INFORMAL LETTERS: Useful language
BEGINNINGS
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Thank you for (your letter/postcard/email).
Many thanks for (your letter/postcard/email).
I was really glad/happy to get your letter.
It was nice/good to hear from you again/recently.
It was so nice to hear from you.
I'm sorry I haven't written/been in touch for such a long time.
It's ages since I've heard from you.
It’s been a long time since I've heard from you.
I hope you're well.
I hope you and your family are well.
I hope you ‘re doing fine.
I hope things are going well with you these days.
GIVING NEWS/INFORMATION
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This is just to let you know that...
I thought you might be interested to hear about/know that...
By the way, have you heard about.../did you know that..?
ASKING FOR NEWS
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Well, that's all for now. What's new with you? / What's happening in (your life)/with (your job)?
(Anyway), I must finish now. What's happening in your life...?
Well, I must stop/go now. What's your news?
No more news to tell. Write soon and tell me yours.
ENDINGS
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I look forward to hearing from you/seeing you. / Looking forward to hearing from you/seeing you.
See you soon./Write soon./Hope to hear from you soon.
Best wishes/Love/Best regards/All the best.
Take care!/Stay in touch./Bye for now.
Once again, thank you for all your help.
Give my regards/love to (third person's name)
APOLOGIES
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I'm writing to apologise for (missing your party last week) but I'm afraid I was in bed with flu.
I'm really/terribly/extremely sorry that I forgot to (call you) but I was so busy (studying for exams).
I'm sorry about what happened./I'm sorry for...
INVITATIONS – ACCEPTING/REJECTING
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I'm/We're having (a party on Friday) and I/we hope you'll be able to come. / Could you come for (a party)..?
I'd like you to come... /I'd like to invite you to...
Would you like to come/go to see The Matrix II with me at the weekend?
I was wondering if you'd like to go/come to the cinema with me/us?
I/We do hope you'll be able to come. / I/We do hope you'll be able to join us. / Do try to be there. / I'm really
looking forward to seeing you.
Thank you very much for your invitation. I'd love to come/go.
Yes, I/we'll be there.
Thanks for asking me/inviting me to...but I'm afraid I won't be able to come/join you because...
I'm afraid I won't be able to make it to (your party)/to join you.
I'd love to come, but...
REQUESTS
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I'm writing to ask you for your help. / I'm writing to ask you if you could do me a favour.
I wonder/I was wondering if you could help me/do me a favour.
I'd be very/really/terribly grateful if you could...
THANK YOU - GOOD LUCK - CONGRATULATIONS
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Thank you very much for...
I'm writing to thank you for (the wonderful present).
It was so kind of you to (invite me to stay with you)./How kind of you to (invite me to stay with you).
I really appreciated all your help/advice.
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I wish you good luck./Good luck in/with (your exams/your interview).
I wish you the very best.
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Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do well/pass.
Let me know how it goes.
Let's hope it will come out!
Congratulations on (passing your exams/your excellent exam results!)
You really deserved to succeed after all your hard word!
I'm happy to hear that (you've passed your exams). Congratulations!