Note vs. Letter — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 27, 2023
A Note is a brief written remark or record, while a Letter is a written message addressed to a person or organization.
Difference Between Note and Letter
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Note and Letter are both written forms of communication, but their purposes and structures differ. A Note is typically short, direct, and might convey reminders, annotations, or quick messages. In contrast, a Letter is usually longer, addressing specific individuals or entities, and often covers more detailed content.
A Note might be found attached to a fridge, reminding someone to buy milk, or in the margin of a book highlighting an essential point. A Letter, on the other hand, might be sent to convey gratitude, express concerns, or relay news to friends, family, or institutions.
In terms of formality, a Note tends to be more casual and immediate, while a Letter can range from informal to formal, often depending on the intended audience and purpose. It's not uncommon for Letters to have specific formats, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
When considering longevity and significance, a Note might be ephemeral and discarded once its purpose is served. Conversely, a Letter, especially personal ones, can be cherished and preserved as it might hold sentimental value.
Ultimately, while both Note and Letter serve to communicate written messages, their length, formality, structure, and intent can significantly vary.
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Comparison Chart
Length
Typically short and concise.
Generally longer with more detailed content.
Purpose
Convey reminders, annotations, or quick info.
Addressed to specific individuals or entities.
Formality
More casual and immediate.
Can range from informal to formal.
Structure
No specific format, straight to the point.
Can have a structured format with introduction and conclusion.
Longevity and Significance
Ephemeral, discarded after use.
Can be preserved for its sentimental or legal value.
Compare with Definitions
Note
A brief written remark or record.
I left a note on the counter about the groceries.
Letter
A character representing one or more sounds used in speech or writing.
The letter A is the first in the alphabet.
Note
A short informal letter or written message.
She passed a note to him during the class.
Letter
A written or printed communication sent to someone or some entity.
She penned a letter to the editor expressing her views.
Note
A sign or token of something.
The decor had a note of elegance.
Letter
Permission or notification, especially in official contexts.
He received a letter of acceptance from the university.
Note
A brief record, especially one written down to aid the memory
Took notes on the lecture.
Letter
The precise form or representation of a written symbol.
The letter was written in bold and italic.
Note
A comment or explanation, as on a passage in a text
The allusion is explained in the notes at the end of the chapter.
Letter
A character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech; any of the symbols of an alphabet
A capital letter
Note
A brief informal letter
Sent a note to the child's teacher.
Letter
A written, typed, or printed communication, sent in an envelope by post or messenger
He sent a letter to Mrs Falconer
Note
A formal written diplomatic or official communication.
Letter
The precise terms of a statement or requirement; the strict verbal interpretation
We must keep the spirit of the law as well as the letter
The officer in the incident got in trouble for following the letter of the law
Note
A piece of paper currency.
Letter
Literature
The world of letters
Note
A debt security, usually with a maturity of ten years or less.
Letter
A style of typeface.
Note
A promissory note.
Letter
Inscribe letters or writing on
Her name was lettered in gold
Note
A tone of definite pitch.
Letter
Be given a school or college initial as a mark of proficiency in sport
In high school she lettered in soccer, basketball and softball
Note
A symbol for such a tone, indicating pitch by its position on the staff and duration by its shape.
Letter
A written symbol or character representing a speech sound and being a component of an alphabet.
Note
A key of an instrument, such as a piano.
Letter
A written symbol or character used in the graphemic representation of a word, such as the h in Thames. See Note at Thames.
Note
The characteristic vocal sound made by a songbird or other animal
The clear note of a cardinal.
Letter
A written or printed communication directed to a person or organization.
Note
The sign of a particular quality or emotion
A note of despair in his remarks.
A note of gaiety in her manner.
Letter
Often letters A certified document granting rights to its bearer.
Note
A distinctive component of a complex flavor or aroma
A full-bodied wine with notes of cherry and musk.
Letter
Literal meaning
Had to adhere to the letter of the law.
Note
Importance; consequence
Nothing of note happened.
Letter
Literary culture; belles-lettres.
Note
Notice; observation
Quietly took note of the scene.
Letter
Learning or knowledge, especially of literature.
Note
(Obsolete) A song, melody, or tune.
Letter
Literature or writing as a profession.
Note
To observe carefully; notice
Note the difference between these two plants. ].
Letter
A piece of type that prints a single character.
Note
A symbol or annotation.
Letter
A specific style of type.
Note
A mark or token by which a thing may be known; a visible sign; a character; a distinctive mark or feature; a characteristic quality.
Letter
The characters in one style of type.
Note
A mark, or sign, made to call attention, to point out something to notice, or the like; a sign, or token, proving or giving evidence.
Letter
An emblem in the shape of the initial of a school awarded for outstanding performance, especially in varsity athletics.
Note
A brief remark; a marginal comment or explanation; hence, an annotation on a text or author; a comment; a critical, explanatory, or illustrative observation.
Letter
To write letters on
Lettered the paper.
Note
A written or printed communication or commitment.
Letter
To write in letters
Lettered our name on the mailbox.
Note
A brief piece of writing intended to assist the memory; a memorandum; a minute.
I left him a note to remind him to take out the trash.
Letter
To write or form letters.
Note
A short informal letter; a billet.
Letter
To earn a school letter, as for outstanding athletic achievement
She lettered in three collegiate sports.
Note
(academic) An academic treatise (often without regard to length); a treatment; a discussion paper; (loosely) any contribution to an academic discourse.
Letter
A symbol in an alphabet.
There are twenty-six letters in the English alphabet.
Note
A diplomatic missive or written communication.
Letter
A written or printed communication, generally longer and more formal than a note.
I wrote a letter to my sister about my life.
Note
(finance) A written or printed paper acknowledging a debt, and promising payment
A promissory note
A note of hand
A negotiable note
Letter
The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (the spirit).
Note
(obsolete) A list of items or of charges; an account.
Letter
Literature.
Benjamin Franklin was multiskilled – a scientist, politician and a man of letters.
Note
A piece of paper money; a banknote.
I didn't have any coins to pay with, so I used a note.
Letter
(law) A division unit of a piece of law marked by a letter of the alphabet.
Letter (b) constitutes an exception to this provision.
Note
(extension) A small size of paper used for writing letters or notes.
Letter
A size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm, US paper sizes rounded to the nearest 5 mm).
Note
(music) A sound.
Letter
A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.
Note
A character, variously formed, to indicate the length of a tone, and variously placed upon the staff to indicate its pitch.
Letter
Clipping of varsity letter
Note
A musical sound; a tone; an utterance; a tune.
Letter
A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
Note
(by extension) A key of the piano or organ.
Letter
One who lets, or lets out.
The letter of a room
A blood-letter
Note
(by extension) A call or song of a bird.
Letter
(archaic) One who retards or hinders.
Note
(uncountable) Observation; notice; heed.
Letter
(transitive) To print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.
Note
(uncountable) Reputation; distinction.
A poet of note
Letter
To earn a varsity letter (award).
Note
A critical comment.
Your performance was fantastic! I have just one note: you were a little flat in bars 35 and 36.
Letter
One who lets or permits; one who lets anything for hire.
Note
(obsolete) Notification; information; intelligence.
Letter
One who retards or hinders.
Note
(obsolete) Mark of disgrace.
Letter
A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech; a first element of written language.
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew.
Note
That which is needed or necessary; business; duty; work.
Letter
A written or printed communication; a message expressed in intelligible characters on something adapted to conveyance, as paper, parchment, etc.; an epistle.
The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural.
Note
The giving of milk by a cow or sow; the period following calving or farrowing during which a cow or sow is at her most useful (i.e. gives milk); the milk given by a cow or sow during such a period.
Letter
A writing; an inscription.
None could expound what this letter meant.
Note
(transitive) To notice with care; to observe; to remark; to heed.
If you look to the left, you can note the old cathedral.
Letter
Verbal expression; literal statement or meaning; exact signification or requirement.
We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to the reason of the law and the intention of the lawgiver.
I broke the letter of it to keep the sense.
Note
(transitive) To record in writing; to make a memorandum of.
We noted his speech.
Letter
A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
Under these buildings . . . was the king's printing house, and that famous letter so much esteemed.
Note
(transitive) To denote; to designate.
The modular multiplicative inverse of x may be noted x-1.
Letter
Learning; erudition; as, a man of letters.
Note
(transitive) To annotate.
Letter
A letter; an epistle.
Note
(transitive) To set down in musical characters.
Letter
A telegram longer than an ordinary message sent at rates lower than the standard message rate in consideration of its being sent and delivered subject to priority in service of regular messages. Such telegrams are called by the Western Union Company day letters, or night letters according to the time of sending, and by The Postal Telegraph Company day lettergrams, or night lettergrams.
A strange lock that opens with AMEN.
Note
To record on the back of (a bill, draft, etc.) a refusal of acceptance, as the ground of a protest, which is done officially by a notary.
Letter
To impress with letters; to mark with letters or words; as, a book gilt and lettered.
Note
To butt; to push with the horns.
Letter
A written message addressed to a person or organization;
Mailed an indignant letter to the editor
Note
To notice with care; to observe; to remark; to heed; to attend to.
No more of that; I have noted it well.
The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
Letter
The conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech;
His grandmother taught him his letters
Note
To record in writing; to make a memorandum of.
Every unguarded word . . . was noted down.
Letter
A strictly literal interpretation (as distinct from the intention);
He followed instructions to the letter
He obeyed the letter of the law
Note
To charge, as with crime (with of or for before the thing charged); to brand.
They were both noted of incontinency.
Letter
An award earned by participation in a school sport;
He won letters in three sports
Note
To denote; to designate.
Letter
Owner who lets another person use something (housing usually) for hire
Note
To annotate.
Letter
Win an athletic letter
Note
To set down in musical characters.
Letter
Set down or print with letters
Note
Know not; knows not.
Letter
Mark letters on or mark with letters
Note
Nut.
Letter
A written message addressed to a person or organization.
I received a letter from my grandmother today.
Note
Need; needful business.
Note
A mark or token by which a thing may be known; a visible sign; a character; a distinctive mark or feature; a characteristic quality.
Whosoever appertain to the visible body of the church, they have also the notes of external profession.
She [the Anglican church] has the note of possession, the note of freedom from party titles,the note of life - a tough life and a vigorous.
What a note of youth, of imagination, of impulsive eagerness, there was through it all !
Note
A mark, or sign, made to call attention, to point out something to notice, or the like; a sign, or token, proving or giving evidence.
Note
A brief remark; a marginal comment or explanation; hence, an annotation on a text or author; a comment; a critical, explanatory, or illustrative observation.
The best writers have been perplexed with notes, and obscured with illustrations.
Note
A brief writing intended to assist the memory; a memorandum; a minute.
Note
Hence, a writing intended to be used in speaking; memoranda to assist a speaker, being either a synopsis, or the full text of what is to be said; as, to preach from notes; also, a reporter's memoranda; the original report of a speech or of proceedings.
Note
A short informal letter; a billet.
Note
A diplomatic missive or written communication.
Note
A written or printed paper acknowledging a debt, and promising payment; as, a promissory note; a note of hand; a negotiable note.
Note
A list of items or of charges; an account.
Here is now the smith's note for shoeing.
Note
A character, variously formed, to indicate the length of a tone, and variously placed upon the staff to indicate its pitch. Hence:
The wakeful bird . . . tunes her nocturnal note.
That note of revolt against the eighteenth century, which we detect in Goethe, was struck by Winckelmann.
Note
Observation; notice; heed.
Give orders to my servants that they takeNo note at all of our being absent hence.
Note
Notification; information; intelligence.
The king . . . shall have note of this.
Note
State of being under observation.
Small matters . . . continually in use and in note.
Note
Reputation; distinction; as, a poet of note.
There was scarce a family of note which had not poured out its blood on the field or the scaffold.
Note
Stigma; brand; reproach.
Note
A short personal letter;
Drop me a line when you get there
Note
A brief written record;
He made a note of the appointment
Note
A characteristic emotional quality;
It ended on a sour note
There was a note of gaiety in her manner
He detected a note of sarcasm
Note
A piece of paper money (especially one issued by a central bank);
He peeled off five one-thousand-zloty notes
Note
A notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound;
The singer held the note too long
Note
A comment or instruction (usually added);
His notes were appended at the end of the article
He added a short notation to the address on the envelope
Note
High status importance owing to marked superiority;
A scholar of great eminence
Note
A tone of voice that shows what the speaker is feeling;
There was a note of uncertainty in his voice
Note
A promise to pay a specified amount on demand or at a certain time;
I had to co-sign his note at the bank
Note
Make mention of;
She observed that his presentation took up too much time
They noted that it was a fine day to go sailing
Note
Notice or perceive;
She noted that someone was following her
Mark my words
Note
Observe with care or pay close attention to;
Take note of this chemical reaction
Note
Make a written note of;
She noted everything the teacher said that morning
Note
A comment or instruction about a particular point.
He added a note in the manuscript for clarity.
Note
A musical sound of a particular pitch and duration.
She played a high note on the piano.
Common Curiosities
Can Notes be informal?
Yes, notes are often informal, short, and direct.
How are Letters typically structured?
Letters can have a structured format, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Are Notes always short?
While notes are typically concise, their length can vary based on the content and purpose.
What is a Letter?
A letter is a written message addressed to a specific person or organization.
What is a Note?
A note is a brief written remark or record, often for personal reminders or quick messages.
Can a Note have a musical meaning?
Yes, in music, a note represents a sound with a specific pitch and duration.
Can a Letter be sent electronically?
Yes, in the form of an email or electronic document.
What is a letterhead in a Letter?
A letterhead is the heading at the top of a sheet of paper, usually including a name and address.
What's the difference between a cover letter and a regular Letter?
A cover letter is specifically meant to introduce oneself for job applications, while a regular letter can have varied purposes.
Where might I find a Note?
Notes can be found on fridges, in books as annotations, or on sticky notes on desks.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
