Добавил:
Upload Опубликованный материал нарушает ваши авторские права? Сообщите нам.
Вуз: Предмет: Файл:
book1.doc
Скачиваний:
75
Добавлен:
12.05.2015
Размер:
3.85 Mб
Скачать

Informal letter or email

An informal letter or email is usually between people who know each other fairly well. In addition to giving news, they are often used to request information, congratulate people, give advice and ask questions. There are a lot of similarities between informal letters and conversation. Informal letters ask a lot of questions, show interest and enthusiasm, and imagine a lot of shared information.

1 Titles and addresses

When writing an informal letter you sometimes write your own address and the date (but not your name) at the top right-hand corner of the page, then start the letter on the left-hand side. Addresses and dates are not given in an email, but emails do need a subject title. A subject title should be brief and should summarize the main point of the email.

EXAM TIP

Many exams do not require you to write your address and the date at the start of your letter, so make sure that you follow any instructions carefully.

Start with Dear followed by the first name of the person to whom you are writing. In emails, you can also start with Hi (and the person's name), or just the person's name.

Informal letters sometimes have a comma after the person's name, and the letter starts on the line below and is often indented. However, because of the popularity of word processing and emails, the rules on punctuation and layout have now become more relaxed. The important thing is to be consistent with the style that you choose to use (so if you use a comma after the person's name at the start of the letter, use a comma after the closing statement at the end).

STUDY NOTE

Don't forget to use only the first name of the person you are writing to, not x Dear Mr John, which is never used, or x Dear Mr John Brown, which sounds too formal.

2 Openings

When writing an informal letter, you are usually replying to another letter. You would normally start with a greeting, then acknowledge the letter to which you are replying. It is often a good idea to acknowledge some key information given in the original letter too. You can also make a comment on your own reply.

USEFUL PHRASES

Start with a greeting: How are you? | How have the family been? | I hope you are well.

Acknowledge the original letter: Thank you for the letter and parcel which arrived this morning. | It was great to hear from you again after such a long time. | I was so surprised to hear that you are going to university in America!

Make a comment on your reply: I have so much to tell you. | I'm sorry I haven't written for so long.

3 Covering all the issues

When you have finished your opening comments, begin a new paragraph and cover all the information that you want to mention. A letter that is written accurately and with a good range of language will still not be effective unless you make sure that you say all the things you need to say.

Make sure that your reply answers any questions that you were asked in the original letter or email and takes into account any additional information that you have been told to mention.

EXAM TIP

In many exam questions, you will be told what to include in your reply. There will also often be additional notes which serve as prompts for your reply. It is important that you include these in order to get a good grade.

Соседние файлы в предмете [НЕСОРТИРОВАННОЕ]