Writing in English - 2

In the first part of this series on writing English, we briefly reviewed two terms: email and snail mail. We then talked about the concepts of writing informal versus formal letters. Regardless of which one you choose, this decision is one of the first important choices you will ever make when writing letters.

Here are 12 of some of the most commonly used opening sentences for writing letters in English | foto: Profimedia.cz

Angličtina na iDNES.cz
VŠECHNY LEKCE ZDE

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For example, if you address someone informally when it should be done in the formal style, it can complicate things and cause some real problems.

While the reasons for this certainly vary, try to remember what should be an obvious and simple rule: use informal letters when they are appropriate, use formal letters where and when they’re required.

Standard Openings
In any language, there are of course many different ways to say things. Certainly, English is no exception. Here are 12 of some of the most commonly used opening sentences for writing letters in English:

Dear Pavel,

1) "I am writing to inquire about..."

2) "Thank you for your letter of March 13th, I sincerely appreciate it."

3) "With reference to your letter of June 4th, ..."

4) "I hope this letter finds you to be in the best of health and spirits and that all is going well."

5) "I recently saw your advertisement in the (or on the, as in on TV) concerning (or about)..."

6) "Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is ..."

7) "I am taking the time to write to you about..."

8) "A mutual acquaintance of ours gave me your email address, I hope you don’t mind if I write you."

9) "I am in receipt of your letter dated September 5, 2007 for which I thank you."

10) "In response to your letter of ..."

11) "Just a short note to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated..."

12) "I wanted to take a moment to thank you for ..."

(Part III continues tomorrow...)

Jokes of the Day

The "Dumb" Laws Keep Coming

Indiana: it is against the law to carry your own drinks from the top of the bar to your own table. The waiter or waitress must do it.

Georgia: Chickens are not allowed to walk across the roads.

Comment: I guess this means that the many jokes and riddles which begin with the phrase "Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?" A: Because he could, he didn’t live in Georgia!" must have upset some lawmakers.

Florida: If you ride your elephant downtown and decide to "park him" you must park him tied to a parking meter and you must still pay the same fee as if your elephant were a car.

Arkansas: It is illegal for a man to beat his wife more than once a month.Comment: WHY is it "legal" to beat any woman at all?

Angličtina vychází od pondělí do pátku.

Najdete ji také v bezplatném deníku Metropolitní expres.

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