Informal letter Informal letter
Greeting: Dear Lucy, John, friend, Greeting: Dear Lucy, John, friend,
Hi Lucy, Hello John, Hi Lucy, Hello John,
Opening remarks: Opening remarks:
How are you? How’s it going? How are you? How’s it going?
How are you getting on with… (smth)? How are you getting on with… (smth)?
Sorry, I’ve taken so long to put pen to paper, but… Sorry, I’ve taken so long to put pen to paper, but…
I apologize for the fact that I haven’t written for… I apologize for the fact that I haven’t written for…
I have something special to tell you. I have something special to tell you.
Can you imagine…? Can you imagine…?
Sorry, I couldn’t reply sooner. Sorry, I couldn’t reply sooner.
Sorry for a late response. Sorry for a late response.
I haven’t written for a long time/ for so long/ for such I haven’t written for a long time/ for so long/ for such
a long time. a long time.
Sorry for not being in touch for so long. Sorry for not being in touch for so long.
Sorry for losing touch with you. Sorry for losing touch with you.
I really should have written sooner. I really should have written sooner.
Thanks a million/ a bunch for your letter. Thanks a million/ a bunch for your letter.
I had my hand full all the time. (=was extremely busy) I had my hand full all the time. (=was extremely busy)
I was taking my exams/ preparing for my exams. I was taking my exams/ preparing for my exams.
I hope you’ve passed your exams with flying colours. I hope you’ve passed your exams with flying colours.
It’s been ages since we last spoke. It’s been ages since we last spoke.
I hope you and your family are well. I hope you and your family are well.
Sorry for not writing you back the moment I got your Sorry for not writing you back the moment I got your
letter. letter.
Main part Main part
As for me,… In my opinion/view,… As for me,… In my opinion/view,…
To my mind, … I think…. To my mind, … I think….
From my point of view…. From my point of view….
As I see it…. As I see it….
If I were you, I’d / I wouldn’t… If I were you, I’d / I wouldn’t…
You should/ shouldn’t… You should/ shouldn’t…
It would(n’t)/ might be a good idea for you to.. It would(n’t)/ might be a good idea for you to..
I think the best thing (for you) would be to… I think the best thing (for you) would be to…
Why don’t you..? Why don’t you..?
Have you thought of/about … V ing? Have you thought of/about … V ing?
Another good idea is.. Another good idea is..
Last but not least Last but not least
To be honest,… To be honest,…
In a nutshell,… (= very briefly, giving only the main In a nutshell,… (= very briefly, giving only the main
points) points)
Closing remarks Closing remarks
What are your plans for the future? What are your plans for the future?
What are you going to do in the future? What are you going to do in the future?
I hope that my/this advice will help you. I hope that my/this advice will help you.
Let me know if my advice will come in handy/will be Let me know if my advice will come in handy/will be
useful useful
Sorry , I have to go, my mum is calling me. Sorry , I have to go, my mum is calling me.
I need to go, my favoirute TV show starts in five I need to go, my favoirute TV show starts in five
minutes. minutes.
Sorry, I must finish my letter because I’ve got loads of Sorry, I must finish my letter because I’ve got loads of
homework to do tonight/I’m snowed under with sth homework to do tonight/I’m snowed under with sth
Sorry, I have to do my chores. Sorry, I have to do my chores.
Write soon and tell me all your news. Write soon and tell me all your news.
Ending (2 sentences) Ending (2 sentences)
Hope to hear from you soon, Hope to hear from you soon,
Give my best wishes to your parents. Give my best wishes to your parents.
I would be glad to hear from you soon. I would be glad to hear from you soon.
Pass on my regards to your family. Pass on my regards to your family.
I purple you! (=I love you - slang) I purple you! (=I love you - slang)
Best of luck! Best of luck!
Say hi to your family for me. Say hi to your family for me.
Go write back as soon as possible/ASAP. Go write back as soon as possible/ASAP.
Break your leg! (=Good luck!) Break your leg! (=Good luck!)
I hope this letter finds you in the best of spirits. I hope this letter finds you in the best of spirits.
Lots of love, Lots of love,
Best wishes, Best wishes,
Looking forward to hearing from you/to your letter, Looking forward to hearing from you/to your letter,
Keep in touch, Keep in touch,
