Structure and formal language · 结构与正式语言
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.
开头与结尾
- 用 Dear Mr Lee, 或 Dear Sir/Madam, 开头。
- 有名字 → 用 Yours sincerely, 结尾;用 Sir/Madam → Yours faithfully,。
- 让结尾与开头相配。
正式的称呼配上随意的落款，就像西装配沙滩拖鞋：读者先注意到的只会是不搭。
You begin 'Dear Sir/Madam,'. How should you end? · 你以 'Dear Sir/Madam,' 开头,应该怎样结尾?
No name in the greeting → 'Yours faithfully,'. · 开头没有名字 → '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
清楚的段落
- 第一段:说明你为什么写信。
- 中间:你的要点,每段一个。
- 最后一段:说明你希望接下来发生什么。
Layout of a formal letter · 正式信函的版面结构
Five zones, top to bottom: greeting, reason, points, request, matching sign-off. · 从上到下五个区域:称呼、来意、要点、请求、与开头相配的结尾。
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.
正式的语言
- 不用缩略形式:写 I am,不写 I'm。
- 用礼貌句式:I would like to…、I am writing to…
- 句子保持清楚、完整。
In a formal letter you can write 'I'm' and 'don't'. · 在正式信函里可以写 'I'm' 和 'don't'。
No — use full forms: 'I am', 'do not'. · 不对——用完整形式:'I am'、'do not'。
Make it formal: 'I ___ writing to ask about the job.' · 把它改正式:'I ___ writing to ask about the job.'
Formal writing uses the full form 'am'. · 正式写作用完整形式 'am'。
Write a polite opening line for a formal email asking for information. · 写一封正式邮件的礼貌开头一句,用来询问信息。
Example: 'I am writing to ask for more information about the course.' · 例如:'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.
第一段和最后一段最吃重
- 第一段:"Dear Mrs Chen, I am writing to suggest a recycling scheme for our school."——一句话说明来意。
- 中间段承载要点,每段一个。
- 最后一段:"I would be grateful if you could consider this plan at the next meeting."——你希望对方采取的行动。
- 合上框架:开头有名字 → Yours sincerely, + 你的全名。
Put the parts of a formal letter in order. · 把正式信函的各部分排好顺序。
Greeting → reason → points → request → matching sign-off. · 称呼 → 来意 → 要点 → 请求 → 相配的结尾。
- Match the closing to the opening.
- Clear paragraphs: why → points → what next.
- Formal = full forms, polite phrases, no slang.
- 让结尾与开头相配。
- 段落清楚:为什么 → 要点 → 接下来。
- 正式 = 完整形式、礼貌句式、不用俚语。