A letter to the editor is a short form of communication in which readers express their carefully considered opinions on an article published in a journal. The ‘letter writer’ usually writes to the editor of the journal, not the authors of the full-length articles published in that issue (as the author of a ‘letter’ can only be the writer of that particular letter).
Most journals publish ‘Letters to the Editor’, and many highly prestigious ones appear to regard these as important as the ‘original’ articles. However, the submission rules and evaluation steps for a ‘letter’ are different from those for a manuscript, and in many cases, it is at the editor’s discretion to print a ‘letter’, or whether to print it at all.
Letters to the editor are a powerful tool to convey information, and often are an effective way of getting the attention of legislative bodies. Many legislators track the letters to the editor section of their local newspapers, as a way of keeping abreast of public sentiment and issues of concern to them and their constituents.
When writing a letter, it is important to pick an issue that is current and of importance to your local community and state. It is also best to write to your local newspaper, rather than a national one, because of the greater likelihood that it will be printed. In addition, it is a good idea to use e-mail to submit your letter to the editor, because this will often get it published more quickly than a postal letter, as it doesn’t require someone at the newspaper to type it in.