Lumiere English Academy: Basic Grammar - Lesson 21 Basic Business and Other Letters; 1. Acceptance of an Invitation 2. Advising the Principal about One's Child's Absence from School

Lumiere English academy

A Basic Grammar

Lesson 21
Basic Business and Other Letters
Few things help one's business better
Than a neatly worded letter

A courteous, well-written letter is a credit to the sender and may be a source of pleasure and pride to the recipient. Nothing betrays one's ignorance of English more humiliatingly, however, than bad grammar. 

If your writing is not of the best, avoid long, flowery epistles. 

Write courteously, briefly and to the point and avoid elaborate verbosity.

It is better to keep one's letter (and speeches) to a minimum at all times, even when one is convinced of one's linguistic expertise.

People whose very business lives depend on the written (and the spoken) word are among those who keep files of precedent (examples that have happened before) letters among their records. You would do well to do likewise.

Whenever you receive a well phrased business letter, you could take a copy and add that to the contents of your own precedent file as well.

Remember to be brief and specific in your letters.

For example, if you wish to offer your services, be specific in describing the way you are able to be of service and beware of promising more than you can fulfil.

 SAMPLE LETTERS

1. Acceptance of an Invitation

Your address if you wish

Your phone number and contact details if you wish

The date e.g. 6 March 20 ...

Dear (name of the recipient),

 Thank you very much for inviting my husband (wife/family) and myself to attend the marriage of your daughter Pule and her fiance on 5 May next. 

We were indeed honoured to receive your gracious invitation which we cordially accept herewith. 

My husband will accompany me to this festive event to which both of us eagerly look forward.

Kind regards

(Sign your name here)

2.  ADVISING THE PRINCIPAL ABOUT ONE'S CHILD'S ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

Your address if you wish

Your phone number and contact details if you wish

The date e.g. 12 January 20 ...

Dear

My son, John Smith, a Grade 4 pupil in Mrs Brown's class, is in hospital after an emergency appendix operation last night. 

Please excuse him from school for the time it takes him to recuperate.

This is estimated at approximately three weeks from the date of this letter.

It is a source of regret to me that John will be missing valuable lessons due to his unexpected illness. Therefore, subject to your approval, I would like to call on the class teacher to ask for guidance to enable me to help John catch up on the work he will be losing. Your kind approval in this regard will be sincerely appreciated.

Yours faithfully

(Sign your name here)

Dr Luky Whittle