Letter vs. Mail: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 27, 2023
A "Letter" is a written message addressed to someone, while "Mail" refers to letters, packages, or parcels sent or delivered through a postal system.
Key Differences
When considering Letter and Mail, a Letter is a specific form of communication, usually a written message on paper, intended for one or more recipients. In contrast, Mail encompasses a broader range of items, including letters, postcards, packages, and even electronic emails in some contexts.
The tradition of sending Letters dates back centuries, acting as a primary means of long-distance communication. However, Mail can also include things beyond written letters, such as packages, parcels, and even magazines or newspapers that get delivered.
A Letter usually entails a personal touch, often carrying emotional or informational content. It's a subset of what constitutes Mail. Mail, however, is a more generic term, not limited by content, and can include anything that is sent via a postal service or similar delivery method.
It's essential to realize that every Letter is Mail, but not every piece of Mail is a Letter. This distinction arises from the specific nature of a Letter as a written message, whereas Mail serves as an umbrella term for various sent or delivered items.
When people refer to checking their Mail, they could be looking for a variety of items, including bills, advertisements, or packages. When someone mentions writing a Letter, it distinctly implies crafting a written message, possibly long-form, addressed to a particular individual or organization.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A written message.
Letters, packages, or parcels sent/delivered via postal system.
Specificity
Specific type of communication.
Broad category of delivered items.
Content
Primarily textual information.
Can be textual, goods, or any other deliverable items.
Mode
Typically paper, but can be electronic (e.g., e-letter).
Includes both tangible and electronic items.
Personal touch
Often personal and directed at someone.
Can be personal or impersonal, like advertisements.
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Letter and Mail Definitions
Letter
A symbol or character representing a sound in a language.
The Letter 'A' is the first letter of the alphabet.
Items sent or to be sent by the postal service.
He received a lot of Mail on his birthday.
Letter
A printed or written communication in a bounded form.
He received a Letter of recommendation from his professor.
Electronic messages sent over the internet.
He checks his email Mail daily.
Letter
An official document or communication.
The company sent a Letter of intent to the potential partner.
Protective armor made of linked metal rings.
The knight wore a suit of chain Mail.
Letter
A written symbol or character representing a speech sound and being a component of an alphabet.
To send something using a postal service.
I need to Mail this package to my friend.
Letter
A written symbol or character used in the graphemic representation of a word, such as the h in Thames. See Note at Thames.
Materials, such as letters and packages, handled in a postal system
The volume of mail increases around the holidays.
Letter
A written or printed communication directed to a person or organization.
Postal material for a specific person or organization
Could you pick up my mail at the office?.
Letter
Often letters A certified document granting rights to its bearer.
Material processed for distribution from a post office at a specified time
Delivered the morning mail around town.
Letter
Literal meaning
Had to adhere to the letter of the law.
A postal system. Used with the, sometimes in the plural
Used the mail to send the supplies.
Advertisements sent through the mails.
Letter
Literary culture; belles-lettres.
Chiefly British A vehicle by which mail is transported.
Letter
Learning or knowledge, especially of literature.
Mail or messages sent electronically; email.
Letter
Literature or writing as a profession.
Flexible armor composed of small overlapping metal rings, loops of chain, or scales.
Letter
A piece of type that prints a single character.
The protective covering of certain animals, as the shell of a turtle.
Letter
A specific style of type.
Rent, payment, or tribute.
Letter
The characters in one style of type.
To send by a postal system
Mailed the letter yesterday.
Letter
An emblem in the shape of the initial of a school awarded for outstanding performance, especially in varsity athletics.
To send letters and other material by a postal system.
Letter
To write letters on
Lettered the paper.
To cover or armor with mail.
Letter
To write in letters
Lettered our name on the mailbox.
A bag or wallet.
Letter
To write or form letters.
A bag containing letters to be delivered by post.
Letter
To earn a school letter, as for outstanding athletic achievement
She lettered in three collegiate sports.
The material conveyed by the postal service.
Don't forget to pick up the mail on your way.
Letter
A symbol in an alphabet.
There are twenty-six letters in the English alphabet.
(dated) A stagecoach, train or ship that delivers such post.
Letter
A written or printed communication, generally longer and more formal than a note.
I wrote a letter to my sister about my life.
The postal service or system in general.
He decided to send his declaration by mail.
Letter
The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (the spirit).
The letters, parcels, etc. delivered to a particular address or person.
Letter
Literature.
Benjamin Franklin was multiskilled – a scientist, politician and a man of letters.
(uncountable) Electronic mail, e-mail: a computer network–based service for sending, storing, and forwarding electronic messages.
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.
A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.
Letter
A size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm, US paper sizes rounded to the nearest 5 mm).
(uncountable) Armour consisting of metal rings or plates linked together.
Letter
A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.
(nautical) A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
Letter
Clipping of varsity letter
Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.
Letter
A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
A spot on a bird's feather; by extension, a spotted feather.
Letter
One who lets, or lets out.
The letter of a room
A blood-letter
(historical) An old French coin worth half a denier.
Letter
(archaic) One who retards or hinders.
A monetary payment or tribute.
Letter
(transitive) To print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.
Rent.
Letter
To earn a varsity letter (award).
Tax.
Letter
One who lets or permits; one who lets anything for hire.
(ditransitive) To send (a letter, parcel, etc.) through the mail.
Letter
One who retards or hinders.
(ditransitive) To send by electronic mail.
Please mail me the spreadsheet by the end of the day.
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.
(transitive) To contact (a person) by electronic mail.
I need to mail my tutor about the deadline.
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.
(transitive) To arm with mail.
Letter
A writing; an inscription.
None could expound what this letter meant.
(transitive) To pinion.
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.
A spot.
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.
A small piece of money; especially, an English silver half-penny of the time of Henry V.
Letter
Learning; erudition; as, a man of letters.
Rent; tribute.
Letter
A letter; an epistle.
A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used especially for defensive armor.
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.
Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering.
Letter
To impress with letters; to mark with letters or words; as, a book gilt and lettered.
A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
Letter
A written message addressed to a person or organization;
Mailed an indignant letter to the editor
Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.
We . . . strip the lobster of his scarlet mail.
Letter
The conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech;
His grandmother taught him his letters
A bag; a wallet.
Letter
A strictly literal interpretation (as distinct from the intention);
He followed instructions to the letter
He obeyed the letter of the law
The bag or bags with the letters, papers, or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail matter.
There is a mail come in to-day, with letters dated Hague.
Letter
An award earned by participation in a school sport;
He won letters in three sports
That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received through the post office.
Letter
Owner who lets another person use something (housing usually) for hire
A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.
Letter
Win an athletic letter
To arm with mail.
Letter
Set down or print with letters
To pinion.
Letter
Mark letters on or mark with letters
To deliver into the custody of the postoffice officials, or place in a government letter box, for transmission by mail; to post; as, to mail a letter.
Letter
A written message from one person to another.
She wrote a heartfelt Letter to her childhood friend.
The bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
Letter
A distinct piece in an enumerated sequence.
She received a Letter of acceptance from the university.
The system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office;
The mail handles billions of items every day
He works for the United States mail service
In England they call mail `the post'
A conveyance that transports mail
Any particular collection of letters or packages that is delivered;
Your mail is on the table
Is there any post for me?
She was opening her post
(Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings
Send via the postal service;
I'll mail you the check tomorrow
Cause to be directed or transmitted to another place;
Send me your latest results
I'll mail you the paper when it's written
A system by which letters and packages are transported.
She sends packages via overnight Mail.
FAQs
Does Mail always refer to something physical?
No, "Mail" can also refer to electronic messages, especially in American English.
Is every Letter considered Mail?
Yes, once a Letter is sent or to be delivered, it's part of Mail.
Can Mail include packages?
Yes, packages are a type of Mail when sent through a postal or delivery system.
How does "air Mail" differ from regular Mail?
"Air Mail" specifically refers to Mail transported by aircraft.
Is "junk Mail" the same as "spam"?
"Junk Mail" often refers to unwanted physical advertisements, while "spam" typically means unwanted electronic messages.
How is "chain Mail" related to the postal system?
It isn't. "Chain Mail" refers to a type of protective armor, unrelated to the concept of sending messages.
Can a Letter be addressed to multiple people?
Yes, a Letter can be addressed to multiple recipients.
Can a Letter be electronic?
Yes, in modern contexts, an e-letter or email is considered an electronic Letter.
Can a Letter be sent outside of the Mail system?
Yes, a Letter can be hand-delivered, emailed, or sent via courier services.
How is "email" related to Mail?
"Email" stands for "electronic mail," a digital form of sending messages, which is a subset of Mail in broader contexts.
Are postcards considered Letters?
Not exactly. While both are forms of written communication, a postcard is its own distinct type of Mail.
What's a "cover Letter"?
A "cover Letter" is a Letter of introduction accompanying another document, often a resume.
How can I stop receiving junk Mail?
You can request to be removed from mailing lists or use services that help reduce unwanted Mail.
How is a "Letter grade" related to written Letters?
It isn't directly. A "Letter grade" is a system of rating academic performance using Letters like A, B, C, etc.
Why is it called "snail Mail"?
"Snail Mail" is a colloquial term for traditional Mail sent through the postal system, referencing its slower speed compared to email.
What does "Letter of the law" mean?
It refers to the strict and literal interpretation of a law, as opposed to its intent or spirit.
Can Mail be tracked?
Yes, many postal and delivery services offer tracking options for Mail.
Can you send Mail without a stamp?
Typically no, as stamps act as proof of postage payment. Without it, Mail might not be delivered.
Can Mail be private?
Yes, most Mail is intended to be private, especially personal Letters and packages.
Is Mail always delivered to homes?
No, Mail can be delivered to post office boxes, businesses, or specific collection points.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
