Modern communications mean that it’s no longer necessary to write letters. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

In years gone by, before the age of the telegraph or telephone,

letter

writing was the main means of communication for most people. Since

then

we have developed faster and more direct ways of contacting people, and personal mail has become relatively rare. It is true that in many cases where our parents would have written a

letter

, we prefer to pick up the phone, to email or even to text

instead

. These are perfectly suitable ways of inviting friends to call round or exchanging news with a family member,

for example

, and they have the advantage that the communication is immediate and we can receive a reply very quickly. In business, too, fax and email are extremely useful.

However

, in my

opinion there

Accept comma addition

opinion, there

are times when there is no alternative to a

letter

. Letters are generally more formal and carefully composed than emails.

This

makes them more suitable for occasions when they are likely to be kept and re-read, perhaps several times, by the recipient, as with formal letters of thanks or sympathy.

In addition

,

letters

Suggestion

the letters

provide a written record, unlike telephone calls, so they are

also

a better way of setting out an important or complex argument, as in official complaints or legal matters. In conclusion, I would definitely agree that there are fewer times when we need to write letters than in the past.

On the other hand

, I feel there are still some important occasions when a

letter

is the most appropriate form of communication.