WRITING LETTERS /

EMAILS
FORMAL VS. INFORMAL
LETTERS & EMAILS
THE FORMAL LETTER /
EMAIL
THE FORMAL LETTER /EMAIL

Remember to include these three issues at some point:

• Why are you writing?
• Organize the information.
• What do you expect from your letter/email?

Opening:

Dear Sir / Madam, Dear Mr. / Mrs. / Ms. Smith,

Closing:
• Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely,
• Best regards, Best regards,
• Kind regards, Kind regards,
 The formal letter / email

TO REQUEST INFORMATION TO MAKE A COMPLAINT

• I am writing in response to … • I am writing to you about an unfortunate

incident that …
• I am writing to enquire whether you
could … • To make matters worse, …

• I would like to know more about … • I would be grateful if you could …

 
THE INFORMAL
LETTER / EMAIL
THE INFORMAL LETTER /
EMAIL

Opening: Dear Martin,

 
Closing: Best wishes,
All the best,
Love,
Lots of love,
 
1. Asking personal questions.
2. Why you are writing.
3. Include any information you’ve been asked for.
4. Finish your letter/email with an appropriate
comment. Do not stop abruptly!
 The informal letter/ email

TO BEGIN THE LETTER/EMAIL TO END THE LETTER/EMAIL

• Thank you for your letter/message.
It was great to hear from you.
•Sorry I haven’t written for so long.
I’ve been really busy just recently.
• That’s about all my news. Do write
soon and let me know what you’ve
been doing.
•I’m looking forward to seeing you on
…

•Give my love to …
 The informal letter / email

TO APOLOGISE TO INVITE SOMEONE

• I’m really sorry that … But unfortunately, … • Why don’t you come …
• We were wondering if …

TO CONGRATULATE SOMEONE TO RESPOND TO AN INVITATION

•Congratulations on … • Thanks for the dinner invitation … I would

love to come.
•Well done on …
• It was really kind of you to invite us for the …
•I just wanted you to know how pleased … but I’m afraid …
INFORMAL STYLE

Contracted forms: I’m / don’t / etc.

Phrasal verbs
Phrases with get, take, have, etc., for example, take a look
Short sentences
Simple linking words, for example, then, and.
Direct questions, for example, What about …?
Some exclamations marks (not too many!)
Formal or informal?

Initial greetings:

• It was great to hear from you.

• I am writing with reference to your letter.
• Thanks for writing to me.

Congratulations:

• Well done!
• I would like to offer congratulations on …
• Let me congratulate you on …

Opinion:

• In my opinion …
• To my mind …
• I hold the view that …
• Personally, I have no doubt that …
• My own thoughts are …
Formal or informal?
Advice / suggestion:

• Why not try …

• What about trying …?
• It is recommended that you …
• You could …
• I urge you to …
• I suggest that …
• If I were you …

Linkers:

• Moreover…
• Also …
• Then again …
• Furthermore …
• Better still …
• As well as that …
• What’s more …
• Additionally …
Formal or informal?
Endings:

• Do drop me a line if you have time.

• I look forward to hearing from you without
delay.
• Hope to hear from you soon.
• Keep in touch.
• I hope to hear from you at your earliest
convenience.
Opening & • Match these openings and closing formulae and
say when you should use each of them:
closing a letter
• Dear Jayne, Yours faithfully,
• Dear Sir, Yours sincerely,
• Dear Ms. Jones, Love,
Now, go to your
Coursebook…

Module 1 (pp. 12-13)

Module 10 (pp. 138-139)
Writing: Informal email

Read the task in p. 12

Plan your email (3a
of your Coursebook
and 3b)
(Exercise 2)

Pay attention to the Finally, write and

language and content check your email (5 &
(4 a-d) 6)
Writing: Semi-formal email

Read the task in p. 138

Plan your email (3a-
of your Coursebook
3c)
(Exercise 2)

Pay attention to the Finally, write and

language and content check your email (5 &
(4 a-e) 6)