How to Write an Informal Business Email

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We write informal emails to people we have a close/good working relationship

with.

• In-company - close colleagues/coworkers

• Other company - established working relationship

We write informal emails on routine or everyday workplace matters.

✗Hi Max

How’re things?

BTW I’m quitting!

See you (or maybe not).

Sally ✗

Model 1: a Request Subject: marketing meeting concise

subject line

Subject: marketing meeting

Hi Brian informal greeting

open punctuation(no comma)

Subject: marketing meeting

Hi Brian

How was your holiday? small talk

Subject: marketing meeting

Hi Brian

How was your holiday?

Just writing to ask if you’re attending the marketing meeting in the city.

ellipsis: subject (I) and auxiliary verb

(am) are omitted (left out)

purpose statementbeginning with just

(also possible is:Just a short email to + V)

contractionsyou’re

(you are)

Subject: marketing meeting

Hi Brian

How was your holiday?

Just writing to ask if you’re attending the marketing meeting in the city. If you are, could you give me a lift please?

polite request

Subject: marketing meeting

Hi Brian

How was your holiday?

Just writing to ask if you’re attending the marketing meeting in the city. If you are, could you give me a lift please?

Hope to see you later. positive close

ellipsisno subject (I)

Subject: marketing meeting

Hi Brian

How was your holiday?

Just writing to ask if you’re attending the marketing meeting in the city. If you are, could you give me a lift please?

Hope to see you later.

Regards

Lynne informal/neutral sign off

open punctuationno comma(as in teh greeting

open punctuation(no comma)

for greeting and sign-off

Model 2: the Response

Re: marketing meeting

Hi Lynne

Hawaii was absolutely brilliant!

informal greeting

open punctuation(no comma)

small talk

Subject: marketing meeting

Hi Lynne

No problem - I’ll pick you up at 2.30?

promise actionwill + V

‘spoken’ style language

flexible punctuation

use of - dash -

contractionsI’ll

(I will)

Subject: marketing meeting

Hi Lynne

No problem - I’ll pick you up at 2.30?

BTW I’ve attached the report you wanted.

use of acronyms(one capital letter

represents one word)BTW = By the way,...

referring to attachments

I’ve attached...(Please find attached... also

commonly used.)

Subject: marketing meeting

Hi Lynne

No problem - I’ll pick you up at 2.30?

BTW I’ve attached the report you wanted.

See you later.

Brianinformal sign-off

ellipsis:(I’ll) omitted

Structure

Structure

Structure

Structure

Structure

Email Structure

•Greeting

Summary: 10 Features of Informal Business Emails

• Informal greetings and sign-offs

• Open punctuation for greetings and sign-offs, and the dash used to link ideas.

• Small talk

• Purpose statement with - Just writing to + V... Just a short email to...

• Ellipsis (I) Hope to hear from you later.

• Acronyms e.g. BTW = By the way, ...

• Language ‘spoken’

• Contractions e.g. ...if you’re coming... I’ll pick you up...

• Action promised with I’ll + V...

• Reference to attachments with I’ve attached... or Please find attached...

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