Eng I - Written academic communication (self study)

signature and necessary details

Elise Nzamuye

1BaHW 02509746

ENG / Group 8 (Thursday 13:00)

types: name

• Dear Mr. + last name

• Dear Ms. (no indication whether married) + last name

• Dear Mrs. (married or widowed) + last name

• Dear professor + last name

types: previous contact

• Thank you for your e-mail on…

• Further to your last e-mail…

• I apologize for the delayed response.

types: reason for writing

• I am writing with regard to…

• In reply to your e-mail, here are…

• Your name was given to me by…

• I wish to inform you that…

• I am writing in order to apologise for…

types: giving information or advice

• Please be advised that…

• I am pleased to tell you that…

• We regret to inform you that…

• We would like to point out that…

• I would kindly suggest…

• Have you considered…

types: asking for information or advice

• Could you provide some information regarding…

• I would like to know…

• I am interested in receiving…

• What advice would you give in this situation?

types: other requests

• I would be grateful if you could…

• I was wondering if you could…

• Do you think I could have…?

types: offering help

• Perhaps I could assist you.

• Is there anything I can do for you?

• If you wish, I would be delighted to…

• Do not hesitate to request…

types: promising action

• I will…

• I will investigate the matter.

• I will contact you again shortly.

types: mistakes and apologies

• We regret to inform you that…

• Please accept our apologies for…

• I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.

types: attachments

• Please find attached my report.

• I am sending you…as a pdf file.

types: final comments

• Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

• I greatly appreciate your immediate attention to this matter.

• Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

• Do not hesitate to contact us should you require any further assistance / information.

types: closing

• I’m looking forward to…

• Best regards

• Kind regards

• Sincerely

• Yours sincerely

types: requests (direct[= informal] vs indirect[= formal] questions)

• Can you…? <-> Would it be possible to…?

• Please… <-> I was wondering if you could…

types: asking for permssion (direct[= informal] vs indirect[= formal] questions)

• Can I…? <-> Is it all right if…?

• Could I…? <-> I wonder if I could…?

types: offering help (direct[= informal] vs indirect[= formal] questions)

• Can I…? <-> Would you like me to…?

• Shall I…? <-> Do you need any help with…?

types: making a suggestion (direct[= informal] vs indirect[= formal] questions)

• What about…(+ing)? <-> Maybe we could…?

• Shall we…? <-> Perhaps we should…?

def: hedging

softening a strong comment

types: hedging (direct vs diplomatic)

• There is a problem. <-> I’m afraid there is a small problem.; It seems there is a slight problem.

• That will be very expensive. <-> That might be quite expensive.; Won’t that be a bit expensive?

• We can’t do that. <-> I’m not sure we can do that.

• That gives us very little time. <-> Actually, that doesn’t give us much time.

• It will be better to ask Heidi. <-> Wouldn’t it be better to ask Heidi?

• I disagree. <-> I can see what you’re saying, but…; Don’t you think that…?; To be honest, I think it might be better to…

types: sequence (linking words)

• firstly

• secondly

• finally

types: talking generally (linking words)

• in general

• usually

• on the whole

types: contrast (linking words)

• however

• nevertheless

• on the other hand

types: adding another point (linking words)

• in addition

• moreover

• on another point

types: examples (linking words)

• for example

• for instance

• e.g.

types: alternatives (linking words)

• either…or…

• alternatively

• instead of…

types: real (surprising) situation (linking words)

• in fact

• actually

• as a matter of fact

types: something is obvious (linking words)

• clearly

• obviously

• of course

types: most important point (linking words)

• especially

• above all

• in particular

types: rephrasing (linking words)

• in other words

• that is to say

• i.e.

types: result / consequences (linking words)

• as a result

• therefore

• for this reason

types: new topic (linking words)

• in relation to

• regarding

• with reference to