WRITING. FORMAL EMAILS. ADVANCED LEVEL. 1. Read the following sample formal email:
2. Now read the information in the box below and write your own formal email. Pay attention to the tips provided both in 3. Redrafting and 4. Useful Phrases.
You are Barack Obama. You have just read your entry in Wikipedia. It made some rude comments about you and contained a number of factual errors. You tried to edit the Wikipedia entry, but it was locked, so you were unable to change it. Write to Wikipedia complaining about this. Make sure you include corrections of the facts and explain why you think the comments about you are unfair. Ask for the changes to be made as soon as possible.
3. Redrafting After writing a formal email, you need to check it at least twice. Here you are five things to check for: • •
Greeting and signing off appropriately Coherence/cohesion
Adapted from Total English Advanced. Writing bank. Mª Jesús García San Martín.
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WRITING. FORMAL EMAILS. ADVANCED LEVEL. • • •
Punctuation. Do no write in capital letters or use multiple exclamations. Spelling/typing mistakes Formal style
4. Useful phrases Apologising Giving good/bad news Making a request Responding to a request
Complaining Responding to an invitation
I would like to apologise for the delay. I am pleased to inform you that … I regret to inform you that … We would be grateful if you could (send/forward us the document). We would be happy to (send/pass on the document that you requested). I am afraid we are unable to (send/forward the document that you requested). I am writing to complain about … We would be very happy to come to … I am afraid I am unable to attend.
Adapted from Total English Advanced. Writing bank. Mª Jesús García San Martín.
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