Letter Writing
Phrases for Personal and Social Correspondence
Openings:
The standard opening for personal correspondence is Dear but variations include:
✦My dear …
✦My dearest …
✦Darling …
Useful phrases:
✶ Thank you for your letter [inviting, offering, confirming]
✶ I am delighted to announce that
✶ I am very grateful to you for [letting me know, offering, writing]
✶ I was delighted to hear that
✶ It was so kind of you to [write, invite, send]
✶ I am sorry to inform you that
✶ Many thanks for [sending, inviting, enclosing]
✶ I was so sorry to hear that
✶ I am writing to tell you that
Closures :
∎ For acquaintances and formal situations
∎ Best wishes
∎ With best wishes
∎ Kindest regards
Affectionate variations for close friends and family:
∎ All my love
∎ See you soon
∎ All the best
∎ Once again many thanks
∎ Love
∎ I look forward to seeing you soon
∎ Lots of love
∎ With love and best wishes
∎ Much love
∎ With love to you all
∎ With love
∎ Do give my kindest regards to …
Phrases for Letters about Employment
Openings:
The standard opening for formal correspondence is:
✦Dear
✦Dear Sir
✦Dear Mr
✦Dear Madam
✦Dear Mrs
✦Dear Sir or Madam
✦Dear Ms
✦Dear Sirs
Useful phrases:
✶ I am writing in response to your advertisement in [publication]
✶ Thank you for your letter of [date] offering me the post of
✶ I am writing to apply for the post of
✶ I am delighted to accept the position of [job title]
✶ I should be pleased to attend an interview
✶ I look forward to starting work with you
Closures:
∎ Thank you for considering this application
∎ I should be pleased to attend an interview
∎ Please do not hesitate to contact me on the above number if you should require further information
∎ I look forward to hearing from you
∎ If you know the name of the person use:
∎ Yours sincerely
∎ If you don’t know the name of the person use: Yours faithfully
Phrases for Business Letters
Openings:
The standard opening for formal correspondence is:
✦Dear
✦Dear Sir
✦Dear Mr
✦Dear Madam
✦Dear Mrs
✦Dear Sir or Madam
✦Dear Ms
✦Dear Sirs
Useful phrases:
✶ Thank you for your letter of [date] concerning
✶ I apologise for the delay in replying
✶ Thank you for sending me a [catalogue, quotation]
✶ As stated in your letter/fax of [date]
✶ Thank you for your enquiry of [date]
✶ I wish to draw your attention to the
✶ I refer to your letter of [date] concerning
✶ I wish to inform you that
✶ Further to our telephone conversation of [date]
✶ I am writing to inform you that
✶ I am writing to confirm our telephone conversation of [date]
✶ I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with
✶ I would be grateful if you could forward me a [price list, catalogue]
✶ Please note that
✶ I am contacting you regarding
✶ Please find enclosed
✶ I am writing to complain
Closures:
∎ I look forward to hearing from you
∎ I trust that you will give this matter your urgent attention
∎ I look forward to hearing your response
∎ I hope you can settle this matter to my satisfaction
∎ I would be most grateful if you would look into this matter as soon as possible
∎ Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information
∎ Please let me know as soon as possible what action you propose to take
∎ Please contact me if you require further details
∎ If you know the person’s name use:
∎ Yours sincerely
∎ If you don’t know the person’s name use:
∎ Yours faithfully