How to write letters

You'll find an example of an informal letter on this page and some examples how to end and begin letters.

The assignment however is writing an e-mail. You have to book a room at a hotel (and since almost all hotels are connected to the Internet nowadays, it seems like a waste of time to send a letter).

Assignment:

Find a hotel, youth hostel or B&B (Bed and Breakfast) where you'd like to stay for a couple of nights. Then write an e-mail where you ask the necessary questions. Submit it to the project discussion.

If you need help look at the information below.

Here's an example of an informal letter


16 Terrace Grove
Exeter EX5 AD

4 March 1999

Dear Steve,

We met at Andrew's party last week and I was glad to hear from my friend Sean that you are interested in renting a house this summer. I believe he informed you that I'll be away from mid-June until the end of September, and I could use somebody looking after my garden. You are good at gardening, aren't you? Just kidding, there's only the lawn to take care of.

Anyway, let me know how long you'll be in England this summer, and whether you find £190/ week reasonable.

Kind regards, Natasja


How to begin and how to end

The important thing is to think about who you're writing to. If it is a formal letter and you're at all uncertain about what's appropriate and don't have any correspondence from the person or company you're writing to (in which case you just copy their beginning and closing greeting) look for information on the Internet. If it's an informal letter or an e-mail you can be more relaxed.

To end a letter or an e-mail with Regards is quite a safe bet. A letter starting with Dear John, for instance, could well end with Best regards (or With Best Regards = US English), Kind regards or simply Regards. Save Love for very close friends.

Ways to end an e-mail or an informal letter are, for instance:
Cheers, Best Wishes, Regards.

If you write a more formal letter the following is recommended:

If you begin with:

End with:

Dear Mr Smith,

Yours sincerely, = British English

Sincerely yours, or Respectfully yours, = US English

Dear Sir(s), Madame etc

Yours Faithfully, (possibly Yours Sincerely,) = British English

Sincerely, = US English

Links:
If you want a "letter wizard", you might want to turn to Microsoft Word. MS Words' Tutorial contains some exercises and tips on using the letter wizard.

This site will give you some hints on how to write letters. It's Lewis Carroll - the author of Alice in Wonderland - who offers advice on on how to begin, how to continue etc. It may seem a little bit old-fashioned. Very nice (but rather long).