The question of how to write a letter in English is faced by schoolchildren, students, and adults (for example, employees of various companies). First of all, you should understand what types of letters exist. Distinguish between personal and business letters. Despite the fact that personal letters in English also have a special structure, the most interesting (and difficult) are letters of business content.
Business writing in English is a special genre of written text that has a rigid structure and requires the use of specific lexical means - words and phrases. In addition, the texts of business letters differ from ordinary ones even grammatically. It must be borne in mind that letters differ structurally and lexically depending on whether the American or British version is used, so the answer to the question of how to write a letter in English maydepend on the country of origin of the recipient of your letter.
In terms of structure, all business letters are similar: in the upper right corner is the sender's address and date, below (left) above the body of the letter - the recipient's address and address to him. As a rule, business letters use appeals like Dear Sir / Madam, Dear Mr / Mrs Smith, in some cases, an impersonal appeal is used - To whom it may concern. The appeal is followed by the body of the letter, after the final part of the letter - the final phrase and the signature of the sender, for example Yours faithfully / Yours sincerely / Truly yours and the name and surname of the sender.
Recommendations on vocabulary and grammar are also common:
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Business letter in English avoid abbreviations like isn't, don't;
- use formal connectives and introductory words, for example, Therefore, However, First of all;
- do not use colloquial vocabulary;
- prefer formal vocabulary;
- choose grammatical forms appropriate to the formal style, such as the passive voice This problem is being currently discussed instead of the active voice We are currently discussing this problem.
How to write a letter in English also depends on the type of letter. The most common types of business letters are: a cover letter for a job, a letter of complaint, a letter of inquiry, and a letter of motivation.
A cover letter traditionally consists of 4 paragraphs. In the first one, you tell about what you are writing about and how you learned about the vacancy. In the second - brieflyprovide information about relevant experience and qualifications. The third paragraph contains your thoughts on why you are an ideal candidate for this position, and in the final part, state your willingness to provide additional data and be interviewed.
Letter of complaint, as a rule, also consists of 4 parts. In the first paragraph, you tell what you are writing about, the second paragraph contains information about the problem and the measures you have taken. The third paragraph explains what inconveniences and difficulties the current situation entailed. And finally, in the last part, you should state what actions you expect from the respondent.
Motivation letter is a type of official letter that is very relevant for students and applicants for foreign grants. Young people planning to study at foreign universities need to know how to write a letter in English, and in particular be able to write a motivation letter that represents their academic background, skills and abilities, range of interests, plans for the future. As a rule, the university or college sets its own requirements for the content and design of the motivation letter, and you must strictly follow them.
The introductory part of the letter is designed to interest the recipient of the letter in the candidacy of the writer. In the main part, it is necessary to briefly but comprehensively present information about your education, knowledge and achievements. In addition, you should talk about your skills and abilities, as well as describe your strengths and personalquality. After reading this part of the letter, the recipient should have a clear understanding of why you chose this or that speci alty and why this educational institution is the best option for you. In the final part, you can describe your professional plans and career expectations. It would not be superfluous to mention once again exactly how studying at this university will contribute to the realization of your professional dream, as well as what you, for your part, can offer the university academically.
Since documents are usually sent by mail and acquaintance with the applicant takes place in absentia, a cover or motivation letter in English must be well-written, contain all the necessary information and present the candidate in a favorable light.
