Private and business letters

©Markéta Čeřovská

A private letter the tone is informal, personal and friendly it is written to someone we know the greeting: Dear Colin, the close: Love, Take care etc. - flush right informal language (thanks, cool!, dad, I feel

blue today, etc.) punctuation: Great! Guess what – I’m in

love! contractions: I’m, you’re, didn’t, can’ t, won’

t etc. parts: address, the greeting, the body of the

letter, the close and signature

A business letter

the tone is formal it is written to someone we do not

know or t a known business partner fixed greeting and close phrases formal language no emotional use of punctuation no contractions (I am, did not, cannot

etc.) more parts than a private letter

Find mistakes in this business letter:Dear Jack Williams

Thanks for your letter of 12. June 2010. I’d like to let you know, that I’m mad about your cotton T-shirts and I’m definitely buying 200 pcs. of No 312 in your latest catalogue. Please, pack the stuff right, OK?! Thanks a lot in advance.

With love,

Peter Farmen

Dear Mr Williams,

We thank you very much for your letter of 12 June 2010. We would like to let you know that we are interested in your cotton T-shirts and we would like to place an order for 200 pcs. of No 312 in your latest catalogue. Please, see to the careful packing of the goods.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Farmen