USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR FORMAL
LETTER
'Could you please advise me of'
'Could you kindly advise me whether'
'I wonder if you could let me know of'
'I would be interested in learning/knowing'
I am writing to enquire about...
In reply to your letter of...
In accordance/compliance with your request...
I regret to inform you that...
We are pleased to announce...
We are pleased to inform you...
We acknowledge receipt of your letter of...
We refer to your...
(letter/circular/newsletter/order/statement) of...
We should like to remind you that...
We have carefully considered your...
We are pleased to confirm...
It is with considerable pleasure / It is with
considerable regret that...
With reference to your letter of...
We find it necessary to inform you...
We greatly appreciate...
Please accept out thanks for...
I reply to your advertisement for...
I should like to apply for the job of...
I saw your advertisement in today's Times and...
Will you please note that...
I enclose our order for...
We have pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of
your cheque...
We thank you for your order for...
I am very much obliged to you for...
Would you please quote for...
We have received your letter...
I must protest most emphatically about...
We have today dispatched to you......
We should like to call your attention to......
In accordance with our agreement...
Contrary to our agreement...
Formal Expressions for Letter Writing (Page 1 2 3
4)
Aims: to give you a list of useful expressions used
in formal letter writing.
Match the following functions (1-10) with the
appropriate group of expressions (a-j):
A Beginning a letter
1 When offering information ..........
2 when replying to someone ..........
3 when asking for information ..........
1
B The body of the letter
1 Asking for information ..........
2 Expressing concern or annoyance ..........
3 Reporting what somebody has told you ..........
4 Requesting, quite strongly, that action is taken
..........
5 Explaining that you have included something
with the letter ..........
6 Giving reasons for something you have/havent
done ..........
7 Giving somebody good news ..........
8 Warning or threatening somebody ..........
9 Giving somebody bad news ..........
10 Saying sorry for something you have/havent
done ..........
a
I am delighted to inform you that ...
I am pleased to tell you that ...
I am happy to advise you that ...
b
I regret to tell you that ...
I am sorry to inform you that ...
We are sorry to say that ...
c
Please find enclosed ...
Enclosed you will find ...
I have pleasure in enclosing ...
d
We apologise for ...
We are extremely sorry for ...
Please allow me to apologise for ...
e
This is due to the fact that ...
This is because ...
This is because of ...
f
I was rather disappointed to hear that ...
I am a little concerned to hear that ...
I was rather unhappy with ...
g
Please could you ... as soon as possible.
We would be grateful if you could ... without
delay.
 We would appreciate it if you could ...
immediately.

h Aims: to give you a list of useful expressions used in

Unless (state action required), we will be forced
to ...
If (action is not taken) we will be forced to ...
Unless (state action required), we will have no
alternative but to ...
i
I would be grateful if you could send me ...
We would like to know if ...
I was wondering if you could ...
formal letter writing.
Match the following functions (1-3) with the
appropriate group of expressions (a-c):
C Ending a letter
1 When you have given somebody information
2 When you have done something wrong
3 When you have asked for something

a
j
I look forward to receiving your reply.
I have been notified ... I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I have been advised ... I hope to hear from you soon.
b
I hope that this information will help you.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need
any further information.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any
further questions.
If there is any further information you require,
please contact us.
c
Please accept our apologies once again.
We hope that this has not caused you any
inconvenience.
With apologies once again.

2
Answers

A Beginning a letter

1 When offering information - c

2 When replying to someone - b
3 When asking for information - a

B The body of the letter

1 Asking for information - i

2 Expressing concern or annoyance - f
3 Reporting what somebody has told you - j
4 Requesting, quite strongly, that action is taken -
g
5 Explaining that you have included something
with the letter - c
6 Giving reasons for something you have/havent
done - e
7 Giving somebody good news - a
8 Warning or threatening somebody - h
9 Giving somebody bad news - b
10 Saying sorry for something you have/haven't
done - d

C Ending a letter

1 When you have given somebody information - b

2 When you have done something wrong - c
3 When you have asked for something a