Structure and formal language
Opening and closing
- Open with Dear Mr Lee, or Dear Sir/Madam,
- With a name → close Yours sincerely,; with Sir/Madam → Yours faithfully,
- Match the closing to the opening.
A formal opening and a casual sign-off are like a suit worn with beach sandals: the mismatch gets noticed first.
Abertura e encerramento
- Inicie com Dear Mr Lee, ou Dear Sir/Madam,
- Com nome → feche com Yours sincerely,; com Sir/Madam → Yours faithfully,
- Combine a despedida com a saudação inicial.
Uma abertura formal e uma assinatura casual são como um terno usado com sandálias de praia: o descompasso é notado primeiro.
You begin 'Dear Sir/Madam,'. How should you end?
No name in the greeting → 'Yours faithfully,'.
Clear paragraphs
- First paragraph: say why you are writing.
- Middle: your points, one idea each.
- Last paragraph: say what you would like to happen next.
Turning friendly phrases into formal ones
Parágrafos claros
- Primeiro parágrafo: diga por que está escrevendo.
- Meio: seus pontos, uma ideia em cada um.
- Último parágrafo: diga o que gostaria que acontecesse a seguir.
Transformando expressões amigáveis em formais
Layout of a formal letter
Five zones, top to bottom: greeting, reason, points, request, matching sign-off.
Formal language
- No short forms: write I am, not I'm.
- Use polite phrases: I would like to…, I am writing to…
- Keep sentences clear and complete.
Linguagem formal
- Sem formas abreviadas: escreva I am, não I'm.
- Use frases polidas: I would like to…, I am writing to…
- Mantenha as frases claras e completas.
In a formal letter you can write 'I'm' and 'don't'.
No — use full forms: 'I am', 'do not'.
Make it formal: 'I ___ writing to ask about the job.'
Formal writing uses the full form 'am'.
Write a polite opening line for a formal email asking for information.
Example: 'I am writing to ask for more information about the course.'
First and last paragraphs do the heavy lifting
- First: "Dear Mrs Chen, I am writing to suggest a recycling scheme for our school." — the reason, in one line.
- The middle carries your points, one paragraph each.
- Last: "I would be grateful if you could consider this plan at the next meeting." — the action you want.
- Close the frame: a named reader → Yours sincerely, + your full name.
Os primeiros e últimos parágrafos fazem o trabalho pesado
- Primeiro: "Dear Mrs Chen, I am writing to suggest a recycling scheme for our school." — a razão, em uma linha.
- O meio carrega seus pontos, um parágrafo cada.
- Último: "I would be grateful if you could consider this plan at the next meeting." — a ação que você deseja.
- Feche o quadro: leitor com nome → Yours sincerely, + seu nome completo.
Put the parts of a formal letter in order.
Greeting → reason → points → request → matching sign-off.
- Match the closing to the opening.
- Clear paragraphs: why → points → what next.
- Formal = full forms, polite phrases, no slang.
- Combine a despedida com a saudação inicial.
- Parágrafos claros: por quê → pontos → o que fazer a seguir.
- Formal = formas completas, frases polidas, sem gírias.