Writing letters in English is a relatively easy task for an English-speaking person. Relatively… Even when you write to another English-speaking person, the lack of intonation, seemingly insignificant punctuation and spelling mistakes may lead to different interpretations of the same information. Just imagine what can happen when your letter is translated and then read by someone who does not speak English and is not familiar with your culture. 

       There are two aspects you should pay attention to while writing letters in English to a foreigner:
        Comprehension
        Security

       Try to follow these guidelines to write clear and safe letters to a foreigner.

Comprehension

        Every sentence should be clear and specific. If you are continuing talking about something that you mentioned in your precious letter, try to provide some references to that: the translator or the correspondent might not know what you are talking about.
        Be aware of different interpretations that different people may have. Even when just two people who speak the same language are reading one letter, they may have different interpretations of one and the same sentence. 
        Using subtle humor or even jokes does not help understanding. Sometimes using smiley faces and additional comments to signify that you are joking may be very helpful.
        You should always say it straight out. Do not expect your correspondents to be good at reading between the lines or taking hints.
        Spell-check your letters and put punctuation marks in the right places.

Security

        Do not include too much personal information in your letters. Usually people do not need to know all the details about you. If they do, you should be cautious with them.
        Do not lie about your name, location or age if you care for someone you are corresponding to. If you are communicating with someone through emails or an instant messenger, that data can be easily verified.

       Patience is a truly great virtue. At times misunderstanding is no one’s fault. It is simply what happens when there is so much difference in culture, languages and mental set of different individuals. Therefore, be patient, ask for explanations in case of misunderstanding and stay in touch with your foreign friends!