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Writing: a useful short message
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Give your reader a job
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You want a friend to meet you. Your message must answer where? when? what next? Write a short message the reader can act on.
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Before starting, complete this aloud: I am at ... If that is difficult, revisit am, is, are. Allow about 40–65 minutes across sessions, including writing and checking; this is a suggested allowance, not measured learner timing.
A useful message can be short. Give the details your reader needs. The choice questions help you practise; writing your own messages is a separate job.
Watch a message take shape
- Situation: You are at the library. Meet Sam there at 3 pm. Ask Sam to bring a pen.
Hi Sam. I'm at the library. Meet me here at 3 pm. Please bring a pen. Thanks, Jo.
- I'm at the library gives a place. Meet me here at 3 pm gives an action and time; here refers to the library. Please bring a pen is a clear request. Please can help a request sound polite, but choose words that fit your reader and situation. The name tells Sam who wrote it.
Hi Sam. I'm at the library. Meet me here at 3 pm. Please bring a pen. Thanks, Jo.
Where does Jo want Sam to meet?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
Jo writes “I'm at the library” and “Meet me here”. Here refers to the library.
You are at the station. Ask Tom to meet you there at 6 pm today and bring your bag. Which message keeps all these facts?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
The third message keeps the station, today, 6 pm and the writer’s bag. The first changes the day; the second asks for Tom’s bag.
Repair the missing detail
- Worked contrast: missing → clear. “Hi Sam. Meet me later. Bring it.” gives no exact time or named object on its own. “Hi Sam. Meet me at the library at 3 pm. Please bring a pen.” gives both. Add the details the reader needs.
Worked contrast: unclear → linked. “Bring it.” is unclear when no object is known. In “My jacket is on the chair. Please bring it.”, it means the jacket. Do not remove every it or here; check what it refers to.
- Another request is “Can you bring a pen, please?” Choose a clear request that fits this friend. A polite request does not mean your friend has agreed.
Which revision makes “Bring it” clear when no object has been named?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
Naming a pen tells Sam which object to bring. Changing the time leaves the object unclear.
True or false? “it” is wrong in every message, even just after you name the object.
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
False. In “My jacket is on the chair. Please bring it.”, it refers to the jacket. Name the object when your reader cannot tell what you mean.
Build with support
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One useful frame is Hi + name → place → time → request → your name. Other clear orders can work. In the ordering task, follow the particular order it asks for.
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For a friend at the park, use “I'm at the park.” For a time, use “at 4 pm”. Put a full stop between complete sentences. Check whose object you mean: in your message to Ben, my bag is yours and your bag is Ben's.
Which detail is missing from “Hi Kim. Meet me at the cafe. Please bring a notebook”?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
The cafe is the place and notebook is the object. Add a time so Kim can plan.
Put the parts of the message in the order this lesson uses.
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This is the frame from the lesson: each part gives the reader something they need to act.
Match each short sentence to the information it gives in a message.
Difficulty 2/5 · 140 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
The gate tells where the writer is. 2 pm tells when to meet. The question asks the reader to bring the writer’s hat.
For this practice, put these four complete sentences in this order: greeting → place of the jacket → request → closing. Other clear message orders can also work.
Difficulty 3/5 · 200 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
This order follows the requested frame. The jacket is named before it. Mia should collect her jacket; Jo does not ask Mia to bring Jo’s jacket.
Write without the frame
- Fresh situation: You are at the cafe. Ask Alex to meet you at 11 am and bring your book. Write in English before comparing with a model. More than one message works.
Worked contrast: known → unknown. If you know a club meets in Room 2 at 3 pm, you can give those details. If you do not know, ask: “Where is the club? What time does it start?” Do not invent a room or time.
- Check place, time and request in your own message. Change the wording if you want, but keep the facts and the owner of the book.
Fresh situation: You are at the cafe. Ask Alex to meet you at 11 am and bring your book.
Write your message before comparing it with a model. More than one message works. Check the three important details rather than copying the model word for word.
Write your response, then compare with the model and checklist.
Compare meaning, completeness and tone. Several answers can meet these criteria; this is a self-review, not an automatic score.
You want to go to art club tomorrow. You do not know the place or time. Ask a friend for both details. Which message fits?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
The first message asks for both missing details. Room 2 and 3 pm were not given. Asking whether the club is fun does not ask where or when.
Ben has your bag. You want him to bring it to you. Which request keeps the owner clear?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
When you write to Ben, my bag means your bag. your bag means Ben’s bag. Can I bring asks about your action, not Ben’s.
Make one useful revision
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Read your message as Alex. Find the place, time and request. Add a missing detail. If there or it is unclear, name the place or object. If a detail is already clear, you may keep it; do not invent an error.
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Draft saving is optional. Without it, keep your draft on the open page. If you choose to keep drafts, they are saved in this browser profile on this device; other people using the profile may read them. Use the draft and history controls to review or clear saved work. Comparing with a model is self-review, not an automatic writing score.
Transfer to a new reader
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New situation: Your music teacher asks where you are. You are outside Room 4. Tell the teacher you are there now and ask them to open the door. Write in English. The purpose is getting help, not arranging a meeting.
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Use a greeting and a clear request that fit your teacher. Keep outside, now and who should open the door. When replying to a shop, give your available time and ask for a missing collection place; do not treat your request as an agreed appointment.
New situation: Your music teacher asks where you are. You are outside Room 4. Tell the teacher you are there now and ask them to open the door.
Use a polite greeting and a clear request. This time the purpose is getting help, not arranging a meeting.
Write your response, then compare with the model and checklist.
Compare meaning, completeness and tone. Several answers can meet these criteria; this is a self-review, not an automatic score.
A shop asks when you can collect your coat. You are free on Saturday at 10 am, but you do not know where to collect it. Which reply gives your time and asks for the missing place?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
The third reply states when you can come and asks where. It does not invent a collection place or claim the shop has confirmed a time. Wait for the shop’s reply before treating the arrangement as agreed.
Reflect honestly
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Name one real change and why it helps your reader. If no change was needed, name a detail you checked and kept. If you have no draft, say what you will check next. A short English reflection is enough.
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You can keep practising in the next steps. Later, write a fresh message without opening a model first. Returning later is a different check from copying or revising now.
Without looking back, name one real change you made and why it helps your reader. If no change was needed, name a detail you checked and kept. If you have not written a draft, name your next check instead. Write your reflection in English; a short answer is enough.
A useful reflection connects a concrete change with its purpose. It does not establish delayed recall until you return and attempt the work later.
Give the reader a new job
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A found-item message tells someone where their object is and what to do next. You can know where the bag is without being there yourself. Keep the owner and action clear.
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An information request asks for details you do not know. Write the next two messages in English before opening their models. Check the facts and questions, not whether every word matches a model.
You found Luca’s blue bag. It is at the school office. Ask Luca to collect it there at 4 pm. Do not say that you are at the office; your location was not given.
Write your message in English before opening the model. Use invented names; do not add real contact details.
Compare the facts and the reader’s next action. Several messages can work. This self-review does not automatically score your writing.
You want to go to basketball club tomorrow. Your friend Ren may know the details. You do not know where it meets or what time it starts. Write to Ren to ask both questions.
Write your message in English before opening the model. Use invented names; do not add real contact details.
Compare the facts and the reader’s next action. Several messages can work. This self-review does not automatically score your writing.
Repair facts, not just spelling
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Read the intended message before repairing a draft. Check day → time → place → object → owner. A neat sentence can still tell the reader the wrong thing.
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In a message you write, my notebook means your notebook. If Ada should bring it, ask Ada to act. Changing tomorrow to today matters when the intended meeting is today. Do not add agreement you have not received.
Repair this draft: “Hi Ada. Please bring your book tomorrow at ten. Thanks, Jo.”
Your intended message: meet Ada today at 10 am outside the cafe; ask Ada to bring your notebook, not Ada’s book. Write the whole corrected message. No reply from Ada has been received.
Write your message in English before opening the model. Use invented names; do not add real contact details.
Compare the facts and the reader’s next action. Several messages can work. This self-review does not automatically score your writing.
Retrieve from a fresh notice
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Try the final message tomorrow or another day if possible. Read the fresh notice, write without the earlier models, then check. In this notice, 4 pm and 16:00 mean the same afternoon time; 4 am is different. Keep correct details instead of changing them for the sake of change.
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Next, practise understanding messages in Reading: notes, signs and messages. For longer arrangements and changes, continue to English A2 writing. A finished self-review does not certify a CEFR level.
A club notice says Friday, 4 pm. Your draft says Friday at 16:00. In this notice, do you need to change the time?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
4 pm and 16:00 mean the same afternoon time here. 4 am is 04:00. Keep a correct detail; revision does not require inventing an error.
Try later without the earlier models if you can. Use this fresh notice: Art club — Room 6 — Friday — 4 pm.
Write to your friend Nia. Ask Nia to meet you outside Room 6 on Friday at 4 pm and bring a red pencil. The notice gives the club room; outside is your meeting point.
Write your message in English before opening the model. Use invented names; do not add real contact details.
Compare the facts and the reader’s next action. Several messages can work. This self-review does not automatically score your writing.