a letter to or for you

[enthusiastic learner]

Which preposition is best used in this sentence?

"I want to write a letter to her."

or

"I want to write a letter for her."


Thank you!

 

[bhaisahab]

Which preposition is best used in this sentence?

"I want to write a letter to her."

or

"I want to write a letter for her."


Thank you!

They are both possible but they mean different things.

 

[Nicklexoxo]

Hello.
bhaisahab, can you describe the different meaning? They sound equally for me.

 

[enthusiastic learner]

They are both possible but they mean different things.

Could you please elaborate the difference between the two? Thank you!

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

(1) "I want to write a letter to her."
(2) "I want to write a letter for her."

(1) I want to write a letter that I can send to her.
(2) She has to write a letter but can't (maybe she is ill or doesn't know what to write), so I want to write a letter for her.

 

[Nicklexoxo]

That is, the second means that I write the lettar instead of her?

 

[emsr2d2]

That is, the second means that I write the letter instead of her?

Yes, the second means that you write a letter on someone's behalf. She needs to write a letter. She can't write it. You write it instead.

 

[tzfujimino]

not a teacher

(1) "I want to write a letter to her."
(2) "I want to write a letter for her."

(1) I want to write a letter that I can send to her.
(2) She has to write a letter but can't (maybe she is ill or doesn't know what to write), so I want to write a letter for her.

So, in the second example, "for her" is quite similar to "on her behalf".
:-D

(Edit) I didn't notice your post, ems. Sorry.

 

[enthusiastic learner]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.

 

[Rover_KE]

You don't need to make a new post to say "Thank you". Just click the "Like" button on a post you found helpful.