Formal, Neutral, and Informal Writing Styles

This page delves into the distinctions between formal, neutral, and informal writing styles, providing guidance on appropriate greetings, closings, and formatting for various contexts. It offers valuable insights for crafting formal email examples for students and business English formal and informal emails.

Highlight: Always be polite and avoid using contractions, question tags, or colloquial expressions in formal writing.

The page provides detailed information on:

• Date formats in British and American English
• Proper salutations for known and unknown recipients
• Appropriate closings for formal, neutral, and informal communications

Example: In a formal email English example, use "Dear Sir or Madam," for unknown recipients and "Yours faithfully," as the closing.

The guide also addresses the differences between British and American English conventions:

• British English uses "Mr, Ms" without periods, while American English uses "Mr., Ms."
• British English prefers "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully," while American English often uses "Sincerely (yours)" or "Yours truly"

Vocabulary: "Mrs" is not commonly used anymore due to political correctness considerations.

For neutral and informal communications, the guide suggests closings such as "Best regards," "Kind regards," or "Take care," depending on the level of familiarity with the recipient.

Writing Letters and Emails: The Basics

This page introduces the fundamental aspects of writing letters and emails in English, emphasizing the importance of mastering this skill for global communication. It outlines the key components of a formal letter and provides guidance on structuring your content effectively.

Highlight: The dominant role of English in global communication makes it essential for you to learn how to write letters and e-mails.

The page covers various types of formal letters, including enquiries, orders, offers, complaints, and applications. It emphasizes the importance of asking three crucial questions before writing:

1. Why am I writing this letter?
2. How do I get what I want? / How do I persuade the addressee?
3. What are the facts? What are my opinions?

Example: When writing a business letter in English, start by stating the facts before adding your opinions or comments.

The structure of a formal letter is detailed, including:

1. Sender's address (return address)
2. Date
3. Recipient's address (inside address)
4. Salutation (or subject line in American English)
5. Body of the letter
6. Complimentary close
7. Signature block
8. Enclosures (if applicable)

Highlight: Each paragraph in your letter should deal with one idea only, presented in the first sentence and then developed.