English Language Center
Semester 3, Level 3
Writing – Informal Email
How to Write an Email to a Friend
Email is a quick, easy way to communicate with friends and family

“Hi Kate,” is an example of a basic greeting.
(d) Ask him/her how he/she is doing. Skip a line, and ask a question like,
“How are you doing?” or make a statement like, “I hope you’re doing
well.” This shows you care about your friend or family member.
members. You can write an email to a friend or family in an informal way,
but some basic guidelines may be helpful. If you’re writing an email to a
Part: 2. Writing the Email Body
friend or family member you haven’t seen in a while, it’s a good idea to
(a) Tell him/her why you’re writing. Maybe you’re writing to see how
apologize for the lack of communication and give him or her an update.
his/her vacation is going, or to check in after an illness. Either way, start
off your email by stating your purpose for writing.
Part: 1. Starting Your Email
(a) Find your friend’s or family member’s email address. Before you

Say something like, “I heard you had the flu, and I wanted to see
how you’re doing.”
start your email, make sure that you have the correct email address for your
friend or family member. If you’ve sent an email to him or her in the past,
you can find his or her email in your email contacts. Otherwise, you can
(b) Tell him/her what you want to say in a few paragraphs. Now that
ask another friend or family member.
you’ve finished your introduction, it’s time to get down everything you
want to tell your friend or family member. Break up paragraphs to make
(b) Choose a subject that summarizes your email. The subject box is
your email easier to read.
located below the “To” box and labeled “Subject.” Summarize your email
in a few words here so your friend or family member knows what to expect.
(c) Avoid all caps text as much as possible. You may want to use all caps
to show your excitement, but it can seem like you’re yelling.


If you’re just writing to say hello, your subject line could be as
simple as “Hi!”
(d) Ask questions every so often. Ask questions related to what you’re
If you’re writing to invite your friend or family member to your
saying. This shows your friend or family member that you’re interested in
birthday party, you could make the subject, “Invitation to my
his/her opinion, too.
birthday party.”
(c) Open with a greeting. Start your email with a greeting, followed by
the person’s name and a comma. Since this is an email to a friend or family
member, you can say something casual like “hi,” “hey,” or “hello.

If you’re talking about your trip to the beach, you could throw in a
question like, “Have you been down to the beach yet this summer?
Part: 3. Writing to a Friend You Haven’t Seen in a While
(a) Apologize for the lack of contact. It’s normal for friends and families
Part: 4. Ending Your Email
to stay out of touch, but you should still offer an apology to start off on the
Finish up by wishing him/her well. Send your friend kind wishes, let
right foot.
him/her know if you would like him/her to write back, and tell him/her you
hope to see him/her soon.

You could say, “I’m sorry it’s been so long since we talked. I’ve
been really busy.”

You might say, “I hope that you have a great week. I can’t wait to
hear from you!”
(b) Update him/her on your life and ask about his/hers. Since you
haven’t talked in a while, you probably have a lot to catch up on. Tell your
Close and sign your email. End your email with a closing, like “Best
friend about any exciting developments in your life, and ask what’s new
wishes,” “Talk to you soon,” or “Love.”
with them.
Then, skip a couple lines and type your name.

You could say, “Since we last talked, I started dating someone. It’s
been going great. Have you started dating anyone?”
(c) Talk about common interests. Spend a little time talking about the
things you both love. If you’re passionate soccer fans, use a few lines to
say your favorite team’s most recent game. Don’t forget to ask for their
opinion, too.

Say something like, “That game the other week was insane! What
did you think about the final goal?”
(d) Add an invitation or request at the end of the email, if you want. If
you want to invite your friend to hang out soon or attend your party, now’s
the time to let them know.

You might say, “I’m having a baby shower next Tuesday evening.
Do you think you can make it?
Source:https://www.wikihow.com