Writing Business Emails
(info merged from LT1 recommended dictionaries)
General Email Etiquette
Subject line: always short & informative, not single general words
Attachments: mention them and say what they contain – don't leave
the body of the email empty
Acknowledge email attachments: Thanks + your name
Formal An enquiry to a company – formal, polite –
A reply – semi-formal, polite (see OALD)
Not very informal language, not incomplete sentences, not
exclamation marks, not emoticons; do not write in CAPITALS
Can use contracted verb forms (except when first impressions are
important) – better not
Section
Formal
Semi-formal
Informal
Notes
Greeting
Dear Ms/Mr/Mrs/Miss Klein*
Dear Dr/Professor Smith
Dear Chris White
Dear Sir/Madam**
Dear Renata
Hi / Hello
Hi / Hello
Renata
Dear All
Dear All
Hi everyone /
Hello all
FAO
For the attention of the Sales Manager
Closes
Best wishes
Best regards
Regards
Yours truly (AE)
VERY FORMAL
Yours sincerely* (BrE when you
know the person's name)
Yours faithfully** (BrE when you
don't know the person's name)
+ full name (+ position & contact
details)
All the best
Best
Yours
Many thanks
+ first or full
name (or formal
closes)
Thanks
Cheers
Speak to you
soon
+ first name
Informal: Talk to you
soon /See you soon /
Catch you later
Informal British English:
Regards/Cheers
Informal: All the best /
Best
Take care
Love
(or just the letter of your
first name (ex: R))
Requesting
action
Very polite
Polite
Informal
request
Would it be possible (for you) to send
me...?
I would be grateful if you could send
me...
Could you
(please) send
me …?
Could you send
me x, please?
Would you
mind sending
me X please?
Can you send
me …?
Pls can you
let me
have …?
I was wondering if you have had a
chance to … yet?
Have you had
the/a chance to
(do it yet)?
Have you
(done it yet)?
