Starting and finishing emails

Starting and finishing emails

Here are some important points to consider when starting and finishing an email.

We write a formal email when we want to be polite, or when we do not know the reader very well. A lot of work emails are formal. We write informal emails when we want to be friendly, or when we know the reader well. A lot of social emails are informal. Here are some examples of formal and informal messages:

Layout and punctuation

Starting an email: We normally write a comma after the opening phrase. We start a new line after the name of the person we’re writing to.

Finishing an email: We normally write a comma after the closing phrase. We start a new line to write our name at the end.

• Here are some phrases which we use for starting and finishing emails. We use these in formal and informal emails:

  
  

• Starting phrases Dear Tim, Good morning Tim,

• Ending phrases Regards, With best wishes, With many thanks and best wishes,

• You also need to know which phrases to use only in a formal email or an informal one:

Task 1

Hairuddin Omar, a maths teacher, has written four emails this morning. Read the descriptions of the emails and then match them to the opening lines of the emails

Multiple Select

A. Hairuddin emailed a man called Norozan Bakar, the father of a pupil at the school. He wanted to know why Mr Bakar’s son was absent from school.

• Morning everyone, Just thought you might be interested to know that...

• Hi there Rahim, Hope you're well. Might be a bit late on Saturday...

• Dear Sir or Madam, Could you please send me...

• Dear Mr Bakar, I am writing to you because I am worried that...

Multiple Select

B. Hairuddin emailed all the maths teachers at his school about some training.

• Morning everyone, Just thought you might be interested to know that...

• Hi there Rahim, Hope you're well. Might be a bit late on Saturday...

• Dear Sir or Madam, Could you please send me...

• Dear Mr Bakar, I am writing to you because I am worried that...

Multiple Select

C. Hairuddin wrote to his friend about their plans to play football at the weekend.

• Morning everyone, Just thought you might be interested to know that...

• Hi there Rahim, Hope you're well. Might be a bit late on Saturday...

• Dear Sir or Madam, Could you please send me...

• Dear Mr Bakar, I am writing to you because I am worried that...

Multiple Select

D. Hairuddin sent an email asking for more information about a conference. He did not know the name of the person who will read his email.

• Morning everyone, Just thought you might be interested to know that...

• Hi there Rahim, Hope you're well. Might be a bit late on Saturday...

• Dear Sir or Madam, Could you please send me...

• Dear Mr Bakar, I am writing to you because I am worried that...

Indicate which endings are appropriate or not.

Multiple Select

Which phrases are an appropriate way to end a formal email? (Two are not.)

• Yours truly,

• With best regards,

• For your information

• Yours sincerely,

• For Attention Of:

Multiple Select

Which phrases are an appropriate way to end a formal email? (One is not.)

• Best wishes,

• To Whom It May Concern:

• Yours faithfully

• With many thanks and best wishes,

Multiple Select

Which phrases are an appropriate way to end an informal email? (One is not.)

• Regards,

• Cheers,

• Hi again,

• Rgds,

• Bye for now,

Multiple Select

Which phrases are an appropriate way to end an informal email? (two are not.)

• CC

• With best wishes,

• See you soon,

• How are you?

'Look forward to' (1)

Complete the emails with the sentences.

Multiple Choice

Dear Mr Cruz,

Please find enclosed an application form for the post of Teacher of History.

______ for this job. The deadline is March 24.

Yours sincerely,

J Ko, School Administrator

• I look forward to meeting you

• I look forward to receiving your application

• We look forward to working with you

• I look forward to hearing from you soon

Multiple Choice

Hello Hiroshi,

I can phone you on Thursday at 10:30 am. Can you let me know if that is convenient, please? _____ .

Regards, Jack

• I look forward to meeting you

• I look forward to receiving your application

• We look forward to working with you

• I look forward to hearing from you soon

Multiple Choice

Dear Mrs Kapusta, I am writing to confirm our appointment in my office on Tuesday January 28.

Please report to Reception when you arrive, and they will direct you to my office. I hope you have a safe journey here, and _____ on Tuesday.

With best wishes, Tony Donizetti

• I look forward to meeting you

• I look forward to receiving your application

• We look forward to working with you

• I look forward to hearing from you soon

Multiple Choice

Dear Jackie,

Congratulations on getting the job. My team in the International Office and I would like to welcome you to Bakewell University. I am sure you will enjoy your new role. ______ .

Best wishes,

Ewa

Ewa Jones – Director, International Office – Bakewell University

• I look forward to meeting you

• I look forward to receiving your application

• We look forward to working with you

• I look forward to hearing from you soon