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Hmac Posted 15 years ago
Letter Writing

Beginning a letter with "I"

A grammarian I used to work with once told me that it wasn't proper to begin a letter with "I", as in:

Dear Jane,
I am so happy...

This has haunted me for the past 20 years. Please tell me it is acceptable to use "I" as the first word. I get so tired thinking of others ways to begin.
  

Top answer

Welcome to the Forums! Perhaps your instructor was talking about a formal business letter. " There is precedence in literature.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Welcome to the Forums!
  • Perhaps your instructor was talking about a formal business letter.
  • " There is precedence in literature.
  • " You must pardon me if I repeat that remark now and then in these letters; I want you to take seriously the things I am telling you, and I feel that if I were in your place and you in mine, I should need that reminder from time to time, to keep my credulity from flagging.
  • Abagail Adams is well known for her letters to John Adams, president of the US.
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1 Answers
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Welcome to the Forums!

Perhaps your instructor was talking about a formal business letter. For letters to friends and family, there is nothing wrong with beginning with "I."
There is precedence in literature. Letter II of Mark Twain's "Letters from the Earth" begins with "I":

"I have told you nothing about man that is not true." You must pardon me if I repeat that remark now
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