Final paragraph

Your last paragraph should include requests, reminders, and notes on enclosures. If necessary, your contact information should also be in this paragraph. Here are some common phrases used when closing a business letter:

• I look forward to...

• Please respond at your earliest convenience.

• I should also remind you that the next board meeting is on February 5th.

• For futher details...

• If you require more information...

• Thank you for taking this into consideration.

• I appreciate any feedback you may have.

• Enclosed you will find...

• Feel free to contact me by phone or email.

Closing

Here are some common ways to close a letter. Use a comma between the closing and your handwritten name (or typed in an email). If you do not use a comma or colon in your salutation, leave out the comma after the closing phrase:

• Yours truly,

• Yours sincerely,

• Sincerely,

• Sincerely yours,

• Thank you,

• Best wishes,

• All the best,

• Best of luck,

• Warm regards.

Writing Tips

• Use a conversational tone.

• Ask direct questions.

• Double-check gender and spelling of names.

• Use active voice whenever possible.

• Use polite modals (would in favour of will).

• Always refer to yourself as «I».

• Don’t use «we» unless it is clear exactly who the pronoun refers to.

• Rewrite any sentence or request that sounds vague.

• Don’t forget to include the date. Day-Month-Year is conventional in many countries; however, to avoid confusion, write out the month instead of using numbers (e.g. July 5th, 2007).

Business texting

If you work in an international context with English speaking colleagues, the chances are that you send or receive text messages. Text messages can be difficult to understand, as they can contain abbreviations and symbols. This article gives you help in understanding, as well as tips for texting in English.

Here are some features of English texting:

– initials of a word or words: brb (be right back);

– deleting letters (especially vowels): wrkng (working);

– using letters or numbers that sound like the words they replace: 4 NE1 (for anyone); 2 (to); b (be);

– using non-standard spellings: biz (business); coz (because); wot (what); av (have);

– using combinations of the above: 2day (today).

Some common text abbreviations

AFAIK = as far as I know

B = be

BTW = by the way

C = see

C U 2moro (= see you tomorrow)

CID = consider it done

EZ = easy

FWIW = for what it’s worth (when you’re not sure if the other person is interested in your idea)

FYI = for you information (when you want to say something important)

IMO = in my opinion (when you give your opinion)

L8 = late

L8R = later

msg = message

NE = any

NE1 = anyone

NO1 = no one

OTOH = on the other hand

PLS = please

R = are

where r u? = Where are you?

RUOK? = Are you OK?

RGDS = regards

SPK = speak

SRY = sorry

THNQ = thank you

THX/TX = thanks

U = you

W8 = wait

WAN2 = want to

WRK = work

XLNT = excellent

Y = why

YR = your

1 = one

NE1 (= anyone)

2 = to / two / too

2day (= today)

2moro (=tomorrow)

2nite (=tonight)

U2 (= you too)

4 = for

4 now (= for now)

B4 (= before)

GR8 (= great)

C U L8R (= see you later)