application letter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "application letter" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a letter written to apply for a job, school, or other opportunities. For example, "I submitted my application letter for the internship position." Alternative expressions include "cover letter" and "letter of application."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

The criminal background of the convicted applicants was revealed by adding a clause in their narrative application letter.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Click "yes" and you get a fill-in-the-blanks application letter.

The New York Times

"Anyway, they will put down my name on your application letter as the person recommending you".

The New Yorker

One week I asked a group of second-year HND students to compose a sample job application letter.

The Guardian

Manchester-based writer Mof Gimmers has posted a rather florid application letter for the NME editorship on his blog.

The Guardian - Music

"In some classes nearly every student submits an application letter," it said.This has little to do with communist zeal.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

"This is not an organisation with application letters and a database.

The Guardian

From typing 100 application letters for a college teaching job for her young husband to typing and reviewing his manuscripts as a mature writer, Mrs. Malamud supported his career and managed his family life.

The New York Times

Infosys prepared "dos and don'ts" lists that advised Indian workers how to mislead American immigration authorities in B-1 visa application letters and interviews, according to the documents, to avoid the appearance that they were coming to work.

The New York Times

She says many of her application letters go unanswered.

BBC

Although some application letters were provided, these were only in an electronic form.

Functional Linguistics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the "application letter" is tailored to the specific role or entity rather than using a generic template. Use the content to bridge the gap between your resume and the specific requirements of the recipient.

Common error

Avoid simply listing your resume bullets in prose form. An effective "application letter" should provide narrative context and qualitative evidence of your suitability that a CV cannot convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "application letter" functions as a compound noun used to identify a specific class of formal correspondence. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often serves as the direct object of verbs like "write", "submit" or "send".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Academic

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "application letter" remains a cornerstone of professional and administrative English. According to Ludwig AI, it is used with high frequency in prestigious news and scientific publications to describe the act of seeking a role, grant or political status. While often interchangeable with "<a href="/s/cover+letter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">cover letter", it carries a slightly more formal weight that makes it suitable for institutional applications, such as those seen in the United Nations or academic centers. Its grammatical structure is stable and it is consistently recognized as correct across all major English-speaking regions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cover letter

More common term in American English for the document sent alongside a resume

letter of application

Strictly formal inversion used frequently in academic or legal contexts

covering letter

Preferred British English variation of the standard term

job application letter

Specifies the professional nature of the request

motivation letter

Focuses on the personal reasons and drive for seeking a position, common in Europe

letter of intent

Broader term often used for grants, admissions or business deals

speculative letter

Sent when there is no specific advertised vacancy

statement of interest

Less structural and more focused on the candidate's alignment with goals

introductory letter

Emphasizes the initial contact aspect of the document

formal request

Categorizes the document by its action rather than its format

FAQs

How do I use "application letter" in a sentence?

You can use it as a direct object, for example: "She spent the afternoon polishing her "application letter" for the research grant."

What can I say instead of "application letter"?

Depending on the context, you can use "<a href="/s/cover+letter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">cover letter", "<a href="/s/letter+of+application" target="_blank" rel="alternative">letter of application" or "<a href="/s/motivation+letter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">motivation letter".

Is "application letter" formal enough for a job?

Yes, it is a standard professional term. However, many industries now prefer the term "<a href="/s/cover+letter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">cover letter" in digital submissions.

What's the difference between an "application letter" and a CV?

An "application letter" is a narrative document expressing interest and intent, whereas a CV is a structured list of history, education and technical skills.