Writing a formal letter or email · 写正式信函或电子邮件
When to be formal
- Some tasks ask for a formal letter or email.
- The reader is someone you do not know well — a manager or a head teacher.
- Use the format, purpose and reader given in the task.
Formal does not mean sounding as if a dictionary swallowed you.
什么时候要正式
- 有些任务要求写正式 (formal) 信函或电子邮件。
- 读者是你不太熟悉的人——经理或校长。
- 用任务给出的格式、目的和读者。
正式不等于说话像吞了一整本词典。
Formal language
- Be polite and respectful; no slang or jokes.
- No short forms: write I am, not I'm.
- Useful phrases: I would like to…, I am writing to…
The shape of a formal letter- and the greeting decides the sign-off
正式的语言
- 礼貌、得体;不用俚语或玩笑。
- 不用缩略形式:写 I am,不写 I'm。
- 常用句式:I would like to…、I am writing to…
Keep it or replace it? · 保留还是替换?
Train your ear: formal phrases stay, casual ones get upgraded before they reach the letter. · 训练语感:正式短语保留,随意的短语先升级再进信里。
In a formal email you can write 'I'm' and 'don't'. · 在正式邮件里可以写 'I'm' 和 'don't'。
No — use full forms: 'I am', 'do not'. · 不对——要用完整形式:'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', not ''m'. · 正式写作用完整形式 'am',不用 ''m'。
Open and close
- Dear Mr Lee, → close with Yours sincerely,
- Dear Sir/Madam, → close with Yours faithfully,
- One idea per paragraph; clear, complete sentences.
开头与结尾
- Dear Mr Lee, → 用 Yours sincerely, 结尾
- Dear Sir/Madam, → 用 Yours faithfully, 结尾
- 每段一个观点;句子完整、清楚。
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 → 用 'Yours faithfully,'。
Write the opening line of a formal email asking about a summer job. Be polite and formal. · 写一封正式邮件的开头一句,询问一份暑期工作。要礼貌、正式。
Example: 'I am writing to ask whether you have any summer jobs available.' · 例如:'I am writing to ask whether you have any summer jobs available.'
From chat to formal, line by line
- Too casual: "Hi! I wanna know if you've got any summer jobs going."
- Formal: "Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to enquire whether any summer positions are available."
- The swaps that did the work: Hi → Dear Sir or Madam, wanna know → am writing to enquire, jobs going → positions available.
- The message is identical — only the register moved.
从聊天口吻到正式语体,一句一句改
- 太随便:"Hi! I wanna know if you've got any summer jobs going."
- 正式:"Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to enquire whether any summer positions are available."
- 起作用的替换:Hi → Dear Sir or Madam、wanna know → am writing to enquire、jobs going → positions available。
- 信息完全相同——只是语域变了。
Match the casual phrase to its formal upgrade. · 把随意的短语和它的正式升级版配对。
Formal English says the same thing with full forms and polite distance. · 正式英语用完整形式和礼貌的距离感,表达同样的意思。
- Formal = polite, full forms, no slang.
- Match the closing to the opening.
- Clear paragraphs; check your grammar.
- 正式 = 礼貌、完整形式、不用俚语。
- 让结尾与开头相配。
- 段落清楚;检查语法。