LETTERS REQUESTING INFORMATION - LETTERS OF ENQUIRY

Letters requesting information can be formal or informal.

Introduction: paragraph 1 - state reason(s) for writing

Main Body: paragraphs 2, (3), (4) - introduce requests and explain reasons for making the requests

Conclusion: final paragraph - closing remarks

Useful Language for Letters Requesting Information / Letters of Enquiry (or Inquiry)

Formal

Opening Remarks:

I am writing to inquire about/in connection with …, etc.

I am writing with reference to …

To introduce first request:

Could you possibly send ...;

I would be grateful if you could …;

Would it be possible for you to tell/send me …;

I would appreciate some information about, etc.

To introduce further requests:

Could you also please send me …;

Another matter I need information on is …;

I would also like some information on …, etc.

Closing Remarks:

I look forward to receiving your reply;

I would appreciate it if you could inform me as soon as possible, etc.

Informal

Opening Remarks:

I want you to tell me …

Can you let me know …

I’d like to know …; etc

To introduce first request:

Can you send/tell me …

I want to know …; etc.

To introduce further requests:

Can you also find out …

I also want to know …; etc.

Closing Remarks:

Please, let me know …

Send me the details …

Tell me soon …; etc.

Exercise:

Read the instructions and the model letter. Have all the points been covered in the letter? Replace the underlined examples of useful language with similar ones from the table above.

Instructions: You belong to an activity club at school. At the last meeting, it was decided that the group would arrange a river-rafting trip. Your friends, Danny and Kim, went river-rafting last term with a school group, and you want to ask them about it.

Model letter (informal)

Dear Danny and Kim

   How are you both? Our school activity club is planning a river-rafting trip next month and I want you to tell me a few things since you went on a similar trip last term.

   Can you tell me how many students went on your trip? There are about thirty planning to go in our group. Do you think that’s too many?

   I also want to know what it costs to hire a coach for one day as that’s how we intend to travel there.

   Finally, did you have to take any special safety precautions to go rafting? Obviously we will want to be properly prepared before we start.

   Please let me know as soon as you can.

                                                                                                                                              Love,  
                                                                           Sue

Art and Today's World

     Today’s world has managed to overcome so many obstacles and prejudices, grown to understand all sorts of people and opinions and reached a point in history where almost everything is possible.

      Unfortunately, art has always stayed in the background, and it saddens me to think that in my surroundings, it’s hardly even there. Technology has occupied every portion of our everyday lives, and creativity is nowhere to be found. Art is considered to be something that belongs to the standouts, the misunderstood, the strange. My circumstances offer no possibilities for development in this particular area, ignoring my potential and crushing my dreams.

      Today, when slaves no longer exist, discrimination has been minimized and freedom of speech is guaranteed, I see no reason why something as pure as art should be discarded as something, dare I say, freaky.

      The capability to understand art and the satisfaction that comes from it enriches our lives, gives meaning to our lives and uplifts us to an entirely new level of comprehension. As George Bernard Shaw put it “Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable.”

 

Aleksandar Stoimenovski IV³

LETTERS ASKING FOR OR GIVING ADVICE

Letters asking for or giving advice can be formal or informal depending on the situation. A letter asking for advice can be sent to a friend or an advice column in a magazine. Details of the problem should be mentioned. A letter giving advice should contain suggestions introduced with appropriate language.

Asking for advice

Introduction: paragraph 1 - reason(s) for writing

Main Body: paragraphs 2, (3) - description of problem(s)

Conclusion: final paragraph - closing remarks

Useful Language for Letters Asking for Advice

Opening Remarks:

Formal

I am writing to ask if you could help me with ….

I would appreciate it if you could give me some advice about ….

I am writing to ask for your advice /I would be grateful if you could offer your advice ….

Could you possibly offer your advice …..

I wonder if you could help me with a problem, etc.

Informal

I'm writing to ask for your advice ….

Can you give me your advice ….

I've got a problem and I need your advice …; etc.

Closing Remarks:

Formal

I would appreciate it if you could give me your advice as soon as possible ….

I look forward to receiving your advice …..

It would be of great help if you could advise me, etc.

Informal

What do you think I should do?  

Please let me know what you think I should do.  

Please tell me what to do, etc.

What would you advise me to …?

Other useful expressions:

Informal

Do you think I should …?

Do you have any idea about …?

I was wondering if you …

Sample letter asking for advice (informal)

  Dear Pam,

  Sorry that I haven’t written for ages, but I’ve been very busy studying. I’m writing because I need your advice about a problem I have.

  My friends and I have decided to go away on holiday in the summer, but I don’t have enough money. I was wondering if you had any ideas about earning some extra cash. If I don’t save up enough money by August, I’ll have to go away with my parents instead. Can you think of anything that would help me to make some money quickly?

  What would you advise me to do? Please write back as soon as you can.

  Love,

  Mary

Giving advice

Introduction: paragraph 1 - thanks for letter/express understanding of problem

Main Body: paragraphs 2, (3) - suggestion(s) + reason(s)

Conclusion: final paragraph - closing remarks

Useful Language for Letters Giving Advice

Opening Remarks:

Formal

Thank you for your letter requesting …

I am writing in reply to your letter asking for advice about …

I hope the following advice will be of some help to you, etc.

Informal

I just got your letter and I think I can help you …

I was sorry to hear about your problem. Here's what I think you should do, etc.

Suggestions can be introduced with expressions such as:

Formal

I strongly recommend that …

I would suggest that …

I believe the best course of action is …

I would advise you to …

You should …

You ought to …

You cold also …

If I were you I would …

Informal

Why don't you …

You should …

You ought to …

It would be a good idea to …

What you should do is ...  

How about...

I think you should ...

The best advice I can give you is..., etc.

Closing Remarks:

Formal

I trust you will accept this advice.

I hope this will be of help.

I would very much like to know if this was helpful.

Informal

Hope this has helped.

Let me know what happens, etc.

Read the following letters and answer these questions.

Which letter is formal and which is informal?

What is the topic of each paragraph in each letter?

Replace the underlined phrases with other similar expressions, keeping the appropriate style.

Dear Miss Pierson, MODEL A

Thank you for your letter asking for my advice about what you should do now that you have finished school. There are a range of options for you to choose from.

If I were you, I would make a list of all the careers which may interest you and then decide which one you feel you are best suited to. You could also see a careers officer who would be able to give you professional advice. Furthermore, it would be a good idea to write to some universities and ask them to send you a prospectus; you may find a course which really appeals to you.

I hope these suggestions will be of help to you. I wish you well in whatever course of action you decide upon.

Yours sincerely,

Linda Steel           

  Dear Stephanie

  Thanks for your letter asking me for advice about how to lose weight. I’m sure your problem isn’t as serious as you say it is.

  The best advice I can give you is to choose one diet and really stick to it for a couple of months. It’s pointless trying lots of different ones which only last a few days, as you’ve discovered! The most important thing to remember is to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and to exercise regularly.

  If you follow my advice, I’m sure you’ll be back in shape in no time. Let me know how it goes.

  Love,

  Kate

FORMAL AND INFORMAL LETTERS

There are various types of letters such as: letters of complaint, letters asking for/giving information, letters asking for/giving advice, letters of invitation, letters accepting/refusing an invitation, letters expressing congratulations/thanks, letters giving news, letters of apology, letters of application for a job etc.

A good letter should consist of:

a) an appropriate greeting (Dear Peter, Dear Mr Ford, Dear Sir/Madam,);

b) an introduction clearly stating the reason you are writing;

c) a main body in which the subject is developed. Begin a new paragraph for each main point;

d) a final paragraph in which you sum up the topic or express your wish for something to be done; and

e) an appropriate ending (Yours/Best wishes + first name, Yours sincerely/Yours faithfully + full name).

Style in Letters

The characteristics of formal style in letters are:

• the greeting (Dear Mrs Lee, Dear Sir,)

• frequent use of the passive

• formal language (complex sentences, non-colloquial English)

• no abbreviated forms

• the ending (Yours sincerely/Yours faithfully, Jason McNeil)

The characteristics of informal style in letters are:

• the greeting (Dear Alex, Dear Dad,)

• informal language and style (idioms, colloquial English)

• abbreviated forms, pronouns omitted

• the ending (Yours/Love/Best wishes/Regards, Anthony)