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How To Write An Informal Email

The document provides a three-step process for writing an excellent informal email or letter: Step one is to make a plan considering who you're writing to, the purpose, topic, content, tone, vocabulary, grammar, and structure. Step two is to write the email/letter with an opening, introductory sentence, main body paragraphs with suggestions and connectors, and a closing paragraph before signing off. Step three is to check that all parts of the question are answered, the tone is informal, enough topic vocabulary is used, and formatting looks like a proper email/letter.

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348 views4 pages

How To Write An Informal Email

The document provides a three-step process for writing an excellent informal email or letter: Step one is to make a plan considering who you're writing to, the purpose, topic, content, tone, vocabulary, grammar, and structure. Step two is to write the email/letter with an opening, introductory sentence, main body paragraphs with suggestions and connectors, and a closing paragraph before signing off. Step three is to check that all parts of the question are answered, the tone is informal, enough topic vocabulary is used, and formatting looks like a proper email/letter.

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Вероніка Папроцька
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Three steps to write an excellent informal

email/letter
 
First thing’s first. What’s the difference between writing an email and writing a letter? Although there are
some slight differences, essentially the tone, structure and language stay the same.
You have received this email from your English-speaking friend David.

Step One: Make a plan


Once you’ve turned over the B2 First Writing paper, and read the email question, ask yourself these
questions first. Addressing them will help you spark some initial ideas.
• Who are you writing to? Is it a friend, a family member or a classmate?
• What is the purpose? Maybe they’re asking for suggestions, advice or a favour

• What is the topic or theme? A holiday, party, cinema trip or city recommendation?
Next, it’s important to consider the content of your informal email/letter. Make sure you spend the first
fifteen minutes of your time thinking about these things and make some notes:

Tone
The tone depends on who you’re writing to and the purpose. In this case of David, we know he’s an
English-speaking friend. So you want to keep the tone relaxed, chatty and informal.

Vocabulary
Brainstorm some good, B2 level, topic-based vocabulary related to holidays, your town, history and travel,
e.g. cable car, football stadium, monuments, sightseeing, views.
Think about any engaging, descriptive adjectives that could make your informal email or letter more
interesting, e.g. unmissable, bustling, the oldest, the best, the most spectacular, the fastest, the cheapest.
Phrasal verbs e.g. get away, set off, get back and colloquial expressions e.g. Guess what! will also help
your B2 First informal email or letter sound natural and fluent. And if you can use some idioms, then
you’ve really hit the jackpot!

Grammar
Good grammar is key when doing your B2 First writing exam. And there are a few grammar tricks to
writing an informal email in English. Contractions are common for example. We’re much more likely to
say I’m than I am or We’d than we would.
You could also try using the second conditional to give advice such as If I were you… This is sure to score
you top marks in your Writing paper.

Punctuation
In a B2 First informal email/letter you can also be a bit more experimental with punctuation. Try using
exclamation marks, dashes (-) or ellipsis (…). If you’re making a list for friends, why not use bullet
points?

Structure
The best thing about writing informal emails and letters is that the layout more or less stays the same
every time. Your work should be clearly organised into paragraphs. And emails in particular work well
with short simple sentences. An ideal structure for any email or letter is Opening, Main body and Closing,
which we’ll look at in more detail now.

Step Two: Write it


Now you’ve made your plan, you should be ready and raring to go! Here’s how to put it all together and
write the perfect B2 First informal email/letter.

Opening
There are a few different ways to start an informal email/letter in English:
• Hi David,

• Hello David,

• Dear David,

Hi is much more common in an informal email. Whereas Dear is more appropriate in an informal letter.
After you’ve written the person’s name, always remember to write a comma then start a new line.

Introductory sentence
The opening is normally followed by an introductory sentence. This sets the tone of the email, shows your
interest in the reader or refers back to a previous correspondence.
• How have you been?

• How are things?

• Thanks so much for your last email/letter.

• Sorry I haven’t been in touch for such a long time.


Main body
This is where you introduce the topic of your B2 First email/letter. Remember to look back at the question
and answer any questions from the sender. In the case of David, he’s writing to ask for recommendations
for his friends. So you want to include lots of language for making suggestions. Here are some phrases you
could use:
• It’s great to hear that…

• You must tell them to visit…

• Why don’t they visit…?

• They should definitely go to…

• I’d really recommend (+ verb ing or subject + base infinitive)

Connecting ideas
To keep your informal email flowing and natural sounding, use some informal connectors to link your
ideas. Here are some examples:
• And

• But

• Well,… (to introduce a new topic)

• Anyway,…(to go back to a previous topic)

• Oh, by the way…(to add additional information)

• As for…

Final paragraph
The closing paragraph of your B2 First informal email/letter should be one or two sentences before you
sign off and say goodbye. It could be to make an excuse to finish the letter/email, or leave the reader with
some kind of action they need to take.
• I hope they have a nice time on their trip!

• Let me know if they need any more information.

• I look forward to hearing from you again soon.

• Have a good one, and let’s catch up soon.

Closing
This is where you end your informal email/letter and write your name. Remember, never end with the
word Bye. Instead use one of the informal and neutral phrases below. And don’t forget to write your name
underneath.
• Take care!

• See you soon!

• All the best,


• Best,

• Lots of love,

Step Three: Check it


Always take five minutes to check your informal email/letter at the end. Ask yourself these questions:
• Have I answered all parts of the email question?

• Is the tone friendly and informal?

• Do I use enough topic based vocabulary?

• Is my spelling, grammar and punctuation correct?

• Does it look like a letter/email?

• Have I opened and signed off appropriately?

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