I send materials on English. English farewell phrases in friendly correspondence
Practical work in English
Dear Charles!
Thank you very much for your letter and for sending the official invitation. It is very kind of you to bear the expenses during our stay in Britain. I accept it with gratitude, provided that we have the pleasure of receiving you on a return visit.
We can discuss all issues during a meeting or in a letter if you want to come to us first. It seems to me that this would be a good idea, since the dates of our trips have not yet been specified. Be that as it may, I want to assure you that we are always happy to host you at any time convenient for you.
Thanks again and best wishes from my wife and me.
Sincerely yours,
Nikolai
Dear Charles ,
Many thanks for your letter and the formal invitation you enclose. It is very nice of you to offer to meet our expenses while we are in Britain. Ily accept it on the assumption that we shall have the pleasure of receiving you grateful here as the return part of the exchange visit.
We can discuss all the points with you personally or by letter should you wish to come over before we go. I suppose this would be a very good idea as the dates of our visits are still vague. Anyhow, I want you to understand that we shall be delighted to have you here with us any time you choose to come.
Once again many thanks and best wishes from my wife and myself.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Lorna!
You know how upset I was that I ended up not being able to attend my English classes at summer school. Your letter of invitation gave me great comfort. I'm looking forward to the trip, but it should never interfere with your vacation plans. I would be very glad if you offered the most convenient dates for my arrival.
Thank you very much and hello everyone.
loving you
DearLorna,
You know how disappointed I was that I could not attend the English Language summer school after all. Your letter of invitation is a compensation. I am anticipating my visit with great pleasure but you must not let me interfere with your own plans for the holidays. I would be very glad if you could indicate the dates best suited for my visit.
Many thanks and love to you all.
Yours affectionately,
Dear BobbiSally!
Thank you very much for your letter of March 22 and the warm hospitality you are willing to extend to my family and me. It is indeed very kind of you to place your home at our disposal, but we would not like to cause you any inconvenience. Of course, the best option is to stay in your home during our stay in Oxford.
Let us hope that we too will have a pleasant opportunity to receive you sometime in Moscow. We will be very happy to return the same hospitality to you.
As soon as I find out the details of our trip, I will write to you again.
Thank you very much and warm regards.
Sincerely yours
Dear Bob and Sally,
Thank you very much for your letter of March 22 and for the warm hospitality which you are extending to my family and myself. It is indeed extremely generous of you to place your house at our disposal, but you must not inconvenience yourself on our account. Of course, we should like nothing better than staying in your house while we are at Oxford.
Allow us to hope that we shall have the privilege and the pleasure of receiving you in Moscow one day. We should be only too happy to offer you the same hospitality in return.
I shall write more as soon as I find out more particulars about our trip.
Many thanks and kindest regards.
Sincerely yours ,
Dear Alan!
I had the opportunity to carry out my original plan and come to England in August. Most likely it will be in the middle of the holiday season, and although the prospect of seeing you again excites me, I would still hate for you to endure any inconvenience because of me. Could you write to me and let me know what your plans are for the summer? I will try very hard to come at a time when it will not disrupt any of your plans.
I hope for your quick response. Your
Dear Alan,
There is a very good chance that I might be able to follow the original plan and come to England in August. Most probably it will be in the middle of the holiday season and though the possibility of seeing you again makes me look forward to my visit all the more, I should hate to put you to any inconvenience. Could you possibly write and tell me what your plans for this summer are? I shall do my best to call on you at a time you could receive me without upsetting your own time-table.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours ,
Dear Martin!
It's so kind of you and your wife to invite me to stay. If I don't bother you too much, then, of course, I couldn't even dream of anything better. Just promise me that you will treat me like a member of the family, without any ceremony. If I can come under these conditions, I will consider it an honor and hope to enjoy it.
The timing you propose suits me very much. Please accept my best wishes and thank you very much again.
Dear Martin,
It is very gracious and hospitable of you and your wife to invite me to stay with you; and, of course, I should like nothing better if it does not trouble you too much. But both of you must promise that you will let me melt into the household as much as I may without presumption. If I may come on those terms, I shall consider it an honor and pleasure.
The dates you suggest are at the same time the very best for me.
Best wishes and once again many thanks.
Dear Robert!
My son and I are delighted with your offer to host us anytime during the summer. Do you think we could come to you on a sports tour to Britain in the second half of June? By "sports tour" I mean that we wouldn't want to cause you too much inconvenience and would appreciate a tent and cots.
My husband says hi to you and thanks you for inviting him to come too. That's really very kind of you. Unfortunately, he is not yet “ripe” for the trip. He will write to you himself.
Thanks again and best wishes from all of us.
Dear Robert,
My son and I are thrilled at your kind offer to have us as visitors any time in the summer. Do you think we could possibly visit you on a sporting trip to Britain in the later part of June? What I mean by “sporting trip” is that we should not like to cause too much inconvenience and should be grateful for any camp-bed arrangement.
My husband wishes me to give you his regards and to thank you for extending your invitation to him as well. It is very kind of you indeed. He is very sorry he does not feel up to any trip yet. He will write to you himself.
Many thanks and best regards to you all from all of us here.
Yours ,
Dear Mr. Kramer!
Please forgive me for the delay in responding to your last letter, in which you kindly invite us to your place. I am very grateful to you. The only difficulty is that we cannot yet name the date of our arrival. In all likelihood, we will not be able to be in England until the end of May. If this will interrupt your holiday or upset any plans, please let us know and we will figure out something else.
Thank you so much and best wishes.
Sincerely yours
Dear Mr. Cramer,
I am very sorry for the delay in answering your recent letter with its generous offer of hospitality. I am very grateful. The only trouble is that our plans cannot be made to the exact day. In all likelihood we would not get to England until around the last week of May. If this date should interrupt your vacation time or upset other plans, please let us know and we will try to make other arrangements.
Many thanks and best wishes.
Yours sincerely ,
Dear Philip and Monica!
We have finally determined our route and can inform you that we are leaving St. Petersburg on Monday, June 2. We will travel through Germany and France by car and, most likely, we will leave it with friends near Calais (and pick it up on the way back). To cross the channel we will book ferry tickets from Calais to Dover. I hope everything will be fine.
If you don't mind, we'll stay in France for a couple of days and arrive in Dover on June 7th. If this deadline does not suit you, don't worry about us. We will then act at our own peril and risk and find housing right on the spot.
WITH best wishes
Sincerely yours
Dear Philip and Monica ,
We have at last made up our route and so we can tell you that we are due to leave St. Petersburg on Monday June 2nd. We are going by car via Germany and France and shall most probably leave our car with friends near Calais (collecting it on the way back). For the crossing we shall reserve the boat passage from Calais to Dover. I hope everything will go well.
If this is all right with you we shall arrive at Dover on June 7th (after breaking our journey for a couple of days in France). If this turns out to be a wrong time to come, please do not worry about us. We shall just have to take our chance and get some accommodation on the spot.
I hope to hear from you before June 2nd (the day of our departure).
Best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Ferdinand!
I received visas and bought two tickets to Paris (it’s cheaper and easier).
We fly to Paris next Monday the 23rd and will spend one night there. We will then take the train to London, arriving at Kingston Station on the 24th at 2.40pm. I hope you will meet us.
Tomorrow I will book train tickets, and if all tickets are sold out on the 24th, we will arrive the next day.
So, see you soon.
Dear Ferdinand ,
I have received the visas and have bought two tickets to Paris (which is cheaper and more readily available).
We will fly to Paris next Monday, the 23rd, and stay there one night. Then, we will take the train to London which arrives at Kingston Railway Station on the 24th at 2:40 p.m. I hope to see you there.
Tomorrow I will reserve the tickets for the train, and if the train is full for the 24th, we will come the next day.
So, see you soon.
Dear Michael!
I am very grateful to you for your letter and for all the instructions in connection with my arrival. I'm glad I have your phone number in case anything goes wrong.
But please don't bother yourself and don't meet me at the airport; I can handle everything myself. Just write where we need to go first. Of course, we can go straight to the hotel and call you at work from there. It will probably be easier this way.
I look forward to meeting you again.
Dear Michael ,
I am very grateful for your letter and all the instructions as to my arrival. I am glad to have your phone number in case anything goes wrong.
But please do not take the trouble of meeting me at the airport: I shall manage all right Just send me a message to say where we should go first We may, of course, go to the hotel straight away and then phone you at your office . This might make things easier.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Yours ,
Dear Mr. Brooks!
I would like to briefly inform you that I received my flight confirmation this morning. So, I expect to fly to London on Delta flight 816, which arrives in London at 2pm on September 3rd. I am due to fly from London on Aeroflot flight 615 on September 15 at 10 am.
Best wishes.
Dear Mr . Brooks ,
A short note just to tell you that this morning I received confirmation of my flight. So I now hope to arrive in London by DELTA Flight 816, which is due in London at 2 p.m. on the 3rd of September. I must depart from London by AEROFLOT Flight 615 on the 15th of September at 10 a.m.
Kind regards .
Dear Mr. Alsopp!
I inform you that my trip to England will take place next month. I will be visiting my friends in London and then go to Scotland for a short time to see Mr. Carter. You seem to know him?
I'll be free at the beginning of April, and if I'm staying in Manchester, I'd be happy to take up your kind offer to show me around the city. My only concern is that my visit at this time will be inconvenient for you.
Correspondence is an old method of communication, which even now, in the age of modern technology, does not lose its relevance.
Do you agree that letters written by hand and sent by mail have their own special magic?
In England today there is a good tradition of exchanging letters. These could be congratulations on important events in life, invitations to a meeting, or just a letter of gratitude. There are no hard and fast rules on how to write such letters. But still, there is a certain etiquette that should be observed when writing personal letters.
From this article you will learn the rules for writing and formatting informal letters to English. Get acquainted with the structure and types of letters in English, and also find live examples and templates with translation.
Types of Informal Letters
Among personal letters, there are several main types, or rather, reasons for writing them:
- Congratulations on your wedding day, birthday, birth of a child, graduation from university, etc.
- Invitation to a wedding, housewarming or other celebration
- Gratitude for an invitation, favor or good advice
- Declining an invitation
- Apology or condolences
Letter structure
The structure of a personal letter is simple and consists of several main parts:
Appeal
You can address the recipient by last name or first name if you have a close relationship with him. The choice of address depends only on the degree of your acquaintance with the addressee and can be anything. The most common options:
- (My) dear... - (My) dear…
- (My) dearest… - (My) dear… / (My) dearest
- Dear Mr. Brown - Dear Mr. Brown
- Dear Kate - Dear Kate
After the address, a comma or exclamation mark is placed, and the letter itself continues with a new paragraph.
Note: Dear sir / Dear madam are used only in formal or business letters, and also when we do not know the name of the person to whom we are writing.
Remember that, unlike the Russian language, in formal letters it is considered bad form to put an exclamation mark after an address. So, a note to a friend can begin with “Dear John!..”, but in a wedding invitation it is better to write “Dear John,...”.
Opening phrase
This is a short sentence after the address, in which you need to indicate the main purpose of the letter or the reason why you are writing to the addressee.
The introductory phrase could be gratitude for the invitation to a holiday, a request for a meeting, and so on. With this phrase we indicate our intentions towards the recipient of the letter.
Main part
Several paragraphs in which you can reveal the purpose of the letter in more detail. They are drawn up in free form and may contain clarifications, time and place of meeting, or other important information.
Note: In official correspondence, it is not advisable to use abbreviations of auxiliary verbs, such as don"t, it"s, etc. Use the full form: do not / it is, etc. The same rule applies to invitations to events, congratulations and other types of formal letters. If you are writing to a close friend or loved one, abbreviations are quite acceptable.
Conclusion
One or two sentences that summarize the letter. In conclusion, you can express your intention to continue correspondence or ask the recipient for a response if you are sending an invitation to a meeting or event.
Farewell and signature
Similar to the address, it is better to choose the signature and final phrase based on the degree of closeness of the relationship with the recipient. The most common and universal phrases:
- Love / With love / With all my love / Lovingly yours / Lovingly / All my love - With love (Loving you, your loving)
- Yours ever / Ever yours / Always yours - Always yours (yours)
- Sincerely yours / Yours sincerely / Sincerely / Yours - Sincerely yours
- Faithfully yours / Faithfully - Best regards
- Best wishes / With best wishes / (Best) regards - Best wishes
- Cordially yours / yours cordially - Cordially yours
- Devotedly yours / Truly yours / Yours truly - Devoted to you
- Your very sincere friend - Your sincere friend
- Lots of love / kisses - With love / Kisses
After any phrase, place a comma, and then the sender’s name on a new line.
Rules for writing letters in English and postal etiquette
- Be polite and not too emotional
Whether you're writing to a friend in London or responding to an invitation to a party, be nice and friendly. Even if you refuse the addressee's request, do it politely. Also, there is no need to put a lot of exclamation marks and emoticons in emails.
- Communicate the purpose of the letter from the beginning and write coherently
Briefly express the main idea and purpose of the letter in the first lines - this will help the recipient better understand what you want from him. In addition, you should not “jump” from thought to thought and write incoherently. Think over the text of the letter in advance and reveal the main ideas briefly and one after another.
- Break the letter into paragraphs and do not overuse long sentences
Large text is much easier to read when it is broken down into short passages with main ideas. You should not overload the letter with long and complex sentences - it is better to break such phrases into several parts. The meaning will not suffer from this, but the structure of the letter will improve significantly.
- Write correctly
Phrases for personal letters for all occasions (in English with translation)
Gratitude in response to the previous letter and continuation of correspondence:
Thank you so much for your warm letter... - Thank you so much for your warm letter...
Many thanks for your kind and warm letter - Thank you very much for your kind and warm letter...
I received your letter yesterday... - Yesterday I received your letter...
I was delighted to receive your letter - I was glad to receive your letter
I appreciate your kind words - I appreciate your kind words
It was nice to have a letter from you after so long and to hear that... - It was nice to receive a letter from you after such a long time and to hear that...
I have just received your letter and... - I just received your letter and...
This morning, to my great astonishment, I received a letter from you - This morning, to my great surprise, I received a letter from you
So much has happened since I wrote you - So much has happened since I wrote to you
What a long time it has been since we last met! - How much time has passed since we last met!
It’s been a long time since I heard from you and I am anxious to know how you are getting on - It’s been a long time since I heard anything from you, and I really want to know how you are doing
As soon as I heard… - As soon as I heard...
How are you these days? - How are you doing now?
You will be wondering why it has taken me so long to reply... - You will ask why I waited so long to answer...
Now that I am finally able to sit down and write you again... - Now that I can finally sit down and write to you again...
By now everyone in the world except me seems to have written to congratulate you, but I have been... - It seems that everyone in the world, except me, has already written to you and congratulated you, but I was...
I have delayed answering this letter because... - I was delayed in responding to this letter because...
I am so pleased that you... - I'm so glad that you...
I am writing you... - I am writing to you...
I have not heard from you... - I haven’t heard from you...
How nice to hear that you... - How nice it is to hear that you...
Gratitude for a gift or meeting:
This is just a brief note to thank you for... - This is just a short note to thank you for...
I don"t know quite how to thank you for… - I don’t even know how to thank you for…
I am sincerely grateful to you for... - I am sincerely grateful to you for...
How very kind of you to remember my birthday and what a lovely present! - How nice of you to remember my birthday, and what a lovely gift!
Now that I am back home I want to write straightaway and thank you for... - Now that I am back home, I want to immediately write and thank you for...
I regret very much that I did not have an opportunity to thank you personally for... - I really regret that I did not have the opportunity to personally thank you for...
What exciting / wonderful / thrilling / happy news! - What exciting/wonderful/exciting/joyful news!
What a pleasant surprise! - What a pleasant surprise! / What a pleasant surprise!
Ask for a favor:
I should be grateful if you would... - I would be grateful if you...
I want to ask you for a very great favor - I want to ask you for a very big favor
Could you do me a favor? - Could you do me a favor?
I hope you will forgive me for troubling you, but it has occurred to me that you are the only person who may be able to help me - I hope you forgive me for disturbing you, but it so happened that you are the only one who could help me
Please forgive me for troubling you but I would be very grateful if you would help me in a very delicate matter - Sorry, please, for disturbing you, but I would be very grateful if you would help me in a very delicate matter
Apologies and condolences:
I am terribly sorry that I could not meet you as planned - I apologize that I could not meet you as planned I was sorry to learn that... - I regretfully learned that...
Please accept my deepest / sincere condolences - Please accept my deepest / sincere condolences
There are no words that can express my great / deep sorrow about... - There are no words that would express my great / deep sadness on the occasion...
I was extremely / terribly sorry to hear of... - I was extremely / terribly sorry to hear about...
We were very sorry to hear about your loss - We were very upset to learn about your loss
I feel I must write to tell you how very sorry I am... - I consider it my duty to write to you how sorry I am...
Letter to a stranger or pen pal:
You don"t know me so let me introduce myself - You don’t know me, so let me introduce myself
I obtained your name and address from... - I received your name and address from...
I am writing because as I understand you would like to have a pen friend in my country - I am writing because, as I understand, you would like to have a pen friend in my country.
Phrases to end a letter:
Please write soon - Please write as soon as possible
I am looking forward very much to hearing from you - I look forward to hearing from you
You have no idea how much I am looking forward to hear anything from you - You have no idea how much I want to hear anything from you
I hope to have a letter from you before long - I hope to receive a letter from you soon
I would be delighted to hear about you - I will be glad to hear something about you
I would appreciate an early reply - I would appreciate an early reply
Please write and tell me all the news of... - Please write to me and tell me all the news about...
I am looking forward to seeing you and will keep all my news until then - I really want to see you and therefore I will not talk about any news until the meeting
Please write to me before long if you have time - Please write to me as soon as possible if you have time
I enclose a stamped, addressed envelope for your reply - I enclose an addressed and stamped envelope for your reply
Wishes and expressions of love:
All the best! - All the best!
Best of luck to you! - Good luck!
With all good wishes! - Best wishes!
With best wishes from all of us on… - Best wishes from all of us on the occasion…
Take care of yourself - Take care of yourself
Give my love to... - Give my heartfelt regards...
I will love you forever - I will always love you
Kiss the children for me - Kiss the children for me
My thoughts are always with you - My thoughts are always with you
All your old friends send their love - All your old friends send their heartfelt regards
I want you to know I am thinking of you - I want you to know that I am thinking about you
Apologies and requests:
Please forgive me for troubling you this way - Sorry for bothering you this way
I do hope you will accept my heartfelt apologies - I hope you accept my sincere apologies
Edward joins me in apologizing for troubling you and we both send you our best wishes - Edward joins me in apologizing for troubling you and we both send you our best wishes
Forgive me for having to write such a letter, but, believe me, I have no alternative - Sorry that I had to write such a letter, but believe me, I have no choice
Please forgive me, but my decision is quite irrevocable - Please forgive me, but my decision is completely final
While I greatly regret the inconvenience, I am sure you will understand it was due to circumstances quite beyond my control - I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you and I hope you will understand that circumstances were stronger than me
If you do not reply within two weeks, I will have to change my mind and... - If you do not answer within two weeks, I will be forced to change my mind and...
Let me know what you decide - Let me know what you decide
I am sorry to bother you with this, but I don"t know what to do - I’m sorry to bother you with this, but I don’t know what to do.
I don"t know what I would do without you - I don’t know what I would do without you
You know you can always count on me - You know that you can always count on me
Please let me know what I can do to help - Please let me know how I can help
Please call on me if there is anything I can do to help - Please contact me if I can help with anything
Love letter: how to write about your love
Do you want to confess your love? We know how difficult it is sometimes to express the depth of your feelings on paper, but there are several beautiful phrases that will help you in writing a romantic letter:
I "m yours - I am yours (yours)
I adore you - I adore you
There is no other like you - There is no one like you anymore
You complete me - You complete me
I love you from the bottom of my heart - I love you with all my heart
I yearn for you - I yearn for you
I"m under your spell - I am fascinated by you
You"ve put a spell on me - You bewitched me
I was smitten with you - You struck with you
You make me feel young again - You make me feel young again
With you, forever won't be too long - With you, forever won't be too long
If you need to hear why I love you, I can go on all night - If you need to hear why I love you, I can talk all night
I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I"m with you - I love you not only for who you are, but for who I am next to you
I love you more and more every day - Every day I love you more and more
I cherish you above anything else in my life - I cherish you more than anything else in my life
I’m more in love with you today than I was yesterday - I’m in love with you more today than yesterday
Examples and samples of letters in English with translation *
Letter of invitation:
Dear Kate and Nick,
We are looking forward very much to your visit to our country this summer. We are expecting you at the beginning of July and are hoping that you may stay until the end of the month or longer.
We consider it a privilege for us to receive you as guests in our house. We are very grateful indeed to you for consenting to come and stay with us. We are looking forward to offering you hospitality in return for the hospitality you have kindly given us on many occasions.
We want you to understand that we will see to all your needs while you are with us and to any expenses that may arise.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Kate and Nick!
We look forward to seeing you this summer. We are waiting for you at the beginning of July and hope that you will stay with us until the end of the month or longer.
It is a great honor for us to host you at home. We are very glad that you agreed to come and stay with us. We want to return the same hospitality that you have so kindly extended to us on more than one occasion.
You should know that we will provide you with everything you need during your stay with us, including financial expenses that may arise.
Sincerely yours,
John and Mary
Reply to the invitation:
Dear John!
It is very kind of you and your wife to offer to invite us to stay. I do hope we will not cause you too much trouble. London is a city I have heard so much about, and I am delighted at the chance to see it.
Once more lots of thanks. See you in July!
Yours cordially,
Dear John and Mary!
It was very kind of you and your wife to invite us to visit. I hope we don't cause you too much trouble. London is a city I've heard a lot about and I'm excited to see it.
Thank you very much again. See you in July!
Yours cordially,
Letter of gratitude for a good time:
Dear Mark,
Now that I am back in Moscow, I feel that I must write to thank you most warmly for all your kindness and hospitality shown to me in Dallas. It was a great pleasure to meet such nice people as you and your wife.
I hope that before long I shall be receiving you in Moscow.
Let me thank you once again.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Mark!
Now that I am back in Moscow, I feel that I must write to you to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your kindness and hospitality shown to me in Dallas. It was very nice to meet such nice people as you and your wife.
I hope that I will soon be able to host you in Moscow.
Let me thank you again.
Sincerely yours,
Letter to a friend:
Dear Edward
I shall be in London for a couple of days next month, and I was wondering if we could meet together. We haven’t seen each other for ages and I am very anxious to hear how things are with you.
What about Monday, April 7? If this would suit you I suggest we meet at the entrance to my hotel, which is "Armour Inn", at 12.30.
Please let me know if this is convenient for you.
Dear Edward!
I'm going to London for a couple of days next month and thought we could meet. We haven't seen each other for ages, and I'm really worried about how things are going for you.
How about Monday, April 7th? If this suits you, then I suggest meeting at the entrance to my hotel
"Armor Inn" at 12.30.
Please let me know if you are happy with this option.
Yours, Lucy.
Dear Charles,
It was good of you to think of writing to me, and I appreciate it very much.
I am indeed keeping well and enjoying comparative leisure. I try to divide my time about equally between reading and recreation.
The weather here in St. Petersburg has been rather changeable lately. In the morning the sun shines warmly, but by noon the sky clouds over and it usually starts to rain. Sometimes a storm blows up, but it never lasts very long.
It must be very hot now in Europe, so take care of yourself.
Dear Charles!
You are so good for writing to me, I am very grateful to you.
I feel good and enjoy relative idleness. I try to have time to read and have fun at the same time.
The weather here in St. Petersburg lately constantly changing. The mornings are warm and the sun is shining, but by midday the sky becomes gloomy and it usually starts to rain. Sometimes there are thunderstorms, but they pass quickly.
It must be very hot in Europe right now, so stay safe.
Best wishes.
Your friend
Congratulations:
Dear Mabel and Kevin,
Best wishes for a merry Christmas! I wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Mabel and Kevin!
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas! I wish you happiness and health in the New Year.
Sincerely yours,
Dear Isabel,
It seems only yesterday that you told me that you were engaged, and now you are married! I haven’t met George, but from your letters I know that both of you will be happy.
Congratulations to George and my best wishes to the two of you for a marriage filled with all the good things in life.
Dear Isabel!
It seems like just yesterday you were telling me about your engagement, and now you’re already married! I don't know George, but from your letters I understand that you both will be happy.
Congratulate George for me, I wish you all the best in your married life.
With tenderness,
Apologies:
Dear Leonard,
I must apologize for not writing sooner. I have been kept busy lately preparing for my exams. The last of my exams was successful yesterday, and now I am comparatively free again. I will try to keep in closer touch with my friends, and with you in particular.
Dear Leonard!
I apologize for not writing to you earlier. Lately I've been busy preparing for exams. Yesterday I successfully passed my last exam and am now relatively free. I will try to communicate more often with friends and with you, in particular.
Your Lana
Dear Frank,
My behavior at your house was deplorable. I can assure you that it will not happen again. I was wrong. I have no excuses.
I am very sorry.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Frank!
My behavior in your house was bad. I can assure you that this will not happen again. I was wrong. I have no excuses.
I beg your pardon.
Sincerely yours,
Requests:
Dear Henry
How are you these days? I haven"t heard from you for ages. I am writing to you because I really need your help. I am thinking of coming to Britain this summer to improve my English, and I would like to stay for about two months. Naturally I can "t afford a two months" holiday, and I am wondering if you know of any jobs I could apply for.
I am sorry to bother you with this. I have no idea where to make inquiries myself. It would be a great help if you could put me in touch with a firm or agency that I could write to.
Dear Henry!
How are you doing? Haven't heard from you for ages. I am writing to you because I really need your help.
I'm thinking about going to the UK this summer to improve my English and would like to live there for a couple of months. Naturally, I cannot afford a two-month vacation, and I am wondering if you have any place in mind where I could work.
Sorry to bother you, but I have absolutely no idea where to turn. It would help me a lot if you could put me in touch with a company or agency that I could write to.
Your friend
Condolences:
Dear Mr. Hailey,
We are deeply saddened by the news of your father's death. He was one of the best men, a fine citizen, a loyal friend, and a hearty companion. We all knew him well and loved him like a brother. Our family mourns with you.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Mr. Haley!
We are deeply saddened by the news of your father's death. He was a good man, an excellent citizen, a loyal friend and a sensitive comrade. We all knew him well and loved him like a brother. Our family mourns with you.
Sincerely yours,
John Lewis
Now you know how to write a personal letter in English for any occasion. Practice more and you will succeed!
Yours sincerely,
*From the manual by L.P. Stupina “Letters in English for all occasions”
Correspondence is one of the most important ways of communication between people all over the world.
With its help, we meet new people, exchange necessary information, cooperate with foreign partners, invite guests, express our feelings and emotions, etc.
The role of letters in our lives is truly great. And even though the epistolary genre is gradually fading into oblivion, we still continue to write letters.
Useful linking words
then- then
after it/that– after this/that
though- Although
so- so, therefore
that's why- therefore, that's why
besides- Besides
nevertheless- nevertheless
anyway- in any case, one way or another
fortunately- fortunately
unfortunately- Unfortunately
What to write about in a letter?
- How are you?- How are you? / How are you?
- How is your family?- How is your family?
- Thank you/Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter/postcard.– Thank you/I am very grateful for your (recent/latest) letter/card.
- I hope you are well.- I hope you're okay.
- I was so surprised to hear that...– I was surprised to hear that...
- It was good / nice / great to hear from you again.– It was good/pleasant/wonderful to hear from you again.
If you haven’t communicated for a long time, the following phrases will do:
- It's ages since I've heard from you. I hope you're well/you and your family are well.“I haven’t heard anything from you for a hundred years.” Hope you are ok/you and your family are ok.
- I’m sorry I haven’t written/haven’t been in touch for such a long time.– Sorry for not writing/keeping in touch for so long.
The final part of the main text expresses your attitude towards your friend and your future expectations. For example:
Letter to a friend in English with translation
| Dear friend. I am writing to you to tell about the party that took place last weekend at Tom’s house. |
Dear friend. I'm writing to tell you about a party that took place last weekend at Tom's house. |
| Unfortunately, you weren’t there but I hoped to the last moment that you would make it. Nevertheless, I am more than sure that you will visit it next time because I am going to tell you about the party. | Unfortunately, you were not there, but until the last moment I hoped that you would come. However, I am more than sure that you will visit him next time because I will tell you about that party. |
| When I came to Tom’s house, I decided to help him and started decorating walls with colorful strips. This decoration made a magic atmosphere for the party. While I was helping Tom to prepare drinks, the guests came and joined us to help. A lot of different people gathered there. Such as painters, musicians and writers. The atmosphere was special and warm. I haven’t met those people before but I got the impression like I have known them all my life or I had met them elsewhere. | When I came to Tom's house, I decided to help him and started decorating the walls with colored ribbons. These decorations created a magical atmosphere for the party. While I was helping Tom with the drinks, guests arrived and joined us to help. A lot of people gathered different people. Such as artists, musicians and writers. The atmosphere was special and warm. I had not met these people before, but I had the impression that I had known them all my life, or had already met them somewhere. |
| I met there a painter Ann. She was wearing a red dress with a big yellow hat. Her look was strange but when she told that she was painter all my doubts disappeared because almost all painters wear strange clothes. Furthermore, she told me that you were her classmate and that she was sorry that you had not come. I gave her your phone number. | I met the artist Anne there. She was wearing a red dress with a large yellow hat. She looked strange, but when she said that she was an artist, all my doubts disappeared, because almost all artists dress a little strange. In addition, she told me that you were her classmate and that she was very sorry that you did not come. I gave her your phone number. |
| One of the guests was too familiar to me but I didn’t know how I could know him. His name was Andry. It appeared he was a famous musician and he was a cousin of Tom as I learned later. Andry brought some good music and we were dancing all night long. | One of the guests knew me well, but I did not understand how I knew him. His name was Andrey. It turned out that he was a famous musician, and as I found out later, he was Tom's cousin. Andrey brought good music and we danced all night long. |
| Tom cooked a big pizza, which was delicious. A lot of salads were tasty as well. There was a wide choice of juices and sweets too. I should say, it was superb. | Tom made a large pizza that was absolutely delicious. Many salads were also very tasty. There was a wide selection of juices and sweets. I have to say it was great. |
| We had much fun. To my mind, everyone was enjoyed. I wish you would feel better soon. | We had a lot of fun. In my opinion, everyone liked it. I wish you a speedy recovery. Best wishes, Sam. |
Example of a letter to a friend
Dear Helen,
How are the things going on? Did something new happen in your life? Having received your letter, I wanted to answer it immediately. But I was working a lot during the last two weeks. So I was pressed for time and did not manage to carry out my intentions.
In my country spring has already set. It is quite warm and really sunny all days long. Being at work I always imagine myself strolling down some parks. I wish you could join me! It would be funny! Some days ago my friend advised me to read a very interesting book. I did it and I would like you to know this author. Are you ready to read good literature?
Tell me more about your work and free time. Are you satisfied with all this? What are your plans for this summer? Maybe we will be able to meet one day?
Truly yours,
Jessica
Translation
Dear Helen,
How are you doing? Anything new? I wanted to answer your letter right away, but I have had a lot of work to do in the last two weeks. There was not enough time to carry out their plans.
Spring has already arrived. It's warm and sunny outside all day. While working, I constantly imagine myself walking through various parks. I'd like you to join me. That would be fun! A few days ago, a friend advised me to read an interesting book. I read it and would like to introduce you to this author. Are you ready to read good literature?
Tell me more about work and leisure. Are you satisfied with everything? What are your plans for the summer? Maybe we can meet sometime?
Always yours
Jessica
Letter to a friend in English - about school
Dear Emily,
Thank you for your letter. It was great to hear about your new house.
As for my new school it’s very big! It has three computer rooms and wonderful sport facilities. Actually, it seems a nice place and I enjoy studying there. The kids in my class are very friendly.
I’ve already made some new friends and often meet after classes.
I’ve got only one new subject this year. It’s Economics and I’m beginning to think that it’s not difficult, after all!
By the way, what music styles do you enjoy? Have you got any favorite bands? Would you like to go to their concert? As for me, I prefer Radiohead. They are cool!
I'd better go now.
Lots of love,
Ann
Translation
Dear Emilia,
Thank you for your letter. It was wonderful to read about your new home.
As for my new school, it is very big! It has three computer classes and wonderful sports facilities. Indeed, it is a wonderful place and I love studying there. The children in my class are very friendly.
I have already made some new friends and often meet them after classes.
I only have one new item this year. This is economics, and I am finally beginning to think that it is not difficult!
By the way, what styles of music do you enjoy? Do you have any favorite bands? Would you like to go to their concert? For me, I prefer Radiohead. They're cool!
I have to go now.
Much love, Anne
Unified State Examination English - personal letter to a friend - universal template
Rules for writing letters in English are needed not only for those who teach, but also for those who have chosen English as an additional subject for the Unified State Exam. The rules for both cases are similar, but they still have their own nuances.
Rules for writing a letter in English for the Unified State Exam
The Unified State Examination requires you to write a personal letter by correspondence. Accordingly, the rules for its design are not so strict; colloquial expressions and words are allowed. This material will also be useful not only to those who are taking the exam, but also to those who need to write a letter to a friend by hand.
- The “header” of the letter is located in the upper right corner; it indicates the sender’s address, which is written from private to general. First, the house number is indicated, then the street name, then the country (we usually write the address the other way around - from general to specific). In the same part at the top, one line later, the date is indicated. It can look informal - 06/18/13, or more strictly - 18 June 2013. The most common way to write the date is June 18, 2013.
- The main text of the letter. Informal address begins with Dear, Darling, My dear, etc., without indicating the status (Mr., Ms., Mrs.), for example: “Dear Jenna.” In official letters, Dear does not mean “dear,” but “respected.” After the address, only a comma is placed, not used. If we are talking about writing a letter to the Unified State Exam, then the body of the letter should have the following structure. The first part is the introductory part - thanks to your friend for his letter, an apology for the fact that you did not answer for so long. In any personal letter, these can be references to previous ones, because this is how we correspond in life - as if continuing a conversation. In a letter for the Unified State Exam, you must thank and apologize. Next, you need to answer the questions specified in the assignment and ask counter questions. This is the main part of the letter. the third part is the final one. It includes all sorts of polite standard phrases that confirm the desire to continue communication, such as “Hope to hear from you soon”, “See you later!” (Do keep in touch!).
- Below, under the main part of the letter, a line indicates phrases that may vary depending on the degree of closeness of the relationship. The most official options are Sincerely, Sincerely yours, which is similar to our “With respect,” “Sincerely yours.” But you can also use less formal expressions: Love, All my love (with love), With best wishes (With best wishes). The most appropriate option must be chosen based on the tone of the letter. A comma is placed after this word.
- After the comma, the name of the author of the letter is indicated. Since the letter is friendly, you do not need to indicate your position or last name.
The rules for writing a letter in English are easier to learn if you familiarize yourself with sample letters and learn template phrases for each of the sections, the choice of which is very large. Example of a letter for the Unified State Exam:
Thanks for your letter. I was very glad to receive it and know that you are fine. I must apologize for not writing earlier. I was very busy with preparing for exams. I will take them soon. I am especially worried about my English language exam, because I think that my vocabulary is not big enough.
How are you doing? I received your photo with electronic guitar. You look like real rock star. What song are you learning these days?
You asked me about my hobbies. I have to delay my photography classes, because after my exams I need to help my cousin. She also will have some exams and she asked me to explain her some aspects of Russian language and History.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Writing a letter in English for the Unified State Exam requires compliance with specific rules. For example, the letter must be strictly between 90 and 154 words. The example above contains 148 words.
Rules for writing a business letter in English
Many companies have a template for designing business letters, both paper and electronic. A business letter must contain the following elements:
- "Cap". It can be designed in different ways, but it must contain the name of the organization and the designation of its area of activity, possibly its main contacts.
- Greetings. In a business letter, you need to address the recipient by first and last name, indicating the status (Mr., Ms., Mrs.). You definitely need to start with the word “Dear”, that is, with “Dear...”. For example, "Dear Mrs. Julia Johnson." The most formal address is "Dear Sir".
- Contents of the letter. It should be clear and precise, without unnecessary words. If it's an email, it should be short. If you need to present something long, it is better to send it as a separate file as an attachment. Polite formulas at the end of the letter are very desirable, for example: If you have any question pls feel free to contact me. Looking forward to your early reply. Best regards. Each sentence should be written on a new line.
- Sender's signature. The signature must indicate the sender's first and last name, his position and personal contacts. Contacts can also be listed below. In emails, you can fill out a signature that will automatically appear in each email. Then at the end you just need to indicate your name.
- At the end, a line indicates the company’s contacts, a link to the website, and, if necessary, a logo. Contacts must be specified in as much detail as possible; your interlocutor must know all the ways to contact you and be able to choose the most convenient one for himself. Here's what modern companies include in their email signature:
People have been writing letters to each other since time immemorial. From letters one can judge a person’s character, his education, hobbies, and most importantly, how well he speaks the language in which he writes. Those who study the language will sooner or later be faced with the need to learn how to write letters in English correctly.
The letter may be needed when entering a higher education institution abroad, when passing a language exam, or when applying for a job. But not only in the world of business communication is it important to know how to write a letter in English. Informal correspondence can also have an impact on your life, communication with friends and acquaintances. Your letters will be used to judge you by those who read them. Do you want to leave a good impression? We will introduce you to the basic rules of correspondence in English. It's also worth repeating. Before you start writing a letter, you need to determine for what purpose you are doing this, and therefore determine the type of letter.
Types of letters in English
All letters can be divided into personal (Personal letter) and business (Business letter). We talked about correspondence with business partners and the main taboos of business correspondence earlier, today we will discuss the rules of personal correspondence in more detail. Are there general strict rules for writing letters in English? If we are talking about personal correspondence, the answer is obvious - no. In business documentation and communication with business partners, letter templates in English are often used. Personal correspondence is your own business, forgive the tautology. And yet, there are a few tips that will help make correspondence more enjoyable for you and the person with whom you are having an epistolary conversation. In addition, if you are new to the world of English, it is still better to try writing your first letters using templates.
Of course, stream of consciousness is a good thing, but only in the works of Joyce. If you want your letter to be read to the end, respect the addressee. Try to make the text easy to read. The construction of writing in English is as important as the meaning you put into the words you write.
As a rule, a letter contains the following structural elements:
- request – separate line
- a short introduction (in which you can refer to previous contacts, previously written letters, etc.) - a separate paragraph
- main part – several paragraphs
- conclusion – separate line
- the final phrase is a separate line
- signature (name only) – separate line
- in the upper right corner you should indicate the author’s address and the date under the address
We offer a sample letter in English, with the following structure:
The form of address always depends on the degree of familiarity with the person you are addressing in the letter. Let's give a few examples.
- Dear John! – appeal to a friend, relative
- Dear Sir- an appeal if this John is your boss. Official appeal.
- My dear Sir – an address that can be used ironically in personal correspondence
- Dear Mr. Smith- an official address to a stranger (you don’t know who John is)
Tip 3. A few important points to pay attention to
1. If you do not know the gender of the recipient, write his full last name: Dear T.K. Spinazola
2. If you don’t know which abbreviation is better to use: Miss or Mrs, since you don't know if the woman is married, use a neutral Ms.
3. If you are writing a letter to two people, include both names in the address.
4. These messages cannot be shortened: Professor, Dean, Governor, Captain, Admiral, JudgeSister, Senator
5. These addresses should never be used in full Mr., Ms., Mrs. and Dr.
In order to write a letter correctly the first time, it is a good idea to have a sample letter in English at hand.
Template phrases for writing letters
5 introductory phrase templates:
- It was great to get your letter….
- Thanks for your letter. It was great/lovely to hear from you.
- Thanks for your long letter. It was really great to hear all your news, after not hearing from you for ages….
- Sorry I haven’t written for so long but….
- I was really pleased to hear that…
These phrases are neutral; you can start a letter with them to any addressee. Sometimes it can be difficult to find words, especially if you are not writing in your native language. Template phrases will help you structure the text of your letter and correctly formulate your thoughts.
5 Closing Phrases Templates:
- I would really like you to visit me this summer. Write to me and tell me your plans.
- Please give/send my regards (love) to your….
- And write and tell me your plans for….
- Write back soon!
- If you want to know anything else, just drop me a line.
Template for a letter asking for advice (5 options):
- I am writing to ask for your advice
- Can you give me your advice?
- I've got a problem and I need your advice.
- What do you think I should do?
- Do you think I should...?
Phrases for different letters:
We wish you only good and warm letters!