Formeller Brief Schreiben

preliminary note Every letter is something special and uni ue! "t#s difficult to give strict rules ho$ to $rite a letter! %evertheless& there are guidelines ho$ to start and finish a letter! 'i(e in English $e have typical standard e)perssions and there are clear features $hich distinguish a formal and informal letter!

"#d li(e to give some advice ho$ to $rite a formal letter *+usiness letter,! " $rote this discri+tion to help people to achieve the -.ertifi(at /eutsch- *level0 11,!

A word about the use of "du" and "Sie" 2s you (no$& $e#ve got t$o different forms in 3erman to address people0

du *you, 4ie *you,

5e call the use of du -du6en- and the use of 4ie -sie6en-!

/u is used for children& friends& family mem+ers& colleagues and people at your age! 4ie is used for people $ho are older than you and people you are not familiar $ith!

The use of -4ie- is a sign of respect and if " used -du- for a 70 years old $oman "#ve never met +efore it $ould +e rather offending! "f you are not sure a+out the age of your counterpart use -4ie-!

The use of -4ie-& ho$ever& has +ecome less strict than years +efore! 5hen " met my colleagues in our office for the first time and they $ere apparently at my age " used -dueven though "#d never met them +efore! 2nother e)ample is my ta+le tennis clu+ $here every+ody is using -du-! "t doesn#t matter if 8 or 80 years old! 5e all -du6en- each other!

The rule for formal letters is easy0 Use always "Sie"! /o so in the 119e)am!

:onsider0 ;ou have to capitalise +oth -4ie- and -"hr < "hre < "hres-!

Thomas Hfler 2005 2009

Formeller Brief Schreiben

example letter

Thomas Hfler 2005 2009

Formeller Brief Schreiben

10 2dresse des 2+senders *addresser,

"n a formal *+usiness, letters you have to put your address on the top of the letter! The simplest $ay is to put it on the left& top corner as sho$n in the e)ample! There are many other $ays to do it! >ost companies design a nice head in the middle *top, and integrate their company logo and address!

"n the 119e)am you $ill get a clear order to leave out the address! ?ollo$ the order and safe time!

20 2dresse des Empf@ngers *addressee,

"n a formal *+usiness, letters you have to put the address of the receiver on the top of the letter as $ell! " suggest the top& left corner as sho$n in the e)ample! There is a simple reason $hy! >any people use envelopes $ith a transparent $indo$ so that they don#t have to put an address la+el on the outide! This place is common in 3ermany!

"n the 119e)am you $ill get a clear order to leave out the address! ?ollo$ the order and safe time!

=0 Art und /atum *location and date,

;ou start $ith the place& follo$ed +y a comma and the date! :onsider0 5e $rite in 3erman the date in the follo$ing order0 day | month | year

B0 1etreff6eile *su+Cect heading,

The su+Cect heading should summarise the content of your letter! 5rite in one line $hat is the letter a+out so that the reader (no$s immediatly he is the right addressee and that he (no$s $hat you $ant!

"t#s not usual anymore to start the su+Cect heading $ith0 -1etreff- *De0,! Eust start your te)t $ith a capital letter and emphasi6e the su+Cect heading *+old letters,!

Here some typical su+Cect headings0

German "hre 2n6eige vom 19!01!2009 1e$er+ung als 2u9Fair9>@dchen in "hrer ?amilie

use answer to an advertisement in a newspaper application as au pair

Thomas Hfler 2005 2009

Formeller Brief Schreiben

"n the 119e)am you have to $rite a semiformal letter! There is no need to $rite a su+Cect heading in a semiformal letter! 4o leave it out and safe time!

50 1egrGHungI2nrede *salutation,

Typcial salutations for a formal letter are0

German 4ehr geehrte ?rau >Gller& 4ehr geehrter Herr >Gller& 4ehr geehrte /amen und Herren&

English /ear >rs >Gller /ear >r >Gller /ear 4ir or >adam

e)planation formal salution for woman (married or unmarried*) formal salution for man formal salution if the name is unknown

J The term -?r@ulein- *>s, for an unmarried $oman is old9fashioned and not used anymore!

:onsider0 The salutation ends $ith a comma!

K0 Einleitungssat6 *introduction,
Typcial introductions for a formal letter are0

German vielen /an( fGr "hren 1rief! "ch ha+e mich sehr darG+er gefreut! vielen /an( fGr "hre Einladung! 3erne (ommen meine ?rau und ich !!! mit groHem "nteresse ha+e ich "hre .eitungsan6eige gelesen! entschuldigen 4ie& dass ich erst Cet6t auf "hren 1rief ant$orte!

use

standard introducution to answer a letter

introducution to say thank you for an invitation

standard introducution to answer an advertisement in a newspaper standard introducution to answer a letter

(belated answer)

:onsider0 The introductions starts $ith a small letterL

Thomas Hfler 2005 2009

Formeller Brief Schreiben

70 Hauptteil *main part,

There are no strict rules for the main part! "n the 119e)am you $ill get = or B points you have to cover!

>y suggestion0

ma(e at first some short (eynotes to every points to ma(e clear $hat you $ant to say "t#s a+solutly o( if you do it in your language! +ring the =9B points in a logical order $rite 1 9 2 sentences a+out every point! structure your te)t0 use e!g! for every point one paragraph "t ma(es it much easier to read the te)t!

The tas( for the e)amle letter a+ove could have +een to cover the follo$ing points0

80 2+schlusssat6 *closing,
Typcial closings for a formal letter are0

German standard answer) standard answer) closing closing

use (with request for an

"ch $Grde mich freuen& +ald et$as von "hnen 6u hren!

"ch hoffe& +ald et$as von "hnen 6u hren!

(with

request

for

an

Mielen /an( im Moraus! "m Moraus vielen /an( fGr "hre >Ghe! "ch freue mich sehr darauf& 4ie und "hre ?amilie (ennen 6u lernen!

closing (say thank you in advance) closing (say thank you in advance)

closing (with looking forward to meeting)

Thomas Hfler 2005 2009

Formeller Brief Schreiben

90 3rGHe *greetings,
Typcial greetings for a formal letter are0

German >it freundlich 3rGHen >it freundlichem 3ruH Hochachtungsvoll

English ;ours faithfully ;ours faithfully ;ours respectfully

e)planation the standard greetings which always fit also a standard greeting that always fits very respectful greetings (a bit old-fashioned)

:onsider0 The greeting starts $ith a capital letter and ends $ithout comma!

100 Nnterschrift *sign,

/on#t forget to put your name at the end! "n +usiness letters it#s even common to put at first the hand$ritten sign and underneath again the full name $ith degree or title +ecause most signs can#t +e identified!

?or the 119e)am it#s enough Cust to $rite clearly your full name *hand$ritten,!

Thomas Hfler 2005 2009