WRITING BANK

Informal letters
23 Oxford Road
Cheltenham
Manchester Mn504QZ

4th August 2001

Dear Gill,
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Love Anna.
Notes:
Write your address , but not your name on separate lines in the top right-hand corner.
Write the date below your address
Write the first line next to the margin. Always use a name. Never begin Dear Friend
Use separate paragraphs to : begin your letter and deal with different topics.
End your letter with an informal greeting : e.g. Yours, Best wishes or Love.

FORMAL LETTERS
23 Oxford Road
Manchester Mn504QZ

4th August 2001

The Manager
Goldspar Office Equipment
54 Old Market
Malvern WR12 2PO

Dear Sir or Madam / Dear Mr. Smith,

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Yours Faithfully / Yours Sincerely,

ANNA NUBERG

Notes:
Write your address on separate lines in the top right-hand corner. Do not write your name.
Write the date below your address.
Write the name and address of the person or company you are writing to on the left below the date.
Write Dear…… next to the left-hand margin, followed by a comma.
Use separate paragraphs to :-say why you are writing –give details or extra information –conclude
your letter.
End with Yours faithfully, if you began with Dear Sir or Madam. End with Yours Sincerely if you
began with a name.
Print your name clearly after your signature.

USEFUL LANGUAGE
( INFORMAL LETTERS )
beginnings : Thank you for…………./ Many thanks for your………………….
It was good / nice to hear from you recently / again.
I´m sorry I haven´t written ……………
It´s ages since I´ve heard from you etc., etc.
Endings : I look forward to / Looking forward to hearing from you / seeing you…..
See you soon. / Write soon. / Hope to hear from you soon.
Once again thank you for……..
Give my regards / love to………
Apologies : I´m writing to apologize for………..but I´m afraid I……………….
I´m really sorry that I………………but I………………………….
If you let me know…………….I will gladly………………………
Invitations : I´m / We´re having a party next……… and I / we hope you will be able to come.
Accepting / Would you like…………………….?
Rejecting I was wondering if you would like to come / to go………………….
Could you let me / us know if………………………………………?
Thank you very much for you invitation , I ´d love………………..
Thank you for asking me / inviting me to……….but I´m afraid I won´t be able to…..
Requests : I´m writing to ask you for help / if you could do me a favour,
I wonder if / was wondering if you could help me / do me a favour.
I hope you don´t mind my asking but could you possibly………….
I´d be really / very / terribly grateful if you could……………..
Thank you : I´m writing to thank you for……./ It was so kind of you to….. / I really appreciated..
Congratul- Congratulations on ……. / You really deserved to succeed……………
ations:
Good luck : I wish you good luck / Good luck in … / …with……..
Don´t worry, I´m sure you will ……… / Do be ………., won´t you, and…………
News / I thought you might be interested in hearing about …………
Information :This is just to let you know that…../ By the way have you heard /did you know….
( FORMAL LETTERS )
Beginnings / : Write Dear + the person´s name, if you know it. If nor begin Dear Sir for a man,
Organisation Dear Madam for a woman or Dear Sir or Madam if it could be either. Do not use
a title like ( ( Dear Manager ).
In the first paragraph, clearly state your reason for writing. Use the middle paragraph to
explain the details, beginning a new paragraph for each main point. In the final paragraph, sum up and /
or say what action you want to be taken.
Endings: Don´t forget, if you began with a person´s name, you must end with Yours sincerely,
not Yours faithfully. These endings are followed by a comma.
Job applications : First make clear which job you are applying for, and mention where you saw the
advertisement and when. Give all the necessary information about yourself.
I was interested in the advertisement in ( newspaper/magazine ) on ( date ) and I would like to apply for
the post/position of ( job title ).
I am …… years of age and I have a Diploma in ………….
My reason for applying is that I am interested in……………………
I would be happy / able to attend an interview ……………………………
Apologies : I am writing to apologize for………………….
I would like to say how sorry I am……………………………….
The reason I………………. / Please let me know how much it cost and I will gladly
replace it.
I assure you that this will never happen again.
Explain why you are apologizing and what the reasons were for your behaviour. If possible, offer to make
up in some way (eg. By paying for the damage ) and/or promise that the problem won´t happen again.
Complaints : I am writing to complain about a……………….
I am writing to say that I am not satisfied with……………….
I must insist that you ……………..
I must ask you to………………….
State the subject of your complaint clearly in the first paragraph. Use the following paragraphs to give all
the necessary details ( including dates and times, the people involved, the inconvenience you have been
caused, etc. ) Try to be clear and factual rather than emotional. Use the final paragraph to say what action
you want to be taken now.
Enquiries : I am writing to enquire about…………………
I was interested in your advertisement in…………and I would like to have further
information about………………….
I would be grateful if you could send me full details of……………………..
Could you send me…………………….
I look forward to hearing from you / receiving the information……….
In the first paragraph, explain what information you need. If you are responding to an advertisement
mention where you saw it. Use extra paragraphs to mention any specific questions you would like
answers to.
Opinions : I strongly disagree with / I completely agree with……………………..
I was interested to read the article on………………in…..edition of your newspaper…..
I was interested/ fascinated/amused/delighted to see / hear / read ……………
I was horrified / shocked / disgusted to……………………………………….
In my opinion………………………………………………………………….
In conclusion I feel / I believe…………………………………………………
Introduce the topic and give details of any details of any letter, article, book or t.v. programme you are
Responding to. Develop your argument in separate paragraphs and sum up in the final one.
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D E S C R I P T I O N S.
Descriptions need to be structured like other types of writings, so that they have to have an
introduction, a middle and an end. In the introduction, you should briefly set the scene, perhaps by
saying why you have chosen the person or place you are going to describe. After that you should
deal with the different main aspects of the subject in separate paragraphs. Use the final paragraph to
sum up your feelings about the subject, if possible in a humorous or memorable way.
Some topics give you more opportunity for personal comment than others. In general, though,
including your reactions and feelings and an occasional touch of humour will make your description
more interesting and enjoyable for the reader.Think carefully about the tenses you are going to use.
He rides a bicycle (present habit), He´s learning to play the violin (happening now), We´ve been
friends for years (linking past and present),It was raining (sets the scene), She frowned when she
saw me (past action).One problem which arises with this kind of writing is that you can find
yourself beginning all your sentences in the same way: He looks…He´s got…..He wears…… This
makes the description rather boring to read, so try to vary sentence structures: His eyes are………
The first thing you notice is………. Another characteristic is…………
DESCRIBING PEOPLE.
Possible aspects you can use to describe a person are your relationship with the person, how you
met, his/her appearance and style of clothing, his/her character, and your personal feelings about
her/him.
Appearance: He looks/seems/appears…...She´s got short curly hair and a fringe……
She´s short with a pale complexion………Clothes : She / he usually wears …………
DESCRIBING PLACES / EVENTS.
Possible aspects you may use are : your interests in the place / event, your impressions when you
first went there, main characteristics, location, atmosphere, sights, sounds, people, summing up /
comparison with later visit.
Location : in the middle, at the top / bottom, on the left / right, in the north, to the north of…….., in
front of, behind, beyond, above, over, below, under
DESCRIBING OBJECTS.
Possible aspects to describe are structure, shape, colour, material, and use.
Shape: It´s shaped like a circle / It´s circular in shape / It´s star-shaped. Straight, curved, horizontal,
diagonal, vertical, pointed, sloping.
Sensory perception : It looks / seems / appears….. + adjective. It tastes / smells / feels / sounds
…….+ adjective. It feels / sounds like ………. + noun. It´s a pretty pale pink colour.
DESCRIBING PROCESSES / INSTRUCTIONS.
Sequence markers: First…….Next / After that……… / Finally………
When / Once you have (done) that………..
Before / After doing / you ( do )………….
Purpose clauses:
For + -ing. To / in order to / so as to + infinitive. So that + clause.
DISCUSSIONS:
-opening : introducing topic and argument
-qualifying the statement
-points in favour
-giving specific examples
-introduce the opposite point of view
-points against ……and in favour of…….
-listing reasons
-further support for the point of view.
-CONCLUSION expressing personal view and summing up.
-balancing the argument.
Introducing the topic :
Many people believe / feel that ……… It is said that…………..
People´s opinions on…………differ widely.
Supporting your argument :
One of the main advantages of……….is that……… In the first place, Firstly, To begin with………
Secondly,/ Thirdly,/ Finally, / Last, but not least………….
Adding further reasons :
In addition, / What´s more, / Furthermore,…………………
Expressing opposite point of view :
On the other hand, there are ( also ) a number of disadvantages.
Linking sentences :
Although…….., / However, / In spite of this, Despite…………While / Whereas………..
Expressing opinions :
In my view / opinion, ……it seems to me that………
My point of view is that………………………………
Summing up :
In conclusion, / To sum up, / On balance,………….