Letter writing I.

• English
• Special Education

Investigate the correct format of a letter

Writing letters

Formal    

An email to a customer 

A job application

An email to your manager

A complaint to a shop

An email from one company to another company (B2B)

Informal    

A message to a friend

An email to a colleague who is also a good friend

An email with some funny stuff in it

A message to a friend on a social networking site

Style

Formal    

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. Jackson,

Dear Sir or Madam,

Dear Hiring Manager,

To whom it may concern,

Greetings

• Hölgyek esetén az alapértelmezett a Ms. (ha nem vagyunk tisztában a családi állapotával).
• A munkakör alapján megszólítást ha lehet, kerüljük, mivel picit degradáló.
• Figyelj, hogy alapvetően mindig vessző követi a megszólítást (felkiáltójel soha), üzleti levél esetén pedig kettőspont!

Esetleg a Dear + keresztnév is szóba jöhet, de ez már inkább egy "distant" formula, távolabbi ismerős, vagy rokon számára.

Informal    

Hi Jack,

Morning Tim,

Hello Charles,

Formal    

Dear Mr Piper,

I am writing to thank you for all your help.

I look forward to seeing you next week.

With best wishes,

John Smith

Informal    

Hi Tim,

Many thanks for your help.

See you next week.

Cheers,

John

Examples

Összevonások

Formális levelezés esetén az összevonások, rövidítések kerülendők.

Formal    

Best regards,

Your sincerely,

Yours faithfully,

Yours truly,

Closing

• Alapértelmezetten a "Best regards" használható, kb "Üdvözlettel".
• Ha már egy-két levélváltáson túl vagyunk, egyszerűsíthetjük "Regards"-ra, kb "Üdv"
• Hivatalos szervnek, magasabb pozícióban lévőnek inkább a "Your sincerely" ajánlott, kb "Tisztelettel"

Informal    

BR, / Rgds,

Bye for now,

Cheers,

See you soon,

Bye,

Kicsit távolabbi kapcsolat esetén jó lehet a "Best wishes" is.

Openings, starters:

How are you? / How have the family been? / I hope you are well.

Thank you / Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter / message.

It was good / nice / great to hear from you again.

I was so surprised to hear that...

I’m sorry I haven’t written / haven't been in touch for such a long time.

It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you're well / you and your family are well.

How are things? / How are you? / How’s it going?

Useful phrases:

Referring to news

Great news about … Glad to hear that … Sorry to hear about …

Giving news

Listen, did I tell you about …? You’ll never believe what …

Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that …

I thought you might be interested to hear about / know that …

By the way, have you heard about / did you know that …?

Useful phrases II:

Apologies

I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu.

I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday greeting but I was busy with my new llama.

Invitations

I’m / We’re having a party on Friday 19th and I / we hope you’ll be able to come.

Would you like to come / go to see ‘A Roxbury Night’ with me at the weekend?

I was wondering if you’d like to go to the Kowalsky concert / come on holiday with us.

Could you let me / us know if you can come / you’d like to join us?

Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come.

Thank you for asking / inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …

Useful phrases III:

Requests

I’m writing to ask for your help / you (if you could do me) a favour.

I wonder if / I was wondering if you could help me / do me a favour.

I hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …?

I’d be very / really / terribly grateful if you could …

Useful phrases IV:

Making suggestions and recommendations

Why don’t you …? / Maybe you could …? / How about …?

You can’t leave Gyömrő without (...doing sth)

I’m sure you will enjoy (...doing sth). If you like, we can …

Do visit ... / Don’t forget to ... 

Thank you / Congratulations / Good Luck

I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality / the wonderful present.

It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you.

I really appreciated all your help / advice.

Congratulations on passing your exams Roland / your excellent exam results!

I wish you good luck / Good luck in / with your exams / your driving test / your interview.

Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do well / pass.

Do be on time, won’t you, and don’t forget to …

Useful phrases V: