a letter from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a letter from" is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to introduce the sender of a letter or the source of the information in the letter. Example: "I received a letter from my grandma yesterday, she wrote about her trip to Europe." In this sentence, "a letter from my grandma" indicates that the letter was written by the speaker's grandmother. It could also be used to introduce the location where the letter was sent from, such as "a letter from Paris".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A LETTER FROM VIETNAM about normalization and POW/MIA issues.

The New Yorker

A letter from Haiti.

The New Yorker

A letter from P.E.

The New Yorker

Martha had received a letter from Washington.

Independent

"I received a letter from constituents.

The New York Times

A fan wrote a letter from Sweden.

Independent

He receives a letter from a Mme.

The New Yorker

A letter from Ted Hughes to his son.

The New Yorker

Ah, a letter from Tyrion!

The New Yorker

There is a letter from Matthew.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I've had a letter from a monk.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific letter, ensure the sender's name or title follows "a letter from". For instance, "a letter from the CEO" clarifies the sender's importance and context.

Common error

Avoid saying "letter from" without the article "a" or "the". Always specify whether you're referring to a general instance ("a letter from") or a specific, known letter ("the letter from").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a letter from" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adjectival modifier. It specifies the origin or sender of the letter, providing additional information about the noun "letter". According to Ludwig AI, this is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a letter from" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate the origin of a letter. Ludwig AI confirms its wide acceptance and frequent use. Predominantly found in news and media, it also appears in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. To use it effectively, always include the article "a" and ensure clarity about the sender. While versatile, consider more formal alternatives like "correspondence from" in professional settings. Understanding these nuances will help ensure your writing is both accurate and contextually appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

correspondence received from

Replaces "letter" with the more formal "correspondence" and restructures the sentence.

a communication from

Uses the general "communication" to replace the more specific "letter".

communication sent by

Replaces "letter" with the more general term "communication" and focuses on the sender.

message coming from

Emphasizes the arrival of the "message" from a source.

missive originating from

Uses the less common term "missive" for letter and emphasizes the origin.

a dispatch from

Similar to "missive", "dispatch" implies an official communication.

note dispatched from

Substitutes "letter" with "note" and uses "dispatched" to highlight the sending action.

an update from

Suggests that the letter contains new information or developments.

words received from

Focuses on the content of the letter rather than the physical object.

a line from

A more casual and concise way to refer to receiving a short message.

FAQs

How can I use "a letter from" in a sentence?

Use "a letter from" to indicate the source of a written message. For example, "I received "a letter from my mother" this morning" or "The lawyer sent "a letter from the firm"".

What's a more formal alternative to "a letter from"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "correspondence from" or "communication from". For example, instead of "a letter from the bank", you could say "correspondence received from the bank".

Is it correct to say "I got letter from him"?

No, it is incorrect. You should say "I got "a letter from him"". The article "a" is necessary because you are referring to one unspecified letter.

What is the difference between "a letter from" and "the letter from"?

"A letter from" refers to any letter from a particular source, while "the letter from" refers to a specific letter that has already been mentioned or is otherwise known to the recipient.