Formal Informal Letters

INFORMAL LETTERS General tips Use contractions: "We'd love to see you." Use 'really' for emphasis: "We're going to have a really good time." You can have incomplete sentences: "Great idea! Fantastic! Can't wait to see you." Use "get": "get home", "get bored", "get sick", "get back", "get away", "get a present" Short questions are fine: "What do you think?" "Will it be expensive?" Replying to a letter from a friend Dear Bob, Thanks for your letter. It was great to hear that your broken leg is better now, and that you are back with the team playing football regularly. Guess what? Mum and Dad are planning a trip to sunny England, so ........ Well, that's all for now. Write soon and tell me about .............. Love, Dug Writing after a long time Dear Tracy, Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote to you. I have been really busy with ......... Anyway, I have some good news. ....... Write back soon and let me know ...... Asking for more information I'd like a bit more information about ................ One thing is the accommodation. Will we be staying in tents? And about the food, do you know if ............? Another thing is the price. How much will it cost? Can you tell me if ................? Write back soon so that we can arrange the flight tickets. Best wishes to all the family. Love, Dug Giving information and making suggestions You asked about ............. Well, where can I begin? I definitely think you should .............. And don't worry about the ................... We will make sure .............. Also, it would be a great idea to ............... If I were you, I would ................. About the price, it costs .......... Lastly, I want to tell you about the ........... Does that help? If you've got any more questions, drop me another line. I can't wait to see you. We're going to have a fantastic time on the beach. All the best, Dug Inviting people We're spending two weeks in the mountains and we'd love you to come with us. Are you free? I hope so because we'll have a really great time. Turning down invitations Thanks for the invitation but I'm really sorry that I won't be able to come. We've already arranged to go on a scubadiving trip to the Red Sea.

FORMAL LETTERS Letters of complaint: Two beginnings: Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to complain about the holiday your company organised on the island of Tahiti. We have just returned from the island and unfortunately we feel very dissatisfied. Or: Dear Sir/Madam, I have just returned from one of your holidays on the island of Tahiti and I am writing to express my strong dissatisfaction. Then: Your brochure promised us ........, but when we got there we were shocked/ disappointed to find that ............... Furthermore, although the advert said that ................., in reality ......... Moreover, the ............ was supposed to be ......................, but ............ The holiday was also ruined by .............................. As if that wasn't enough, we then found that ............ In view of all this we feel we deserve a full refund and a letter of apology. I hope this matter will receive your immediate attention. Yours faithfully, Letters giving information and making suggestions Dear Mr. ..... I am writing in reply to your letter asking for information about ........ You asked about the ................ I would like to let you know that .... As for the ..........., I would suggest that you .......... You also ought to ........... It would be an excellent idea to ............. It would be a mistake to ............. I hope that you find this helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information. Yours sincerely, Letters asking for further information Dear ....... I am writing to inquire about the ................... I am interested in your ............. but I need some further information. First of all, your advert mentions ................. Could you please let me know .............. ? I would also like to know .................... Another question concerns the ............. Will they be .............? Lastly, I would be grateful if you could tell me ................ I look forward to hearing from you. Letters of application Dear ...... I am writing to apply for the job of/ for a place on your ..... course which I saw advertised in "The Guardian" newspaper. I am 26 years old and at the moment I am studying astrophysics at ........ Having studied English for over seven years I am a fluent speaker of the language. My qualifications also include Proficiency certificates in both French and German. As far as experience is concerned, I have worked as ............. for ........... As for my character, people tell me I am ............... I feel I would be suitable for this job because ............ Thankyou for considering my application. Invitations I would like to invite you to ............. Turning down invitations I am sorry to tell you that I will not be able to .........