Information about To: Artendo SA Attention: Anna Soriano
the sender and Purchasing Department
receiver
From: John Parks Subject: New price list
Date: 17/3/- - Pages (including this one): six
The number
of sheets to be
transmitted
Greetings are It was very nice to meet you in Madrid last week. As promised, I am sending
often omitted our new price list, which will become effective next month.
in faxes
If you ever come to Winchester, I do hope you will have time to look me up.
I would be most happy to show you around our site.
Best wishes,
John Parks
Yours sincerely and
Yours faithfully are
used less frequently
in faxes. Best wishes,
Kind regards, or
simply Regards are
common.
If you do not receive all the pages, please advise us as soon as possible. In case of a during
transmission
A. Useful Language: Writing letters.
Informal letters
Start with
Dear + first name
Hi + first name (=used in very informal letters)
It was nice to hear from youIt was great to see you / It was good to see you.I’m having a good holiday in…/ I’m having a good time in…Thanks for the…Sorry I haven’t written for so long. / Sorry I haven’t been in touch.
End with
Look forward to seeing from you soon./ Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Hope all’s well.
Neutral – Best wishes (from)
With best wishes
All the (very) best
Formal – Yours
Informal – Love (from)
Lots of love (from)
All my love
XXXX (=lots of kisses; used especially when writing to
your boyfriend or girlfriend)
+ your first name.
Formal letters
Start with
Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms + family name (you use Ms when youdon’t know if the woman is married or not )
Dear Dr/Professor + family name
Dear Sir (=used when you don’t know the man’s name)
Dear Madam (=used when you don’t know the woman’s name)
Dear Sir or Madam (=used when you don’t know if you are writing to a man or woman)
To Whom it may Concern(=used when you don’t know the person’s name)
I am writing to ask whether/ to say that…I am writing in reply to your advertisement…Please could you send me /I would appreciate if you could send me/Iwould be grateful if you could send me…I enclose my CV/a cheque for…
End with
Yours truly (= used in American English)
Yours sincerely (= used in British English when you know the person’s name)
Yours faithfully(= used in British English when you don’t know the person’s name)
B. Useful Language: Email structure
One of the advantages of emails over normal 'snail-mail' letters is that they are quick and direct. We send an email for a particular purpose and we expect a fast response or immediate action. For emails - whether formal or informal - to be most effective, it is a good idea to give them a clear, logical structure.
Salutation:As in letter-writing, the salutation can be formal or informal, depending on how well you know the person you are writing to.
Dear Mr, Mrs, Ms ...
-A formal form of address, also used when first contacting a person.
Dear John
-Less formal. Either you have had contact with this person before, or they have already addressed you by your first name.
Hi/Hello Mary or just the name
-Informal, usually used with colleagues you often work with. In the U.S.A. and the U.K. also sometimes used at first contact.
no salutation
-Very informal, usually used in messages which are part of a longer email exchange.
Opening sentence: This is used to explain why you are writing. (Remember: the opening sentence should always start with a capital letter.)
I'm writing to…
-More formal introduction to say why you are writing.
Conclusion: This is where you tell the reader what kind of response, if any, you expect.
Looking forward to your reply.
-Friendly ending, can be used in formal or informal correspondence.
Hope to hear from you soon.
-Informal ending to indicate a reply is necessary.
Close: Like the salutation, this can vary from formal to very informal.
Yours sincerely
-Very formal, rarely used in email correspondence.
Regards/Best wishes
-Most commonly used close, can be used in formal and informal emails.
Bye/All the Best/Best
-Friendly, informal close.
James/Mary
-Name only (or initials) is also common when writing to close colleagues.
USEFUL PHRASES AND VOCABULARY FOR EMAIL
Salutations
When you don’t know the name:
Dear Sir or Madam
To whom it may concern
Hello
(no salutation)
When writing to a group:
Dear all
Hi everyone
When you know the name:
Dear Mr, Mrs, Ms…
Dear John
Hello Pat
Hi Mary
Hey John
Mira
(no salutation)
an attachment.
When things go wrong:
I’m afraid you forget to attach the file /…
I’m afraid I can’t open the file / document. Can /Could you send it again in…format, please?
Requesting action
Have you … yet?
Can you send … to me by Friday, please?
I need … by Thursday.
Please get / keep in touch.
Keep me posted.
Opening sentence
Replying to an email:
Thanks ( very much) for your email.
This is to say thanks for your email.
Giving a reason:
I’m ( just) writing to… clarify…
Just a (quick) note to… conform…
Just a short email to… inform you…
follow up on…
let you know…
reply to…
request…
tell you…
thank you…
update you…
Replying to an enquiry
Thank you for your interest.
I’m pleased to send you…
I’m sending you … (in an attachment)
Please find the requested information attached.
We hope you find this satisfactory.
We hope you are happy / satisfied with this.
Thanks for choosing…
When there will be a delay:
Your request is being processed.
We are working on your request.
Attaching files
I’m sending you / attaching…
I’ve attached…
Please find attached…
I’m sending you the price list/document as an attachment.
When things go wrong:
I’m afraid you forget to attach the file /…
I’m afraid I can’t open the file / document. Can /Could you send it again in…format, please?
Informing
I’d like to inform you of…
Just a few comments about your last mail:
I’m writing to tell you about / let you know…
Just a note to say …
Here’s the low-down on…
Just to update you on …
FYI: This is to let you know…
Hope this helps.
Let me/ us know if you need anything else.
Making enquiries
I am interested in receiving / finding out…
I would like to receive…
We would be grateful if…
Could/ Can you please send me…?
Please send me…
Would you be able to (help)…?
Can you help?
I’d appreciate a reply asap.
Please answer asap.
Requesting action
Have you … yet?
Can you send … to me by Friday, please?
I need … by Thursday.
Please get / keep in touch.
Keep me posted.
Replying
Thanks for your email…
In reply to your email, here are…
Re your email, I …
You’ll find the info (mation) attached.
I’ll get back to you asap…
I’ll follow up the points mentioned in your email…
Giving bad news
We regret to tell /inform you …
I’m sorry ,but…
I am afraid that…
Unfortunately, …
Making arrangements
Just a quick note to arrange a time to meet.
I’m writing to set up / arrange…
Is … OK?
Where should we meet?
Should I pick you up at/from…?
Could you collect me at …?
Complaining
I’m writing to complain (about) …
We’re not happy with…
I was disappointed to find/ hear…
I’m afraid that…
Unfortunately, …
Confirming arrangements
I’d like to confirm…
Just writing to confirm…
Tuesday is good for me.
Please send me an email by 5 pm today to confirm this.
Looking forward to seeing/meeting…
Changing arrangements
I’m sorry but I can’t do/make Thursday.
This is to let you now that I’ve had to put off/postpone…
I’m writing to call off /cancel …
I’m afraid I can’t make /manage Friday. How about… instead?
Apologizing
For a delay in answering:
I do apologize for the delay in replying.
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
Sorry this is so late.
For not being able to help:
Sorry, I don’t know.
I’m afraid I can’t help you.
For something more serious:
We must apologize for…
We deeply regret…
My sincere apologies (close)
We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Please accept our apologies.
I’m so sorry…
Friendly ending
When you want a reply:
I look forward / Looking forward to hearing from you / to your reply.
Hope to hear from you soon.
I’d appreciate a reply asap.
Offering more help:
Do not hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance.
Feel free to get in touch …
if you have any other questions
if you need more help.
With any questions.
Let me know if you need anything else /if I can help you further.
General:
Thanks for your help / cooperation.
Hope all is well with you.
Have a nice day / weekend!
Giving good news
I am /We are pleased to inform you …
I’m happy to tell you…
You’ll be happy / delighted to hear that…
Close
Your sincerely
Kind /Best regards
Regards
Best wishes
All the best
Best
See you (soon)
Take care
Bye (for now)
[just the name or initials]
[no close]