2BAC BACCALAUREATE EXAM PRACTICE: WRITING FORMAL & INFORMAL LETTERS OR EMAILS

2BAC BACCALAUREATE EXAM PRACTICE: WRITING FORMAL & INFORMAL LETTERS OR EMAILS

I- Useful Phrases for informal letters or emails

II- Useful Phrases for writing formal letters or emails

I- Useful Phrases for informal letters or emails
Informal Letters / emails - Greetings:

• Dear Hafsa,
• Hello Sonya,
• Hi Karim,

Informal Letters - Introductory paragraph:

• Sorry I haven't written for ages
• Sorry it's taken me so long to write
• How's it going?
• How are you?
• How are things with you?
• How are things?

An informal letter referring to good news:

• Glad to hear about
• I'm really glad to hear about
• I'm very happy to hear about
• I was very happy to read about
• Great news about your

An informal letter referring to bad news:

• I'm extremely sorry to hear about
• I'm very sorry to hear about
• Sorry to read about
• Its very sad to hear about your
• I can't tell you how sad I am that

Informal Letters - Introducing points

• By the way
• Did you hear about
• Did you see
• Have you seen
• Tell me about
• Oh, another thing

Ending an informal letter or email:

• Well, time to go
• Well, it's time to go
• Well, got to go
• Well, time to close
• I've got to leave off now
• Write soon
• Make sure you write soon
• Love
• Lots of love
• All my love
• Will write again soon
• Look after yourself
• Take care of yourself
• All the best
• Everything good

II- Useful Phrases for writing formal letters or emails
Writing formal letters generally:
Greetings:

• Dear Sir,
• Dear Madam,
• Dear Sir / Madam,
• Dear Mr Alami
• Dear Ms Maslouhi,
•  etc.

Reason for writing:

• I am writing in response to your article/advertisement/letter
• I am writing with regard to your article/advertisement/letter
• I am writing regarding your article/advertisement/letter

Ending the letter:

• I look forward to receiving your reply
• I look forward to your reply
• I look to hearing from you
• I am, yours faithfully (if you don't know the name of the person you are writing to)
• I am, yours sincerely (if you know the name of the person you are writing to)
• Yours faithfully
• Yours sincerely

Writing formal letters to complain:

Reason for writing:

• I am writing in order to complain about
• I am writing to complain about

Introducing the complaint:

• Firstly
• In the first place
• First of all
• My first complaint is
• The first problem is
• The first thing I would like to draw your attention to is
• My first concern is

Introducing further complaints:

• Secondly
• In the second place
• Not only …….but also
• In addition
• In addition to this
• Added to this
• …….was also unacceptable

Demanding action:

• I suggest that you replace the item
• I therefore suggest that I be given a full refund
• I would be grateful if my money was refunded
• I would be grateful if you could give me a full refund

Ending the letter:

• I look forward to hearing from you
• I look forward to receiving a full refund
• I look forward to receiving a replacement
• I look forward to receiving your explanation

Writing formal letters to make suggestions:
Reason for writing:

• I am writing to suggest
• I am writing to arrange
• I am writing to offer suggestions
• I am writing make arrangements

Making first suggestion:

• My first suggestion is
• First of all I suggest
• I would like to suggest

Making further suggestions:

• Another possibility is
• A further possibility is
• I further suggest
• I would further suggest
• Secondly

Offering a choice:

• Would you therefore mind choosing between ….?
• Either……or
• You might choose either ……. or

Writing formal letters to request information
Reason for writing:

• I am writing to receive further information about
• I am writing to enquire about
• I am writing to receive more detailed information about
• I am writing to receive further details about

Requesting first piece of information:

• The first thing I would like to know is
• First of all I would like to know
• I wonder if you would mind telling me first of all ….?

Requesting further information:

• Could you also tell me….?
• Could you also inform me ….?
• Would you also mind informing me ….?
• Would you also mind telling me ….?
• Do you know ….?
• I would also like to know if
• I would also like to know whether
• I hope you might also let me know about …

Thanking for information:

• I would like to thank you in advance for this information
• Thanking you in advance for this information
• Thanking you in advance

Writing formal letters to give information:
Reason for writing:

• I am writing to inform you about
• I am writing to provide you with information about
• I am writing to let you know that

Providing first point:

• The first thing I would like to inform you of is
• The first thing I would like to tell you is
• The first thing I wish to inform you of is
• I would like to begin by informing you

Providing further points:

• I would also like to let you know that
• I would also like to inform you that
• You might also find the following information useful
• It might also be useful for you to know that
• Another piece of information that might be useful

Ending the letter:

• If you require further information, please do not hesitate to as
• If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask
• I will willingly provide further information on request
• I am at your disposal should you require further information
• I am at your disposal should you need further assistance
• Please do not hesitate to ask should you require further information

Writing formal letters to request permission
Reason for writing:

• I am writing to ask permission to
• I am writing to ask permission for
• I am writing to request permission to
• I am writing to request permission for
• I am writing to ask if I might

Making first request:

• Firstly I wonder if you would
• First of all I wonder whether you would mind
• The first request I would like you to consider is

Making further requests:

• I would be grateful if you would also consider
• I wonder if it might be possible for me to
• I would also like to request permission for
• I would also like to request permission to

Thanking for permission

• Many thanks for kindly considering my requests
• Thank you for considering my requests

Useful phrases for letters of application
Writing tips - Greetings:

• Dear Sir
• Dear Madam
• Dear Sir / Madam
• Dear Mr Hajji
• Dear Ms Jalal etc.

Writing tips - Reason for writing:

• I am writing in response to the job advertisement which I saw in
• I am writing with regard to the job offer which I saw in

English writing tips - Describing character:

• I am generally considered hardworking. For example I
• I am generally considered outgoing. For example I
• I consider myself a good team member. For example I
• I consider myself a sociable person. For example I
• I would say I was an industrious person. For example
• In my present post I have often needed to show initiative. For example

Writing tips - Presenting qualifications:

• I obtained a degree in ………… from ……….. University achieving a ……. grade
• I have …. A levels in ……., ……., ………, and ………
• I also have a ……. qualification
• I hold a full driving licence

Writing tips - Language ability:

• I am a native ……… speaker and also fluent in …………
• I have an Intermediate level in ……
• I have an advanced level in ……

Writing tips - Describing experience:

• I have experience of this type of work because
• My job at ………….. has given me experience of this type of work
• Although I have no direct experience, I have

Writing tips - Offering further information:

• Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me
• If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me
• I will gladly supply any further information

Writing tips - Availability for interview:

• I am available for interview at your convenience

Writing advice - Ending the letter:

• I look forward to receiving your reply
• I look forward to your reply
• Yours sincerely (if addressed to a named person)
• Yours faithfully (to unnamed person)

ENJOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Sincerelyours

And Blessed Are The Ones Who Care For Their Fellow Men!