Letter Writing

Question

Dear all,

I am a new comer and now I am learning English - especially letter writing. Could you please explain to me how to write a reply to one of my close relatives on his letter? Also I would like to know how to write a request to the management to promote me to the level of supervisor and give an increse in my salary.

Also, when I am writing letter to anyone, it is taking more than an hour (sometime more than two) to complete the letter. It is because of fear of mistakes and I used to correct it for perfection. What shall I do to reduce the time for writing letters without mistakes?

Thank you and best regards,

cbakumar

(If any mistake found in my letter please forgive me and correct it.)

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Hi CB,

Welcome to English Forums. You might want to and ask letter-writing questions there.

The best way is for you to post a draft letter and let us help you improve it. There's no secret to getting faster at letter-writing besides practice, practice, practice!

Cbakumar · Answer

Dear Mr. Micawber,

Thank you for your message. Here is the letter, which I wish to send my nephew. Please correct it.

Thank you & best regards,

cbakumar

____________________________________________________________________

Dear Pradeesh, Sep. 05, 2004

Thank u very much for ur msg. Sorry for the delay to reply in time. Due to my laziness, which is more than my work load, I couldn't even congratulate u, when I heard that u have passed ur exams with 1st class and u have been promoted to next rank. Sorry for all.

Anyway, my HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS on your success. May *** bless you to achieve more and more in future. You should always be grateful to *** and don’t be egotistical on your achievements. Be sincere and hard working. My blessings are always with you.

You might have heard that I went on vacation in last June. I saw your parents and brother, who came with me for pilgrimage in native place.

Here I am OK. Work is as usual. For last few months there was no European tour, but in Saudi Arabia there were inland tours, as many sites had to be visited on part of my job.
In native place, all are doing well. Kids are busy with their studies and exams. Your aunty asked me to convey regards to you. Please accept it.

Nothing more to write now. Rest in next. Keep in touch .

With love & regards,

Uncle.
______________________________________________________________________

Mister Micawber · Answer

A very good letter, Mr. Bakumar. I have changed a few things-- please check that I have not changed your meaning. Even in an informal letter, you should spell out such words as 'you' properly:

"Sept. 5, 2004

Dear Pradeesh,

Thank you very much for your message. Sorry for the delay in replying. Due to my laziness more than my work load, I didn't even congratulate you when I heard that you have passed your exams with 1st class and you have been promoted to the next rank. Sorry for all.

Anyway, my HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS on your success. May *** bless you in achieving more and more in the future. You should always be grateful to *** and don’t be egotistical about your achievements. Be sincere and hard working. My blessings are always with you.

You might have heard that I went on vacation last June. I saw your parents and brother, who came with me on pilgrimage to our home town.

Here I am OK. Work is as usual. For the last few months there has been no European tour, but in Saudi Arabia there were inland tours, as many sites had to be visited as part of my job. In our hometown, all are doing well. The kids are busy with their studies and exams. Your aunty asked me to convey her regards to you. Please accept them.

Nothing more to write now. Rest in the next letter. Keep in touch.

With love & regards,

Uncle"

Cbakumar · Answer

Dear Mr. Micawber,

Thank you very much for the correction of my letter and for your guidelines.
Hope you will not mind, if I am coming with another doubt:

Please specify which one is correct, "send you letter" or "send to you letter" and "write you letter" or "write to you letter". I always used to write that "send the letter to you" or "write the letter to you". Please correct me, if I am wrong.

Thank you & best regards,

Kumar

(All readers are welcome with their suggestions)

MountainHiker · Answer

Hi Cbakumar,

I notice that you are on the site at the present time and Mister Macawber is away. So I hope the both of you don't mind if I jump in and try to assist.

1) Send you letter (incorrect)...I will send a letter or I will send you the letter (most-~~but not all~~-cases it is "a" letter)

2) send to you letter (incorrect...see above)

3) Write to you letter (incorrect) ....I will write you a letter. I will write to you.

4) Send the letter to you. (good) Or I will send a letter to you. Use "the" if it is a specific letter. If you are waiting for a business proposal, then you might be waiting for THE letter.

Or my friend usually writes to me every couple of weeks. I am waiting for a letter from her now.

A slightly correction to Mister Macawber's version. In the first paragraph of the letter there is the following sentence:

"Due to my laziness more than my work load, I didn't even congratulate you when I heard that you have passed your exams with 1st class and you have been promoted to the next rank."

Beginning a sentence with "due to" is usually not strictly correct. It is a pedantic point. I would rewrite the sentence as follows:

"Because of my laziness more than my work load, I didn't even congratulate you when I heard that you have passed your exams with 1st class and you have been promoted to the next rank."

In order to understand why "Because of" has been substituted for "Due to" please see the following thread: Rewrite the sentence

Again, I didn't mean to intrude on your discussion. I just noted that cbakumar was at the site and Mister Macawber was away. So I thought I might be able to address his concerns while he is here.

Hope this helps.

MountainHiker

Mister Micawber · Answer

Thanks, Mountainhiker.  (A grammarian has to sleep sometime, unfortunately.)

MountainHiker · Answer

A grammarian has to sleep sometime, unfortunately.

Truer words have yet to be written.

I hope my comments added value.

MountainHiker

Cbakumar · Answer

Dear Micawber & MountainHiker,

Thank you very much for your quick response and help in time. I think I am lucky in finding this web site (www.EnglishForward.com) to learn English letter writing as well as English grammar. "Learn letter writing from communication (sending & receiving letters)". It is a fantastic.

I will come with some more queries very shortly.

Thank you abd best regards,

cbakumar

Masoud · Answer

Hey MountainHiler,

Sorry I have not undrestand this sentence: Truer words have yet to be written.

Another guestion: I have not or I don't undrestand. which one is correct? (becouse it started from past until now)

Thanks

Masoud

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