You are Ronald Wrigley of General Dealer's Ltd., Mill Lane, London EC1 2BF.You are writing to the Station Master at British Rail, Little Chippings, Buckinghamshire MK18 9OL. Use today's date.
B
You are Ben Beverly and you live at 29 Oak End Lane, Bradford BD5 4RG.You are writing to Miss Rosie Lee, The Nook Inn, Ingleton, Derby DE7 8ME. She is a very close friend.
C
You are Walter Wimborne of 149 Great North Road, Motherwell ML2 2Wa. You are writing to Arthur Pionter, who is the manager of Gerry's Building Supplies, Grimes Street, Gloucester GL2 6YH.
Exercise 5 Dear Sir or Madam?
If you are not sure whether the receiver is male or female, the salutation 'Dear Sir or Madam' is used. Consider the following table:
Dear Sir or Madam
Dear Sir
Dear Madam
Man or woman, name not known
Man, name not known
Woman, name not known
Dear Miss Smith
Dear Mrs. Smith
Dear Ms Smith
Alternative salutations for women.
If not sure, use 'Ms'
Now chose the correct salutation and complimentary close for the following:
a) The Manager, Lady Fair Fashions Ltd.
b) The Secretary, Pitton Miner's Club.
c) Lobelia Jones, Gaunton Women's Guild
d) The Foreman, Brick's Construction Co.
e) Mrs. Lydia Lang, Cromby & Son Solicitors.
Exercise 6 Addresses
What does the letter address consist of?
1. The Public Relations Officer
2. Wrourhtown Manufacturing Ltd.
3. 28-34 Lord Street
4. Huddersfield
5. HD2 8UJ
A business address consists of at least five parts – six if you add the country at the end, although this is not necessary if you are writing from within Britain.
Put the parts of an address given below into the correct order:
the number and street
the postcode
the addressee
the town or city
the name of the company
Exercise 7. Reasons for writing
Why are you writing?
When you write first, you will probably use the first sentence of your letter to say why you are writing. There are several ways of doing this:
I am aiming to ask (a) .
confirm (b) .
complain (c) .
inform (d) .
thank (e) .
Here is a slightly more 'polite' formulation:
I would like to inquire (f) .
apply (g) .
request (h) .
invite (i) .
apologize (j) .
a) Which word comes next?
From the list below, choose the correct word to follow (a) - (j) opposite:
About that you for
b)For each of the ten verbs((a) -(j) opposite), choose a suitable complement from the following:
(a) for your position advised ...
(b) for your misunderstanding...
(c) you for the high equality of services...
(d) you that the arrangements have been made...
(e) you to visit our establishment...
(f) for some information on certain matters...
(g) the dates which we agreed...
(h) about the offer advertised ...
(i) about the low standard of services...
(j) your assistance in certain matters...
Exercise 8. 'On behalf of.'
If you are writing as a secretary or organiser, you may wish to write 'on behalf of' you members. Practice this opening by thinking of a name for each of the following: