HELPING ENGLISH

Email Writing

Layout and punctuation

Starting an email: We normally use a comma after the opening phrase. We start a new line after the name of the person we’re writing to.

Finishing an email: We normally write a comma after the closing phrase. We start a new line to write our name at the end.

Formal	Informal
Dear Mr. James, I am writing to thank you for all your help. I look forward to seeing you next week. With best wishes, Tim Horten	Hi John Many thanks for your help. See you next week. Cheers, Tim

Phrases for starting and finishing

Here are some phrases which we use for starting and finishing emails. We use these in formal and informal emails:

Starting phrases

Dear Tim,
Good morning, Tim,

Greetings Mr. Tim,

Ending phrases

Regards,
With best wishes,
With many thanks and best wishes,

You also need to know which phrases to use only in a formal email or an informal one:

Starting phrase

Formal

Informal

Dear Mr Piper,
Dear Sir or Madam,

Hi Jim,
Hi there Jim,

Morning/Afternoon/Evening Jim,
Hello again Jim,

Ending phrases

Yours sincerely,
Yours faithfully,
Yours truly,

Rgds,
Cheers,
Bye for now,
See you soon,

Helping English