Writing e-mails

How should you begin and finish and email message to someone you don't know? Find out here!

1) How often do you send and

receive emails?
2) When was the last time you
send an email? Was it formal or
informal?
3) Do you generally write formal
or informal emails at work?
4) Which are some of the main
differences between a formal So if you don't get this email, it's
and informal email? Give some because I wrote the wrong
examples you know. address again. Please reply to
me ASAP.
Best,
Bob

Formal or informal?
We write a formal email when we want to be polite or when we don't
know the reader very well. A lot of work emails are formal or informal.
Here are some examples of formal and informal messages.

Layout and Punctuation

Starting an email: we normally write a comma after the opening phrase.
Finishing an email: we normally write a comma after the closing phrase, too.
 What are some good opening greetings for emails?

1. Read the phrases and try to complete them with the words below.
BE CAREFUL! There are 2 extra words you don't need.

7
1

2
9

4
10
5
3
6

1.a while
2. who Formal
3. again or informal?
4. back
ember
5. achievement Let's see ho w m uch you know and rem
2. in
rm al and inform al. Classify the phrases
6. answer about fo
se.
the following exerci
7. whom
8. regarding
9. let
10. reaching wordwall.net/resource/53362154
https://
11. short
12. update
 Writing e-mails

Writer's purpose
When you write an email, you need to make it clear why you are
writing. You can do this by using the phrase "I am writing to + verb" at
the beginning of your email. Here are some examples:

3. Write the opening lines for the emails according to Patrick's writing purpose.

WRITER'S PURPOSE
A) Patrick, a maths teacher, emails all
the maths teachers at his school about
some training course.

B) Patrick wrote to his friend about

their plans to play football at the
weekend.

C) Patrick sent an email asking for

more information about a conference.

D) Patrick writes an email to complain

about the delay on an Amazon product
purchase.

E) Patrick wants to apply for the

teacher coordinator position at a school.
 Are you a usual email writer?
-Here you have a guide with different fixed phrases ready
for you to use depending on the purpose-

What is the objective

It's for you to learn, get accustomed
of working with this
to use them and to improve
list of ready-made
your level when writing emails.
phrases?

4. Let's read and check each phrase. Later on you will have to put them into practice.

Follow-up phrases To introduce email purpose

I will have an answer for you shortly.
I am looking into the issue right now.
I will keep you informed if anything develops.
I'll keep you posted.
I'll lprovide you with an answer by... (time)
I'll have a more detailed response by (time)
I'll have a solution by... (time)
I wanted to get back to you about...
Here I am with the details about...
As we discussed/ agreed in our previous
email/meeting....
With reference to ...
About your (job ad / request/etc)
I am emailing you to...(+verb)
I am writing about my reservation for...
I am writing because I need to inform you...
I am writing to...
Just a quick note to tell you about...
I would like to ask / inform you about...
I am reaching out because...
(someone) recommended me to get in touch
with you...

Thanksgiving phrases To request something politely.

Thanks for the quick response.
Thanks for getting in touch.
Thanks for letting me know about...
I am writing you to thank you about...
Many thanks for your help / email this
morning.
Thank you for your email regarding the...
Thank you in advance for your response.
I was wondering if you could/ were able to
check /send...
I would be grateful if you could...
Could / can you provide me with an update
on...
Could / can we put the meeting off to...(time)
Could / can you let me know if you are
available on...
Could you please sign the attached form and
sent it back to us by... (time)
I would appreciate if you could send me a
reply to my previous email.
 Emails with attachement
I have attached the (file) for your review for
you to check...
The attached file contains...
I am enclosing...
I'm sending you the...
Please note that...
Please find the (PDF/invoice/etc) attached .
Please see the file below for more details
about...
Please take a look at the attached file.
Take a look at the (file) I've attached.
Miscellaneous
Apologize
I apologize for the delay in...
I assure you that this will not happen again
I am very sorry to hear about...
I'm sorry but I can't make it on...
To provide someone with (help/file/ info)
If you require any further information...
If I can be of any further assistance...
Here is the (file) you have asked for.
Here is the document we discussed about.
Look forward to
Look forward to + -ing verb
I look forward to receiving your reply as soon
as possible.
I look forward to meeting / seeing you on...
We look forward to receiving your feedback
on...
I look forward to + noun
I look forward to your reply / email
Looking forward to your reply.
Now we are going to apply
theory to practice!
But first, you need to
re-read all the phrases for
different situations we have use
and read so far. So you have
them "fresh" in
your mind.
 Ready to start?
THE ACTIVITY IS DIVIDED INTO 2 PARTS

Part I: FORMAL EMAILS

5. Choose 2 or 3 topics from the list below and

write 2 formal emails. Avoid u
A.Your supplier is late again with a delivery. Write
sing the sam
e phras
an email to him/her complaining about this. all the es in
emails.
B. You are considering changing your supplier.
Write an email to a potential supplier enquiring You ha
about the price and discount policy. ve a great
variety
choose to
C. You are interested in applying for a job from.
advertised in a job hunting web page; you want to
know more details.
D. Respond to a customer complaint about one of
your products or services.
E. You want to arrange an online meeting with a
colleague of another branch abroad. Ask about
his/her availability and anounce the prospective
topics of the meeting.

Part II: INFORMAL EMAILS

2. Choose 2 or 3 topics from the list below and

write 2 informal emails.
A. You have to cancel your English lesson. Write
an email to your English teacher. You should ask
for an alternative day to attend classes.
B. You are going to go to an intetesting
party/exhibition/training course/concert/etc.
Write your friend to invite him/her.
ce
r th e differen C. You contact an English academy to get info
be
Remem FORMA
L& about the courses. Ask about the timetable,
ee n
betw riting s
tyle modality (on-site or virtual) the costs and any
M A L w
INFOR real detail you may need to know.
D. An extra long weekend is coming and you are
thinking about going on holiday to Mendoza.
Think about a real situation and ask whatever
you neeed to know before booking.