Formal letter
Páginas: 2 (467 palabras)
Publicado: 28 de mayo de 2011
Formal letter writing in English.
There are basically three rules to follow when writing an English formal or business letter.
1. Follow the conventions of a formal letter.
2. Use formallanguage.
3. Write as simply and clearly as possible and do not make it longer than necessary.
Conventions.
A. In a formal letter you are obliged to include your address and the address of therecipient. Your address (also called return address) should go on the top right-hand corner of the letter. The address of the recipient (also called inside address) should be written on the left side of thepage, starting below your address.
B. A letter needs to be dated. The date is written below the inside address, leaving a blank line in between. You are allowed to write the address on the left or onthe right of the page. Write out the name of the month as follows: May 10th, 2011 or September 11th, 2001. After the date leave a line blank.
C. Salutation. You always need to greet the person you’rewriting too, whether or not you know them. In a letter you use Dear. If you do know the person use ONLY there last name and their title, if you know this as well. E.g. Dear Dr. Jenkins, Dear MissJones,. If you don’t know if a female is married (Mrs.) or not (Miss.) use Ms. After the last name comes a comma! If you do not know the name of the person you’re writing to, write “Dear Sir or Madam,”.After the salutation, leave a line blank.
D. The way you end your letter depends again on whether or not you know the recipient. If you do, write: “Yours sincerely”. If you don’t, write: “Yoursfaithfully”. You do this AFTER you signed the letter with pen.
Formal language.
A formal letter needs formal language. You are not allowed to use slang (wanna, dude, groovy) or vague words. Besidesthat, you are not allowed to use contractions (don’t, won’t, I’m, they’re etc.) or abbreviations. You want to be polite.
Structure.
A formal letter usually only has 3 or 4 paragraphs. Use the...
There are basically three rules to follow when writing an English formal or business letter.
1. Follow the conventions of a formal letter.
2. Use formallanguage.
3. Write as simply and clearly as possible and do not make it longer than necessary.
Conventions.
A. In a formal letter you are obliged to include your address and the address of therecipient. Your address (also called return address) should go on the top right-hand corner of the letter. The address of the recipient (also called inside address) should be written on the left side of thepage, starting below your address.
B. A letter needs to be dated. The date is written below the inside address, leaving a blank line in between. You are allowed to write the address on the left or onthe right of the page. Write out the name of the month as follows: May 10th, 2011 or September 11th, 2001. After the date leave a line blank.
C. Salutation. You always need to greet the person you’rewriting too, whether or not you know them. In a letter you use Dear. If you do know the person use ONLY there last name and their title, if you know this as well. E.g. Dear Dr. Jenkins, Dear MissJones,. If you don’t know if a female is married (Mrs.) or not (Miss.) use Ms. After the last name comes a comma! If you do not know the name of the person you’re writing to, write “Dear Sir or Madam,”.After the salutation, leave a line blank.
D. The way you end your letter depends again on whether or not you know the recipient. If you do, write: “Yours sincerely”. If you don’t, write: “Yoursfaithfully”. You do this AFTER you signed the letter with pen.
Formal language.
A formal letter needs formal language. You are not allowed to use slang (wanna, dude, groovy) or vague words. Besidesthat, you are not allowed to use contractions (don’t, won’t, I’m, they’re etc.) or abbreviations. You want to be polite.
Structure.
A formal letter usually only has 3 or 4 paragraphs. Use the...
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