Fce Cambridge First Certificate Formal and Informal Phrases for Emails and Letters

Cambridge First Certificate (FCE) Writing Part Two- Classify and rank the formal and informal email and letter phrases Cards to cut up !uggested answers "ery formal #edium formality "ery informal casual friendly Dear Mr/ Ms + family name

Dear + first name

Hi + first name + !

I apologise for the delay in replying to your email.

I’m I’m sor sorry ry for for my my late late repl reply y.

Sorr Sorry y for for tak takin ing g so long long to get back to you.

hank you for your email yesterday regarding

hanks for your email about

I "as so thrilled to get your mail about

I am "riting to you in connection "ith

I’m "riting to you about

#riting about

I hope this email finds you "ell.

Ho" are you$

Ho"’s it going$/ Ho" are things$/ Ho"’s life$

%ould you possibly gi&e me some information about$

I’d like to kno"

'ou don’t kno"( do you$

In ans"er to your second )uestion(

'ou als also o ask asked ed me abo about ut

and abo about( t( I’d I’d say ay

May I suggest$/ I’d probably ad&ise

Ha&e you thought about$ It’s "ell "orth it.

#hate&er you do( don’t miss/ 'ou really must

*lease find attached.

I’&e attached

Here’s

I’m a&ailable for at any time.

I’m free for any time.

ust tell me "hen you "ant to and I’ll be there!

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2015

,nfortunately(did not meet the standards that I e-pected.

 "as not really good enough.

 "as totally unacceptable.

I look for"ard to hearing from you.

I’m looking for"ard to hearing from you soon.

#rite soon!/ eep in touch.

I hope "e ha&e the opportunity to meet again soon.

I hope "e ha&e the chance to meet again soon.

%an’t "ait to see you again!

If you need any further information( please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you ha&e any more )uestions( please contact me.

'ours sincerely/ Sincerely yours

0est regards

If you need any more info( ust drop me a line.

Hugs and kisses/ 1ots of lo&e


Put the cards that you are given into categories by function (= what the language is meant to do), then rank the words in each category by formality from most formal on the left to least formal on the right. Check your answers with the worksheets above. What are the general differences between formal and informal emailing phrases !ecide if each thing below is a characteristic of formal emails (") or informal emails #)$  2&oid contractions 34 using 5I am6 instead of 5I’m6( etc7  8moticons such as smileys  8-clamation marks and multiple punctuation 3e.g. !!!!7  9rammar 3e.g. "ord order7 unlike normal speech  ust first names  1onger "ords and longer sentences  :o subect or no subect and no au-iliary &erb  *hrasal &erbs like 5get + back + to + me6  Idioms made from short "ords like 5keep + in + touch6  Idiomatic language or slang  Similar to speech  Short forms 3bt" etc7  ;ery polite language such as 5#ould you mind$6 Without looking above, put e%pressions into the gaps on the ne%t page. &ook above, checking any phrases you put which are not in that list. Why are these kinds of informal language not acceptable in "C'  <=<=( %,( See ya( #assup$( gonna( "anna


Without looking above, put e%pressions with the same function into the gaps below. "ery formal #edium formality "ery informal casual friendly Dear + first name

I’m sorry for my late reply.

hanks for your email about

I’m "riting to you about

Ho" are you$

I’d like to kno"

and about( I’d say

May I suggest$/ I’d probably ad&ise

I’&e attached

I’m free for any time.


 "as not really good enough.

I look for"ard to hearing from you.

I hope "e ha&e the chance to meet again soon. If you need any further information( please do not hesitate to contact me.

0est regards


Fce Cambridge First Certificate Formal and Informal Phrases for Emails and Letters

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