Beginning of a letter

Question

Hi. Is it OK to start a formal letter with "This is [my name]."? For example:Dear Dr. Little,This is [my name]...Is it incorrect to use "I am [my name]"?Thank you for your help.

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Welcome to English Forums. I see many English learners starting their letters with "This is Barbara PA." I don't find this natural at all.

Try either of these
Dear Mr. Smith,
My name is Barbara PA and I am a volunteer with English Forums. I am writing to request...

or

Dear Mr. Smith,
I am a volunteer with an online English-learning community called English Forums.

NOT:
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am Barbara PA and..

NOT:
Dear Mr. Smith,
This is Barbara PA and.. .

CalifJim · Answer

WildblueIs it incorrect to use "I am [my name]"?

It is not incorrect, but as a matter of tradition and style, it is not done, so if you do it, it will be looked on as an oddity.

Your name is always the last thing in a letter, where you sign.

CJ

Clive · Answer

The convention is that you don't say either of these things. Instead, just write your name at the bottom of the letter,
eg

Yours sincerely,

Tom Smith

If I receive a letter. I just look at the bottom to see who it is from.

Sign your name.
And then print or type it, if it is a business letter.

Clive

AlpheccaStars · Answer

It is common when answering the phone to say:

- This is Barbara speaking.

But that phrasing does not carry over to correspondence in letters or email.
eg.

Dear Ms Jolie;

Let me introduce myself. I am Barbara Walters, and I would like to interview you.

But it is better, as others have written, to rely on your name/address at the top of the envelope, or on your signature line at the bottom.

Wildblue · Answer

Thank you all indeed for your informative replies. I'm sadly thinking of all that odd impression I have created at the beginning of my letters.

Beginning of a letter

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