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Useful Phrases for Informal Letters or Emails
The words and expressions below are often used by native speakers when writing to friends
and relatives. Using them will help you write in an informal style and will also help you
organise your letter into clear paragraphs.
Starting your letter (Paragraph 1)
Thanks for your letter.
Lovely to hear from you.
How are you?
How are things?
Hope you're well.
Commenting on something (Paragraph 1)
I'm sorry to hear/learn ...
I'm so pleased to hear ...
It's great to hear ...
What wonderful news about ...
Moving the topic on (Paragraph 2)
Anyway, the reason I'm writing ...
I thought I'd write to tell/ask you
Anyway, I was wondering ...
Ending your letter (Paragraph 3)
Well, that's all for now
Write back soon
Looking forward to hearing from you again
All the best
Best wishes
See you soon
Take care
Yours
Love
Lots of love

Useful Phrases for Formal Letters or Emails
Useful Phrases for writing formal letters
a) Writing formal letters generally:
Greetings:
•
•
•
•
•

Dear
Dear
Dear
Dear
Dear

Sir
Madam
Sir/Madam
Mr Brown
Ms Jones

Reason for writing:

•
•
•

I am writing in response to your article/advertisement/letter

I am writing with regard to your article/advertisement/letter
I am writing regarding your article/advertisement/letter

Ending the letter:
•
•
•
•

I look forward to receiving your reply
I look forward to your reply
Yours faithfully
Yours sincerely

b) Writing formal letters to request information
Reason for writing:
•
•
•
•

I
I
I
I

am
am
am
am

writing
writing
writing
writing

to
to
to
to

receive further information about
enquire about
receive more detailed information about
receive further details about

Requesting first piece of information:

•
•
•

The first thing I would like to know is
First of all I would like to know
I wonder if you would mind telling me ….?

Requesting further information:
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•
•

•

Could you also tell me….?
Could you also inform me ….?
Would you also mind informing me ….?
Would you also mind telling me ….?


•
•
•
•

Do you know ….?
I would also like to know if
I would also like to know whether
I hope you might also let me know about …

Thanking for information:

•
•
•

I would like to thank you in advance for this information
Thanking you in advance for this information
Thanking you in advance