Questions tagged [letter-writing]

Questions about writing letters (that is, a written communication between people, not the writing of individual alphabetic characters).

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
1 vote
1 answer
45 views

What do you call Copybooks for learning to write cursive

Special printed copybooks, pages are lined, sometimes with diagonal lines too, there is a printed model of a cursive letter, maybe dotted outlies and empty lines to practice further. Is there a ...
0 votes
4 answers
102 views

When addressing an envelope, should I repeat "cousin"? "Cousin John & (Cousin) Jane"

John (my cousin) & Jane (cousin-in-law) When sending a letter and writing their names on the envelope, which is correct? Cousin John & Cousin Jane Cousin John & Jane I would think #2 is ...
  • 11
0 votes
5 answers
95 views

What's the word for pictures in a letter that are not attached but rather pasted after the text?

I am writing a letter with pictures, and I have used before the following sentence: "Please refer to the attached photos." However, I have been wondering if this is normally used in English ...
  • 1
1 vote
0 answers
41 views

How to explain to a five year old why certain words are spelled this way [closed]

My five-year-old is learning phonics. I give him spelling test time to time. I asked him to spell "Hair" and he spelled it as "Her" & then I told him this is incorrect spelling....
  • 111
0 votes
1 answer
56 views

Why dj instead of j?

I have seen multiple times that in English texts there is a dj to sound /dʒ/ instead of just a single j (If J is at the beginning of the word). Even if those aren't native English words, we already ...
1 vote
0 answers
107 views

"Practical writing" or is there a name for this type of essay?

I find that the English exam for Chinese College Entrance Exam always likes to ask the examinee to write a specific type of essay, around 100-150 words, mostly in the form of letter, but sometime ...
0 votes
0 answers
18 views

"Yours sincerely" or "faithfully" if I address the name of a company? [duplicate]

When I write a formal letter to a company or so, I usually go with "Dear Company Name" instead of "Dear Sir/Madam". In these cases should I end my letter with "Yours sincerely&...
0 votes
1 answer
27 views

What's a proper greeting to use when writing a formal e-mail to a university? [duplicate]

I think the preferred option is to use "Dear Professor XYZ", but what should one use when the identity of the recipient is unknown?
2 votes
1 answer
726 views

Is there an abbreviation for "Professors" plural, in a greeting at the top of a formal letter?

I am writing a letter to two professors. Normally I abbreviate "Professor" to "Prof." in the greeting. Is there a way to do that when I need the plural? Or do I have to write ...
  • 21.4k
0 votes
1 answer
374 views

What does it mean for someone to say "I've read something with interest" [closed]

Is there any positive or negative connotation attached to this phrase? Suppose I sent someone something by email, and the reply begins: "I've read your email with interest." Is that good ...
  • 119
0 votes
1 answer
43 views

Need Some Clarification on Signing Off a Letter [closed]

Can you sign off a letter with the following: Dear Joe, I appreciated the cake you sent me. Thank you, Bob But doesn't the above sound like you're thanking yourself (Bob) instead of Joe? "Thank ...
  • 231
2 votes
2 answers
268 views

Is there a word for a 'letter that should not be opened until after a specified date?'

I'm looking for a word that could be used for a letter that should only be opened after a specified date or time. For example a letter written for an 18th birthday, the letter could be written years ...
5 votes
4 answers
2k views

Using 'Signed' as a Closing

When writing letters, there are closings that people usually use like "sincerely" or "best" or "thanks", etc. I have sometimes heard people (when reading letters) say &...
  • 123
0 votes
2 answers
973 views

An alternative valediction for sailors to “fair winds”

I'm looking for an alternative to signing emails to sailors instead of "fair winds" or "following seas". "Fair Winds and Following Seas” is a gesture of good luck to those we ...
0 votes
0 answers
663 views

What is the slash before a signature name?

I sometimes have seen a signature like these: /Fred Why is this slash in a position here? What is it signify? More common is the simple Fred or maybe the -Fred . Alternate form here with a slash is ...
0 votes
1 answer
707 views

What do you call someone who studies letters?

I recently asked a question for nouns pertaining to people who write letters. But is there a word to call someone who studies letters (academically)?
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

What do you call a person who writes letters?

I found, from my search, that epistolary is an adjective which could refer to the writing of letters. But is there noun of this to call someone who writes letters?
1 vote
0 answers
3k views

Is "Mr. Last Name + First Name" correct in formal writing?

I'm translating a formal letter to English. With my previous knowledge of English, I translated names from Singapore and China using the format "Mr. First name + Last Name". For example: (1) ...
  • 11
1 vote
0 answers
64 views

How to start an official letter to a company (not an individual)?

When you send a letter to a person in a company, you start with dear ..., But how do i start the letter when I'm writing to a company itself, not an individual in there? I don't even know which ...
0 votes
1 answer
728 views

What does the valediction "Ever yours" mean?

A friend of mine recently said they think it sounds romantic, but I have seen it used in platonic situations. What does this valediction actually mean? I would also be interested in knowing this ...
0 votes
0 answers
52 views

How do I address a query letter to a publisher?

I want to write a letter to an independent publisher. Enclosed with the letter is a partial manuscript of my book, which I want to mention. Here is the beginning of the letter I recently wrote to an ...
4 votes
2 answers
174 views

What function does the comma serve in the salutation of a letter, and when did it come about?

In a letter, we say "Dear Alexthecampbell," before starting the body. We then capitalize the first letter of the next sentence. Since the salutation functions like a header and isn't part ...
0 votes
0 answers
326 views

Something like P.S. but before the text?

I wrote a letter (electronic) to someone yesterday but could not send it and fell asleep. Now if I want to send it today it will make less sense as it was written in context of yesterday. So I have ...
0 votes
1 answer
88 views

Can I say this "your ... is impressive" to my professor? [closed]

I am writing an email request for a reference letter to one of my professors. I would like to address her kindness in my email because she was always very patient when I asked her questions. My ...
0 votes
0 answers
23 views

How do you title a letter to a family surname? [duplicate]

I am writing a letter to some family members and it is a thank you to a whole family. Would it be written as Dear Smiths,? Do I need an apostrophe, so it is Dear Smith's? What if it ends in an s like ...
0 votes
0 answers
148 views

'Due shortly' collocation

I would like to ask a question whether provided below sentence is correct or not: 'As the deadline for registration is due shortly,(...)'. Main issue here is the phrase: "...is due shortly". I am ...
  • 1
1 vote
1 answer
170 views

Meaning of “Dear” in context [closed]

is there any difference between the meaning of the word "Dear" in the letter as greeting? For example: Dear Dr. Tse, Dear Mom and Dad, I think there might be a difference in the meaning of ...
0 votes
0 answers
88 views

Should I end with "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully" when writing to editor? [duplicate]

I've read from other questions here that we should use "Yours sincerely" when we know the name of the recipient and "Yours faithfully" if we're writing to "Sir/Madam". Then what about "Dear Editor" ...
  • 1
0 votes
1 answer
389 views

Can I use alma mater before graduating?

I'm currently writing cover letters for my next position, and I want to refer to the institution I will graduate from. Can I use the term alma mater despite not graduating yet? Thanks!
  • 103
2 votes
1 answer
425 views

How to greet two person in the beginning of a letter/email? [closed]

Dear Prof. Hartman, Dear Prof. Dore, Thank you very much for letting me know about the result of my application. or Dear Prof. Hartman and Prof. Dore, Thank you very much for ...
  • 3,011
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

"a couple of things" in a formal letter?

Is it inadequate to use "a couple of things" in a formal letter? If so, what word or phrase would work better? Example: I`m writing to inquire about a couple of things regarding my new job ...
  • 21
1 vote
0 answers
75 views

Are email salutations regional?

Best wishes is very popular ending for emails and replaces best regards in almost all emails I've received from academics in Cambridge (UK). At the same time I've never seen this used by American ...
  • 121
0 votes
1 answer
2k 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
1 answer
2k 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 ...
  • 29
0 votes
1 answer
7k 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
2 answers
1k 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 ...
  • 11
0 votes
1 answer
13k 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
1 vote
1 answer
144 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
2 answers
4k 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
1 answer
1k 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&...
20 votes
2 answers
9k views

Pronunciation of PhD

Why is PhD read as /piːeɪtʃˈdiː/ (from Oxford Dictionary) and not, for example, like /fˈdiː/ , while diagraph ph is read as /f/ in Latin and Greek words? Why do we write Ph if not to represent the /f/...
0 votes
1 answer
169 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
1 answer
2k 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
2 answers
925 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 ...
  • 81
1 vote
1 answer
96 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 ...
0 votes
1 answer
26k 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 ...
  • 1,042
1 vote
1 answer
27k 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
3 answers
98 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 ...
  • 3,485
0 votes
1 answer
43 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
3 answers
3k 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, ...
  • 197