Cover letter length and tone: what to cut and how to sound like yourself
How long a cover letter should be, which sentences to cut first, and how to keep a professional, warm voice that does not sound stiff or copied.
By Avowly · Last reviewed 6 November 2026 · 6 min read · How we write these
In short
- Aim for 250 to 350 words on one page, up to about 400 for a senior role. If it is longer, cut, and do not shrink the type.
- Cut repeated resume lines, general compliments, throat clearing, quality lists and extra examples first.
- Aim for the voice of a clear, friendly email to a senior colleague, matched to the sector.
- Replace adjectives with specifics, and read the whole thing aloud.
Once you have a draft, two questions decide whether it works. Is it the right length? Does it sound like a person? Most weak letters fail one of them. They are either too long, which tires the reader, or too stiff, which makes the writer sound like a template.
This guide is about editing. It shows how to cut without losing the point and how to adjust tone so a reader hears you.
Length
A cover letter is a short document. For most applications, 250 to 350 words on a single page is plenty, which is roughly three or four short paragraphs, a greeting and a sign off. A senior role can take up to about 400. Almost none reward a letter that runs onto a second page.
Readers often spend less time on a letter than writers expect. They read the opening, skim the middle and decide whether to look at the resume. A short letter that is easy to take in has a better chance than a long one that asks for effort.
If you are over, cut. Do not shrink the font or margins to fit.
Length
250 to 350 words
One page
If you are over, cut. Do not shrink the font or the margins.
Cut in this order
- Lines that repeat your resume
- General compliments about the company
- Throat clearing at the start of a sentence
- Lists of qualities with no example
- A second or third example, if the first makes the point
- Anything you would not say aloud in a meeting
What to cut first
Work through the draft in this order, and stop when it is short enough.
- Repeated resume lines. If a sentence only restates a job title or date, delete it. The resume has it.
- General compliments. "Your company is a leader in its field." Replace with one specific detail or cut it.
- Throat clearing. "I would like to take this opportunity to..." Delete the first half and start with the verb.
- Lists of qualities. "Motivated, reliable and detail oriented." Show one of them with an example, and drop the list.
- Second and third examples, if the first makes the point. One well told example is stronger than three half told ones.
- Anything you would not say aloud in a meeting with the hiring manager.
Often the best letter is the first draft with a third taken out. Here is the throat clearing cut in practice. The sentence gets shorter and gains a fact at the same time.
Before
I would like to take this opportunity to express my interest in applying for the role of multi-drop driver at your depot.
After
Two years on a 90-stop route, with a clean license, are what I would bring to the multi-drop driver role at your depot.
Why it works: The 90 stops came from his route sheet, and the clean license from his own driving record. The polite warm-up is gone, so the letter opens with something the depot manager cares about.
And here is a list of qualities turned into one quality shown.
Before
I am hardworking, reliable and detail oriented.
After
In three years I have not missed a shift, and the head housekeeper now gives me the rooms for returning guests to check before they arrive.
Why it works: Both facts came from asking her what her manager trusts her with. A reader can believe a fact that could be checked, where three adjectives could describe anyone.
One idea per paragraph
If a paragraph is long, check whether it holds two points. Split it, or cut the weaker one. A reader should be able to say in a few words what each paragraph is about.
Tone
Tone is how you sound. The aim is professional but human: the voice of someone who is good at their job and pleasant to work with.
Too casual reads like a message to a friend. "Hey, saw your ad and thought I'd give it a go!"
Too stiff reads like a legal notice. That is the more common problem, and the fix is the same each time: plain words, short sentences, one real detail.
Before
I wish to express my interest in the aforementioned position and to submit my candidature for your consideration.
After
I'd like to apply for the supply planning role. I've spent five years improving ordering in retail, and the work you describe is the part of the job I enjoy most.
Why it works: Nothing new was added; the five years were already on his resume. The new version sounds like a clear, friendly email to a senior colleague, which is the voice to aim for.
The first line sets the tone for everything after it, and how to write opening lines covers that part in detail.
How to find your voice
- Read it aloud. Wherever you stumble or feel embarrassed, rewrite.
- Use contractions when you would in speech, if the culture of the company allows. "I'd" and "I've" can warm a letter. If the sector is formal, keep to full forms.
- Choose simple words. "Use" is better than "utilize", "help" than "facilitate".
- Vary your sentence length. A few short sentences among longer ones keeps the rhythm natural.
- Write to one person, a real hiring manager, not to a committee.
Letter phrases learned at school
Many people were taught a formal letter style at school, with phrases such as "I humbly request", "kindly consider my candidature" or "I beg to apply". They were correct in that classroom. To most hiring managers today they sound old-fashioned, and they hide the writer. You do not need them to be polite. "Please consider my application" and "Thank you for your time" are courteous and modern, and the rest of the letter can simply say what you have done.
Match the sector
Tone also depends on where you are applying. A law firm, a bank or a public body may expect a more formal letter than a start up or a creative agency. Read the company's own pages. Their writing is a clue to what they will find natural. Aim for a step more polished than their everyday voice, not a different register.
Enthusiasm without exclamation marks
Interest shows through specifics. A line that says what you noticed about the company, or what you liked about the problem they are solving, is more convincing than "I am extremely excited". Keep adjectives to a minimum, and use facts.
Check for sameness
If a sentence could appear in a thousand other letters, it needs help. Ask what is particular about you or this job, and add that. If nothing is, delete the sentence.
A final read
Do these in order. Read it aloud once. Check names, dates and the company's name. Check that every claim is true and that you could discuss it. Then leave it for an hour and read again. If you are early in your career, the guide to cover letters with little experience shows how to stay warm without overclaiming.
Common questions
- Is a two page cover letter ever right?
- Rarely. Some academic and senior posts expect more, but for most jobs one page is the limit.
- Should I use contractions?
- If it sounds like you and the sector is not strictly formal, yes. If the company writes formally, use full forms.
- Can I use a little humour?
- A light touch can work in a relaxed sector, such as a small creative team, if it comes naturally and is about the work. A joke that needs explaining, or one at anyone's expense, costs more than it gains. When in doubt, let warmth do the job instead.