You know how important it is to speak good English in an international working environment. If you work for a company which does business abroad, you probably read and write a lot of English, too. Writing, like speaking, is communication. In our letters and emails we need to express many things: authority, gratitude, dissatisfaction, etc. Expressing ourselves well and with the correct level of formality is an important skill.

Do you have that skill? Ask yourself these questions:

Do you present yourself in a professional manner when you write?
What image do you give to the people who read your letters and emails?

In short, you want to give a professional image when you write to your customers and business partners. To get you started, we’ve prepared some lists of standard phrases. Take a look at:

Dear Sir and Yours Faithfully

Opening lines

Why do we need an opening line in a business letter or formal email?

– to make reference to previous correspondence
– to say how you found the recipient’s name/address
– to say why you are writing to the recipient.

10 Good Opening Lines:

With reference to your letter of 8 June, I.

I am writing to enquire about.

After having seen your advertisement in. I would like.

After having received your address from. I.

I received your address from. and would like.

We/I recently wrote to you about.

Thank you for your letter of 8 May.

Thank you for your letter regarding.

Thank you for your letter/e-mail about.

In reply to your letter of 8 May.

Closing lines

Why do we need a closing line in a business letter or email?

– to make a reference to a future event
– to repeat an apology
– to offer help

10 good closing lines:

If you require any further information, feel free to contact me.

I look forward to your reply.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I look forward to seeing you.

Please advise as necessary.

We look forward to a successful working relationship in the future.

Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Once again, I apologise for any inconvenience.

We hope that we may continue to rely on your valued custom.

I would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter.

When ‘Yours faithfully’ and when ‘Yours sincerely’ in a business letter?