www.GlenCroucher.com
Home - Grammer - Everyday English - Film vocabulary - Stuff - Song vocabulary - Private English lessons
Writing a basic business letter
Standard business letter phrases to help give a professional tone to your business letter in English
The start
Dear Sir or Madam (use if you don't know who you're writing to)
Dear Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms (use if you know who you're writing to, and have a formal relationship with.Use Ms for women unless asked to use Mrs or Miss)
Dear Frank (use if the person is a close business contact or friend)
The reference
With reference to your advertisement in the Times, …
your letter of 13th June, …
your phone call today, …
Thank you for your letter of 5th June.
The reason for writing
I am writing to enquire about … apologise for … confirm …
Requesting
Could you possibly … ?
I would be grateful if you could …
Agreeing to requests
I would be delighted to …
......Giving bad news
Unfortunately …
I am afraid that …
Enclosing documents
I am enclosing …
Please find enclosed …
Enclosed you will find …
Closing remarks
Thank you for your help
Please contact us again if..... we can help in any way.
....there are any problems.
....you have any questions.
Reference to future contact
I look forward to..... hearing from you soon.
....meeting you next Tuesday.
....seeing you next Thursday.
The finish
Yours faithfully, (If you don't know the name of the person you're writing to)
Yours sincerely, (If you know the name of the person you're writing to)
Best wishes,
Best regards, (If the person is a close business contact or friend)
Here is a sample letter using some of these forms:
John's Cheese House
361 Old Street
Holborn,London EC2
Tel: (0218) 456 8967
David Gallegher
Sales Manager
Cheese Specialists Ltd.
62 Battersea Park Road
Battersea,London sw8
Dear Mr Galleghar,With reference to our telephone conversation today,
I am writing to confirm your order for: 10,000 x Cheddar Cheese Deluxe Slices (Ref. No. 856).
Please contact us again if we can help in any way.Yours sincerely,
John Green
Director of John's Cheese House
Contact:[email protected]
Last updated March 2006
web design by Glen Croucher,2006