Vocabulary to Write Letters
Letter structure
How to start and end the letter?
Formal letter
When you don’t know the recipient’s name:
- Dear Sir … Yours faithfully
- Dear Madam … Yours faithfully
- Dear Sir or Madam … Yours faithfully
When the recipient’s name is known:
- Dear Mr Green … Yours sincerely
- Dear Mrs Green … Yours sincerely
- Dear Miss Green … Yours sincerely
- Dear Ms Green … Yours sincerely
Semi-formal letter
When you are writing to a good friend or colleague:
- Dear Jonh … Best wishes/ Best regards
- Dear Jonh … Many thanks
Informal letter
When you are writing to a good friend or colleague:
- Hello Jonh … Best wishes/ Best
- Hi Jonh … See you/ Missing you/ Love
When you are writing to someone you love:
- Dear Mary … Yours always/ Lots of love
Letter openings
The letter’s first paragraph is letter opening. In your first paragraph you should:
1. Introduce Yourself
2. State the purpose of the letter.
Examples of formal letter openings:
- I am writing to enquire about … .
- I am writing to request … .
- I am writing to explain why … .
- I am writing to express interest in … .
- I am writing to inform you that/about… .
- I am writing to complain about (the fact that I)… .
- After having seen your advertisement in … , I would like to… .
- After having received your address from … , I … .
- Thank you for your letter regarding/about … .
- In reply to your letter of 18 June, … .
Examples of informal letter openings:
- Hi! My name is Noah and I’ve been assigned your drama coach… .
- Hello, My name is Julia and I’m volunteer conducting student excursions… .
- Hi there, I hope you’re enjoying your holidays/ trip/ college year/ honeymoon… .
- Hello, thanks very much for asking me to visit you … .
Letter closings
You may need a letter closing to express gratitude, to repeat an apology, to offer help etc.
Examples of formal letter closings:
- If you require any further information, feel free to contact me.
- I look forward to your reply.
- I look forward to hearing from you.
- Once again, I apologise for any inconvenience.
- I would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter.
- I would deeply appreciate it if you could … .
- Thank you in advance!
- Thanking you for your assistance in advance, I look forward to hearing from you.
Examples of informal letter closings:
- Anyway, I‛ve got to go now. Write again if you need any more information.
- Well, let me finish here. I am eagerly waiting for your reply to this letter.
Linking Structures
| Listing | Giving examples | Generalising |
| firstly, secondly, thirdly | for example | in general |
| first, furthermore, finally | for instance | generally |
| to begin, to conclude | as follows: | on the whole |
| next | that is | as a rule |
| Reinforcement | in this case | for the most part |
| also | namely | in most cases |
| furthermore | in other words | usually |
| moreover | Result/consequence | Highlighting |
| what is more | so | in particular |
| in addition | therefore | particularly |
| besides | as a result/consequence | especially |
| above all | accordingly | mainly |
| as well (as) | consequently | Reformulation |
| in the same way | because of this/that | in other words |
| not only … but also | thus | rather |
| Similarity | hence | to put it more simply |
| equally | for this/that reason | Expressing an alternative |
| likewise | so that | alternatively |
| similarly | in that case | rather |
| correspondingly | under these circumstances | on the other hand |
| in the same way | Deduction | the alternative is |
| Transition to new point | then | another possibility would be |
| now, | in other words | Contrast |
| as far as x is concerned | in that case | instead |
| with regard/reference to | otherwise | conversely |
| as for … | this implies that … | on the contrary |
| it follows that | if so/not | in contrast |
| turning to | Stating the obvious | in comparison |
| Summary | obviously | Concession (smth unexpected) |
| in conclusion | clearly | even though |
| to conclude | naturally | however |
| in brief | of course | however much |
| to summarise | as can be expected | nevertheless |
| overall | surely | still |
| therefore | after all | yet |
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