Tips for Letter Writing
Greet your friend:
Dear John,
Ask about your friend’s well-being:
How are you?
How is it going on?
How are things?
How are things going?
How are you doing?
How's everything (going)?
I hope you are well.
Tell about your well-being:
I’m fine.
I am well.
Apologize for not writing sooner:
I'm sorry I haven't written for such a long time but...
Hi! Sorry I haven't written sooner, but...
Thank your friend for a letter:
Thanks for your letter.
It was nice to hear from you.
Comment on your friend’s letter:
In your letter you mention…
Reason for writing:
I'm writing to tell you...
You asked me to recommend some (places to stay in my country)...
I've managed to find out some information about… for you.
Useful expressions
To apologize:
(form.) Please accept my sincerest apologies for...
I owe you an apology...
I must apologize profusely…
(inform.) I'm so sorry if I upset you in any way...
I can't describe how sorry I am and how guilty I feel..
To invite:
(form.) I cordially invite you to...
We would be honoured if you…
I would appreciate if you could come…
(inform.) I'd love it if you could come to...
To give directions:
(form.) In case you do not know…
I have included some directions…
(inform.) Here are a few directions so you don't get lost…
I’ll give you some directions
To accept an invitation:
(form.) Thank you for the kind invitation…
I would be honoured to accept your invitation…
(inform.) Thanks for the invitation to... it sounds lovely…
To refuse an invitation:
(form.) I am sorry to miss the opportunity of…
(inform.) I'm really sorry we'll have to miss it.
To apply:
(form.) I am writing to apply for the post/job/position of... which I saw advertised in...
I am writing with regard to your advertisement…
I would like to apply for admission to the...
I would like to be considered for...
To refer to experience:
(form.) for the last/past year I have been working as... since/for…
I have had experience of…
I hold a certificate/degree in…
I am due to take examinations in...
I hold the following qualification...
To ask for advice:
(form.) I am writing to ask if you could help me with…
I would appreciate it if you could give me some advice about…
Could you possibly offer your advice…
(inform.) I'm writing to ask for your advice…
I've got a problem and I need your advice…
To give advice:
(form.) I strongly recommend that…
I would suggest that…
I believe the best course of action is...
(inform.) Why don't you…
It would be a good idea to…
What you should do is…
To give information:
(form.) I am writing in reply to your letter asking for information about…
In reply to your query…
(inform.) Remember the information you wanted?
You wanted me to tell you a few things about…
To make a request:
(form.) I am writing to inquire about/in connection with…
(inform.) I want you to tell me…. Can you let me know…
Closing remarks
(form.) Faithfully Yours/Sincerely yours
(inform.) Love/Yours/Best wishes/ best regards