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Writing: Letters/Emails

Writing: Letters/Emails

There are quite a few types, such as:

• Letters/Emails can be formal, semi-formal or informal.

• Invitations
• Accepting or refusing invitations
• Asking for or giving information
• Applications
• Complaints
• Apologies
• Asking for/giving advice
• Giving news
• Expressing thanks/regrets/congratulations etc.

• Before we start writing a letter/email it is important to think who we are writing to.

Informal letters/emails

• Informal letters/emails are sent to people you know well.
• An informal letter/email should consist of:
• an informal greeting e.g. Dear Ann,
• an introduction (opening remarks and the reason for writing)

• A main body (the main subjects of the letter/email in detail)
• A conclusion (your closing remarks)

e.g. How is it going?

e.g. I have to go now…

Semi-formal letters/emails

• Semi-formal letters/emails are sent to someone you know but are not intimate with

• Informal ending

e.g. your friend’s parents, a distant relative

e.g. Best Wishes/Yours + full name

• Semi-formal letters/emails contain:
• Formal greetings

• A respectful tone
• Pronouns should not be omitted and idioms should be used carefully

e.g. Dear Mr and Mrs Smith

Semi-formal or informal style

• Greeting: e.g. Dear Ann,
• Friendly, personal tone e.g. Thanks so much for your last letter.
• Colloquial expressions, idioms, phrasal verbs, short forms e.g. It’s great to hear …
• Pronouns are often omitted e.g. Thought I’d drop you a line.
• Chatty, use of literary devices e.g. You’re as stubborn as a mule sometimes.

Informal letters/emails

To: Harry Parker

Date: 10 th May

Subject: Summer plans

Dear … ,

Thanks for your letter. It’s great the summer’s nearly here, isn’t it? The adventure holiday you mentioned sounds like a great idea! Do you know if they offer rock climbing and canoeing? I hope so!

I’d love to come for two weeks, but my sister’s getting married during the first week so I – obviously! – have to be here. I could come for the second week, though. You didn’t say how much it costs.

One more question for now – what’s the best way to get to Wales from London? Is there a train or a bus that goes near the place?

Well, I’d better go now as I’ve got an exam tomorrow.

Hope to hear from you soon.

All the best ,

Julia

Formal letters/emails

• Formal letters/emails are normally sent to people in an official position or people you don’t know well
• A formal letter should consist of:
• a formal greeting

• a main body (the main subjects of the letter in detail)
• a conclusion (closing remarks) e.g. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible…
• a formal ending

e.g. Dear Sir/Madam

e.g. Yours faithfully (when you don’t know the person’s name) + your full name

e.g. Dear Ms Jones

• an Introduction ( your opening remarks and reasons for writing)
• E.g. I am writing to apply for the position of…

e.g. Yours sincerely (when you know the person’s name) + your full name

Formal Style

• Greeting e.g. Dear Sir/Madam or Dear Mr Smith,
• Serious impersonal tone e.g. It was pleasing to hear that you are in good health.
• Complex sentence structure – frequent use of passive voice – no phrasal verbs – no colloquial English - advanced vocabulary - no short forms

• Sign off

Yours faithfully/Your sincerely,

Peter Brown

Formal letters/emails

Dear Mr Spencer,

I am writing in response to your advertisement, which appeared in tonight’s Evening News. I would like to be considered for the filming you are planning to do in my local area during the month of August.

I am fourteen years old and attend my local secondary school. I am one metre fifty centimetres tall, of slim build with shoulder-length dark hair. In terms of my character, I am outgoing and sociable and enjoy meeting new people.

The advertisement mentions the fact that applicants need to be available for ten days of filming. I would like to inform you that I am available any time between the 14 th and 29 th of August.

If you require any further information , please do not hesitate to contact me. I am available for interview at your convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Martha Cohen

Источники:

• Звездный английский 10 класс учебник для общеобразовательных организаций. Углубленный уровень. К.М. Баранова, Д. Дули, В.В. Копылова, Р.П. Мильруд, В. Эванс. Москва «Просвещение» «Express Publishing»,2014
• Malcolm Mann, Steve Taylor – Knowles Laser B2 Student’s book Издательство «Макмиллан» второе издание, 2008