Formal 

and informal letter

(Официальные и неофициальные письма)
Официальные письма пишут по многим причинам: представить какую-либо
информацию, подать заявку, для рекомендации кого-то или чего-то, а также чтобы
пожаловаться, извиниться  и т.д.
Неофициальные письма пишут по похожим причинам, но обычно тем людям, которых
мы знаем.
Основным отличием этих писем является язык, который вы используете. Во всех
случаях важно, чтобы стиль письма соответствовал целевой аудитории.
Основные составляющие хорошего письма:
1. Введение (Introduction), где вы пишите цель вашего послания. В
официальных письмах следует представиться.
2. Основная часть (Main body), где вы, собственно говоря, пишите о своем
вопросе, пожелании и т.д.. Каждый новый аспект должен быть вынесен в новый
абзац. Как правило, новый абзац нужно начинать с тематического предложения.
Примеры и пояснения следуют в далее идущих предложениях.
3. Выводы (A conclusion), где вы обращаете внимание на главные моменты
вашего письма и/ или выражаете свое мнение. В официальном письме, любое
действие, которое вы хотите предпринять должно сопровождаться пояснениями. В
неофициальном же письме, вы обычно пишите пожелания.
Важно сохранять один и тот же стиль во всем письме, это значит не смешивать
слишком формальные фразы с повседневными.
Официальное письмо содержит:
 неопределенно-личные предложения;
 использование пассивных форм в большинстве случаев;
 сложные грамматические конструкции;
 более сложные и официальные фразы;
 специальные связующие слова (furthermore, first of all, secondly, finally, in fact,
with reference to, to conclude);
В официальном письме не должно быть сокращений.
Неофициальное письмо содержит:
 повседневную лексику, идиоматические выражения;
 прямое обращение, определенно-личные предложения;
 редкое использование пассива;
 менее сложные грамматические структуры;
 сокращения;
 упрощенные связующие слова.
 Formal letter Informal letter

Начинают письмо обычно с фраз:

Dear Sir/ Madam, (если имя и фамилия

человека не известны) Dear John,
Dear Mr/ Mrs / Ms Brown, (когда мы Dear Kate,
знаем кому пишем)

Заканчивают так:

Yours faithfully, Lots of love, kisses

Yours sincerely, Take care

Прежде всего, нужно объяснить, почему

вы пишите:
I am writing to request…/ inform…/
complain about../ etc..
В неофициальном письме, перед тем как
Кроме этого можно добавить:
писать основной текст, вы можете спросить
- кто вы: I am writing on behalf of my
как дела у того человека, которому вы
English class
пишите:
- ссылку на то, что вы видели, слышали: I
How are you doing?
am writing in response to your
How are things?
advertisement in newspaper
- детали места, времени, событий: …
while I was attending the seminar on the
8th of June…

http://airyschool.ru/

Name

Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith Hi/Hello Mary

Dear Mary Mary,....(or no name at all)

Previous contact            

Thank you for your e-mail of... Thanks for your e-mail.

Further to your last e-mail,... Re your e-mail,...

I apologise for not getting in contact with you Sorry, I haven't written for ages, but I've been
before now. really busy.

Reason for writing         

I am writing in connection with... Just a short note about...

I am writing with regard to... I'm writing about...

In reply to your e-mail, here are... Here's the...you wanted.

Your name was given to me by... I got your name from...

We would like to point out that.. Please note that...

Giving information                        

I am writing to let you know that... Just a note to say...

We are able to confirm that... We can confirm that...

I am delighted to tell you that... Good news!

We regret to inform you that.. Unfortunately,...

Attachments                    

Please find attached my report. I've attached...

I am sending you ... as a pdf file. Here is the...you wanted.

Asking for information                

Could you give me some information about... Can you tell me a little more about...

I would like to know... I'd like to know...

I am interested in receiving/finding out... Please send me...

Requests                           

I would be greatful if you could... Please could you...

I wonder if you could... Could you...?

Do you think I could have...? Can I have...?

Thank you in advance for your help in this I'd appreciate your help on this.
matter.

Promising action                            

I will... I'll...

I will investigate the matter. I'll look into it.

I will contact you again shortly. I'll get back to you soon.

Offering help                   
 Would you like me to...? Do you want me to...?

If you wish, I would be happy to... Shall I...?

Let me know whether you would like me to... Let me know if you'd like me to...

Final comments                              

Thank you for your help. Thanks again for...

Do not hesitate to contact us again if you
require any further information.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any
questions. My direct line is...
Let me know if you need anything else.
Just give me a call if you have any questions.
My number is...

Close                   

I am looking forward to...(+ -ing) Looking forward to...(+ -ing)

Give me regards to... Best wishes to...

Best wishes Speak to/See you soon.

Regards Bye (for now) / All the best

More phrases:

She got a reply – she received a reply / response

At a time that is good for you – at your convenience 
I’m looking forward to hearing – I look forward to hearing
I’m writing about the advert in – I am writing regarding / in connection with the advertisement in 
  I’d like the chance to – I would welcome the opportunity
Think about – consider 
Talk about – discuss 
To start – to commence 
I’m sorry – please accept my sincerest apologies 
Get well soon – I wish you a speedy recovery 
To go over the word limit – to exceed a word limit 
Please send this email to everyone – please circulate this email to 
To make sure – to ensure

Примеры:

1.

Hi Alex,

How are things with you? Long time, no hear! Did you get the promotion you were after? Hope so!
Anyway, the reason I'm writing is to ask a massive favour. I really, really need your help with my
article for the in-house magazine - can you check the grammar and tell me if it's ok? Also could you
look at the style and improve it where you think it's too formal? And let me know if you find any other
mistakes! Thanks a million in adance - I'll owe you one!

As for me - I'm fine! Because of some cuts, I have to work twice as hard for the same money. But I
still love it here in New York. I'm meeting some great people, and really learning a lot.
Because I'm the new kid in the block, everyone's taking good care of me!

Well, that's all for now. Let me know how you're getting on in Rome!

Best wishes,

Max

2.

Hi Anita,

Well, I wish I could say that I was having a wonderful time! For a start, it was a mistake to come here
in the peak holiday time. It’s so crowded. And the second thing is, I wish I weren’t with my sister.
She’s driving me mad. She always wants to go shopping and I’d rather we went for long walks along
the cliffs. If only you’d come with me instead, it would’ve been so much better.

She never lifts a finger. I do all the cooking, cleaning, everything! It’s time she grew up and stopped
acting like a baby. I don’t know what to do because I don’t want to have a row with her. Supposing
you were with us, what would you do?

Oh well, from now on I’m going to do what I like. I’m not going to have my holiday ruined by her!

Lots of love!

Carol

Формальное письмо

Letters objecting to someone's plans(возражения)

I am writing to express my concern /disappointment / alarm at hearing ...

I was extremely alarmed/sorry/distressed to hear about your plans to ...
As I think you know, …
May I point out that …
I feel I really must object to ...
I am extremely concerned at the thought that ...
It must be very clear that ...
If these proposals go ahead, ... will happen.
Another threat to ... , if these proposals go ahead, would come from ...
I dread to imagine what damage this will cause.
May I respectfully suggest that you ...
I was wondering if you had considered this alternative?
Would it not be possible to ... ?

Letters of complaint

I am writing to complain about ...

I am writing to tell you how disappointed/annoyed I feel about ...
I was amazed/distressed/horrified to find that ...
As you must realise, ...
I am sure you know that ...
I am sure you can imagine ...
I am sure you will appreciate that ...
It goes without saying that ...
At the very least, I look forward to receiving ...
Unless you ... , I am afraid that I will have to take this matter further.
Letters of recommendation

I am writing to you on behalf of ...

I have known X for ... years.
She / He has shown herself/himself to be extremely ...
X would seem to fit the requirements of this job perfectly.
I have no hesitation in recommending X as a ...

Letters to the editor

I am writing about the article on ... , which appeared (in last night's paper).
I am writing with reference to the article you published (in last month's issue).
I have just read your article on ... and I feel I must ...
You raised some issues which I feel strongly about.
At the start of your article, you appear to claim that ...
I am afraid I totally disagree.
I am completely in agreement.
I am sure readers will agree with me when I say that ...

Other phrases

On behalf of everyone, I send you best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Please accept or sincere apologies for any distress this situation may have caused you. 
You may have overlooked this payment, but we ask that you give it your prompt attention. 
Please confirm in writing if you wish to accept this offer and when you will be in a position to
commence work. 
Ms Atkinson is currently involved in a project which might be of interest. She will be in contact soon
to arrange a meeting.
If you could forward the details of the English course, I would be most grateful.

In compliance with your request …

Examples

1.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in connection with a recent visit to your hotel (10-13 March). My wife and I stayed in
room 387. Unfortunately, our otherwise enjoyable visit was spoilt by the loss of some articles from
our room during our stay. The missing items are one blue silk skirt and a digital camera.

This loss was reported immediately upon our discovering it to the receptionist who, in turn, contacted
the duty manager. The duty manager promised to look into the matter and let us know the outcome.
We made sure that he had our home address, phone number and email address, as we were
returning home that day.

We have not been contacted by anyone from the hotel as yet regarding this matter, which I find
unacceptable. Moreover, until we know whether the items have been found or not, we cannot make
an insurance claim.

We look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Dr C.R. Atkinson
2.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in response to your advertisement for a sales assistant, which appeared on Jobline
yesterday.

I am attaching you a copy of my curriculum vitae, which provides details of my qualifications and
experience. As you will see, I worked in a similar business last summer, which I enjoyed
enormously. 
I am available for an interview at any time convenient to you.

Remember

I am writing to recommend the one-month business course on which I was sent recently.
Not – I am writing to recommend the one-month business course where I was sent on recently.  

Examples:

This is the area of research on which he is working.

Here are some new statistics in which you can have confidence.
This is a theory for which there is little support.
Is this the person with whom you entered into correspondence?
The editor to whom she sent her article has replied.