strive for even greater accomplishments or success, and so forth.

Need to write an advice letter? Say it right with our professionally written advice letters. Write with confidence using: Must-know letter-writing tips Expert help every step of the way Appropriate phrases and sentences Words writers agree work the best It is easy with advice letters for these topics: Ask for personal advice Decline to give advice Encourage an employee after a disappointment or a company setback Encourage your reader to take advantage of a new opportunity Encourage/motivate your reader to increase sales Encourage/motivate your reader to keep up the good work Give advice to subordinates Give general advice Give personal advice Give professional advice Offer a suggestion to a customer Offer a suggestion to a subordinate Thank someone for accepting your advice or recommendation Thank someone for advice or a suggestion Write a letter of encouragement/motivation Get the right words for your letters in three easy steps: Choose from a variety of prewritten advice letters that cover many common situations. Copy your letter directly into Microsoft Word or your favorite word processor. Or let our software guide you step-by-step through the writing process, suggesting sample phrases and sentences for each writing step. In minutes, you can write an effective advice letter. Print your advice letter and send it!