How to write letters

HowToWriteLetters（投诉信，询问信，道歉信，感谢信，求职信）1.称呼(salutation)对于不同的对象，应当采用不同的称呼。英语信件所使用的称呼种类相当多，就英语四、六级考试而言，笔者建议采用以下三种较常见的称呼：1）收信人为不认识的个人、机关或团体时，一般用DearSirorMadam或者Dear加上收信人的头衔：DearProfessor/Chairman/Director/Manager/Editor；需要注意的是不能单独使用Sirs；Gentlemen不能用单数。2）写给认识但关系一般或者属于业务往来的人时，可用DearMr.+surname,DearMrs.+surname3）如果收信人为亲朋好友，则可在Dear后直接加名字(firstname)。2.正文(body)正文是信件的主题，分为三部分：开头(theopening),展开(thebody)和结尾(theending)。3.结束礼语(complementaryclose)这是一种客套用语，相当于汉语中的“敬启”“呈上”等。究竟用哪一种礼词取决于写信人和收信人之间的关系。1）写给机关、团体或者不认识的人，一般采用Yourssincerely,Yoursfaithfully,Yourstruly,Sincerelyyours等；2）写给一般关系的人，可用：Yourssincerely,Yourscordially；3）写给亲朋好友，一般用：Yours,Asever,Withlove,Lovinglyyours等。4.签名(signature)签名可用汉语拼音或者英文名。Example:Yourneighborhastwodogsandtheycauseyougreattroubleeveryday.Writealettertotheresident’scommitteetocomplainaboutit.DearSirorMadam,Iamanoverseastudentmovedhereseveralmonthsago.Nearmyflatthereisabeautifulgardenwheretwolittledogsbarkdayandnight.Icanhardlyputupwiththem,soIamnowwritingtocomplainaboutthedogsandhopethatthedepartmentconcernedwilllookintothismatter.Ishallbeverygratefulifyoucoulddealwiththematterassoonaspossible.Myneighborboughtthesetwolittledogsonemonthago.Tobehonest,inthefirstfewdays,Iwasfondofthembecausetheyseemtobeveryquitelovely.However,recently,Ihaverealizedthattheyarereallytrouble–makersandbringmemanyinconveniences.Firstofall,theybarkalldayandallnight,affectingmyrestandstudyseriously.Moreover,theyareverydirtyandlittereverywhereinourgarden,makingitquitesmellyandfilthy.Worstofall,theyareveryviolentandaggressiveandoftenscaremygirlfriend.Inordertokeepourgardenaquietandbeautifulplacetolivein,Isuggestthedepartmentconcernedtakesomeeffectivemeasures.Firstly,thedogownershouldberequiredtodisciplinetheirdogsandkeepthemquietatnight.Secondly,thedogsshouldnotbeallowedtolitterinthepublicarea.Ifthedogsarecaughtlitteringinpublic,thedogownershouldbefinedandmadetocleanthedroppings.Ihopethatyoucouldkindlyconsidermycomplaintandimprovethepresentsituationassoonaspossible.Yourpromptandfavorableattentiontomyrequestwouldbehighlyappreciated.Iamlookingforwardtoacleanandquietenvironment.Yourssincerely,WuJiachengExample:Thereisaprivatesportsclub,andyouwouldliketojoinit.Nowwritealettertoaskhowyoucanbecomeamemberoftheclub.DearSirorMadam,ThismorningoneofmyclassmatestoldmethatyourclubisrecruitingnewmembersandIamveryinterestedinjoiningyoursportsclub.ThereforeIamnowwritingtoobtainmoreinformationaboutyourclub’sfacilitiesandservice.Itwouldbehighlyappreciatedifyoucouldprovidemewithsomerelevantinformation.Iamnowstudyingformymaster’sdegreeatHeedsUniversity.Tobefrankly,Iamverysatisfiedwiththeschoolenvironmentanditsexcellentteachingstaff.HoweverIamupsetthatthereisnoswimmingpooloncampus.WhenIwasinChina,Iusedtogoswimmingeveryafternoon.HowhappyIamwhenIknowthatyourclubisnearmyschool.Icannotwaittojoinyourclub.Inordertohaveabetterunderstandingofyourclub,Iwouldliketohavemoredetailsofyourclub.Firstofall,Iwouldliketoknowsomethingaboutthefacilities.Arethereawell-equippedswimmingpoolandatenniscourt?MyboyfriendandIarebothcrazyfansoftennisandswimming.Moreover,Iwonderifthereisanydiscountforstudents.Ifso,Iwouldinvitemoreofmyfriendstocomewithme.Lastly,howmuchisthemembershipfee?HowmuchshallIpayforyourservicepermonth?Ishallappreciateitifyoucouldsendmesomedetailedinformationregardingtheaboveaspects.Ilookforwardtoafavorableresponseatyourearliestconvenience.Yourssincerely,ZhangLiExample:Youleftschoolforhomeimmediatelyafterthefinalexamwasoverandforgettosaygoodbyetoyourroommate.Nowwritealettertoyourroommate.Youshouldmakeanapology,explainthesituationandinvitehim/hertopayavisittoyourhometown.DearMilan,Howisyoursummerholiday?Ithinkyoumustbejoiningyourselfalot.IhavebeenbackhomeforaweekandIamtrulygladtobetogetherwithmyfamilymembersandmeetmyfriendsathome.NowIamwritingthislettertoyoutoexpressmyapologyformyabruptdeparture,becauseIfeelreallysorryformyrudenessthatday.Ihopeyoucankindlyforgetit.OnJulythe3rd,whenIfinishedthelastexamandwentbacktoourdormitory,Ifoundthatyouhappenedtobeoutshopping.Iintendedtoinviteyoutoseeamoviethateveningtocelebratetheendingofthisterm.Unfortunately,atnoonIreceivedaphonecallfrommyelderbrothersayingthatmygrandmotherwashospitalizedduetoaheartattack.Iwasveryanxioustogobackhometoaccompanymyoldgrandma.SoIboughtaticketforhomewithoutsayinggoodbyetoyou.Iknowthatyoumusthavebeenannoyedwithme,AndnowIhopeyoucanunderstandmysituationandmyfeelingthatday.Tomakeupformyrudebehavior,Iwouldlikeyoutopayavisittomyhometown.Ifyoudonotplantogosomewhereelse,whataboutenjoyinganiceweekendinmyhometown,whichisfamousforitsbeautifulsceneryandfriendlypeople?Ithinkyouwillhavethehappymemoriesinmyhometown.Pleasecontactmeassoonaspossible.Iamlookingforwardtomeetingyouatmyhome.Allmyfamilymemberswelcomeyou!Yours,JacksonExample:Youstayedinahospitalduetoillnessandreceivedprofessionalcareandtreatment.Afterreturninghome,writealettertoexpressyourappreciationotheprofessionalserviceofthedoctorsandnurses.DearHelen,ThismorningIreturnedtomylonglosthome.Itissogreattobebackhome.EverythingisOK.NowIamwritingtoexpres