Questions tagged [letter-writing]
Questions about writing letters (that is, a written communication between people, not the writing of individual alphabetic characters).
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Subject of an email [closed]
So my native language is Spanish and I'm about to write an email to a colleague in English asking about several stuff. While doing so I started wondering about the subject of the email I was writing ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
The usage of Formal Words in writing - interested [closed]
I was writing a letter and I wonder whether the usage of interested in a formal letter could be considered as a formal word. Also if there are synonyms which are more appropriate to use in formal ...
0
votes
1answer
203 views
Can I use 'Yours sincerely' when I write 'Dear Parent'?
As a teacher can I sign off a generic letter to the parents of my class 'Yours sincerely' if I have addressed them as 'Dear Parent'? Or should it be 'Yours faithfully'?
1
vote
2answers
47 views
When to use mid-sentence commas when adding a formal name
Where is it appropriate to insert a comma when putting a persons name in the middle of a sentence, such as when writing an email or letter. Is it really before AND after?
Examples:
Thank you for ...
0
votes
2answers
130 views
How to write letter “K” as a full word correctly? [duplicate]
If I want to write for example "Mr. K". I don't want to use just a single letter. Should I write it like "Mr. Kei", "Mr. Kay" or "Mr. Key"?
Update:
Let us imagine there was somebody with name Mr. ...
0
votes
1answer
183 views
How can I say I am unable to attend in a professional way? [closed]
How can I say "I cannot attend to the award ceremony since Im in abroad" in a professional way.. to ask how can I get my certificate if I unable to attend..
1
vote
1answer
56 views
Letters as Words [closed]
When two letters or glyphs are joined into one glyph as a ligature, is this glyph considered two letters or one, as letters on their own are considered words as D and S, when two letters are joined as ...
0
votes
2answers
138 views
When is it appropriate to send Seasons Greetings?
During what time of the year is it appropriate to close semi-formal written conversation with "Season's Greetings"?
Obviously sometime around December 25th, but how much in advance and how much past ...
1
vote
1answer
93 views
“While I'm here”, but in writing
Sometimes, there are little things that we would like to write to somebody, but they seem too little to deserve an entire new email.
So we wait for a more important communication to "piggyback" it ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Letters vs. Ligatures [closed]
I have come across some typography ligatures involving “f” and other letters as one glyph, I was wondering whether a ligature glyph is considered one alternate letter or still two letters after they ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Opening and closing a letter - is there a name for this style?
Sorry if this isn’t the right place for this question, but I’ve Googled high and low and found nothing.
I’ve noticed that some letters start and close with handwriting, e.g. “Dear Mrs Smith” and “...
3
votes
2answers
195 views
Use of encl. at the bottom of a cover letter where the body of the text already explains this
I am submitting a grant request. The package will include four copies of the grant request, an executive summary, and a cover letter. The cover letter is very short and says in part "I have included ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Address a group, then direct a message to a particular person
Example:
To all whom it may concern, (this is a letter to a group)
Body of the message directed to the entire group here
Concluding that, direct a message to a specific person, for an ...
1
vote
1answer
3k views
Appropriate response to Best wishes [closed]
I always feel uneasy about letter endings. I sometimes use (1) Yours
sincerely, (2) Yours faithfully, and (3) Yours &c. But none of these seem an
appropriate response to a correspondent's Best ...
1
vote
1answer
14k views
The usage of 'Yours sincerely' and 'Yours faithfully'
I need some help in why you need to use 'Yours sincerely' when you do know the name of the participant receiving the letter and 'Yours faithfully' when you don't. To simplify it what is the history or ...
1
vote
3answers
85 views
When one thing is over, the next is just around the corner [closed]
I'm looking for an appropriate phrase to finish a semi-formal letter to a colleague.
I'm thanking him for his cooperation and looking forward to the next event we'll be preparing together. At the ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Can a faculty be based on area1 and area2?
I've been writing a motivation letter for a grad school. The faculty I'm applying to is a "The Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics". I want to emphasize that it is an interdisciplinary faculty ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
E-mail greeting: “Dear Brice,” vs “Brice,” [closed]
I am somewhat sensitive to politeness and basic rules of courtesy, so (almost) all the e-mails that I write contain greetings and salutations, such as:
Dear Jane,
[...]
Best,
...
0
votes
2answers
4k views
The origin of Yours Sincerely and Yours Faithfully
It is common knowledge that Yours sincerely is the phrase used to end a formal letter that is sent to a particular person. And Yours faithfully is used at the end of a formal letter beginning with "...
0
votes
2answers
37 views
share a link about location in email
I want to write an email and apply for a "call for projects". I want to share the google map link of the location that I want to run the project at in my email.
Are these sentences correct? Which is ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Our team evolved/developed/promoted product from concept to launch [Achievement highlight] [closed]
Context:
Lead developer proposed a product and outlined key requirements. Developers were added over a short time. I've joined as a developer, but transitioned to overall architecture because it was ...
0
votes
1answer
101 views
Opening line for business email before christmas [closed]
Can I use the below opening line for an email to a client
"Hi XYZ
Hope you are doing good. I'm sure you must be looking forward to the Christmas now.
Did you get chance to look into blah blah blah ...
2
votes
0answers
24k views
What phrases can I use instead of “don't worry about it” in a semi-formal letter [closed]
Good morning, Stack Exchange! First time inquirer here.
I'm drafting a reply to an email from a scholarly peer, who apologized for not getting something to me sooner. I really don't mind the delay, ...
0
votes
1answer
771 views
'We communicated a few weeks ago' in an Email
I am writing an email that has not to be formal. I am trying to translate a phrase from Spanish that goes: 'Nos comunicamos hace unas semanas.' The literal translation would be 'We communicated a few ...
2
votes
1answer
48k views
I hope you can help me in this matter // is it correct? [closed]
I am writing a letter to the company with attached CV.
This company can manage accreditation process and provide world leading task management and support for a specific type of job.
In the end of my ...
2
votes
1answer
9k views
Do you use “to whom it may concern:” with “Dear Mr./Mrs” or only pick one?
I've seen example where people use both, for example:
To Whom It May Concern:
Dear Mr.,
I am writing to apply...
OR is the correct usage this:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am ...
0
votes
0answers
7k views
Writing the 'subject' in formal letters
While writing formal letters, I write the subject (a one line description of what that letter is about) after the salutation. However I've noticed in some letters, this 'subject' is omitted entirely.
...
1
vote
3answers
4k views
How to address a formal letter to a group of women
How do you address a formal letter to a group of women - i.e. the equivalent of Dear Sirs, for women?
0
votes
2answers
33k views
Which expression is correct? “I've already started working on it” or “I've already started to work on it” [duplicate]
today i attended an interview. The employer told me that I should know some skills about the job. Today I am going to start to work on those skills. Now, I am writing a "thank you for the interview" ...
1
vote
1answer
397 views
What term is used for a person who prefers to communicate in writing as opposed to speaking?
This is my first post, so please forgive me if my question has already been answered. I looked through the list quickly, but didn't see anything similar.
0
votes
2answers
761 views
How do you reply this letter in a formal way? [closed]
Hi Ryan,
We refer to our conversation on 30 January 2017, you have mentioned that it is not your usual practice to throw away the washing dryer without consulting us.
Please clarify.
How am I ...
4
votes
1answer
3k views
Is 'Yours hopefully' formal or informal?
Recently, I had to write an email to one of my professors regarding an urgent matter. I was basically asking him for some guidance in the matter.
I am not a native speaker and normally I end my ...
0
votes
1answer
611 views
Help me undersand what Emily Dickinson means in this letter
From Dickinson's correspondence with Thomas Higginson:
I smile when you suggest that I delay "to publish" -- that being
foreign to my thought, as Firmament to Fin.
If fame belonged to me, I ...
0
votes
3answers
753 views
In this case do I use ability or abilities?
I am currently writing a cover letter and I want to make sure that this sentence is correct. I believe it is, however, my brain won't let me stop looking at it. For this sentence to be correct does it ...
1
vote
1answer
944 views
Signing a letter for a position you previously held
I need to write a letter of recommendation for past (adult) students of mine. I no longer hold the position as the institution went bankrupt. I want to include my previous title on the letter, how can ...
1
vote
1answer
117 views
How to approach to business mails when the sender starts becoming a bit informal? [closed]
I am sharing emails repeatedly with a woman who is sharing a prospect for a job with me.
It started with "Dear Candidate"
Then
"Dear (my name)"
On the other hand, each time I have been replying to ...
0
votes
2answers
171 views
avoid repetition of “information” [closed]
I am writing letter of confirmation and I don`t know how to avoid repetition of word information in these sentences:
Thank you for this information.
I am writing to confirm that I received ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
What is 'more correct' way to finish the letter? [closed]
Is it
Hope to hear from you soon.
or
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
or neither?
1
vote
1answer
215 views
When is “see appendices” wrong?
I'm writing a short letter and want to include 'separately' a supporting document, but I'm unsure how I refer to it within the letter.
The letter is short, and I feel the statement "see appendices" ...
0
votes
1answer
902 views
Professional way to state the purpose of a letter [closed]
I'm writing a letter to a professor. It is my intention to state the purpose of the letter in the prescript, such as:
This is about project FOO you assigned on date BAR.
But I think this would ...
1
vote
1answer
6k views
Writing a formal e-mail to a teacher [closed]
I was asked to write an email to a teacher to inform the school that I am going on a trip with my family, so I will not able to attend the class next week. In the question, neither teacher nor any ...
5
votes
1answer
13k views
Where did the term “Your Obedient Servant” originate?
In political letters throughout history, the closing "Your Obedient Servant" appears many times (For example, president Lincoln uses it in all of his letters). Where and how did this phrase originate ...
1
vote
0answers
151 views
What reply should be given after my resignation is accepted? [closed]
I am a bit confused about how I should reply after my resignation has been accepted. Following this message, which I got from HR, how should I respond?
Dear Umer,
This is to confirm acceptance ...
1
vote
0answers
827 views
How to write an email to a librarian to check availability of the books in a formal and polite way? [closed]
The library is in England. I'm learning English and want to obtain a grant to visit this library, that's why I need a letter from a librarian stating that the materials I'm looking for are available.
...
-2
votes
1answer
427 views
spelling numbers [duplicate]
How can I spell the number 125.000?
Should I say one hundred twenty five thousand or one hundred and twenty five thousand?
Which is correct?
0
votes
4answers
148 views
Is the verb “wish” correct here?
I'm writing the following sentence and I want to know whether wish is the right word or not. When I reading it to myself it doesn't sound good. Since I'm writing this to a professor I don't want to ...
1
vote
2answers
227 views
How should I describe a semester-long leave?
We call it annual leave when it comes to taking time off from work or school for a year. I want to use something like "Semester leave" as the title of a letter to my university to denote that I will ...
1
vote
3answers
2k views
What's the correct way to address someone in a letter when you know their name but not their gender? [duplicate]
I'm writing a formal appeal letter as a reply to a letter I got from a government agency. Unfortunately, the person sending it only put their name with an intial, e.g. "J. Smith" and no title. They're ...
0
votes
2answers
567 views
How to ask someone about my email [closed]
I recently received a reply from someone around two weeks ago stating that they would send me an email within a week as they were going overseas. We were discussing a good time to call.
How would I ...
-1
votes
1answer
20k views
Polite email which gives update to a client [closed]
I have to give an general update to a person who is expecting a document from me. How can I politely put it? Is the following message good enough?
Just to give an update. We are working on the ...
