Formal/Informal emails

How to write an informal and a formal email

The email writing format is the same both for informal and formal emails:

From... To... Cc → carbon copy Bcc → blind carbon copy Subject...

2 Opening paragraph or Introduction

1 Greetings

4 Closing paragraph or Conclusion

3 Main body

5 Final greetings

2 OPENING PARAGRAPH / INTRODUCTION → It was great to hear from you / Thanks for your email / How are you? I'm fine / I hope you're well / How's your family? /

1 INITIAL GREETINGS → Hello / hi / hi there

5 FINAL GREETINGS→ All the best / Love / Write soon! / Cheers / Best wishes / Take care

I have some good news / I'm writing to tell you about...

An informal email

4 CLOSING PARAGRAPH / CONCLUSION → That's all for now / Well, that's all my news / Say hi to your sister for me / I look forward to hearing from you / I hope to hear from you soon

3 MAIN BODY → asking for information / giving good or bad news, information or advice / offering to do sth / giving your opinion

2 OPENING PARAGRAPH / INTRODUCTION → I'm writing to... /I'm writing with regard to... /

1 INITIAL GREETINGS → Dear Mr / Ms Dear Sir / Madam

5 FINAL GREETINGS→ Yours sincerely Yours truly (AmE)

I'm writing to enquire about...

A formal email

3 MAIN BODY (asking for information / making requests) → Could you please let me know...? / Could you possibly...? / I would also like to know if... / Please let me know...

4 CLOSING PARAGRAPH / CONCLUSION → I look forward to hearing from you /I look forward to a prompt reply

Read Matteo's email to Jason and answer the questions

1 How does Matteo begin and end the email? 2 Look at the first sentence in each paragraph: what information does it give? 3 What examples of informal language can you find in his email? 4 Has Matteo answered all Jason's questions?

Writing practice

Write your reply (140-190 words) to Jason's email and make sure to answer all his questions. You can use the previous expressions (informal email).

Read the email that Aurelia sent to Ms Miller, head of a language school in Brighton. What mistakes do you think she has made?

Writing practice

You would like to spend a semester studying in a UK school. Write a formal email (140-190 words) to Mr Curtis, the head of school. Introduce yourself and explain why you're writing. You can use the previous expressions (formal email). Request the following information:

• which courses you can attend;
• when lessons start;
• if the school can help you to find accomodation.