Formal or Informal

Read the expressions and match each of them with a correct heading. Go to the Expressions quiz to check your answers.

Meeting / Peter / Hi Susan / Hope to hear from you soon / Yours sincerely/ Regards / Best wishes / Bye / All the best / Hello Mary/ Best / Looking forward to your reply / I’m writing to … / Just a quick note to … / Dear Mr, Mrs, Ms …/ Dear John / no salutation

a) SUBJECT LINE b) SALUTATION c) OPENING SENTENCE
________________ _______________ _______________________
________________ _______________ _______________________
________________ _______________ _______________________
________________ _______________ _______________________

d) CONCLUSION e) CLOSE

________________ _______________
________________ _______________

When you finish divide the expressions into three groups: FORMAL, LESS FORMAL and INFORMAL. There is one forum for each group. Post your lists in the correct forum.

PozorFormal or Informal
Colloquial phrases are normally used in less formal or informal emails: How’s it going? See you. Cheers
Vocabulary – formal - less formal
convenient - ok
assistance - help
Abbreviations and symbols are more common in informal mails. However, the abbreviation ASAP can be found in formal emails as well.

Match the formal words with the less formal. Do the VOCABULARY exercise to check your answers and practice.

convenient / assistance / to inform / to reply / to regret / to contact / to postpone / to arrange / to enquire / to require
a) ok ___________________
b) help __________________
c) to tell _________________
d) to be sorry _____________
e) to answer ______________
f) to get in touch with ____________
g) to put off ____________________
h) to set up _____________________
i) to ask _______________________
j) to need _____________________