Questions tagged [letter-writing]
Questions about writing letters (that is, a written communication between people, not the writing of individual alphabetic characters).
177
questions
2
votes
2answers
230 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 ...
4
votes
4answers
1k 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 &...
0
votes
2answers
200 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
0answers
153 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
1answer
239 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
1answer
645 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
0answers
457 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)
...
1
vote
0answers
36 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
1answer
241 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
0answers
31 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
2answers
147 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
0answers
93 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
1answer
57 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
0answers
22 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
0answers
85 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
vote
1answer
100 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
0answers
45 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" ...
0
votes
1answer
154 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!
2
votes
1answer
376 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
871 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
70 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
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
1answer
1k 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
5k 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
625 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
1answer
9k 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
133 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
1k 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
816 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
2answers
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
1answer
142 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
746 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
787 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
81 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
1answer
20k 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
26k 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
96 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
40 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
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,
...
0
votes
2answers
7k 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
419 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? ...
0
votes
1answer
128 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
75k 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
1k 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
145k 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
13k 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 writing to apply...
...
1
vote
3answers
10k 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
77k 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
2k 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
1k 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 ...
