RULES FOR COMMERCIAL LETTERS

THE START                               THE FINISH


Dear Sir or Madam, (*)                Yours faithfully (*)
Dear Mr Sloan, (**)                     Yours sincerely, (**)
Mrs Sloan, (**)                            Best wishes, (***)
Miss Sloan, (**)                           AMERICAN ENGLISH
Ms Sloan, (**)                             Sincerely yours, (**)
Dear Mary-Linn, (***)                 Yours truly, (***)

NOTES:
(*) suitable if you don´t know the name of the person you are writing to.
(**) suitable if you know their name.
(***) suitable if the person is a close business contact or friend.
in "italic" is possible to change about situation

THE REFERENCE

With reference to your advertisement in the Reporter, ...
(or In reference to your) letter of 25th April, ...
phone call today, ...

THE REASON FOR WRITING
I am wrinting to enquire about ..
apologize for..
confirm ...

REQUESTING AGREEING TO REQUESTS

Could you possibly ...? I would be delighted to ...
I would be grateful if you could..

GIVING BAD NEWS ENCLOSING DOCUMENTS


Unfortunately ... I am enclosing .../attaching ...
I'm afraid that ... Please find enclosed .../attached ...
Close letters with a friendly phrase or reference to future contact.

CLOSING REMARKS

Thank you for your help.
Please contact us again if we can help in any way.
there are any problems.
you have any questions.

REFERENCE TO FUTURE CONTACT

I look forward to hearing from you soon.
meeting you next Tuesday.
seeing you next week.