Letter writing

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By: Kiran Makkar

I have written these letters after compiling the actual letters which have been put in the IELTS exam over the past few years. Many of these topics have been repeated over the years. I shall be constantly adding more letters and essays on my IELTS Blog: www.makkarielts.com Contact – [email protected]

Letter number 1

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There will be a traditional celebration in your country and you want to invite your friend from an English-speaking country. Write him/her a letter and - invite your friend, - explain what happens at the party, - describe the tradition and why it’s important in your country, - say why it is important for your friend to be there. Dear Elaine, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I am writing this letter to invite you to celebrate our traditional festival Deepawali with us this year. While we were studying together last year, you promised to visit me and believe me, this is the best time of the year to come to India. Deepawali is our national festival. It falls in the month of October or November. It literally means rows of lights. It is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. This is one festival which all Indians celebrate. A month before Deepawali, we whitewash our homes and buy new clothes to wear on that day. On the day of Deepawali we worship Goddess Lakshmi, the symbol of wealth and also burn crackers. There is lots of fun and frolic. Ever since I finished my course at Leeds University and came back home, I have talked so much about you to my parents that they are all very eager to see you. Moreover, it will help you in the project you are doing on ‘Globalisation and Tradition’. You will see that we Indians have not forgotten our traditional celebrations even if we have become a part of the global village which is influenced by the western culture. We would be honoured to have you as our guest for your entire stay here. You are welcome to bring your parents along if they can spare the time. I assure you we will make it a memorable holiday for you. Hoping to see you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 2 You are about to start social meetings in a particular area where people from different nationalities can take part. Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper requesting him to publish information about this:What activities you have planned When the first meeting takes place and where Dear Sir, I am Mohit Sharma, the president of the local Rotract Club. Our club is organising seminars in which delegates from different nationalities will be taking part. We would be very thankful if you would give adequate space about our activities in the columns of your esteemed daily so that we get the maximum participation and support of local people. We shall be touching various social issues in our meetings. Besides the cultural exchange, which shall automatically be there, we shall be touching issues like environmental pollution, drug trafficking, child abuse, female foeticide and so on. We have also planned a career counselling camp which shall run for a whole week. The first meeting is on 10th June 2011; the venue is Club Cabana and the theme is ‘Global Culture versus Traditional Culture’. We would look forward to your presence in this meeting. All the club members are working whole heartedly for these meetings. It is a matter of great pride for a small town like ours to organise such world class events. Through the power of your pen, you can help us in spreading a word about our activities. Thanking you in anticipation. Yours faithfully, Mohit Sharma.

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Letter number 3 Write a letter to your English speaking friend who is visiting you soon and asking you what presents your family would like. Write Who your family consists of What kind of presents each member would like. How you feel about your friend coming to visit

Dear Hannah, It was a very pleasant surprise to hear from you after such a long time. My joy knew no bounds when I read that you are coming to visit me. My parents and my younger sister too are very excited about your visit. It is very generous of you to ask what they would like as a present from you. Believe me Hannah, your presence here would be the biggest gift for them. As far as material things are concerned, nowadays everything is available in India. So, please don’t bother yourself for this. It would be great if you send me your detailed itinerary so that I can plan the best for your holiday. You know, India has a rich historical background and I would like you to visit as much as possible. There is the Taj Mahal at Agra which is a must-see. Then the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the temples of South India, the beaches of Goa and the back-waters of Kerala are all awaiting you. Fortunately, there is a summer break going on in my college, so I shall be completely at your disposal. I am really excited about your visit. We shall have a great holiday together and also revive some of the nostalgic memories of the great time we had four years ago when we were both studying at Leeds University. Waiting eagerly for you! Yours lovingly, Kiran Letter number 4 You and your family have just rented an apartment and one or two problems occurred. Write a letter to the landlord. Describe the problems and tell him what you want him to do. Dear Mr. James, I am your new tenant from apartment number 341, Harrison Street. I moved in with my family one week ago. I am writing this letter to appraise you with some problems that we are facing in the apartment. The taps in the bathrooms are leaking because of which my two year old daughter has slipped twice. The shower is also not working properly. The lock of the main door is also not aligned properly. We have to push the door hard to lock it. All these problems need immediate action. As you have rented out so many apartments, you must be having a tie-up with some plumber and carpenter. You may call them directly or give me their contact numbers so that I can call them at the earliest. As you know I have signed a lease of one year with you and the rent is also on the higher side because you have included the maintenance charges in that. Hoping for a prompt action from your side! Yours sincerely, Kiran Letter number 5 Write a letter to a travel agent expressing your dissatisfaction with their facilities due to a problem you had on a holiday.

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Dear Sir, I am writing to complain about the ‘Star Cruise’ I recently went on with your company. I travelled on Victoria 203 from 3rd to 17th April and I was shocked by the standard of food and accommodation offered on the cruise. To begin with, I was disgusted by the size and condition of the cabin. It was very small and dirty unlike the ‘large deluxe cabin’ that your advertisement promises. What is more, there was no private bathroom in the cabin. I was appalled to find that I had to share a bathroom with several other passengers, in spite of the fact that I specifically requested a private bathroom when I booked the trip. To make matters worse, the food on board was very unsatisfactory. Although your advertisement promises a five star restaurant with gourmet food, the food was in fact of a very poor standard. I feel, I am entitled to a full refund for the cost of the cruise and a written apology for the misinformation contained in your advertisement. I hope to hear from you regarding this matter as soon as possible. Yours faithfully, XYZ Letter number 6 You are attending a part time course in a college. Due to some problem, you cannot continue your course. Write a letter to your teacher Describe the course Explain the problem Explain the reason for not continuing Tell the teacher about your future plans Dear Professor James, I am writing to express my inability to continue with the part time course “Introduction to Gerontology’, which I am doing in the evening batch in Khalsa College. The reason for discontinuing the course is that my mother is not keeping very good health lately. She has recurrent attacks of asthma and cannot be left alone in such a situation. She is a known case of asthma but this time the attacks are more severe because of super added viral infection. The course in Gerontology involves caring for the elderly. Today, we belong to an ageing society and we are part of a greying population. I would be better placed in today’s job market after doing this course. So, I would definitely like to continue this course in the next intake which is in August. Sir, I would be very grateful if you could get me a tuition refund so that I can apply for the next batch. I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused by this change of plan. Thank you for your kind attention to these requests. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 9888195776. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely yours, XYZ Letter number 7 You are not satisfied with the changing rooms in a sports centre that you visit. Write a letter to the manager. What the problem is How you feel about the problem

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What steps you want the manager to take

Dear Sir, I am a life member of your sports centre. I am writing this letter to complain about the problems all members are encountering in the changing rooms. The bolts on the doors and windows are all broken as a result of which anyone can budge into the room while we are changing. To add to it, the curtains are so dirty that they smell. The urinals attached to the changing rooms also stink. The dust bins are also very dirty. On behalf of all the members, I request you to look into the matter urgently. We all feel very disgusted at the services we are receiving. We have all paid a very heavy membership fees and we feel that we deserve the best. I would suggest you to call in a plumber and a carpenter to rectify the sanitary and wooden fittings. The curtains need to be changed. Last but not least, I would urge you to make regular inspections of the changing rooms so that the staff, in charge of the mopping and cleaning, do their work properly. Hoping for a prompt action from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, XYZ.

Letter number 8 You would like to work overseas, write a letter to an employment agency. Write:what job you would like to apply what companies are you looking for why do you want to work overseas

Dear Sir, I am writing with reference to your advertisement in the local ‘Employment News’ magazine for want of various categories of workers in New Zealand. I consider that my credentials match the category of certified nursing assistants and I want to apply for the same. I am enclosing my CV for this job. Presently, I am deputed as a nurse at Regional Hospital. I have been working here for the last two years. During these years I have equipped myself with all the nursing functions, which include taking and recording temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rates along with cleaning, sterilising and preparing treatment trays. Strong communication skills and reacting actively to emergency situations has made me an organised nursing assistant. Although I am enjoying my present job, I am looking for new opportunities in the developed world. I am sure that working in New Zealand would broaden my horizons even further, and on coming back, I would be able to serve my people even further. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 9888195776. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 9

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You have heard that your company is organising a language training abroad for a limited number of participants. Write a letter of interest:state your position in your company explain why they should include you in the training explain how your training could benefit you and your company

Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to request you to consider my name for the German language training course that you are organising in Berlin. I have been working as a deputy manager in the Human Resources Department of your company for the last three years. I am in charge of 500 workers working in the company. More than 30% of the workforce is from other countries out of which 20% is from Germany alone. So, you can well understand why it is imperative for me to attend this course. This course would benefit me a lot. I would be able to interact with the 100 or so employees from Germany. The communication gap with them has led to misunderstandings and this has in turn hampered their work efficiency. After doing this course I would prove an asset to the company. Doing this course in Germany would also help me in understanding their culture and way of life. We could provide our German employees a better work atmosphere. This would raise the productivity of the company as a whole. Hoping for a favourable response from you in this matter! Thanking you! Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 10 Write a letter to the airport flight manager about missing a business trip due to an accident that happened at the airport. Explain what was the accident what was the result of missing the flight what you want them to do

Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to inform you about a business trip that I could not go on flight number BA143, because of an accident that occurred at the airport, last Tuesday. Last Tuesday, 2nd July, I had to board the flight BA143 at 11pm. I reached the airport well in time because I had not checked in online. As I was walking from the parking to the entry door, my foot tripped and I fell sideways. I tried to get up but I could not stand. I realised I had sprained my ankle. Some helpful persons who were there, helped me get up and took me to the pharmacy for some first aid. I got a crepe bandage and some anti- inflammatory pills. I then went inside to wait in the waiting lounge. My foot started swelling and I decided to cancel my trip. I had a business meeting in Ilford London. It was a very important meeting. However, when I called and told them about my predicament, they were kind enough to postpone the meeting for one week. Sir, would you be kind enough to accommodate me on the next Tuesday BA143 flight at 11 pm and also give me some concession on the ticket. I am also a member of your frequent flyer programme. I would be very grateful to you for this kind gesture. Hoping to hear from you soon!

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Yours faithfully, XYZ.

Letter number 11 Write a letter to a manager whose company is constructing their new office next to your apartment. Introduce yourself Describe problems you are facing because of this Suggest solutions Dear Sir, I am Nirmal Singh, a resident of Hargobind Nagar Phagwara. Your company is constructing its new office right next to my apartment. I am writing this letter to complain about the problems I am facing because of the construction work. The main problem I am facing is that the construction workers dump the bricks and cement in front of my house because of which I find it difficult to park my car and scooter. Secondly, they spill so much water during their work that the whole area has become slippery. I have elderly parents at home who find it difficult to go anywhere because of the fear of slipping. Finally, the workers play very loud music on their radios the whole day long which is very disturbing. It would be very kind of you if you look into the matter urgently. The bricks and cement could be dumped into the vacant plot on the back side of the building. The masons should be guided to use the water with the help of pipes so that there is less spillage. Finally, if they have to listen to music while working then at least there should be some check on the volume of the music. Hoping from a prompt action from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, Nirmal Singh. Letter number 12

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You are a football player, but you have to leave the team for a while, write a letter to your team-mate and say: why you have to leave, how much you love the football team, when you are coming back.

Dear Anil, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I am writing this letter to inform you that I shall not be able to play for our team for some time as my grandfather has suffered a stroke and so I am going home to look after him. You know how much I love football and our team. Playing football is a passion for me and the best time of my life is when I am on the football ground. However, one has to set priorities in life and my family comes before anything else. My grandfather is the most important person in my life. He has always been my friend, philosopher and guide. He is the one who motivated me to play football. What I am today is because of him. Now he has suffered a stroke and his left side is paralysed. He needs good care and a lot of physiotherapy which I can provide better than anyone else. I shall be back as soon as my grandfather is fit and able to walk on his own. It may take a few weeks to few months but I am sure I shall be able to get him on his feet very soon. Hoping to see you all very soon! Yours truly, Mohit.

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Letter number 13 You have planned to study in Australia. You have sent a letter to a college, but you have not received a reply from the college. Write a letter to the college principal. In your letter, - you should give details of the course that you wished to do, - say why do you choose to study at the college, - say why you need the reply soon. Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing this letter to enquire about the ‘Diploma in International Cookery’ that your college is offering. I wrote earlier also but did not get any reply. I wish to do the ‘Diploma in International Cookery’ in your college. This is a very interesting course and after doing the course I would have a very bright future in this field. Chefs are earning telephone figure salaries nowadays. I would like to know when the next intake of the course is, so that I can apply in time and I would also like to know the fee structure. I would also like to know if there are any pre-requisites for doing this course. I have chosen your college to study because elsewhere, this course is of two years duration but in your college it is of 15 months duration. Moreover, I have heard that you have got very good faculty and infrastructure. Campus placement rate of your college is also the best. So, for all the above reasons, your college is my first choice for doing this course. It would be very kind of you if you could reply soon so that I can make alternative arrangement for my future study if I cannot get admission in your college. Hoping for a prompt reply from your side! Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 14 Your telephone company made a mistake about sending your bill to a wrong address. Write a letter to the account manager to complain and explain what problems this caused and what you would like them to do Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to complain about the problems I had to face because your company sent my bill to the wrong address. Every month, I receive my telephone bill in the first week, but last month I did not receive my bill. After about 10 days, a person from the neighbouring block gave me the bill saying that it had been wrongly delivered at his address. My address is 341, Eastwood Avenue and his address is 341, Westwood Avenue. The next day, I went to pay the bill and I was charged Rs.500/- as fine for being late. I argued a lot but they did not listen and I had to pay the fine. Sir, I request you to refund the amount that I had to pay as fine or adjust it in the next bill because it was not my fault that I was late. If you need any more information from me regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me at 9888195776. Hoping for a positive response from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, XYZ

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Letter number 15 Write a letter to local council regarding the plan of replacement of a library with a supermarket, you need to write the following: - where did you get this information, - the disadvantages of having a supermarket instead of the library, - importance of the library Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to express my concern about the plan of replacement of a library in Model Town with a supermarket. I got this information from a local newspaper of our area. My name is Indroop Singh and I am a resident of Model Town, Phagwara. The library in our area is a big asset for the people. This library has been here for the past 50 years now and has benefited not only the people of our locality but also the people of the neighbouring areas. The elderly people of our community sit there for hours enjoying the latest newspapers and magazines and the children often go there to find matter for their school assignments. Our area is already very congested. A supermarket here would bring even more congestion. As it is, there are already many supermarkets in our town and people do not need another one. So, I urge you to please reconsider your plan and drop the idea of a supermarket. People need the library more than anything else. Hoping for a prompt consideration of this urgent request! Yours faithfully, XYZ Letter number 16 Write a letter to your neighbour who is having animals in his/her garden. You and your family members are having problems with the animals introduce yourself tell the problem suggest solutions Dear Sir, I am Madan, your next-door neighbour. I am writing this letter to complain about the problems me and my family are facing because of your pets. I recently moved into your neighbourhood with my family. There are five members in my family. My parents, my wife and my son aged 17. My son has to appear for his medical entrance examination this year. It is his usual habit to study during the night. Your two Pomeranians and the German shepherd keep barking all night long. He can neither study nor sleep because of them. During the day time also, these pets are creating a lot of nuisance. Only yesterday, one of them ran into our garden and my mother had to run inside to save herself. It would be very kind of you if you take some steps to handle this problem. One solution would be to keep them separate in the night. The three of them together create a lot of noise. Secondly, you should keep them leashed in the daytime. Finally, I would urge you to keep their immunisation up-to-date so that in case they bite someone, that person should not have to go for the anti rabies vaccine. Hoping for a prompt consideration of this urgent request! Yours faithfully, XYZ. Letter number 17

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Train service in your area is reduced. Write a letter to your train company explain how it affects you describe the situation tell the train company what you would like them to do Dear Sir, I am Mridul Ghaie from Phagwara, Punjab. I am writing this letter to appraise you with the problems caused by the reduction in the train service in my area. Phagwara is a small town between Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Many people daily commute to Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar for their work. I am one of them. The company I work for is based at Ludhiana. The timings of Golden Temple express and Shalimar Express suited all commuters to the three places. But recently, the stoppages of both these trains in Phagwara have been cancelled. This has created a lot of problems for all the daily commuters. Although the bus service to these areas is very frequent but it can never match the convenience and the comfort of the train service. It is my humble request to please re-start the train service to this area. Many people are suffering because of this. The time of the stoppage of the trains could however be reduced from 10 minutes to two minutes. That would be enough for the people to board and disembark from the trains. Hoping for a prompt consideration of this urgent request! Yours faithfully, Mridul Ghaie. Letter number 18 Write a letter to the principal of a college in which you got accepted and say that you cannot start your course. Please include in your letter: - Which course had you applied for - Why cannot you start - Ask about the future courses availability. Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing this letter to inform you that I shall be unable to join the ‘Diploma in International Business programme’ in which I got accepted in your college. Unfortunately, I met with an accident and have been advised complete bed rest for three months by my doctor. Last week I went to visit my relatives in Ambala City and as I was disembarking from the bus, the driver started the bus and I fell sideways on the road. I suffered from a fracture of my thigh bone for which I got operated and my doctor says that if I take complete bed rest then I shall be up and about very soon. Otherwise such fractures can be very irksome. I would like to enquire when the next intake for this course is because I would really want to do this course in your college as it is the best recognised for this course. It would be very kind of you if you could adjust my fee for the next session which I shall join. Thank you very much for your attention to this request! Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 19 You live in an English speaking country and you want to do some voluntary work. Write a letter to the local council to let them know the following:

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why you want to do this voluntary work what your skills and experience are what can you do as a volunteer

Dear Sir, My name is Amit Gaba and I am working with Bayer Pharmaceuticals. I am here on a HWM (Holiday Work Maker) visa for two years. I am writing this letter to enquire whether it would be possible to offer my voluntary services for any kind of work in the evenings and on weekends. I have come to this country alone and after my work hours, I have a lot of free time which I would like to utilise productively. I have done a certificate course in Gerontology and I have noticed that there is an Old Age Home in this locality. The main problem of the elderly is social isolation and by spending time with them, I could help them a lot. As it is, we belong to a greying society and the population of the elderly is growing by leaps and bounds. So, I feel there would be a lot for voluntary workers in this field. It would also be a win-win situation for me because I would also get to know a lot about the local culture and tradition. Sir, I would be highly grateful if you give me the opportunity to work in this field in the evening hours and on weekends so that I have a lot of pleasant memories to take back with me when I go back to my home country after two years. Please feel free to call me for any further information. My contact number is 9888195776. Yours faithfully, Amit Gaba

Letter number 20 Write a letter to your previous English teacher because you can't go to his/her invitation. Dear Sir, Thank you so much for inviting me to a dinner at your home this Thursday. Unfortunately, I would not be able to make it because I am leaving for Australia on Thursday morning. You have not just been my English teacher but also my friend, philosopher and guide throughout my school days. It was you who motivated me to go abroad for my higher studies and it was because of your guidance that I cleared my IELTS with such good bands that I got into one of the best colleges of Australia. It is also very kind of you to invite me for dinner and it is my loss that I cannot come. Actually, my ticket has been already booked. My flight is leaving on Thursday night and I have to leave from here for Delhi that morning. Sir, I take this opportunity to thank you once again for all you have done for me and I shall keep in touch with you after going there through e-mail. My e-mail ID is [email protected]. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 21 Write a letter to a sports club. Tell them you are not satisfied with the service and have already let them know about it. Write what exactly is wrong with their service what happened after you complained the first time what you want the club to do after your letter Dear sir, I am a life member of your sports centre. I am writing for the second time to complain about the sub-standard quality of services provided by your club.

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The changing rooms are in a very bad shape. The bolts on the doors and windows are all broken as a result of which anyone can budge into the room while we are changing. To add to it, the curtains are so dirty that they smell. The urinals attached to the changing rooms also stink. The dust bins are also very dirty. My first complaint has fallen on deaf ears. On behalf of all the members, I request you to look into the matter urgently. We all feel very disgusted at the services we are receiving. We have all paid a very heavy membership fees and we feel that we deserve the best. I would suggest you to call in a plumber and a carpenter to rectify the sanitary and wooden fittings. The curtains need to be changed. Last but not least, I would urge you to make regular inspections of the changing rooms so that the staff members, who are in charge of the mopping and cleaning, do their work properly. Hoping for a prompt action from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, XYZ.

Letter number 22 Write a letter to a friend that you can't collect from the airport, as you have promised, because of some reason. In your letter - explain why you can't come, - guide them regarding other options to get to your home, - describe the plans you made to show them around when your friend arrives. Dear Sarah, I am anxiously awaiting your arrival on Friday morning. Unfortunately, because of unforeseen circumstances, I would not be able to come to pick you up at the airport as already planned. An unexpected business meeting has come up which I cannot avoid, so I am suggesting you other means of reaching my house. One way would be to hire a cab from just outside the airport. That would be the most convenient option if you have a lot of luggage. However, if you are travelling light then I suggest you take the local bus from the airport. That would be very economical. I am very sorry for this turn of events. I have planned a lot of things for you when you are here. There are a lot of historical places which you must see. The Golden Temple at Amritsar and the Taj Mahal at Agra are on top of the list. Then, there are two museums and a lot of shopping centres where you can shop for souvenirs to take back home. Luckily, a wedding in the family is also there in these days which will give you a taste of our rich cultural heritage. Hoping to see you soon! Yours lovingly, XYZ

Letter number 23 You have finished a course. Write a letter to the course organizer to give your feedback. In your letter include: You have finished a course. - the details of the course, - what you enjoyed during the course, - any suggestions you would have. Dear Sir, My name is Raghav Ghaie. I have recently finished a certificate course in ‘Computer Hardware and Maintenance’ from your institute. I am writing this letter to appraise you with my experiences during the course. The course I attended was of six months duration. I must appreciate the faculty who taught us each and every thing in a very nice manner. What I enjoyed most was the hands-on practical training that they gave. I feel so confident after doing the course that I am thinking of opening my own computer repair centre in the near future.

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However, I must suggest that some latest models of computers be provided there. The computers which are presently there are outdated now. Technology is developing by leaps and bounds and therefore the computers have to be updated regularly. If this suggestion is given due consideration then definitely the course would be the best. I pen down by thanking you once again for the wonderful experience I had while doing this course at your institute. Yours faithfully, Kiran Letter number 24 Write a letter to your supervisor regarding a course you attended as a part of your job. Write The purpose of your letter Say how the course was useful to you What are your suggestions regarding the course

Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to appraise you with a course that I attended as part of my work. I am working as a Junior Sales executive in Mankoo IT Solutions. The course I did was a six month Certificate in Computer Hardware. Our company basically deals with software development. We develop software for our clients and then as part of our after-sale service, we help them use the software effectively. In doing so, sometimes we face hardware problems such as those with the RAM or hard disk. That is what prompted me to do this course. Ever since I have done the course, I feel more confident and I have been able to serve our clients even better. Sir, I would like to suggest that you make this course mandatory for all workers. It should also be provided within the office premises after the office hours for those who have to do it. In the long run it would benefit the company a lot. Hoping this feedback helps in raising the company to new heights. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 25 You are working in a company. You would like to join a training course related to your work. Write a letter to your employer. In your letter :describe what course you would like to do how this course might help in your work suggest suitable time for you to do this course

Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to request you to send me for a course that I would like to attend as part of my work. I am working as a Junior Sales executive in Mankoo IT Solutions. The course I would like to do is a six month Certificate in Computer Hardware. Our company basically deals with software development. We develop software for our clients and then as part of our after-sale service, we help them use the software effectively. In doing so, sometimes we face hardware problems such as those with the RAM or hard disk. That is why I would like to do this course. After doing the course I would feel more confident and I will be able to serve our clients even better. Sir, I would like to suggest that you provide the training for the course within the office premises after the office hours. That way, I would not have to take a leave of six months. In the long run it would benefit the company a lot. Hoping for a prompt action from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, XYZ.

Letter number 26

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Write a letter to a friend who invited you to visit them in their country express your appreciation of the invitation write the date of the visit write about the things you want to do there Dear Elaine, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I also take this opportunity to thank you for inviting me to visit you in your country. This would be a golden chance for me to see USA and also revive some of the nostalgic memories of the time we spent together in Amity College here, in India. I would like to come in the month of July as it would be very pleasant at that time of the year. I remember, you used to tell me that the cold of winters in New York is unbearable. Moreover, I have a one month vacation in the month of July and therefore I would not have to take any leave from office. I would like to see the Niagara Falls, the Empire State Building, the Amish Village, Hershey’s Chocolate Factory, the Casinos of Atlantic City, the Times Square and many more places in and near New York during that time. I would also like to see the Harvard University at Boston. Do convey my regards to your parents and please let me know what you would like me to bring for you from here. Yours lovingly, XYZ

Letter number 27 Write a letter to one of your classmates and invite him to a class reunion. Write when and where is the party give some details about what is going to happen at the party tell him/her what you have been doing recently Dear Vibha, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. It has been a long time since we met and so just to catch up with everyone I am organising this reunion of the class of 1999. It has been 12 years since we all passed out of high school. Then everyone chose different careers and got busy in higher education. Some are doctors, some chose engineering and some got into business. Out of all our class I am the only one in our home town. Therefore, I decided to organise this get-together. The party is on 12th March at Club Cabbana, Phagwara. I hope you can make it to the reunion. We shall have lots of fun and frolic. At the same time we shall be reviving the nostalgic memories of our school days. I have also arranged a gourmet dinner and a DJ so that we can all dance to the beat of music. I have invited all of our class fellows. It was really tough to get the addresses of all of them. After doing my MBA, I joined my father in our family business. My father runs his own business of building materials. I am the only son, so he wanted me to join him. I have been able to add new heights to our business because of my MBA. Looking forward to seeing you on the 12th of March! Yours lovingly, XYZ

Letter number 28 You recently visited a foreign country and got some information at the Tourist Information Centre. The information given to you was wrong. Write a letter to the centre manager and explain - What was the information required? - How was the wrong information provided? - What problems did you have because of this? Dear Sir,

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I am writing this letter to complain about the problems I faced because of the wrong information that was provided at your Tourist Information Centre. My name is Jatinder Singh Gulati and I was on a ten day trip to New York fro 10th to 17th April 2010. I reached New York on 10th April with my family and I wanted to know all the sightseeing available in New York. Your people told me about all the places such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and a museum. I asked them specifically if there were any special timings or days to visit these places, but I was told that everything was available every single day and there were no special timings. I also asked them about some economical places to stay and they told me that Dave’s Inn was the cheapest and best. I stayed with my family at Dave’s Inn and we chalked out our plan of visiting all these places. When we went to see the museum on Saturday, the 16th of April, we were told that the museum is closed on Saturdays. The next day was our return, so we could not see the museum at all. We also came to know from other sources that there are economical lodges which include breakfast and at half the price of Dave’s Inn. It was not right on the part of your people to guide tourists in such way just for some commission they get from Dave’s Inn. I spent double the amount and I also could not see the museum which I really wanted to see. Please look into the matter and firmly reprimand your staff against doing such malpractices so that other tourists are not misguided in the future. Yours faithfully, Jatinder Singh

Letter number 29 You have arranged a plan for travel and accommodation for your friends. Write a letter to them and - remind them about the plans, - give them the details of accommodation, - suggest what things they should bring to the trip. Dear Harish and Madan, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I am writing this letter to remind you about our plan of visiting Goa next month. When we met at the class reunion last month, we talked about visiting Goa in March. I have made all the arrangements. I have booked our train tickets from Delhi. I have also booked hotel Delmon in Panaji for the entire period. It is a very nice hotel and is very near the Calangute beach. We shall be visiting the various beaches in Goa and also the churches. There is also a two hours cruise which is very very good as I have heard from my uncle who has been there many times. We shall also be doing various water activities on the beaches. The climate in Goa is very pleasant in the month of March, so you need to bring cool cotton clothes and of course your swimsuits with you. Looking forward to seeing you at Delhi railway station on the 12 th of March! Yours lovingly, XYZ.

Letter number 30 You are getting married. Write a letter to an English-speaking friend to invite him/her to the wedding. In your letter - describe who you are going to marry, - tell what will happen on the wedding day (the schedule), - explain why it’s important him/her to be at the wedding. Dear Sarah,

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Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I am getting married on 5 th March 2011 and I am writing this letter to formally invite you to the wedding. You always wanted to attend an Indian wedding and believe me you are going to enjoy all ceremonies that are attached with the actual wedding ceremony. My fiancé, Tarun Sharma, is working with Dell International as a senior web developer. We met at my cousin’s wedding 6 months ago for the first time and we had an instant liking for each other. He approached my parents through his parents and so it is an arranged-cum-love-marriage affair. You must come one week in advance because on 28th February, we have the ring ceremony and on 1st March there is the ‘Ladies Sangeet’. It is a very interesting celebration in which you will get to taste a lot of folk culture of Punjab. Then we have the ‘Mehandi’ ceremony on the 3 rd March and finally the great wedding day on the 5 th. You know in a traditional Hindu wedding, the priest lights up a fire around which the bride and groom circle and take holy vows. After the ‘Doli’ ceremony, I shall leave my parents home to go to my new home with my husband. You are my best friend and I also heard you are doing a research on the Indian Tradition and Culture. Therefore it is very important for you to attend the wedding so you get a first hand experience of many things. After the wedding, you are welcome to stay with my parents for some time and my younger sister shall take you around to see some tourist spots. Hoping to see you at the wedding! Yours with love, Kiran.

Letter number 31 You have received a bag. Write a letter to the owner of the bag. In your letter include where you found the bag what are the materials in the bag tell him how he can take the bag from you Dear Mr Singh, I am writing this letter to inform you that I found your bag in the Golden Temple Express train as I travelled from Jalandhar to New Delhi, yesterday. New Delhi is the last stoppage of Golden Temple Express and as was the last passenger to go out, I saw this bag on one seat. Out of curiosity, I opened the bag and found your visiting card in it with some important papers and a bunch of keys. You probably got down at Ambala and forgot the bag in the train. I can understand how worried you must be because the bag contains some papers, your driving licence and some keys. Now you can put your mind at peace because your bag is safe and secure with me. You can collect the bag from me on any weekend. My address is 341, Model Town, Jalandhar. Just give me a call before coming so that I am at home when you come. My phone number is 9888195776. Yours sincerely, Narinder. Letter number 32 Write a letter to a cinema manager you have previously been to regarding a problem you had. In your letter mention which the movie was and when you saw it what the problem was what the manager should do to rectify the problem Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to appraise you with a problem I faced last week when I saw the movie Avatar in your cinema hall. My name is Gagan Singh. Last week I came with my friends to see Avatar in Sarb Multiplex. We were about five minutes late and the movie had already started when we reached. We were guided inside by your worker over there but it was dark inside. Our seat was on third row but the first step was broken and I tripped and fell sideways and sprained my ankle. It spoiled the whole movie for me. I had so much pain that I had to leave immediately and consult a doctor. Please look into the matter urgently and get the step repaired as soon as possible so that other people do not suffer in this way. Till that time, please advise your staff to guide the people to their chairs when it is dark inside.

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Hoping for a prompt action from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, Gagan

Letter number 33 You have just arrived in an English speaking country to study a course. Before you left your English teacher invited you to a dinner thank him for the dinner tell him about your studies say how this advice helped you Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to thank you for the wonderful dinner that I had at your place before I left for Australia. I really wanted to take your blessings before leaving and you gave me this opportunity by inviting me over for dinner. I am doing a one year diploma course in International Cookery in the University of Melbourne, Australia. It is a very nice course and the job placements are also very good after doing the course. You can work as a chef in top hotels and restaurants. You have always been a friend, philosopher and guide. I wanted to go in the business field but you guided me to go in for cookery. The fee for this course is a bit on the higher side but the scope for job placements is very high. Now that I am into this course, I realise the opportunities this course has to offer. I was always very interested in cooking and used to try new dishes every time I was in the kitchen. My culinary skills are helping me a lot here. Once again thank you for everything you have done for me. If you need to get any information about study and work at Australia, please feel free to call me at 9888195776. Yours faithfully, Manish

Letter number 34 You have broken your leg. Write a letter to your classmate thank him for the card and presents you received explain what you are doing in your free time how have you been recovering Dear Samir, Thank you so much for the get-well-soon card and the box of chocolates you sent for me. Ever since I met with the accident and broke my leg, it is the love and affection I am getting from friends like you which is keeping my spirits up. I have a fracture of the thigh bone. It takes about three months to heal completely and strict bed rest is advised by the doctors. So, I have a lot of free time. I do my regular study for two to three hours a day and after that I teach some children of the neighbourhood. I find it very interesting as I am being paid for it and also these children keep me updated with what is going around the town. My physiotherapist comes at 8 pm every day for one hour. With his help I am recovering very fast and I hope to start attending college by the end of next month. Once again thanking you for your wishes and the card. Yours lovingly, Anil

Letter number 35 Government plans to construct an airport in your locality. Write a letter to the authority. Explain where you came to know about the news. Describe the negative effects of airport construction

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Ask to consider alternate sight for airport construction

Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to express my concern about the plan of construction of an airport in Model Town. I got this information from a local newspaper of our area. My name is Indroop Singh and I am a resident of Model Town, Ludhiana. This area is very well developed and there is a school, a college and a very big multi-speciality hospital. The hospital in our area is a big asset for the people. This has been here for the past 50 years now and has benefited not only the people of our locality but also the people of the neighbouring areas. An airport in this area would bring a lot of noise pollution and congestion in the area. The big park which you intend to include in the airport site would also be a big loss for the people. Our area is already very congested. An airport here would bring even more congestion. As it is, there is an international airport at Amritsar which is only 200 km away. So, I urge you to please reconsider your plan and drop the idea of an airport. If at all you have to construct an airport at Ludhiana, please make it in the suburbs, so that city people are not affected negatively. Hoping for a prompt consideration of this urgent request! Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 36 You have recently done a short term course in an English speaking country and found one of your teachers to be very good. Write a letter to the teacher Thank him/her Say why you liked his/her lessons Say what your further planning of study is Dear Sir, My name is Mohit and I am from India. It was wonderful being your student in the ‘Business Management Course’, this year at Melbourne. Thank you so much for your guidance because of which I passed out with flying colours. I was always weak at Commerce subject but your exceptional communication skills and depth of knowledge made it very easy for me. You are really very good at coming down to the level of the student and guiding him properly. Because of your approachable nature, I never hesitated to come to you with my problems. The way you used the audio-visual aids also made the lessons very interesting. I would like to pursue my masters in the same course. I have applied in the University of Melbourne and if I am fortunate enough to get admission, I shall again have the opportunity of studying from you as I have heard that you are taking the graduate classes too. Thanking you once again for your valuable advice and guidance. Yours faithfully, Mohit Letter number 37 Write a letter to a friend who is visiting your country for the first time. Tell him the best time of the year to come. What places they could visit Invite them to come to your house Dear Karen, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I was really very happy when I heard from Nisha that you are planning to come to India with your family. I would suggest you to come in November or December because it is very pleasant here in these months.

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There is a lot to see in India. It depends on how long you are going to be here and what specifically you have in mind for your holiday. The Taj Mahal in Agra and the Golden Temple at Amritsar should be on top of your list. You know India has a rich cultural heritage and I am sure you will enjoy every moment of being here. I specially take this opportunity to invite you to stay with me for at least a week. I shall show you all places near my hometown. We shall also revive some nostalgic memories of our college years when we studied together at Leeds University. Please send me your detailed itinerary so that I can plan out your time fruitfully. Hoping to see you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 38 Your company has sent you to an English speaking country to do a course. You have finished it and got a certificate which unfortunately you have lost. Write a letter to the college principal to issue a duplicate certificate. write An explanation of how you lost that certificate Tell him why the certificate is important to you What you want them to do Dear Sir, My name is Mohit Bhasin and I work for Dell International, India. I am writing this letter to request a duplicate certificate for the ‘Business Administration’ course which I did in your college in 2010. I did the ‘Certificate Course in Business Administration’ in your college from January to July 2010. I got the certificate also but as I travelled back to India, the British Airways misplaced my baggage. I got my baggage after 5 days and when I opened it many things were missing including the certificate. This certificate is very important for me as my promotion is based on this course and that certificate is a proof that I have done the course. I am sending a self-addressed and stamped envelope along with this letter. I would be very thankful if you issue me a duplicate certificate and post it as early as possible. Thanking you in anticipation! Yours faithfully, Mohit

Letter number 39 You have arranged a meeting with a business partner. Unfortunately, you have to change the arrangements. Write a letter to your partner Explain the new arrangements Apologise for the changes Explain the reasons why the changes were needed Dear Mr. Munish, I am writing this letter to apologise for the changes in the venue and date of our business meeting. We were to meet on Friday, the 12th April to chalk out the plans for opening our new branch office at Amritsar. Now we shall meet on 19th April instead of 12th and the venue will be Club Orchid in Phagwara. I sincerely apologise for these changes. I can understand you must have planned everything for the 12 th April and it is very irksome to make last minute changes in plans. Actually, I lost my niece in a tragic car accident two days ago. She was travelling on her car from Phagwara to Amritsar, when she had a headlong collision with a truck. She died on the spot and every day people are coming to pay their condolences. Everyone is heart-broken at this sudden loss. That is why I had to change the arrangements of our business meeting. I hope you understand my predicament.

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I once again apologise for the inconvenience caused to you. Hoping to see you on the 19 th at Club Orchid! Yours sincerely, Mohit

Letter number 40 Write a letter to a friend and ask him / her to look after your house in your absence, give reasons for your travel and any specific instructions / requests. Dear Mohit, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I am writing this letter to request you to look after my house for ten days as I have to leave for an urgent business trip to Delhi. I have to leave on 20th May as a few clients are coming from UK. There is an exhibition going on in Delhi which they are coming to see and they have requested me to show them our company’s products there only. Normally, my parents are at home but they have also gone on a religious tour to Badrinath and Kedarnath and they will be back after one month. That is why I am requesting you to come over this time. I shall be leaving the key with the neighbours. You will find everything you need inside. The fridge is stacked with eatables and the TV has a cable connection. You know that I have two pet dogs. They are both Pomeranians and are very mild. They cannot be left alone for so many days. I know you love pets, so you’ll know how to handle Bugsy and Smiley nicely. I would be back on the 30th May, so I’ll need you to be there till the 30th. It would be my pleasure if you choose to stay longer. This way we can also be together for some time. In case you cannot come please let me know so that I can make alternative arrangements. Yours lovingly, Manjot

Letter number 41 Write a letter to a park authority about damage being made to the facilities of the park. Dear Sir, My name is Narinder Singh and I am a resident of Model Town. I am writing this letter to appraise you with the sorry state of affairs of the community park of Model Town, Phagwara. This park used to be the pride of the town, but today is in a bad shape. The gardeners, who are supposed to work here for 4-5 hours daily, do not show up for days. Because of this the grass has over grown and people find it very difficult to walk there. The benches, on which the elderly used to sit for hours have also broken from many places. The plants and trees also need pruning and cutting. The taps which have been provided to supply fresh drinking water are also not working. I request you to look into the matter urgently and employ new full-time gardeners. The benches also should be replaced. The people are willing to contribute in the upkeep of the park. Parks are supposed to be the lungs of the community and their maintenance is your responsibility. We also need to maintain parks very nicely to encourage children to do outdoor activities. As it is they are turning into couch potatoes sitting at home. Hoping for a prompt action from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, Narinder

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Letter number 42 An English speaking friend is working at your hometown. He/she is planning to visit another town in your home country. Write a letter to him and make suggestions for his / her trip. Dear Elaine, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. My sister, Nisha, called and told me that you are planning to go for few days to Shimla. She told that you both met in a shopping mall. Shimla is a beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh. It is supposed to be very cold at this time of the year. So please take appropriate woollens with you when you go. I suggest you go by car to Kalkaji and after that you must take the Himalayan Queen train. The sightseeing from the train is unparalleled. You must see the other places near Shimla such as Jakhu temple, Kufri, Chail and Theog. When you go to Jakhu temple, please do not carry any eatables in your hands otherwise the monkeys will give you a tough time. I hope you have a good time at Shimla. I have been there many times and every time I have enjoyed thoroughly. The experience is different during different seasons. This time as you are going in winters, you might get to see the snowfall. Don’t forget to write me your experiences after you come back. Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 43 You have invited your English-speaking friend to a family wedding and reserved a room at the hotel for him/her as you agreed before. You won’t be able to meet him/her at the airport. Write a letter to your friend, describing: - the reason why you can’t meet him/her, - how he/she can get to the hotel from the airport, - the hotel where you made the reservation. Dear Sarah, I am anxiously awaiting your arrival on Friday morning. Unfortunately, because of unforeseen circumstances, I would not be able to come to pick you up at the airport as already planned. An unexpected business meeting has come up which I cannot avoid, so I am suggesting you other means of reaching the hotel that I have booked for you. One way would be to hire a cab from just outside the airport. That would be the most convenient option if you have a lot of luggage. However, if you are travelling light then I suggest you take the local bus from the airport. That would be very economical. I am very sorry for this turn of events. The hotel’s name is Mount View and it is about 30 km from the airport. It is very near to my home, though. Normally I would have made you stay at my home but because of the wedding many relatives are already there and so for your convenience, I have booked the hotel. The wedding in the family will give you a taste of our rich cultural heritage. I have planned a lot of other things for you when you are here. There are a lot of historical places which you must see Hoping to see you soon! Yours lovingly, XYZ

Letter number 44 You received a letter from your friend informing you that his elderly parents are coming to visit in your area and he is asking for your advice on - which places they should visit, - where should they live, - invite them to do something with you. Dear Simar,

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It was a really pleasant surprise to receive your letter after such a long time. I am happy to know that your elderly parents are coming to visit Punjab in India. It is very nice to know that in your country even the retired people are so fond of tourism. There is a lot to see in India. I would suggest they visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Wagah border, the Durgiana Temple, Haveli, the Pushpa Gujral Science City at Kapurthala and many more places in this area. If you send me their itinerary, I could plan their time here well. As far as stay is concerned, there are many good hotels of government which are very reasonably priced and good but they have to be booked well in advance. However, it would be my great pleasure if they stay with me in my house. I would take great care of them and also show them around. My parents join me in inviting them to stay with us. We shall also enjoy holidaying with them. Hoping to see your parents soon! Yours lovingly, Mohit

Letter number 45 An Australian company offers money to foreign students to study in Australia. Write a letter to the company. Introduce yourself Say what do you want to study How the money will help you. Dear Sir, I recently read about a scholarship programme that you are offering students from other countries to study in Australia. I would like to be considered for the scholarship. I am enclosing my resume for this matter. My name is Indroop Singh and I belong to India. I have done my Bachelor’s of Computer Engineering from IIT Chennai and now I want to do masters in the same field from University of Melbourne. I have always been a topper in my class and I have heard that you encourage meritorious students. The fee for the graduate course is very high and if I don’t receive funding then I shall not be able to continue my studies. The scholarship I receive from you will help me to study further and also ease some burden off my parents’ shoulders. I will be able to concentrate on my studies more as I will not have to find any part time job. You may contact my professors at IIT Chennai in case you need to ask anything about me. My contact number is 9888195776, if you have anything to clarify from me. Yours faithfully, Indroop Singh

Letter number 46 Your friend bought tickets to the theatre for both of you. Write a letter to a friend to tell him that you cannot go to theatre. In your letter - Apologize, - Explain the situation, - Tell him what he can do with the extra ticket. Dear Mankeerat, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. It was really nice of you to buy theatre tickets for both of us but, unfortunately, I shall not be able to come as some unexpected guests have come from abroad and I have to be home to attend to them. I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience it has caused you. My uncle and aunt live in Canada. They arrived here three days ago with their daughter to fix her wedding with someone from my hometown. They have come here after five years. If the wedding is fixed then all the arrangements have to be done and I am going to be very busy for the coming few days. Even now I have to be with them while they are finalising things. I was wondering, if you could invite our old friend Ramesh to see the movie with you. He is here on a holiday. He has come first time since he left for his higher studies in Australia two years ago. This would be your opportunity to catch up with him and your extra ticket will also not go waste.

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Hope you have a nice time with Ramesh! Yours lovingly, XYZ

Letter number 47 A friend had a new born baby, you have picked up a present for the baby and want to visit to give it to him / her. Write a letter to – - Congratulate your friend. - Tell him why you picked up the mentioned present. - Suggest arrangements for the visit. Dear Kalyani, Last week I heard the news of your beautiful baby girl. Congratulations to you and Anshul and baby Gia. I am so happy for the three of you. I have bought a crib for your baby. I went to the ‘Toys R Us’ store to look for some gift for the baby and my eyes fell on this crib. It is of Graco company and can be converted into a toddler bed later on. I know it will be very useful for a long time to come. Immediately I bought it and now am waiting for an opportunity to visit you to hand you over the gift. I was wondering if next weekend would be fine to visit you. I can come on Saturday or Sunday. Please let me know what time would be more convenient for you. Please contact me at 9888195776 to finalise the time. Hoping to see you soon! Yours lovingly, XYZ

Letter number 48 You are living in an English speaking country and the restaurant near you is making a lot of noise. Write a letter to the restaurant owner. Cover the following: - tell restaurant owner to reduce the noise levels. - suggest a solution to fix the problem. - warn that if this problem remains not solved then further action will be taken. Dear Sir, My name is Manjit Singh. I live in the apartment just next to your restaurant and I am writing this letter to complain about the disturbance caused by the loud noise coming from your restaurant even in the late hours of the night. Your restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in the town and every night there is some or the other party going on. That is quite understandable, but you people just ignore the fact that it is banned to play loud music after 10.30 pm. The whole neighbourhood is sick and tired of the disturbance caused. Please look into the matter urgently. If at all music is to be played after 10.30 then the volume should be so low that it does not cross the walls of your restaurant. If no action is taken then we shall be forced to report the problem to the higher authorities. Hoping for a prompt action from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 49 You are going to leave your apartment in an English speaking country and your landlord is a very good person, who has assisted you a lot during your stay. Meanwhile, your friend wants to rent the flat after you. Write a letter to your

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landlord and - let your landlord know about your leaving, - thank your landlord for his/her help, - tell him/her about your friend. Dear Mr. Smith, I am James, your tenant from apartment 1119, Bissonnet Street. I have been living in this apartment for the last 4 years and this year’s lease is finishing in July. I have been transferred to Kansas City and so I shall be moving by the end of July. You have been very nice throughout my stay here. Whenever I faced any problem, you promptly provided a solution for that. You really look into the needs of all your tenants in these apartments. Many times I have compared your facilities with those provided by other landlords of neighbouring apartments and I have found that you are the best. My friend Samir is moving to Houston in August. He works for Mac Donald’s. He also is single like me. This apartment would suit him very much. I have told him all about you and the apartment. He is interested to lease this apartment. It would be very kind of you if you rent out the apartment to him for the next year. Thanking you once again for everything you have done and hoping you consider my friend as your next tenant. Yours sincerely, James

Letter number 50 You are shifting out of your accommodation. You think the place is suitable for your English speaking colleague who is arriving next month. Write a letter to your colleagueexplain why you are shifting out. Describe your accommodation Why is it suitable for your friend? Dear Harry, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I heard from Nid that you have found a job in Long Island. Congratulations for getting such a good job. Unfortunately, I have to move to Madison this month. So, I shall not be able to meet you. My company has given me a promotion and a transfer. So, I have to move by the end of the month. The apartment which I have been staying as a tenant for the past 2 years is very good. The landlord is very nice and many facilities are provided by the owner such as a gym and a swimming pool. It is a two room apartment and the rent is also very nominal. So, I would suggest you move in here after I leave. You can sign the lease after you move here. I can ask my landlord to hold the apartment for you. This apartment would be very suitable for you. It is in the centre of the town so your workplace cannot be far away. Secondly, I have bought a lot of furniture which I cannot carry with me. As it is I would have to throw it away but now it can be very useful to you. In case you decide to rent this apartment, please let me know so that I can talk to my landlord about it. Yours lovingly, XYZ

Letter number 51 You work in an international company. Write a letter to the manager to give you some time off, in your letter include the following: - The reason why you need the time off, - When you need the time off, - Who should replace you when you are not around. Dear Sir,

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My name is Gurdev Singh and I have been working with your company GNA Autos for the last Five years. I am heading the HR (Human Resources) department. I am writing this letter to request you to give me a two month leave starting 20th April. My wife is in the family way and she has been advised complete bed rest by her doctor. Last year she had a premature delivery and we lost our baby because it was too weak. This time I do not want to take any chances and so I would like to be with her in her last two months of pregnancy. The assistant Manager, Santokh Singh is competent enough to take charge in my absence. We have a good rapport with each other and I have always explained the working to the smallest detail to him. In case he ever needs any help from me, I shall be available on phone (9888195776). Hoping for a favourable response from you in this matter! Yours faithfully, Gurdev Singh

Letter number 52 You have an evening class and your teacher gave you an essay to work on for the weekend. However, you were not able to finish the essay. Write a letter saying the following: - outline the subject of your essay - what happened why you did not finish it - tell what you will do to finish it. Dear Sir,

I am Harneet, your student from the evening batch of ESL (English as a second language). Last weekend, you gave the essay on ‘Rote learning as opposed to Meaningful learning’. I am writing this letter to express my inability to complete the essay in time. The topic of ‘Rote learning as opposed to Meaningful learning’ as such is not difficult but I could not find enough matter to write. I could not go to the library as the weather was very bad during the weekend. I wanted to search the internet but that too was not working. This topic was also not there in the essay books that I had at home. So, I could not finish the essay. Please give me two more days to write the essay. I shall sit in the library and search this topic from the books there and I shall also surf on the net to write a really nice essay. I am very keen on learning how to write good essays. I shall try me level best to submit my essay by Thursday. Hoping for a kind consideration from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, Harneet Letter number 53 Write a letter to your English-speaking friend telling him/her about a local event that is to take place in your town, which would be useful to her/him. In your letter - Mention the event - What are the activities involved - Mention the arrangements you would make for his/her stay Dear Elaine, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I am writing this letter to invite you to celebrate our traditional festival Deepawali with us this year. Moreover, it will help you in the project you are doing on ‘Globalisation and Tradition’. Deepawali is our national festival. It falls in the month of October or November. It literally means rows of lights. It is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. This is one festival which all Indians celebrate. A month before Deepawali, we whitewash our homes and buy new clothes to wear on that

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day. On the day of Deepawali we worship Goddess Laxmi, the symbol of wealth and also burn crackers. There is lots of fun and frolic. We would be honoured to have you as our guest for your entire stay here. You are welcome to bring your parents along if they can spare the time. Ever since I finished my course at Leeds University and came back home, I have talked so much about you to my parents that they are all very eager to see you. You will see that we Indians have not forgotten our traditional celebrations even if we have become a part of the global village which is influenced by the western culture. I assure you we will make it a memorable holiday for you. Hoping to see you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 54 A sports club in your area is about to be closed and you oppose to that. Write a letter to the manager and make suggestions why it is important that the club stays open. Dear Sir, I am Mohit Singhi, a resident of Model Town, Ludhiana. I am writing this letter to express my concern about the closure of your Leo Sports Club in this area. I read this news in the local tabloid ‘Ajeet Express’. There is a plan to make a Mall in this place. This sports club has served the people so well for so long. Not only people of Model Town but also people of all over Ludhiana use the club. As it is, people are now leading sedentary lives and if you close the club then they shall be deprived of the little bit exercise they get when they come here. Malls are already in plenty in Ludhiana and therefore I urge you to reconsider your plan and drop the idea of closing the sports club. I suggest you add a gym and swimming pool to the sports club and you can increase the membership fee by a nominal amount so that your expenses are met with. You can have special timings for children after the school hours and employ instructors. I am sure parents will not mind paying extra for that because children today are suffering from obesity and are becoming couch potatoes. Sir, it is imperative that the club stays open. Hoping for a favourable response from you in this matter! Yours faithfully, Mohit

Letter number 55 You have been offered a job overseas that you applied for. Write a letter to your friend who already knows about that job as well - tell what kind of job is it - explain why you applied for this job - ask your friend about the country Dear Elaine, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I applied for a job in Barklay’s Bank in Leeds and have received their job offer. I heard that you have also worked in the same bank last year. My job is in their insurance section. It mainly involves meeting people and convincing them of our insurance policies. It also has a lot of field work. I have done an MBA in finance and my resume was very impressive. That is why, perhaps, I got the job. The pay package is also very good. I applied for this job because I have good communication skills and I love meeting people. The field work involved in this job would help me in developing my network. Ultimately, I would love to open my own company and this experience would help me a lot. Do tell me something about the country and the people there. What sort of weather I shall have to face and what sort of accommodation I should look for.

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Do convey my regards to your parents. Hoping to hear from you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 56 Write a letter to a book shop manager about a book you’re looking for, ask him to find the book and send it to you. Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to request for a book ‘Adorable Knits for Toddlers’ by Debbie Blair. It has been published by Workman Publishers New York. I have searched this book in each and every bookstore in the area, but could not find it. The online reviews of the book are very nice. I have heard that if any request is put on your bookstore, you make that book available for your customers. So, please make this book available for me. I really want some good patterns to knit for my nephew and niece. When the book is available, please notify me through e-mail or phone. I shall come and collect it. My e-mail ID is [email protected]. My phone number is 9888195776. I shall be very thankful to you for this kind gesture. Hoping to hear from you soon! Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 57 Write a letter to a college Principal, where you attended one day computer course and are unhappy about the way it was conducted. Explain the type of course, what happened and what can be done that it never happen again Dear Sir, I recently attended a one day course on ‘Computer Basics’ in your college. I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction about the manner in which this course was conducted. I enrolled in this course after reading an advertisement about it in the local Daily. Naturally, I was very enthusiastic about the course because even though I hold a Master’s degree in Philosophy, I am computer illiterate. But, I am sorry to say that even after doing the course; I feel I have gained nothing. You enrolled 30 students and you provided only five computers and only one instructor. I could get my hands on the computer for only ten minutes and my oneto-one interaction with the instructor was not more than five minutes. You are charging a huge fee for the course and not providing value-for-money. It is my humble request to either increase the number of instructors or decrease the number of students you enrol for any particular day. I would be very grateful if you allow me to attend this course once again without charging any extra fee. Hoping to hear from you soon regarding this matter! You may contact me at 9888195776, in case you need any further clarification. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 58 Write a letter to neighbour about the garbage problem you have Introduce yourself

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Explain the problem Provide appropriate solution

Dear Sir, I am Madan, your next-door neighbour. I am writing this letter to complain about the problems me and my family are facing because of the garbage problem caused by your maid. I recently moved into your neighbourhood with my family. This locality is considered the best in this city. Ever since we moved here, we noted that somebody throws garbage in front of our house. This is done in the late hours of the night or early hours of the morning. Then one day we caught her red-handed while throwing the garbage. We told her not to do so but she just does not listen. It would be very kind of you if you take some steps to handle this problem. Our Municipal Committee has provided big garbage bins at the corner of every street, so please guide your maid to throw the garbage in there. It is our responsibility to keep our surroundings neat and clean. Hoping for a prompt consideration of this urgent request! Yours faithfully, Madan.

Letter number 59 Your friend will be staying at your home, but you can’t be there. Write a letter in which you explain: - How the keys will get to him/her - How to use the electrical appliances - Recommend some interesting places to visit Dear Mohit, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I was so happy to know you are coming here for a week’s holiday but unfortunately I have to leave for an urgent business trip to Delhi. I have to leave on 20th May as a few clients are coming from UK. There is an exhibition going on in Delhi which they are coming to see and they have requested me to show me our company’s products there only. I shall be leaving the key with the neighbours. You will find everything you need inside. The fridge is stacked with eatables and the TV has a cable connection. If you have any problems regarding the usage of electrical appliances, you may ask my neighbour, Mrs Neeru. She is very helpful. There are some historical places in my home town which you must see. There are two temples related to the sixth guru of the Sikhs and an ancient Shiva Temple. Then there is a restaurant, Haveli, which depicts traditional Punjabi hospitality. Every night there is a cultural show also over there. Don’t miss this show. You can ask my neighbour to accompany you. Hope you have a nice time. Once again I apologise for not being there to give you company. Yours lovingly, Manjot

Letter number 60 Imagine you are going to an English speaking country; write to a rental agency, - the type of house you want. - its size. - the surroundings. Dear Sir, I am Kiran Makkar from Punjab, India. I am moving with my family to Leeds for a two years ‘Holiday Work maker’ visa. I would like to rent a house for the two year period.

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I would like a two bedroom apartment, preferably on the ground floor. I am prepared to spend anything between $800 and $1000 per month as rent. The bedrooms should be pretty spacious and the kitchen should have a window that opens to the outside. The kitchen should also have the basic things like the refrigerator, dishwasher and the microwave fitted in it. The apartment should be close to the shopping centre and should have a playground in the neighbourhood as I have two children 3 and 7 year old. Good educational facilities for children should also be there for children. Last but not least, the public transport should be available in that area because I am not sure when I would be able to buy my own car. Please let me know as soon as you find a suitable apartment for me. If you have any query please feel free to contact me at 9888195776. Alternatively, you can e-mail me at [email protected]. Yours faithfully, Kiran

Letter number 61 Write a letter to a financial organization that gives money to students who would like to take a part-time course. Mention - qualifications and work experience - details about the course - how this course will help you

Dear Sir, I recently read about a scholarship programme that you are offering students who wish to do a part time course in Australia. I would like to be considered for the scholarship. I am enclosing my resume for your consideration. My name is Indroop Singh and I belong to India. I have done my Bachelor’s of Computer Engineering from IIT Chennai and now I want to do a part time diploma course in International Business. I have always been a topper in my class and I have heard that you encourage meritorious students. The fee for the course is very high and if I don’t receive funding then I shall not be able to continue my studies. The course would be very beneficial for me as today we belong to a global village. Whatever we do in life, we must know the basics of ‘International Business’. Only then we can survive the tough competition we have to face in today’s time. The scholarship I receive from you will help me to study further and also ease some burden off my parents’ shoulders. I will also be able to concentrate on my studies more as I will not have to worry about the expenses incurred. You may contact my professors at IIT Chennai in case you need to ask anything about me. My contact number is 9888195776, if you have anything to clarify from me. Yours faithfully, Indroop Letter number 62 You are unable to attend to your friend’s wedding in Britain. In this letter - Tell her what you think about her wedding plan - Apologize for not attending - Suggest date for future meeting

Dear Samaira, It was such a pleasant surprise when I received your wedding card today afternoon. Unfortunately, I shall not be able to attend the wedding as my parents’ silver jubilee falls on the same day and I have planned a surprise party for them here on that day. I have read from your card that you have planned an eco wedding. All decorations will be in green and even your dress will be green. This is a new concept and a very nice one. You always wanted to do things in different ways. This is also a novel idea. We all know how important it is to save our environment and you have tried to give this message on your wedding day.

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I am really sorry that I shall not be able to come, but, I have a suggestion. Why don’t you two come to India for your honeymoon? The backwaters of Kerala are a wonderful choice for honeymooners. Then you can also spend a few days with me. Please consider this proposal. I wish you a very long and happy married life. Hoping to see you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran Letter number 63 Writing a letter to a friend asking for help with a short holiday in the area of this friend, asking for information etc. Dear Samaira, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. It has been a long time since we met. I am writing this letter to inform you that I am coming for a holiday in your area with my husband and I wanted to take some information from you. First of all, I would like to know how the weather would be like in the month of April. Actually, my husband is getting a two week’s leave then and we would like to come at that time. Secondly, I would like to know what all is there to see and do in your area. If we plan in advance then we shall be able to make the most of our time. Finally, I would be very grateful if you suggest some economical but good place to stay in. Please write at the earliest so that I can be relaxed about the arrangements. I would also like to spend some time with you. Do let me know if you would like to have anything from India. I shall be too happy to get it for you. Waiting eagerly for your reply! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 64 Write a letter to local newspaper editor, to inform him that article about city/town you know very well which contains some incorrect information - write how you know that city - what incorrect information article contains - what they should do about that

Dear Sir, My name is Raghav Bharadwaj from Jalandhar, Punjab. I recently read an article in your esteemed daily which had some news related to another city, Phagwara, which I know is not correct. I do not belong to Phagwara, but my in-laws live there and I visit them very often. In fact I know it as well as my home town. I know about each and every historical place and worth-seeing place of this city. In the 12th December issue of The Tribune there was an article that there is a temple of Lord Shiva which is about 50 years old. This temple is not just 50 years old; it is more than 150 years old. I have been to that temple many times and I know the history and the religious significance of this temple. The information in your article may have been just a misprint but still I feel you must correct it and re-post the article with the correct information. Your paper has a lot of circulation and so it will help people get the right information. Hoping to read the article again with the correct information! Yours faithfully, Raghav Letter number 65 You are going to do computer course at your local college. Write letter and mention:

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- Why do you want to do this course? - Have you any educational background and computer skills. - Ask some questions about course. Dear Sir, My name is Inderpal Singh and I belong to Phagwara. I am writing this letter to express my desire to do a course in computer animation which is being offered by your college. Computer animation is a very upcoming field nowadays and yours is the first college in Punjab to start this course. My friends have gone to Delhi to do this course. There are many job openings after doing this course. As it is a relatively new course so the competition is also not so severe yet. That is why I would like to do this two year course. I have done my masters in computer science from Khalsa College Jalandhar. I know many computer languages such as Fortran and C++. Therefore, I think I shall be able to do the course fairly easily. I would like to enquire about the fee structure of the course and the timings. I would also like to know whether it is a regular or a part time course and when the next intake is. Please reply soon so that I can join at the earliest. Thanking you! Yours faithfully, Inderpal Singh

Letter number 66 You had applied to City College recently. Now the college has written back saying the course you applied for is full and they have even suggested an alternative course. Write back to them stating why you chose the first course, your views on the suggested second course and your plan of action. Dear Sir, Received your letter dated 13th March in which you have denied me admission in the ‘Graduate Diploma in Computer Animation’ for the fall 2010 session. You have written that I was late in applying and the seats were already full. You have also suggested an alternative course in ‘Web Designing’. I chose the Computer Animation course because it is an upcoming field nowadays and yours is the first college in Punjab to start this course. My friends have gone to Delhi to do this course. There are many job openings after doing this course. As it is a relatively new course so the competition is also not so severe yet. I have done my masters in computer science from Khalsa College Jalandhar. Web Designing was a component of that course. Therefore, I don’t think I need to do the course in web designing. I would be very grateful if you consider my application for ‘Graduate Diploma in Computer Animation’ for the spring 2011 session. It would be worth waiting for that course. Please reply soon so that I can plan accordingly. Thanking you! Yours faithfully, Kiran

Letter number 67 Write a letter to your friend whose son will go on holidays to your country. In your letter Invite the son to stay with you Give some advice about things to do Dear Elaine, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. It was such a pleasant surprise to know that your son is coming for holidays in my country, India. It would be my pleasure if he chooses to stay with me and my family. You know very well that my son Indroop is almost the same age your son Richard. Fortunately, Indroop is having his vacation next month so they can both go together to visit different places in India. As I have a network of relatives spread all over India, the cost of accommodation would be cut down and Richard would also have a chance to taste the traditional Indian hospitality. It would make things much easier if you send me his detailed itinerary so that I can plan their time well. There is a lot to do and see in India. The Golden Temple at Amritsar, the Taj Mahal at Agra, the beaches of Goa and the back

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waters of Kerala are just to name a few. The weather here is fairly hot at this time of the year so please ask him to bring some cool cotton clothes. Hoping to see Richard soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran Letter number 68 Write a letter of recommendation for a friend who submitted his resume to a tourist office. Dear Mr Smith, I am writing to commend to your attention a most extraordinary young man for the post of senior tourist guide. He has applied for the job in your company. Indroop Singh has worked as a senior officer in Punjab Tourism for the past five years. During the time he has consistently excelled in everything he had to do. He has always had a good rapport with the clients. Indroop has extensive knowledge of the tourism business and first-rate skills in dealing with people. I have found him completely reliable and enthusiastic in performing whatever he is asked to do. I have been working in the same office as Indroop for the last two years. We have developed intimate friendship during that time. I will personally be very sorry when he moves on, but am confident that wherever he goes he will be a great addition. I enthusiastically recommend him. Yours sincerely, Richard

Letter number 69 Write a letter to apply for a part time job in a new international company, you have heard about the position from someone in your neighbourhood. Dear Sir, I am writing to apply for the part time job of a sales manager in your company Delta International. My neighbour has been working in your company for the past five months and through him I came to know that you need sales managers for the evening hours. I am a graduate student at the University of Texas. I am allowed 20 hours of part time work per week during my study. Your company is at a walking distance from my university and therefore it would be very convenient for me. Attached is a copy of my resume. I would be happy to provide references from members of the community. The job, as described, sounds very much like what I am looking for. I know I would provide excellent service. I am available to come for an interview at your convenience and look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Kiran

Letter number 70 You have just arrived in a foreign country on a business trip. You faced a problem at the airport. Write a letter to the airport manager regarding the problem you had. In your letter - identify yourself and state your flight number, - explain what problem you had at the airport, - suggest an improvement that should be made to the airport to prevent the problem. Dear Sir, I arrived in Houston, Texas, on 12th January for a business trip. I am writing this letter to complain about the problem I faced at the baggage recovery section of the airport. My name is Sarabjeet Singh and I arrived in Texas on 12 th January afternoon by flight number KL 881. I came from New Delhi. My flight was via Amsterdam, where I had a four hour halt. After I checked in at New Delhi,I was told that I would get my baggage at Houston. When I arrived in Houston, my baggage did not arrive. I was told to report to the ‘Lost and Found’ section. When I went there, I was told to wait as it was lunch hour. The concerned person

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came after two hours whereas the lunch hour is meant to be only one hour. The cab I had booked charged me extra for having to wait so long. When people arrive after such long journeys, then such a long wait at the airport can be very irksome. The ‘lost and Found’ department should work round the clock. There should be no lunch hour or at least someone should be there all the time. I request you sir to do something about this matter urgently. Thanking you, Yours truly, Sarabjeet Singh

Letter number 71 Write a letter to a friend who you have met on an overseas trip in an English speaking country. Ask for him to send you the trips photographs. Dear James, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I can never forget the wonderful moments we spent together at the Scotland tour. I am writing this letter to specially request you to send photographs of that tour. The best part of my Scotland trip was that I found a great friend like you. We many never have met otherwise. You had a very nice Canon Power Shot camera with you. We clicked so many photographs during the entire tour. I was hoping you would send me the photographs. But, I understand that once we get back to the routine hectic schedules of life, some things slip out of mind. I shall be waiting eagerly for the pictures. I would specially like the one in which we both have posed in front of a big fountain. Please send them as an e-mail attachment. I shall get them printed from here. Alternatively, you could upload them on Picasa web albums and I can see them from there. When are you planning your next holiday? Please plan it for India. There is a lot to see and do here. I shall show you around and you will also have a chance to meet my parents. I have talked a lot about you to them. Waiting eagerly for your reply! Yours fondly, Govind

Letter number 72 You saw an advertisement in the news for a job and you are interested to apply.

Dear Sir, I am writing to apply for the part time job of a sales manager in your company Delta International. I read an advertisement regarding this job in the Employment News weekly and through that advert I came to know that you need sales managers for the evening hours. I am a graduate student at the University of Texas. I am allowed 20 hours of part time work per week during my study. Your company is at a walking distance from my university and therefore it would be very convenient for me. Attached is a copy of my resume. I would be happy to provide references from members of the community. The job, as described, sounds very much like what I am looking for. I know I would provide excellent service. I am available to come for an interview at your convenience and look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Kiran

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Letter number 73 You were studying in an English speaking country and suddenly needed to go back to your home country leaving your course incomplete. Write a letter to your teacher to Thank him Explain the reason you left without completing your course say during your course study what did you like most about this course Dear Professor James, I am writing to inform you that I had to withdraw from the full time course “Introduction to Gerontology’, which I was doing in the University of Leeds. I was very fortunate to have you as my teacher but unfortunately because of some family problem I cannot continue the course. The reason for discontinuing the course is that my mother is not keeping very good health lately. She has recurrent attacks of asthma and cannot be left alone in such a situation. She is a known case of asthma but this time the attacks are more severe because of super-added viral infection. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful way in which you taught your students. The course in Gerontology involves caring for the elderly. Today, we belong to an ageing society and we are part of a greying population. The way you explained things made it sound like a very easy subject. What I liked most about the course was the way the practical sessions were conducted. We were taken to various old age homes and got first hand experience in caring for the elderly. Once my mother is better I shall surely re-enrol and complete the course. Thank you once again for everything. Sincerely yours, XYZ

Letter number 74 Write a letter to apply for a position to look after a house in Scotland where the owners are going away. Provide personal details, what qualities you have for this position and ask for information. Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to apply for the post of housekeeper for a house in Scotland as advertised in the Daily Tribune. My name is Andrew Smith and I have recently completed my ‘Diploma in Hotel Management’ from Yorkshire University. After completing the course, I found that there is stiff competition in this field. So, I decided to go for the Masters course in Hotel Management. The intake for that course is after 6 months. The job you have advertised fills the gap completely. Attached is a copy of my resume. I would be happy to provide references from my college professors and other members of the community. I know I would provide excellent service. Please let me know what exactly would be my duties and if there are any pet and domestic animals at home. I would also like to know for how long the owners would be away. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Andrew Smith

Letter number 75 Write a letter to give feedback to local council on tourist facility condition, suggestion on how to improve the situation and why this is important to the people. Dear Sir,

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On behalf of the residents of Model town Phagwara, I am writing this letter to appraise you with the sorry state of affairs of the tourist facilities which are there in our city. As you know very well, our city Phagwara is a popular tourist destination. There are two Sikh Temples and a very ancient Shiva temple. Every year thousands of people from all over India flock to see these historical and religious places. Unfortunately, the facilities in these places are not up-to-date. The road that leads to the Shiva Temple has so many pits that accidents are very common. The drinking water supply is also not proper. Petty crime like chain and purse snatching is very common and the authorities seem to be doing nothing about it. It is very important to tackle these problems on a war footing. New roads must be built and the security in these areas needs to be improved so that the tourists can roam about without fear of being looted. All this is very important to the people of our city because many businesses depend on these tourists. They provide a lot of revenue to the people and the economy of our city thrives on tourism. Hoping for a positive response from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 76 Write a letter to the television channel Manager about boring programs during the day time. Tell him about the programs, give suggestions. Dear Sir, I have been a loyal viewer of your “Colours’ channel for years. I generally appreciate your choice of programmes. Of all the local channels, your channel has been the most substantial. But, unfortunately, for the last two months, the afternoon programmes have become very boring and dull. Earlier in the afternoon there used to be chat shows and comedy shows which many used to enjoy. But now you have started soaps which are too dull and boring. They just seem to drag, day after day. The stories are so unrealistic that it is difficult not to change channels at that time. Afternoon is the time when children are home from school. Your talk shows provided a lot of knowledge and the comedy shows provided a lot of laughter to them. I therefore request you to revert back to your earlier shows or we shall have to begin our search for a new channel. Hoping for a positive response from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 77 You have seen an advertisement in the local newspaper about helping to improve the environment. Write a letter to the editor and explain - Why you are interested in it - How you can help - When you are available Dear Sir, Your advertisement dated 28th July about improving the improving the environment was a real eye-opener. Environmental degradation is a serious issue and I would commend your paper to raise awareness about it. At the same time I would like to contribute my share in your endeavour. I am really interested in it because global warming is a burning issue and we humans are the cause of it. I realise that if all of us put a little contribution in saving the environment then we can make a huge change for the better. I can help by going house to house and telling the people to recycle things; by telling them to say ‘no’ to plastics; by planting trees and by making the people aware about the benefits of public transport.

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I am available every day from 5 pm to 7 pm. I have good communication skills and I would be very grateful if you give me a chance to join hands with you in saving our planet Earth. My name is Kiran Makkar and my contact number is 9888195776. Hoping to hear from you soon! Yours sincerely, Kiran makkar

Letter number 78 You have a permanent job, and few weeks ago you have started a part-time short course. You are not satisfied with it and want to change this part time course. Write a letter to your professor explaining why you are not satisfied with your present part-time course, and stating which course you would prefer and why. Dear Sir, My name is Sharad Pahwa and I am working in a bank. I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction with the part time course in ‘Computer Basics’ that I am doing under you. Actually I was not aware about the content of the course when I started the course. What you are teaching in this course, I had already learnt by hit and trial while working in the Bank. What I wanted to learn was what to do if some hardware problem occurred. Identifying the problems of hard disk, RAM or modem is what I need help with. I have heard that you also have a part time course in Hardware Management. I would be very grateful if you enrol me in that course instead of the present one. I apologise for the inconvenience caused due to this. Hoping for a kind consideration of this urgent request! Yours sincerely, Sharad Pahwa

Letter number 79 You are a college student in an English speaking country. Write a letter to your friend containing your intention to move to a college accommodation. In your letter - give reasons why you are not happy with your current accommodation, - explain why you think the college accommodation will be better. Dear Harry, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. It has been four months since I moved to Australia to pursue my higher education. I have been living with some senior students in a rented apartment which is about 30 miles from my college. Now I am planning to shift to the college accommodation. My present accommodation is very far and it takes two hours to commute daily by train. By the time I am home, I am so tired that I find it very difficult to cook and study. I just fall asleep. This is affecting my studies very badly. I did not realise earlier, but the college accommodation is a lot better. First of all it would save two hours of my commuting time. Then, I could eat in the college canteen. I will not need to cook for myself. I would also have a chance to interact with the other students of my class and finally I would have access to the library and computer lab facilities which are open round the clock. I have already applied and hopefully I shall be moving after the end of this semester. Rest all is fine here. Do convey my regards to your parents. Hoping to hear from you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran

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Letter number 80 Write a letter to your English-speaking friend whom you visited recently. In your letter - Tell him/her how wonderful the experience you had in his country was - Invite him to visit your country - Tell him what you can do for him during his visit. Dear Sally, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. It was such a wonderful experience that I had in your country. It was all because of your meticulous planning that I enjoyed so much in these two weeks. All the places we visited and all the activities we did during this period will always have an everlasting imprint on my memory. Now it is your turn to visit my country. I assure you there is a lot to see and do in India. Please take at least a month off from work and believe me you will enjoy every second of it. Fortunately, my brother is getting married in May. Why don’t you come then? You will also get to attend a typical Indian wedding. We can cover historical places of Punjab, Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan during these days. I have a network of relatives in all these places and they would all be willing to extend their hospitality and accommodate us during the time. Once again I thank you for all you have done for me. Hoping to hear from you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 81 Write a letter to the local planning committee. A new swimming pool is about to be built in your town, the local planning committee wants all residents to let them know where to place the pool - in the centre of town or just outside the town. Write a letter describing the importance of the pool, the location you prefer and why, explain why the other location isn’t suitable. Dear Sir, On behalf of the residents of Phagwara I am writing this letter to express my appreciation of the plan of opening a swimming pool in our town. Of the two sites you have proposed, the one in the centre of the town would be more suitable. A swimming pool is just what the residents of the town needed. We all know children today are leading sedentary lives and it is difficult to motivate them to play outdoor games when they have so many distractions at home. Swimming, however, is different. Children like swimming and it would give them the necessary exercise also. The location in the centre of the town would be more suitable because children could go there on their own. If the swimming pool is outside the town then parents would have to take their children there. Parents are too busy these days and so most of the times they would not be able to accompany their children. Not only for the children, but also for the adults this site would be more approachable. We appreciate your efforts in this area. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 82 Write a complaint to a manager of furniture company regarding the purchase you made and the problems you had when delivery arrived. You should describe: -Things that you bought, -The broken items in the furniture, -What do you want the manager to do. Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to complain about the defective furniture that was delivered by your company. The eight piece wood-and-glass dining set (Order number 77779) that I ordered on April 2 was delivered yesterday. As I was away on business that day, my neighbour, who has a key to my apartment) accepted the packaged set and

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signed for it without question. However, when I opened the teak wood dining table myself with great care, I found that two of the glass inserts were badly scratched and one was broken. I cannot accept the table in this state and want to receive a replacement as soon as possible. In my opinion the damage seemed to be caused by inadequate packaging. In case you have any questions feel free to call me at 9888195776. Hoping for a prompt reply from your side! Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 83 You want to volunteer to help the old people of your community. An organization in your area works for the benefit of old people. Write a letter to the in-charge of that organization explaining Why do you want to help How can you help them When will you be available Dear Sir, My name is Amit Gaba and I am working with Bayer Pharmaceuticals. I have heard that your organisation works for the elderly people of the community. I am writing this letter to enquire whether it would be possible to offer my voluntary services for any kind of work in the evenings and on weekends. I live alone and after my work hours, I have a lot of free time which I would like to utilise productively. I have done a certificate course in Gerontology and would like to help the aged in the Old Age Home of this locality. The main problem of the elderly is social isolation and by spending time with them, I could help them a lot. As it is, we belong to a greying society and the population of the elderly is growing by leaps and bounds. So, I feel there would be a lot for voluntary workers in this field. It would also be a win-win situation for me because I would be able to pass my time usefully. Sir, I would be highly grateful if you give me the opportunity to work in this field in the evening hours and on weekends. I am busy Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Please feel free to call me for any further information. My contact number is 9888195776. Yours faithfully, Amit Gaba

Letter number 84 Write a letter to your friend who asked you to give some suggestion to his son is coming to your country. Tell him which city he should go to, how he can get a job, and how he can make friends. Dear Elaine, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. It was such a pleasant surprise to know that your son is coming to my country, India on a ‘Holiday Work Maker’ visa. It is an honour for me that you have asked for my suggestions and I would be only too happy to guide him. Chandigarh is a very nice city and the job opportunities are also in plenty. My son, Indroop, works for Delta International at Chandigarh. You know very well that my son Indroop is almost the same age your son Richard. Indroop lives as a paying guest in sector 35 and the people with whom he is staying are very nice. If Richard chooses to stay in Chandigarh, he could also stay there. As far as job is concerned there are a few employment agencies and you have to register with them. Normally, one does not have to wait for long before getting a good job, provide you have the necessary qualifications. Making friends is also not a big issue in Chandigarh. There are a lot of places where young people hang out in the evenings. Moreover, Indroop will always be there with him. Hoping to see Richard soon!

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Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 85 As an overseas employee, write a resignation letter to your employer due to an emergency at home. Points to be covered: the reason for leaving, date of departure, and things that you loved about your job. Dear Sir, This letter is to notify you that I will resign my position as junior account executive, effective March 31, 2011. I have worked for two years at Delta International where I have gained valuable experience which will be of great benefit to me during my career. My decision to leave the company is based on personal reasons. I have to return to my home country. My mother is not keeping very good health lately. She has recurrent attacks of asthma and cannot be left alone in such a situation. She is a known case of asthma but this time the attacks are more severe because of super added viral infection. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and guidance during the past two years. What I liked best about my job here is the employer-employee relation. It has always been very friendly. I shall take back very pleasant memories of working here. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 86 Write a letter to the manager of the hotel where you stayed. Write about a member of staff who helped you solve a problem. In your letter - introduce yourself, - explain the situation, what was the problem and who fixed it, - offer to reward the person in a certain way. Dear Mr John, My name is Indroop Singh and my family and I have just returned from a two week vacation to Goa. I wanted to thank you for a wonderful time and your special consideration for our family. We were very concerned about our stay because as we landed on Goa Airport my son fell from the escalator and fractured his leg. After getting the necessary treatment from a doctor we reached the hotel. Our suite was on the first floor but your housekeeping manager, Rohit Basu, immediately upgraded us to the ground floor suite. Not only that we got a complete new set of linens and towels in our room along with your note of welcome. Mr Rohit Basu personally took care of my son. I was afraid I would have to cut short my holiday but because of him such a situation did not arise. What he has done for me cannot be compensated in any way but it would give me immense pleasure if he accepts this cheque of Rs.5000/- which I am attaching with this letter as a token of my thanks. Yours sincerely, Indroop Singh

Letter number 87 Write a letter to a local NGO (charity organization) and ask how you can join that organization. Dear Sir, My name is Amit Gaba and I am working with Bayer Pharmaceuticals. I have heard that your NGO works for the elderly people of the community. I am writing this letter to enquire how I could join your organisation and offer my voluntary services for any kind of work in the evenings and on weekends.

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I live alone and after my work hours, I have a lot of free time which I would like to utilise productively. I have done a certificate course in Gerontology and would like to help the aged in the Old Age Home of this locality. The main problem of the elderly is social isolation and by spending time with them, I could help them a lot. As it is, we belong to a greying society and the population of the elderly is growing by leaps and bounds. So, I feel there would be a lot for voluntary workers in this field. It would also be a win-win situation for me because I would be able to pass my time usefully. Sir, I would be highly grateful if you give me the opportunity to work in this field in the evening hours and on weekends. I am busy Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Please let me know the procedure for joining the organisation. Please feel free to call me for any further information. My contact number is 9888195776. Yours faithfully, Amit Gaba

Letter number 88 You organized for a relative a 90th birthday party in a hotel, many elderly guests attended this party which is of great success. Write a letter to thank the hotel manager. In your letter: - Give the details of the party - The reason why the party was so successful - Mention a staff who helped you a lot Dear Sir, I celebrated my aunt’s 90th birthday at your hotel on 6th April. It was a great success and it was all because of your excellent services. Thank you so much for everything. The party was on 6th April at 7.30pm. There were about 100 guests. I had invited all my relatives and family friends. There were many elderly people in the party. Three of my elderly guests were on wheelchairs. I had meant this party as a surprise for my aunt. We had some games like musical chairs which were enjoyed by all. All your staff was very co-operative but I must specially thank Mr Rohit Bali for the special care and attention he gave to all my guests. Every guest was looked after. There was soft music in the background and a lot of snacks. The preparations were very delicious. The snacks reached each and every table and even the cake cutting ceremony was very nicely arranged. Thank you once again for your co-operation due to which my party was a memorable one. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 89 Inform bank manager in a letter about the fact that you cannot go to an agreed meeting. You should cover the following: - inform and apologize - describe the reason for your absence - propose new time Dear Sir, I have a meeting regarding a home loan fixed with you for 24 th April 2011. Unfortunately, I shall not be able to make it on that day. I apologise for the inconvenience caused because of this. My elderly aunt and uncle are arriving from Canada for one week which happens to be the last week of April. I have to be with them during the entire week and therefore I have cancelled all my appointments for that week. Actually, they want to get their complete medical examinations done from here. Even after being in Canada for so long they trust our Indian doctors much more. I would be very grateful if you could reschedule our appointment for any day in the first week of May. You can call me at 9888195776 to inform me the new date or alternatively you may e-mail me at [email protected].

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Once again I apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your kind consideration. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 90 You heard that there is a group of people doing unpaid work helping old people in the local community. Write a letter to the group. In your letter, you should： Tell how you heard about the group Confirm the importance of their work Give details of what you can do to help? Dear Sir, My name is Amit Gaba and I am working with Bayer Pharmaceuticals. I heard from one of my colleagues that your group works for the elderly people of the community. I must congratulate you on doing this commendable job. Today we belong to a greying society and as people live longer, they face many problems also during this time. I am writing this letter to enquire whether it would be possible to offer my voluntary services for any kind of work in the evenings and on weekends. I have done a certificate course in Gerontology and would like to help the aged in the Old Age Home of this locality. The main problem of the elderly is social isolation and by spending time with them, I could help them a lot. I could also guide them in some yoga exercises which would really help to keep them fit. Sir, I would be highly grateful if you give me the opportunity to work in this field in the evening hours and on weekends. I am busy Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Please feel free to call me for any further information. My contact number is 9888195776. Yours faithfully, Amit Gaba

Letter number 91 You lost something and someone found it and sent it to you. Writing a letter to that person - Thanking the person - Explain how you must have lost it - Explain what was there in it and why it was important to you Dear Mr. Rohan, Thank you so much for returning my briefcase containing my important documents to me. I received the package by courier only today morning. Actually, last week I travelled from Bombay to Delhi on Shatabdi Express. My briefcase was in my suitcase but I had to see an important phone number and so I took it out. But somehow, absentmindedly, I forgot to put the briefcase back. When my stop came I just rushed out with my suitcase and forgot my briefcase in the train. Fortunately it came in your hands and you tracked my address from my diary inside the briefcase. There were many important documents inside the briefcase. My driving licence, my business papers, my contacts diary and many more important documents were in there. I don’t know what I would have done without them. Thank you once again for this kind gesture. Do let me know if there is anything I can ever do for you. My contact number is 9888195776. Yours sincerely, Kiran Makkar

Letter number 92 Write a letter to a English-speaking friend. Thank him/her for the vacation spent there and for their help with your injury. Tell them about your trip back, and the effects of this injury.

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Dear Sally, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. It was such a wonderful experience that I had in your country. It was all because of your meticulous planning that I enjoyed so much in these two weeks. All the places we visited and all the activities we did during this period would never have been possible without your help. After I slipped and had a fracture in my wrist, I thought that my holiday was ruined. But thanks to your timely help, I got very good treatment and enjoyed my whole vacation very nicely. On my trip back, I had some problems. I could not keep my cabin luggage in the cabin and I had to take the help of the crew members. Apart from that I did not have much problem. Now it is your turn to visit my country. I assure you there is a lot to see and do in India. We can cover historical places of Punjab, Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan during these days. I have a network of relatives in all these places and they would all be willing to extend their hospitality and accommodate us during the time. Once again I thank you for all you have done for me. Hoping to hear from you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 93 You are about to move to an English-speaking country to study. You have a friend living there and you want to find a part-time job. Write a letter to your friend - Explaining your scholar plans, - Your reasons to get a part-time job, - Suggest how he/she can help you finding a job. Dear Sarah, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. The good news is that I got accepted for a ‘Graduate Diploma in International Business’ in Leeds University. So I will be near you for the coming year. I applied for this diploma two months ago and only yesterday I got the visa. I shall be coming on the 20th of next month. The orientation is from 22nd to 29th and the classes start on 1st May. I need your help in finding me a part time course. The fee structure for international students is very high and we are allowed 20 hours of part time work during the course. I have heard that the on-campus jobs finish very soon. If you could reserve a job in the computer lab or the library, I would be very thankful to you. You are a native of that place and your recommendation would easily get me a job. If these jobs are not available then any job would do. It is very important for me to at least meet the expenses of boarding and lodging. Hoping to hear from you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 94 An international company is offering a temporary job for work experience, write a letter to apply for that job. You need to explain -where did you find this information -why you want to apply this job -what qualification you have -what position you want to apply

Dear Sir,

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I am writing to apply for the temporary job of a sales manager in your company Delta International. I read an advertisement regarding this job in the Employment News weekly and through that advert I came to know that you need sales managers for the evening hours. I have graduated from at the University of Texas. My major was International Marketing. It is very important for me to work so that I get some practical experience. Attached is a copy of my resume. I would be happy to provide references from members of the community. The job, as described, sounds very much like what I am looking for. This job would provide me a very good work experience. Nowadays when you apply for a job work experience is given a lot of importance. I would stand better chances of getting a job and I also know I would provide excellent service. I am available to come for an interview at your convenience and look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Kiran

Letter number 95 You have rented an apartment and the neighbours are disturbing you. Write a letter to your landlord explaining what the problem is, what did you do to solve the problem and what action you want the owner to take. Dear Mr. James, I am your new tenant from apartment number 341, Harrison Street. I moved in with my family one month ago. I am writing this letter to appraise you with some problems that we are facing because of the neighbours. When I signed the lease it was told to me that there could be no more than two persons living full time in a studio apartment. That is definitely not the case in the apartment directly above mine, 337. During the one month I have been here there must have been at least 6 adults and three young children somehow squeezed into that studio apartment. The constant noise and the traffic into and out of the apartment and the four cars they use, is very annoying. Last week I politely told them about the rules of tenancy of these studio apartments, but they just ignored what I said. Please look into the matter soon and either change their apartment or move us to the apartment in the far right hand corner which is away from this entire disturbance. This problem needs immediate action. I have signed a lease of one year with you and the rent is also on the higher side because the area is very good but if you don’t do anything about the neighbours then it will be difficult to stay here. Hoping for a prompt action from your side! Yours sincerely, Kiran Letter number 96 You have recently left something in a train, write a letter to the manager of the Lost and Found department and specify: - when you lost it, - describe the object you have left, - tell the manager what you want them to do with it. Dear Sir, I recently travelled from Delhi to Bombay on Shatabdi Express. I am writing to report about something that I lost on the train. When I returned home I discovered that I had left my black, plastic CD case in the train. It can hold 20 CDs. Most of the CDs are of old songs but there are 2 CDs which have some backup of the data which is very important because I

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had to get my computer repaired and all that data is no longer in my computer. The CD cover has my name and address on the inside cover. It must have fallen off my lap onto the floor. I would really appreciate if you take some efforts to find the CD case. If the case is found, please courier it to me at 341, Juhu Drive. I would be happy to pay the courier charges. If you need any other information do not hesitate to call me at 9888195776. Hoping to hear from you soon! Yours faithfully, Kiran Makkar Letter number 97 The letter was on booking a hotel room, number of people, general plan while staying there and any special requirements. Dear Sir, My name is Mohit Gaba. I am planning a holiday in Goa with my family. I am writing this letter to book a suite in your hotel. We would be four in number, my wife, my two children aged 3 and 5 and I. I would like an ocean-view suite. My elder son has an allergy to smoke. So, I would like to stay in a non-smoking unit. If you assure me that we would get a non-smoking suite I would be ready to make a reservation. I would also like to know of the sightseeing tours that your hotel organises for its customers. Please inform me in writing of such a suite and I will respond with a deposit. I would need the suite for 5 days and four nights. If you need any other information, please do not hesitate to call me at 9888195776. Hoping for a prompt reply from you! Yours faithfully, Mohit Gaba Letter number 98 Your friend is asking for your advice, she goes to a university and can’t decide whether to study music or business management. Write a letter and in it say how you felt when you got the letter, what the good points are for both sides and what your advice is. Dear Sarah, It was such a pleasant surprise to hear from you. I feel honoured that you have asked for my advice regarding the choice of subject. Music and business management are very different subjects. Both have their own scope. Today, we live in a global village and doing any business in this era of globalisation would definitely need some degree in hand. If you do the course in business management, you would be able to start your own business or help a lot in your parents’ existing business. However, I feel that there is a lot of saturation in the field of business management. Considering your exceptional abilities in singing and playing instruments like the guitar, I would suggest you go for music. Music has a lot of scope today and people in this field are earning telephone-figure salaries. Nowadays many reality shows related to music are going on and people are willing to pay anything to get their children the best coaching. You have innate abilities in the field of music and a degree would polish you further. Music holds a bright future for you. Hope my advice satisfies you. Do convey my regards to your parents.

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Yours lovingly, Kiran Letter number 99 You have moved to a new place. Write a letter to a friend giving reasons why you moved to that place. Describe that place. Invite your friend to visit you. Dear Sarah, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. The good news is that I got a promotion and so I have moved from Phagwara to Chandigarh. You know very well that I have been working with the HDFC Bank for the last five years. My promotion was long overdue. Last month I got my promotion and along with that I also got a transfer to the head office at Chandigarh. Chandigarh is a very nice and beautiful city. In fact it is the most well planned city of Punjab. There is a lot to see in Chandigarh. The shopping centres are too good and even the night life is very good. There is the Sukhna Lake which is always full of tourists. Then there is the famous Rock Garden made completely from waste materials. It is the effort of a single person Nek Chand over a period of 12 years. I got my accommodation through the bank in sector 35. Why don’t you come over for a few days. I am sure you will like it here. We would visit all these places together and also share some nostalgic memories of our college years. Hoping to see you soon! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 100 You are a passenger of an airline company and during the flight you feel extremely unsatisfactory to the service. Please write a Letter of Complaint to the company. In your letter, you should Say how you are ignored Give some suggestions to fix the problem Tell the airlines that further action will be taken if this problem remains unsolved. Dear Sir, I have been a satisfied customer of Kingfisher Airlines for many years, flying frequently from Delhi to all points around the country. However, I am writing this letter to complain about the extremely unsatisfactory service I got while I flew last time from Delhi to Bombay. The cabin crew on flight number 532, from Delhi to Bombay, on June 18, was very impolite. My wife’s request for water was met with, “you will have to ask the other flight attendant.” Our requests for pillows and blankets were also turned down flat. Food and drinks were also served very late. I did not write down the names of the attendants. I am sure you can find them from your records. You should either change the crew members or reprimand them severely. I will probably give Kingfisher Airlines one more chance on my next trip, but another unpleasant flight will probably be the last one for me with your company. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 101 The local newspaper is holding a "best neighbor in the area" competition. Write a letter to the newspaper to recommend your neighbor for this competition. In your letter, Introduce yourself

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Say whom you are recommending Explain why this neighbor should be the winner of this competition Dear Sir, As I was flicking through the pages of your esteemed daily, I came across the "best neighbor in the area" competition that you are holding in our locality. I would like to recommend Mr. Deol, my neighbour, as the most worthy competitor for this contest. I am Narinder Singh from 321 Bara Dari area. My neighbour, Mr. Deol is a retired army personnel. Ever since he has moved in this colony, he has brought dramatic changes in our area. It is because of him that our area is the most beautiful area in our city. He has planted more than 100 trees in the neighbourhood and himself nurtured them by watering them every morning and evening. The park in our area was in a very bad condition. He went from house to house and collected money from all the residents and then hired workers to beautify the park. Now all the children play there and he sits there to keep an eye on them. All the people in our area love him because he is such a big help. He is always ready to help anyone in need with his time and money. Being from an army background, he is himself very disciplined and is a good role model for all of us. Mr. Deol rightfully deserves to win this competition. I recommend his name once again. Yours faithfully, Narinder Singh

Letter number 102 You are a member of a sports club located in an old building. The manager asked you to suggest some improvements to the building. Write a letter to your manager and say - Why the club is important to you - What improvements should be made in the building and - How these changes would benefits the members Dear Sir, I am a life member of your Leo Sports Club. I am writing this letter in response to the notice you have sent to all the members to suggest improvements in the building. This club is very important for me. I have been a member for the past ten years. I regularly come there with my family to play snooker and do swimming. However, I do agree that the building is in a very bad state and needs a lot of renovation. The whole building needs a fresh coat of paint. The changing rooms too need a few changes. The bolts on the doors and windows are all broken as a result of which anyone can budge into the room while we are changing. To add to it, the curtains are so dirty that they smell. The urinals attached to the changing rooms also stink. The dust bins are also very dirty. The swimming pool also needs a new filter system. All these changes would benefit all the members. Many members are not renewing their membership because of the problems. If these renovations are done then this sports club could get back its original glory. Hoping for a careful consideration of these suggestions! Yours faithfully, Kuldeep Singh

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Letter number 103 You had an appointment to meet someone but you were not able to make it. Explain the reasons why you couldn’t be there. Tell him/her how you tried contacting him/her. Request another meeting. Dear Sir, I had a meeting regarding a home loan fixed with you for 24 th April 2011. Unfortunately, I could not make it on that day. I apologise for the inconvenience caused because of this. My elderly aunt and uncle are arrived unexpectedly from Gurdaspur on that day. Uncle was suffering from a heart problem for which I had to rush him to the hospital. I had to be with them during the entire week he was at the hospital. He was quite serious but fortunately he has recovered completely now because of timely medical help. It was a very tense period and in all that hustle and bustle I could not inform you in time. I am sorry for that. I would be very grateful if you could reschedule our appointment for any day in the second week of May. You can call me at 9888195776 to inform me the new date or alternatively you may e-mail me at [email protected]. Once again I apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your kind consideration. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 104 Write a letter to local council about the closure of playground and explain - why so few children are using the playground - how to increase the number of children using the playground - why this is important Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to appraise you with an important issue concerning the children of our area. The local playground located in Model town has been used by many children over the past years. It used to be the source of much fun and laughter, a safe meeting place for many children. Unfortunately, nowadays the playground is very run-down and in bad condition. The seats on the swings are broken and the see-saw is also wobbly. There are some cracks on the slides which could be very dangerous for children. There are also no shady trees for children to sit and play. That is why parents are worried about children going to that playground and so few children are seen there nowadays. If we are to encourage our children for outdoor activities then it is important to immediately improve the condition of the playground. As it is children today are suffering from childhood obesity and so beautiful and well-maintained playgrounds are a must to encourage children to do outdoor activities. It is my humble request to have new swings, see-saws and slides because the earlier ones are beyond repair. Shady trees need to be planted which in due course of time will be a big asset. Hoping for a prompt action from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, Kiran Makkar

Letter number 105 Your friend is visiting you for a week. However, the dates that she is visiting you are not suitable for you. Write a letter to her - apologizing - explaining why the dates don’t suit you - suggest an alternative plan Dear Mohit,

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Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I was so happy to know you are coming here for a week’s holiday but unfortunately I have to leave for an urgent business trip to Delhi. It would be very nice if you postpone your trip for one week and come on the 20 th instead of the 13th April so that we can enjoy together. I am really sorry for this inconvenience. I have to leave on 20th May as a few clients are coming from UK. There is an exhibition going on in Delhi which they are coming to see and they have requested me to show them our company’s products there only. This meeting is very important for my business. I have been preparing for it for the last two months. As the clients are from overseas I cannot tell them to change their plans. I hope you understand. The next week I shall be absolutely free. I assure you there is a lot to see and do in my home town. There are some historical places in my home town which we shall visit together. There are two temples related to the sixth guru of the Sikhs and an ancient Shiva Temple. Then there is a restaurant, Haveli, which depicts traditional Punjabi hospitality. Every night there is a cultural show also over there. I have been there several times but with you it will be a different experience. Hope to see you on the 20th April. Once again I apologise for the inconvenience caused because of the change in plans. Yours lovingly, Manjot

Letter number 106 Write a letter to an editor of a newspaper regarding your concern about construction of multi-storey building in the current park location. In your letter say: - How did you come to know about the plan - Why it is important for you - What is your opinion about this plan. Dear Sir, On behalf of the residents of Model Town, Phagwara, I am writing this letter to express my concern about the construction of a multi-storey mall in place of a park. None of us is happy about the idea. I heard this news from someone working in the Municipal Committee office. As you are the editor of an esteemed daily, I would like to exercise the power of your pen to reach our views to the officials. The park is a big asset to the people of our town. As it is nowadays we are living in a concrete jungle. Parks are the lungs of the community. We do not need another multi-storey building. The park is always full of children playing with each other. The elderly sit on the benches for hours chatting to each other. A multi-storey building will bring a lot of congestion in the area. The whole area which is very peaceful now will turn into an overcrowded area full of air and noise pollution. The media is supposed to be a link between the government and the people. It is our humble request to reach our resentment regarding this plan to the government. The multistorey building should be in the suburbs and not in the city. Hoping you will help us in this matter. Yours faithfully, XYZ Letter number 107 You ordered two items through internet and you received two different items. Write a letter to the manager: -Explain about what you ordered, - Ask why the two other items were different, - Ask about how would he solve this problem. Dear Sir, Today morning I received my order of the external hard disk and the camera that I had ordered over the internet from your website www.lears.com . I was shocked to see that both the things were very different from what I had ordered.

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I ordered an external hard disk of WD Company and I specifically ordered a 500 GB one. What I received was a hard disk of 250 GB and that too of Sony. The second thing I ordered was a Canon Power Shot camera of 12 mega pixels but you sent me a Sony Cyber Shot of 7.2 mega pixels. I have been a regular customer from your website but such a problem has occurred for the first time. I paid online for the two things I ordered and I printed out the receipts. I fail to understand how this mistake could have been done. I would like you to either send me the refund or the actual items I purchased. Also please advise how you want me to send these things, which I got, back to you. Hoping for a prompt reply from you regarding this matter! Yours faithfully Kiran Makkar

Letter number 108 Write a letter to the head of the department of education to show your appreciation of a course you attended. In you letter - explain about the course, - how have the course benefited you in your life/work. Dear Sir, I am Karan Batra from Phagwara, Punjab. I have recently done a course in ‘Communication Skills and Personality Development’ from your college. I am writing this letter to thank you for offering such courses for the benefit of the students. This course of ‘Communication Skills and Personality Development’ is basically what is needed by all students in the competitive era of today. In the globalised world of today we all have to present ourselves and to do that we need excellent communication skills. You may have a doctoral degree in hand but you are nowhere without good communication skills. Ever since I have done this course I have become more confident and I feel better prepared to face the challenges of life. I have to go for job interviews and group discussions and I feel that now I don’t need to fear them. Thank you once again for providing such courses. Yours faithfully, XYZ

Letter number 109 You have been invited by your colleague to his farewell party. You are not able to attend the party, write a letter to the friend - explain the situation, - say why you are not attending, - say something about the period you have worked together and his/her work. Dear Nidheesh, It was with mixed emotions that I got the news of your promotion because it also brings with it your transfer and the fact that you are leaving us all. Thanks for inviting me to your farewell party but regretfully I have to inform you that I would not be able to make it on that day because of some prior engagement. It so happens that my first cousin’s wedding is also on that very day. It is a family affair and I cannot be absent from there. I am an active participant in the arrangements of that day. Any other appointment could have been avoided or postponed but I just cannot miss this one.

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Anyways, I wish you all the best in life. Whatever time I have spent with you in office will always have pleasant memories in my mind. It is from you that I have learnt how to meticulously plan time. You have always been my friend, philosopher and guide. I shall always keep in touch through phone and e-mail. My e-mail ID is [email protected]. Do let me know your new phone number so that I can keep in touch. Yours sincerely, Rajesh Letter number 110 Write a complaint letter to a moving company, let them know that they have damaged some of your furniture, tell them you’re not happy about the service and suggest a solution. Dear Mr. Singh, I hired you company ‘Packers and Movers’ for shifting my belongings from Amritsar to Chandigarh two weeks ago. My experience with you has been rather bad because my expensive dining table and dressing table are totally ruined. I hired you after reading an advertisement in the local paper in which you have bragged about your excellent service. My dining table had a toughened glass topping which now has an ugly crack on the corner. The dressing table also has scratches all over it. I believe it is because of inefficient packing done by your men. The solution that I can suggest is that you get a new glass top for my dining table and the dressing table re-polished. Alternatively you can reimburse me for the amount that I spend on both these things. I cannot use both things in their present condition. I hope you realise the value of a satisfied customer. Hoping to hear from you soon! My contact number is 9888195776. Yours sincerely, Indroop Singh

Letter number 111 Write a letter to your professor about your recent internship and future plans after graduation. In your letter - Thank him, - Tell about your duties at internship, - Share your plans for after graduation.

Dear Sir, My name is Mohit and I am from India. It was wonderful being your student in the ‘Business Management Course’, this year at Melbourne. Thank you so much for your guidance because of which I passed out with flying colours. I have recently done my Internship at Sears International at Melbourne. My duties there were very diverse. All interns were given an orientation on the first day and after that we were sent in small batches to various departments for few days each. It was a very nice experience. It was as if we were converting our theoretical knowledge into practical. My theoretical concepts were very clear because of your guidance and so I learnt a lot there. After seeing the working there I feel that I should pursue my masters in the same course. The salary you receive after a Masters course is much higher that that after an Undergraduate course. I have applied in the University of Melbourne and if I am fortunate enough to get admission, I shall again have the opportunity of studying from you as I have heard that you are taking the graduate classes too. Thanking you once again for your valuable advice and guidance. Yours faithfully, Mohit

Letter number 112

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You are planning to go on a holiday in an English-speaking country where one of your friends resides. Please write him a letter and let him know about the upcoming trip. In your letter: - Ask for recommendations for places to visit during your trip. - Ask about accommodations. - Advise on a program that you and your friend can do together once you will meet him. Dear Samaira, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. It has been a long time since we met. I am writing this letter to inform you that I am coming for a holiday in your area with my husband and I wanted to take some information from you. First of all, I would like to know how the weather would be like in the month of April. Actually, my husband is getting a two week’s leave then and we would like to come at that time. Secondly, I would like to know what all is there to see and do in your area. If we plan in advance then we shall be able to make the most of our time. Finally, I would be very grateful if you suggest some economical but good place to stay in. Please write at the earliest so that I can be relaxed about the arrangements. I would also like to spend some time with you. It would be great to share some nostalgic memories of our college years after such a long time. Do let me know if you would like to have anything from India. I shall be too happy to get it for you. Waiting eagerly for your reply! Yours lovingly, Kiran

Letter number 113 You have bought an airline ticket, but for some reason you will not be able to travel on the day scheduled. Write a letter to the airline company: - Providing the details of you flight, - Explaining the situation, reasons why you cannot travel, - Saying what you expect the airline company do to. Dear Sir, I booked a ticket for 12th January form Delhi to Houston. My customer reference number is VX 234 and my flight number is KL 661. I am writing to inform that I shall not be able to travel on that day and so I would like to reschedule my booking for 22nd January. I intended to travel on the 12th of January but unfortunately my sister met with an accident yesterday. She has sustained multiple fractures and is hospitalised. She needs my moral support. So I shall only travel once she is discharged from the hospital. I would be very grateful if you cancel this ticket and rebook my ticket for 22nd January. I have heard that there are no extra expenses for one time change of ticket. But if there are any extra expenses incurred, do let me know so that I can make the payment. Please feel free to contact me if you have anything to ask me. My contact number is 9888195776. Yours sincerely, Kiran Makkar

Letter number 114 You recently met a manager from a new company that has just opened in your town. After the meeting, he wrote to you to offer you a job in this new company. However, you want to stay in your present job. Write a letter to the manager. In your letter, Thank him for the offer

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Explain why you want to stay in the present job Recommend a friend for the job in the new company Dear Mr. Timmins, It was a real pleasure to meet you last week in the Rotary Club meeting. Your mail regarding the job offer also came as a pleasant surprise. Thank you so much for considering me suitable for working as Senior Manager in your Company. However, after careful deliberation I have decided to decline this position. As I mentioned in our discussions last week, I am currently working for Delts International and enjoying immensely my sales position there. Now my company has offered me a promotion which I feel I cannot let go. In the meantime, I would like to recommend my friend Amit Gaba as a strong potential candidate. He has a strong background in sales and is currently looking for a good job. He can be reached on the mobile number 9888195776. Thank you once again for your confidence in offering me an opportunity to work for your organisation. I am sorry if I have caused you any inconvenience. Yours sincerely, Mohit Ghaie

Letter number 115 One of your friends in a foreign country is starting an import-export business, and he has asked you to recommend a product from your country to him. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter, Say what product you want to recommend to him Tell him where he / she can get this product Explain why you want to recommend this product Dear James, What a surprise to receive your letter yesterday! I am thrilled to read that you’re planning to start an import-export business in Southhall. I feel honoured that you have asked for my advice regarding a product to import from India. I would suggest that you import traditional Punjabi Suits from here. I have seen that Southall is full of Punjabis. In fact people call it the mini Punjab. People crave for traditional Punjabi suits over there and I am sure you will get a good business. You can add matching accessories like bangles and other jewellery with it. I can help you in this endeavour. You just make one initial visit and after that I shall take care of things. You can buy stuff from Delhi, Amritsar and Patiala. For the jewellery you can visit Jaipur. You can get very good jewellery in all colours to go with the dresses. I have recommended this product to you because my cousin is already in this business and I know that he exports these dresses to many parts of the world. So, I know they are popular in the west and you will also do well. Moreover, my cousin can guide you where to get the latest variety at reasonable rates. Hope you like my suggestion. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Yours lovingly, Preetmohan.

Letter number 116 You are working in an English speaking country. Recently, you have learned that a person who lives near your home can offer English lessons. Write a letter to this person. In this letter, Tell him / her how you got to know about the lesson Explain why you are interested in this lesson Say when and where you want to have the lesson

Dear Mr. Mathews,

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I came to know about the English classes you offer from the advertisement in a local newspaper. I would like to receive some English instruction from you. I am currently working as a salesman in a local readymade garment store. I find that I am not able to communicate as effectively as I would like to. I think that my lack of English ability is causing me to lose out on some sales. I would therefore appreciate your help in developing my fluency in customer sales. From your advert I learnt that you live in my neighbourhood and that you offer classes in the late evenings. That time would be very suitable for me. I would like to begin the lessons early next week. Please feel free to contact me any time on 9888195776 to discuss a suitable time. I really hope that you will be able to help me to become a better salesman! Yours sincerely, Jagdeep.

Letter Number 117 Write a letter to the landlord and complain about the repair work. In your letter, you should include: The details of last repair What the problem is Give suggestions to landlord on how to repair it

Dear Mr. Smith, I am your tenant from apartment number 11102, Bissonnet Street. I am writing to complain about the repair work you did on my kitchen cupboards. Most of the work you did was satisfactory but, unfortunately there are some problems that require immediate attention from you. As you are well aware, you had to get the kitchen cupboards repaired and re-installed. Most of the cupboards have been well installed but the one just next to the cooking range is not well fitted. There is a problem with its doors. They are not closing properly. As a result they keep opening and can cause injury. I request you to get the work properly finished. My parents are coming to stay with me for a month and I don’t want any injury to happen to them. I therefore urge you to get this problem fixed within this week. You may call me at 9888195776 to confirm the day. I look forward for a prompt action from you regarding this matter. Yours sincerely, Kiran Makkar

Letter Number 118 You invited your family to have a special celebrate dinner in a well-known restaurant, but you are unsatisfied with the meal. You are writing to make a complaint. In your letter, you have to say: What the situation is; What the problem is; What you want them to do.

Dear Sir, On October 20th, I took my family members to your restaurant to celebrate my mother’s birthday. My friend recommended your restaurant as he is your regular customer. However, my experience has not been so good. My first complaint is that your servings are too small and not at all value-for-money. We ordered your giant burgers thinking that one would be enough for each of us. But your giant burger turned out to be just the regular size that we get elsewhere. Then, when we asked for extra sauces, your waiters told us that we would have to pay extra. They were quite discourteous also.

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I think that it would be a good idea to either change the amount of food you serve or reduce the cost of the meals because at the moment I think your prices are too high for the amount of food you serve. The extra sauces also should be free with the food ordered. It would also be a good idea to teach some basic manners to your waiters. I would like to be your regular customer for the quality of food you offer. So, if you look into the other things it would be very nice of you. Yours faithfully, Kiran Makkar

Letter Number 119 You have started a course after reading its details in a brochure. Unfortunately it turned out to be totally different from the description in the brochure. Write a letter to the manager, including the following: - Mention the details of the course. - Explain how it was different. - What course you would like to take instead? Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to complain about the wrong information provided in the brochure of your institute because of which I enrolled in the wrong course. Your institute provides various courses related to cookery. I read all the details in your brochure and enrolled in the course C003 which deals with South Indian cuisine. I joined the course with great enthusiasm but the first day they started with North Indian dishes. I asked the instructors and they told me that C003 was a course in Indian cuisine and South Indian dishes were also a component of this course and they would be taught in the final week of the 12 week course. I would like to enrol in the purely South Indian cuisine. I very well know about the North Indian cuisine. I belong to North India and all these dishes I have learnt from my mother and grandmother. I love South Indian dosa and idli. I want to enrol in a course which teaches purely south Indian dishes. If your centre provides this course, I would like to get a transfer to that course and in case such a course is not there, I would like a refund of the fees that I have paid for the wrong course. I would also suggest you to get the information corrected in the brochure. Hoping to hear from you soon regarding this matter! Yours faithfully, Kiran.

Letter number 120 You won a competition and received a vacation for two as a prize. Write a letter to invite a friend to go with you. In the letter - tell about the competition you won, - specify what kind of vacation it is, - explain why you want your friend to be there. Dear Rajesh, Hope this letter finds you in radiant health and the best of spirits. I am writing this letter to share a great news with you. I won a quiz show organised by our local Rotary Club and the prize is a week’s vacation for two in Goa. I wish to enjoy this vacation with you and I hope you will not disappoint me by saying no. This quiz show was a big event. There were 200 participants in the beginning and there were 10 rounds in all. It was not easy and the questions became tougher with every passing round. You remember, during our college days, you always encouraged me to take part in quiz competitions but I never won any prize. This time I was lucky. The questions that came to me were easy for me and I could answer them easily. As I won the prize, I immediately thought of you. You always had faith in me.

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The vacation is of one week in Goa. We can go any time in the month of December. Would the last week be convenient for you? We could enjoy Christmas and New Year both. I would like to have this vacation with you so that we can share nostalgic memories of our college days and also enjoy the beaches of Goa. Hoping to hear from you soon! Yours lovingly, Sameep.

Letter number 121 You are taking a business course at a college. As a part of the course every student has to choose a company to study and visit. Write a letter to the manager of the company Tell what course you are doing Why you are interested in your company Suggest arrangements for the visit Dear Sir, My name is Kiran. I am a final year student of ‘Master of business Administration’ at State University of New York at Buffalo. I am writing this letter to request you to allow me to visit and study your company ‘Bell Enterprises’ as a part of my course. I am interested in your company because I have heard a lot about your company. Many of my seniors have done their training in your company and they have told me how the owners of your company started from scratch a few years ago and how they have grown their small firm into a mighty empire with 10,000 workers in just five years. Your auto parts are excellent quality wise but just having good quality products is not enough for any company to succeed. It has been possible only because of your sound business acumen and your employer employee relation. I would like to start my study project in your company during the summer break which is of three months. I would like to spend a few days in each department and study the work pattern there as part of my assignment. I assure you I would be an asset to your company during my stay. Please let me know if I can start my project in May, this year and if you provide paid accommodation for trainees like me. Hoping for a positive response from your side! Yours faithfully, Kiran

How to Write Letters (Formerly The Book of letters) by Mary Owens Crowther Author: Mary Owens Crowther How to Write Letters 1/132 A STAR BOOK HOW TO WRITE LETTERS (Formerly THE BOOK OF LETTERS) A Complete Guide to Correct Business and Personal Correspondence BY MARY OWENS CROWTHER GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. NEW YORK

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CL COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The forms for engraved invitations, announcements, and the like, and the styles of notepapers, addresses, monograms, and crests are by courtesy of the Bailey, Banks and Biddle Company, Brentano's, and The Gorham Company. The Western Union Telegraph Company has been very helpful in the chapter on telegrams. CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I 4 CHAPTER I WHAT IS A LETTER? 1 CHAPTER II 5 CHAPTER II THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER 6 CHAPTER Ill 6 CHAPTER Ill THE PARTS OF A LETTER 1. THE HEADING 10 2. THE INSIDE ADDRESS 12 3. THE SALUTATION 16 4. THE BODY OF THE LETTER 22 5. THE COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE 26 6. THE SIGNATURE 29 7. THE SUPERSCRIPTION 33 BEING APPROPRIATE--WHAT TO AVOID COMMON OFFENSES 36 STOCK PHRASES IN BUSINESS LETTERS 38 How to Write Letters 2/132 PERSONAL LETTERS--SOCIAL AND FRIENDLY INVITATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 44 THE LETTER OF CONDOLENCE 91 LETTERS OF SYMPATHY IN CASE OF ILLNESS 95 LETTERS OF CONGRATULATION 101 LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION 107 LETTERS OF THANKS 110 LETTERS BETWEEN FRIENDS 118 PERSONAL BUSINESS LETTERS 124 THE BUSINESS LETTER 135 SALES AND ANNOUNCEMENT LETTERS 146 KEEPING THE CUSTOMER 160 SELLING REAL ESTATE 163 BANK LETTERS 173 LETTERS OF ORDER AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT 182 LETTERS OF COMPLAINT AND ADJUSTMENT 186 CREDIT AND COLLECTION LETTERS 193 LETTERS OF APPLICATION 211 LETTERS OF REFERENCE 217 LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION 220 LETTERS OF INQUIRY 223 THE USE OF FORM PARAGRAPHS 227 CHILDREN'S LETTERS 230

www.makkarielts.com TELEGRAMS 236 THE LAW OF LETTERS 247 THE COST OF A LETTER 252 CHAPTER XIII STATIONERY, CRESTS AND MONOGRAMS 258 LIST OF TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE In the business letterhead appear the name of the firm, its address, and the kind of business engaged in 11 Letterheads used by a life insurance company, a law firm, and three associations 13 In the case of widely known firms, or where the name of the firm itself indicates it, reference to the nature of the business is often omitted from letterheads 14 Specimens of letterheads used for official stationery 27 As to the use of the symbol "&" and the abbreviation of the word "Company," the safest plan in writing to a company is to spell its name exactly as it appears on its letterhead 42 Specimen of formal wedding invitation 48 Specimens of formal invitations to a wedding reception 51 Specimen of wedding announcement 54 Specimens of formal dinner invitations 60 Specimens of formal invitations "to meet" 63 Specimens of formal invitations to a dance 68 How to Write Letters 3/132 Specimens of business letterheads 140 Arrangement of a business letter (block form) 144 Arrangement of a business letter (indented form) 145 Specimens of business letterheads used by English firms 207 Specimens of addressed social stationery 259 Specimens of addressed social stationery 260 The monograms in the best taste are the small round ones, but many pleasing designs may be had in the diamond, square, and oblong shapes 262 Specimens of crested letter and notepaper 263

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Specimens of monogrammed stationery 266 Specimens of business letterheads 267 Department stores and fmns that write many letters to women often employ a notepaper size 270 Specimens of stationery used by men for personal business letters 271 HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CHAPTER I WHAT IS A LETTER? It is not so long since most personal letters, after an extremely formal salutation, began "I take my pen in hand." We do not see that so much nowadays, but the spirit lingers. Pick up the average letter and you cannot fail to discover that the writer has grimly taken his pen in hand and, filled with one thought, has attacked the paper. That one thought is to get the thing over with. And perhaps this attitude of getting the thing over with at all costs is not so bad after all. There are those who lament the passing of the ceremonious letter and others who regret that the "literary" letter--the kind of letter that can be published--is no longer with us. But the old letter of ceremony was not really more useful than a powdered wig, and as for the sort of letter that delights the heart and lightens the labor of the biographer--well, that is still being written by the kind of person who can write it. It is better that a letter should be written because the writer has something to say than as a token of culture. Some of the letters of our dead great do too often remind us that they were not forgetful of posterity. The average writer of a letter might well forget culture and posterity and address himself to the task in hand, which, in other than the most exceptional sort of letter, is to say what he has to say in the shortest possible compass that will serve to convey the thought or the information that he wants to hand on. For a letter is a conveyance of thought; if it becomes a medium of expression it is less a letter than a diary fragment. Most of our letters in these days relate to business affairs or to social affairs that, as far as personality is concerned, might as well be business. Our average letter has a rather narrow objective and is not designed to be literature. We may, it is true, write to cheer up a sick friend, we may write to tell about what we are doing, we may write that sort of missive which can be classified only as a love letter--but unless such letters come naturally it is better that they be not written. They are the exceptional letters. It is absurd to write them How to Write Letters 4/132 according to rule. In fact, it is absurd to write any letter according to rule. But one can learn the best usage in correspondence, and that is all that this book attempts to present. The heyday of letter writing was in the eighteenth century in England. George Saintsbury, in his interesting "A Letter Book," says: "By common consent of all opinion worth attention that century was, in the two European literatures which were equally free from crudity and decadence--French and English--the very palmiest day of the art. Everybody wrote letters, and a surprising number of people wrote letters well. Our own three most famous epistolers of the male sex, Horace Walpole, Gray, and Cowper--belong wholly to it; and 'Lady Mary'--our most famous she-ditto--belongs to it by all but her childhood; as does Chesterfield, whom some not bad judges would put not far if at all below the three men just mentioned. The rise of the novel in this century is hardly more remarkable than the way in which that novel almost wedded itself--certainly joined itself in the most frequent friendship--to the letter-form. But perhaps the excellence of the choicer examples in this time is not really more important than the abundance, variety, and popularity of its letters, whether good, indifferent, or bad. To use one of the informal superlatives sanctioned by familiar custom it was the 'letter-writingest' of ages from almost every point of view. In its least as in its most dignified moods it even overflowed into verse if not into poetry as a medium. Serious epistles had--of course on classical models--been written in verse for a long time. But now in England more modern patterns, and especially Anstey's New Bath Guide, started the fashion of actual correspondence in doggerel verse with no thought of print--a practice in which persons as different as Madame

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d'Arblay's good-natured but rather foolish father, and a poet and historian like Southey indulged; and which did not become obsolete till Victorian times, if then." There is a wide distinction between a letter and an epistle. The letter is a substitute for a spoken conversation. It is spontaneous, private, and personal. It is non-literary and is not written for the eyes of the general public. The epistle is in the way of being a public speech--an audience is in mind. It is written with a view to permanence. The relation between an epistle and a letter has been compared to that between a Platonic dialogue and a talk between two friends. A great man's letters, on account of their value in setting forth the views of a school or a person, may, if produced after his death, become epistles. Some of these, genuine or forgeries, under some eminent name, have come down to us from the days of the early Roman Empire. Cicero, Plato, Aristotle, Demosthenes, are the principal names to which these epistles, genuine and pseudonymous, are attached. Some of the letters of Cicero are rather epistles, as they were intended for the general reader. The ancient world--Babylonia, Assyria, Egypt, Rome, and Greece--figures in our inheritance of letters. In Egypt have been discovered genuine letters. The papyrus discoveries contain letters of unknowns who had no thought of being read by the general public. During the Renaissance, Cicero's letters were used as models for one of the most common forms of literary effort. There is a whole literature of epistles from Petrarch to the Epistolæ obscurorum virorum. These are, to some degree, similar to the Epistles of Martin Marprelate. Later epistolary satires are Pascal's "Provincial Letters," Swift's "Drapier Letters," and the "Letters of Junius." Pope, soon to be followed by Lady Mary Montagu, was the first Englishman who treated letter writing as an art upon a considerable scale. Modern journalism uses a form known as the "open letter" which is really an epistle. But we are not here concerned with the letter as literature. How to Write Letters 5/132 CHAPTER II 20 CHAPTER II THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER No one can go far wrong in writing any sort of letter if first the trouble be taken to set out the exact object of the letter. A letter always has an object--otherwise why write it? But somehow, and particularly in the dictated letter, the object frequently gets lost in the words. A handwritten letter is not so apt to be wordy--it is too much trouble to write. But a man dictating may, especially if he be interrupted by telephone calls, ramble all around what he wants to say and in the end have used two pages for what ought to have been said in three lines. On the other hand, letters may be so brief as to produce an impression of abrupt discourtesy. It is a rare writer who can say all that need be said in one line and not seem rude. But it can be done. The single purpose of a letter is to convey thought. That thought may have to do with facts, and the further purpose may be to have the thought produce action. But plainly the action depends solely upon how well the thought is transferred. Words as used in a letter are vehicles for thought, but every word is not a vehicle for thought, because it may not be the kind of word that goes to the place where you want your thought to go; or, to put it another way, there is a wide variation in the understanding of words. The average American vocabulary is quite limited, and where an exactly phrased letter might completely convey an exact thought to a person of education, that same letter might be meaningless to a person who understands but few words. Therefore, it is fatal in general letter writing to venture into unusual words or to go much beyond the vocabulary of, say, a grammar school graduate. Statistics show that the ordinary adult in the United States--that is, the great American public--has either no high school education or less than a year of it. You can assume in writing to a man whom you do not know and about whom you have no information that he has only a grammar school education and that in using other than commonplace words you run a double

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danger--first, that he will not know what you are talking about or will misinterpret it; and second, that he will think you are trying to be highfalutin and will resent your possibly quite innocent parade of language. In a few very effective sales letters the writers have taken exactly the opposite tack. They have slung language in the fashion of a circus publicity agent, and by their verbal gymnastics have attracted attention. This sort of thing may do very well in some kinds of circular letters, but it is quite out of place in the common run of business correspondence, and a comparison of the sales letters of many companies with their day-to-day correspondence shows clearly the need for more attention to the day-to-day letter. A sales letter may be bought. A number of very competent men make a business of writing letters for special purposes. But a higher tone in general correspondence cannot be bought and paid for. It has to be developed. A good letter writer will neither insult the intelligence of his correspondent by making the letter too childish, nor will he make the mistake of going over his head. He will visualize who is going to receive his letter and use the kind of language that seems best to fit both the subject matter and the reader, and he will give the fitting of the words to the reader the first choice. There is something of a feeling that letters should be elegant--that if one merely expresses oneself simply and clearly, it is because of some lack of erudition, and that true erudition breaks out in great, sonorous words and involved constructions. There could be no greater mistake. The man who really knows the language will write simply. The man who does not know the language and is affecting something which he thinks is culture has what might be called a sense of linguistic insecurity, which is akin to the sense of social insecurity. Now and again one meets a person who is dreadfully afraid of making a social error. He is afraid of getting hold of the wrong fork or of doing something else that is not done. Such people labor along frightfully. They have a perfectly vile time of it, but any one who knows social usage takes it as a matter of course. He observes the rules, not because they are rules, but because they are second nature to him, and he shamelessly violates the rules if the occasion seems to warrant it. It is quite the same with the letter. One should know his ground well enough to do what one likes, bearing in mind that there is no reason for writing a letter unless the objective is clearly defined. Writing a letter is like shooting at a target. The target may be hit by accident, but it is more apt to be hit if careful aim has been taken. How to Write Letters 6/132 CHAPTER III THE PARTS OF A LETTER The mechanical construction of a letter, whether social, friendly, or business, falls into six or seven parts. This arrangement has become established by the best custom. The divisions are as follows: 1. Heading 2. Inside address (Always used in business letters but omitted in social and friendly letters) 3. Salutation 4. Body 5. Complimentary close 6. Signature 7. Superscription 1. THE HEADING The heading of a letter contains the street address, city, state, and the date. The examples below will illustrate: 2018 Calumet Street or 1429 Eighth Avenue Chicago, Ill. New York, N.Y. May 12, 1921 March 8, 1922 [Illustration: In the business letterhead appear the name of the firm, its address, and the kind of business engaged in] When the heading is typewritten or written by hand, it is placed at the top of the first letter sheet close to the righthand margin. It should begin about in the center, that is, it should extend no farther to the left than the center of the page. If a letter is short and therefore placed in the center of a page, the heading will of course be lower and farther in from the edge than in a longer letter. But it should never be less than an inch from the top and three quarters of an inch from the edge. In the business letterhead appear the name of the firm, its address, and the kind of business engaged in. The last is often omitted in the case of widely known firms or where the nature of the business is indicated by the name of the firm.

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In the case of a printed or engraved letterhead, the written heading should consist only of the date. The printed dateline is not good. To mix printed and written or typed characters detracts from the neat appearance of the letter. In social stationery the address, when engraved, should be about three quarters of an inch from the top of the sheet, either in the center or at the right-hand corner. When the address is engraved, the date may be written at the end of the last sheet, from the left-hand corner, directly after the signature. [Illustration: Letterheads used by a life insurance company, a law firm, and three associations] [Illustration: In the case of widely known firms, or where the name of the firm itself indicates it, reference to the nature of the business is often omitted from letterheads] 2. THE INSIDE ADDRESS In social correspondence what is known as the inside address is omitted. In all business correspondence it is obviously necessary. The name and address of the person to whom a business letter is sent is placed at the left-hand side of the letter sheet below the heading, about an inch from the edge of the sheet, that is, leaving the same margin as in the body of the letter. The distance below the heading will be decided by the length and arrangement of the letter. The inside address consists of the name of the person or of the firm and the address. The address should comprise the street number, the city, and the state. The state may, in the case of certain very large cities, be omitted. Either of the following styles may be used--the straight edge or the diagonal: How to Write Letters 7/132 Wharton & Whaley Co. Madison Avenue & Forty-Fifth Street New York, N. Y. or Wharton & Whaley Co. Madison Avenue & Forty-Fifth Street New York, N. Y. Punctuation at the ends of the lines of the heading and the address may or may not be used. There is a growing tendency to omit it. The inside address may be written at the end of the letter, from the left, below the signature. This is done in official letters, both formal and informal. These official letters are further described under the heading "Salutation" and in the chapter on stationery. 3. THE SALUTATION Social Letters The salutation, or complimentary address to the person to whom the letter is written, in a social letter should begin at the left-hand side of the sheet about half an inch below the heading and an inch from the edge of the paper. The form "My dear" is considered in the United States more formal than "Dear." Thus, when we write to a woman who is simply an acquaintance, we should say "My dear Mrs. Evans." If we are writing to someone more intimate we should say "Dear Mrs. Evans." The opposite is true in England--that is, "My dear Mrs. Evans" would be written to a friend and "Dear Mrs. Evans" to a mere acquaintance. In writing to an absolute stranger, the full name should be written and then immediately under it, slightly to the right, "Dear Madam" or "Dear Sir." For example: Mrs. John Evans, Dear Madam: or Mr. William Sykes, Dear Sir: The salutation is followed by a colon or a comma. Business Letters In business letters the forms of salutation in common use are: "Dear Sir," "Gentlemen," "Dear Madam," and "Mesdames." In the still more formal "My dear Sir" and "My dear Madam" note that the second word is not

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capitalized. A woman, whether married or unmarried, is addressed "Dear Madam." If the writer of the letter is personally acquainted with the person addressed, or if they have had much correspondence, he may use the less formal address, as "My dear Mr. Sykes." The salutation follows the inside address and preserves the same margin as does the first line of the address. The following are correct forms: White Brothers Co. 591 Fifth Avenue New York Gentlemen: or White Brothers Co. 591 Fifth Avenue New York How to Write Letters 8/132 Gentlemen: "Dear Sirs" is no longer much used--although in many ways it seems to be better taste. In the case of a firm or corporation with a single name, as Daniel Davey, Inc., or of a firm or corporation consisting of men and women, the salutation is also "Gentlemen" (or "Dear Sirs"). In letters to or by government officials the extremely formal "Sir" or "Sirs" is used. These are known as formal official letters. The informal official letter is used between business men and concerns things not in the regular routine of business affairs. These letters are decidedly informal and may be quite conversational in tone. The use of a name alone as a salutation is not correct, as: Mr. John Evans: I have your letter of-Forms of salutation to be avoided are "Dear Miss," "Dear Friend," "Messrs." In memoranda between members of a company the salutations are commonly omitted--but these memoranda are not letters. They are messages of a "telegraphic" nature. Titles In the matter of titles it has been established by long custom that a title of some kind be used with the name of the individual or firm. The more usual titles are: "Mr.," "Mrs.," "Miss," "Messrs.," "Reverend," "Doctor," "Professor," and "Honorable." "Esquire," written "Esq." is used in England instead of the "Mr." in common use in the United States. Although still adhered to by some in this country, its use is rather restricted to social letters. Of course it is never used with "Mr." Write either "Mr. George L. Ashley" or "George L. Ashley, Esq." The title "Messrs." is used in addressing two or more persons who are in business partnership, as "Messrs. Brown and Clark" or "Brown & Clark"; but The National Cash Register Company, for example, should not be addressed "Messrs. National Cash Register Company" but "The National Cash Register Company." The form "Messrs." is an abbreviation of "Messieurs" and should not be abbreviated in any way other than "Messrs." The title "Miss" is not recognized as an abbreviation and is not followed by a period. Honorary degrees, such as "M.D.," "Ph.D.," "M.A.," "B.S.," "LL.D.," follow the name of the person addressed. The initials "M.D." must not be used in connection with "Doctor" as this would be a duplication. Write either "Dr. Herbert Reynolds" or "Herbert Reynolds, M.D." The titles of "Doctor," "Reverend," and "Professor" precede the name of the addressed, as: "Dr. Herbert Reynolds," "Rev. Philip Bentley," "Prof. Lucius Palmer." It will be observed that these titles are usually abbreviated on the envelope and in the inside address, but in the salutation they must be written out in full, as "My dear Doctor," or "My dear Professor." In formal notes one writes "My dear Doctor Reynolds" or "My dear Professor Palmer." In less formal notes, "Dear Doctor Reynolds" and "Dear Professor Palmer" may be used. A question of taste arises in the use of "Doctor." The medical student completing the studies which would ordinarily lead to a bachelor's degree is known as "Doctor," and the term has become associated in the popular mind with medicine and surgery. The title "Doctor" is, however, an academic distinction, and although

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applied to all graduate medical practitioners is, in all other realms of learning, a degree awarded for graduate work, as Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), or for distinguished services that cause a collegiate institution to confer an honorary degree such as Doctor of Common Law (D.C.L.), Doctor of Law and Literature (LL.D.), Doctor of Science (Sc.D.), and so on. Every holder of a doctor's degree is entitled to be addressed as "Doctor," How to Write Letters 9/132 but in practice the salutation is rarely given to the holders of the honorary degrees--mostly because they do not care for it. Do not use "Mr." or "Esq." with any of the titles mentioned above. The President of the United States should be addressed formally as "Sir," informally as "My dear Mr. President." Members of Congress and of the state legislatures, diplomatic representatives, judges, and justices are entitled "Honorable," as "Honorable Samuel Sloane," thus: (Formal) Honorable (or Hon.) John Henley Sir: (Informal) Honorable (or Hon.) John Henley My dear Mr. Henley: Titles such as "Cashier," "Secretary," and "Agent" are in the nature of descriptions and follow the name; as "Mr. Charles Hamill, Cashier." When such titles as "Honorable" and "Reverend" are used in the body of the letter they are preceded by the article "the." Thus, "The Honorable Samuel Sloane will address the meeting." A woman should never be addressed by her husband's title. Thus the wife of a doctor is not "Mrs. Dr. Royce" but "Mrs. Paul Royce." The titles of "Judge," "General," and "Doctor" belong to the husband only. Of course, if a woman has a title of her own, she may use it. If she is an "M.D." she will be designated as "Dr. Elizabeth Ward." In this case her husband's Christian name would not be used. In writing to the clergy, the following rules should be observed: For a Cardinal the only salutation is "Your Eminence." The address on the envelope should read "His Eminence John Cardinal Farley." To an Archbishop one should write "Most Rev. Patrick J. Hayes, D.D., Archbishop of New York." The salutation is usually "Your Grace," although it is quite admissible to use "Dear Archbishop." The former is preferable and of more common usage. The correct form of address for a Bishop is "The Right Reverend John Jones, D.D., Bishop of ----." The salutation in a formal letter should be "Right Reverend and dear Sir," but this would be used only in a strictly formal communication. In this salutation "dear" is sometimes capitalized, so that it would read "Right Reverend and Dear Sir"; although the form in the text seems preferable, some bishops use the capitalized "Dear." The usual form is "My dear Bishop," with "The Right Reverend John Jones, D.D., Bishop of ----" written above it. In the Protestant Episcopal Church a Dean is addressed "The Very Reverend John Jones, D.D., Dean of ----." The informal salutation is "My dear Dean Jones" and the formal is "Very Reverend and dear Sir." In addressing a priest, the formal salutation is "Reverend and dear Sir," or "Reverend dear Father." The envelope reads simply: "The Rev. Joseph J. Smith," followed by any titles the priest may enjoy. The form used in addressing the other clergy is "The Reverend John Jones," and the letter, if strictly formal, would commence with "Reverend and Dear Sir." The more usual form, however, is "My dear Mr. Brown" (or "Dr. Brown," as the case may be). The use of the title "Reverend" with the surname only is wholly inadmissible. How to Write Letters 10/132

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In general usage the salutation in addressing formal correspondence to a foreign ambassador is "His Excellency," to a Minister or Chargé d'Affaires, "Sir." In informal correspondence the general form is "My dear Mr. Ambassador," "My dear Mr. Minister," or "My dear Mr. Chargé d'Affaires." 4. THE BODY OF THE LETTER In the placing of a formal note it must be arranged so that the complete note appears on the first page only. The social letter is either formal or informal. The formal letter must be written according to certain established practice. It is the letter used for invitations to formal affairs, for announcements, and for the acknowledgment of these letters. The third person must always be used. If one receives a letter written in the third person one must answer in kind. It would be obviously incongruous to write Mr. and Mrs. John Evans regret that we are unable to accept Mrs. Elliott's kind invitation for the theatre on Thursday, May the fourth as we have a previous engagement It should read Mr. and Mrs. John Evans regret that they are unable to accept Mrs. Elliott's kind invitation for the theatre on Thursday, May the fourth as they have a previous engagement In these notes, the hour and date are never written numerically but are spelled out. If the family has a coat-of-arms or crest it may be used in the centre of the engraved invitation at the top, but monograms or stamped addresses are never so used. For the informal letter there are no set rules except that of courtesy, which requires that we have our thought distinctly in mind before putting it on paper. It may be necessary to pause a few moments before writing, to think out just what we want to say. A rambling, incoherent letter is not in good taste any more than careless, dishevelled clothing. Spelling should be correct. If there is any difficulty in spelling, a small dictionary kept in the desk drawer is easily consulted. Begin each sentence with a capital. Start a new paragraph when you change to a new subject. Put periods (or interrogation points as required) at the ends of the sentences. It is neater to preserve a margin on both sides of the letter sheet. In the body of a business letter the opening sentence is in an important position, and this is obviously the place for an important fact. It ought in some way to state or refer to the subject of or reason for the letter, so as to get the attention of the reader immediately to the subject. It ought also to suggest a courteous personal interest in the recipient's business, to give the impression of having to do with his interests. For instance, a reader might be antagonized by Yours of the 14th regarding the shortage in your last order received. How much more tactful is We regret to learn from your letter of March 14th that there was a shortage in your last order. Paragraphs should show the division of the thought of the letter. If you can arrange and group your subjects and your thoughts on them logically in your mind, you will have no trouble in putting them on paper. It is easier for the reader to grasp your thought if in each paragraph are contained only one thought and the ideas pertaining to it. The appearance of a business letter is a matter to which all too little concern has been given. A firm or How to Write Letters 11/132 business which would not tolerate an unkempt salesman sometimes will think nothing of sending out badly typed, badly placed, badly spelled letters.

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The first step toward a good-looking letter is proper stationery, though a carefully typed and placed letter on poor stationery is far better than one on good stationery with a good letterhead but poor typing and placing. The matter of correct spelling is merely a case of the will to consult a dictionary when in doubt. The proper placing of a letter is something which well rewards the care necessary at first. Estimate the matter to go on the page with regard to the size of the page and arrange so that the centre of the letter will be slightly above the centre of the letter sheet. The margins should act as a frame or setting for the letter. The left-hand space should be at least an inch and the right-hand at least a half inch. Of course if the letter is short the margins will be wider. The top and bottom margins should be wider than the side margins. The body of the letter should begin at the same distance from the edge as the first line of the inside address and the salutation. All paragraphing should be indicated by indenting the same distances from the margin--about an inch--or if the block system is used no paragraph indentation is made but double or triple spacing between the paragraphs indicates the divisions. If the letter is handwritten, the spacing between the paragraphs should be noticeably greater than that between other lines. Never write on both sides of a sheet. In writing a business letter, if the letter requires more than one page, use plain sheets of the same size and quality without the letterhead. These additional sheets should be numbered at the top. The name or initials of the firm or person to whom the letter is going should also appear at the top of the sheets. This letter should never run over to a second sheet if there are less than three lines of the body of the letter left over from the first page. In the formal official letter, that is, in letters to or by government officials, members of Congress, and other dignitaries, the most rigid formality in language is observed. No colloquialisms are allowed and no abbreviations. [Illustration: Specimens of letterheads used for official stationery] 5. THE COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE The complimentary close follows the body of the letter, about two or three spaces below it. It begins about in the center of the page under the body of the letter. Only the first word should be capitalized and a comma is placed at the end. The wording may vary according to the degree of cordiality or friendship. In business letters the forms are usually restricted to the following: Yours truly (or) Truly yours (not good form) Yours very truly (or) Very truly yours Yours respectfully (or) Respectfully yours Yours very respectfully. If the correspondents are on a more intimate basis they may use Faithfully yours Cordially yours Sincerely yours. In formal official letters the complimentary close is Respectfully yours Yours respectfully. How to Write Letters 12/132 The informal social letter may close with Yours sincerely Yours very sincerely Yours cordially Yours faithfully Yours gratefully (if a favor has been done) Yours affectionately Very affectionately yours Yours lovingly Lovingly yours. The position of "yours" may be at the beginning or at the end, but it must never be abbreviated or omitted.

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If a touch of formal courtesy is desired, the forms "I am" or "I remain" may be used before the complimentary closing. These words keep the same margin as the paragraph indenting. But in business letters they are not used. 6. THE SIGNATURE The signature is written below the complimentary close and a little to the right, so that it ends about at the right-hand margin. In signing a social letter a married woman signs herself as "Evelyn Rundell," not "Mrs. James Rundell" nor "Mrs. Evelyn Rundell." The form "Mrs. James Rundell" is used in business letters when the recipient might be in doubt as to whether to address her as "Mrs." or "Miss." Thus a married woman would sign such a business letter: Yours very truly, Evelyn Rundell (Mrs. James Rundell). An unmarried woman signs as "Ruth Evans," excepting in the case of a business letter where she might be mistaken for a widow. She then prefixes "Miss" in parentheses, as (Miss) Ruth Evans. A woman should not sign only her given name in a letter to a man unless he is her fiancé or a relative or an old family friend. A widow signs her name with "Mrs." in parentheses before it, as (Mrs.) Susan Briggs Geer. A divorced woman, if she retains her husband's name, signs her letters with her given name and her own surname followed by her husband's name, thus: Janet Hawkins Carr. and in a business communication: Janet Hawkins Carr (Mrs. Janet Hawkins Carr). A signature should always be made by hand and in ink. The signature to a business letter may be simply the name of the writer. Business firms or corporations have the name of the firm typed above the written signature of the writer of the letter. Then in type below comes his official position. Thus: Hall, Haines & Company (typewritten) Alfred Jennings (handwritten) Cashier (typewritten). If he is not an official, his signature is preceded by the word "By." In the case of form letters or routine correspondence the name of the person directly responsible for the letter may be signed by a clerk with his initials just below it. Some business firms have the name of the person responsible for the letter typed immediately under the name of the firm and then his signature below that. This custom counteracts illegibility in signatures. In circular letters the matter of a personal signature is a very important one. Some good points on this subject How to Write Letters 13/132 may be gathered from the following extract from Printers' Ink. Who shall sign a circular letter depends largely on circumstances entering individual cases. Generally speaking, every letter should be tested on a trial list before it is sent out in large quantities. It is inadvisable to hazard an uncertain letter idea on a large list until the value of the plan, as applied to that particular business, has been tried out. There are certain things about letter procedure, however, that experience has demonstrated to be fundamental. One of these platforms is that it is best to sign the letter with some individual's name. Covering up the responsibility for the letter with such a general term as "sales department" or "advertising department" takes all personality out of the missive and to that extent weakens the power of the message. But even in this we should be chary of following inflexible rules. We can conceive of circumstances where it would be advisable to have the letter come from a department rather than from an individual. Of course the management of many business organizations still holds that all letters should be signed by the company only. If the personal touch is permitted at all, the extent of it is to allow the writer of the letter to subscribe his initials. This idea, however, is pretty generally regarded as old-fashioned and is fast dying out.

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Most companies favor the plan of having the head of the department sign the circular letters emanating from his department. If he doesn't actually dictate the letter himself, no tell-tale signs such as the initials of the actual dictator should be made. If it is a sales matter, the letter would bear the signature of the sales manager. If the communication pertained to advertising, it would be signed by the advertising manager. Where it is desired to give unusual emphasis to the letter, it might occasionally be attributed to the president or to some other official higher up. The big name idea should not be overdone. People will soon catch on that the president would not have time to answer all of the company's correspondence. If he has, it is evident that a very small business must be done. A better idea that is coming into wide vogue is to have the letter signed by the man in the company who comes into occasional personal contact with the addressee. One concern has the house salesman who waits on customers coming from that section of the country when they visit headquarters sign all promotion letters going to them. The house salesman is the only one in the firm whom the customer knows. It is reasoned that the latter will give greater heed to a letter coming from a man with whom he is on friendly terms. Another company has its branch managers take the responsibility for circular letters sent to the trade in that territory. Another manufacturer has his salesmen bunched in crews of six. Each crew is headed by a leader. This man has to sell, just as his men do, but in addition he acts as a sort of district sales manager. All trade letters going out in his district carry the crew leader's signature. There is much to be said in favor of this vogue. Personal contact is so valuable in all business transactions that its influence should be used in letters, in so far as it is practicable to do so. The signature should not vary. Do not sign "G. Smith" to one letter, "George Smith" to another, and "G. B. Smith" to a third. A man should never prefix to his signature any title, as "Mr.," "Prof.," or "Dr." A postscript is sometimes appended to a business letter, but the letters "P.S." do not appear. It is not, however, used as formerly--to express some thought which the writer forgot to include in the letter, or an afterthought. But on account of its unique position in the letter, it is used to place special emphasis on an important thought. 7. THE SUPERSCRIPTION In the outside address or superscription of a letter the following forms are observed: How to Write Letters 14/132 A letter to a woman must always address her as either "Mrs." or "Miss," unless she is a professional woman with a title such as "Dr." But this title is used only if the letter is a professional one. It is not employed in social correspondence. A woman is never addressed by her husband's title, as "Mrs. Captain Bartlett." A married woman is addressed with "Mrs." prefixed to her husband's name, as "Mrs. David Greene." This holds even if her husband is dead. A divorced woman is addressed (unless she is allowed by the courts to use her maiden name) as "Mrs." followed by her maiden name and her former husband's surname, as: "Mrs. Edna Boyce Blair," "Edna Boyce" being her maiden name. A man should be given his title if he possess one. Otherwise he must be addressed as "Mr." or "Esq." Titles of those holding public office, of physicians, of the clergy, and of professors, are generally abbreviated on the envelope except in formal letters. It is rather customary to address social letters to "Edward Beech, Esq.," business letters to "Mr. Edward Beech," and a tradesman's letter to "Peter Moore." A servant is addressed as "William White." The idea has arisen, and it would seem erroneous, that if the man addressed had also "Sr." or "Jr." attached, the title "Mr." or "Esq." should not be used. There is neither rhyme nor reason for this, as "Sr." and "Jr." are certainly not titles and using "Mr." or "Esq." would not be a duplication. So the proper mode of address would be Mr. John Evans, Jr. or

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John Evans, Jr., Esq. The "Sr." is not always necessary as it may be understood. Business envelopes should have the address of the writer printed in the upper left-hand corner as a return address. This space should not be used for advertising. In addressing children's letters, it should be remembered that a letter to a girl child is addressed to "Miss Jane Green," regardless of the age of the child. But a little boy should be addressed as "Master Joseph Green." The address when completed should be slightly below the middle of the envelope and equidistant from right and left edges. The slanting or the straight-edge form may be used, to agree with the indented or the block style of paragraphing respectively. Punctuation at the ends of the lines in the envelope address is not generally used. The post office prefers the slanting edge form of address, thus: (not) ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------If there is a special address, such as "General Delivery," "Personal," or "Please forward," it should be placed at the lower left-hand corner of the envelope. How to Write Letters 15/132 CHAPTER IV BEING APPROPRIATE--WHAT TO AVOID COMMON OFFENSES Under this head are grouped a few of the more common offenses against good form in letter writing; some of these have been touched on in other chapters. Never use ruled paper for any correspondence. Never use tinted paper for business letters. Do not have date lines on printed letterheads. This of course has to do with business stationery. Do not use simplified spelling, if for no other reason than that it detracts from the reader's absorption of the contents of the letter itself. "Enthuse" is not a word--do not use it. Avoid blots, fingermarks, and erasures. Do not use two one-cent stamps in place of a two-cent stamp. Somehow one-cent stamps are not dignified. Never use "Dear Friend," "Friend Jack," "My dear Friend," or "Friend Bliss" as a form of salutation. In the case of a business letter where a salutation for both sexes may be necessary, use "Gentlemen." Never cross the writing in a letter with more writing. Never use "oblige" in the place of the complimentary close. Do not double titles, as "Mr. John Walker, Esq." Write either "Mr. John Walker" or "John Walker, Esq." A woman should never sign herself "Mrs." or "Miss" to a social letter. In business letters (See Chapter 3) it may be necessary to prefix "Mrs." or "Miss" in parentheses to show how an answer should be addressed to her. Never omit "Yours" in the complimentary close. Always write "Yours sincerely," "Yours truly," or whatever

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it may be. Never write a letter in the heat of anger. Sleep on it if you do and the next morning will not see you so anxious to send it. In some business offices it has become the custom to have typed at the bottom of a letter, or sometimes even rubberstamped, such expressions as: Dictated but not read. Dictated by but signed in the absence of ----. Dictated by Mr. Jones, but, as Mr. Jones was called away, signed by Miss Walker. While these may be the circumstances under which the letter was written and may be necessary for the identification of the letter, they are no less discourtesies to the reader. And it cannot improve the situation to How to Write Letters 16/132 call them to the reader's attention. In the matter of abbreviations of titles and the like a safe rule is "When in doubt do not abbreviate." Sentences like "Dictated by Mr. Henry Pearson to Miss Oliver" are in bad form, not to speak of their being bad business. They intrude the mechanics of the letter on the reader and in so doing they take his interest from the actual object of the communication. All necessary identification can be made by initials, as: L. S. B.--T. Do not write a sales letter that gives the same impression as a strident, raucous-voiced salesman. If the idea is to attract attention by shouting louder than all the rest, it might be well to remember that the limit of screeching and of words that hit one in the eye has probably been reached. The tack to take, even from a result-producing standpoint and aside from the question of good taste, is to have the tone of the letter quiet but forceful--the firm, even tone of a voice heard through a yelling mob. Do not attempt to put anything on paper without first thinking out and arranging what you want to say. Complimentary closings in business letters, such as "Yours for more business," should be avoided as the plague. STOCK PHRASES IN BUSINESS LETTERS There are certain expressions, certain stock phrases, which have in the past been considered absolutely necessary to a proper knowledge of so-called business English. But it is gratifying to notice the emphasis that professors and teachers of business English are placing on the avoidance of these horrors and on the adoption of a method of writing in which one says exactly what one means and says it gracefully and without stiltedness or intimacy. Their aim seems to be the ability to write a business letter which may be easily read, easily understood, and with the important facts in the attention-compelling places. But for the sake of those who still cling to these hackneyed improprieties (which most of them are), let us line them up for inspection. Many of them are inaccurate, and a moment's thought will give a better method of conveying the ideas. "We beg to state," "We beg to advise," "We beg to remain." There is a cringing touch about these. A courteous letter may be written without begging. "Your letter has come to hand" or "is at hand" belongs to a past age. Say "We have your letter of ----" or "We have received your letter." "We shall advise you of ----" This is a legal expression. Say "We shall let you know" or "We shall inform you." "As per your letter." Also of legal connotation. Say "according to" or "in agreement with." "Your esteemed favor" is another relic. This is a form of courtesy, but is obsolete. "Favor," used to mean

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"communication" or "letter," is obviously inaccurate. "Replying to your letter, would say," or "wish to say." Why not say it at once and abolish the wordiness? "State" gives the unpleasant suggestion of a cross-examination. Use "say." "And oblige" adds nothing to the letter. If the reader is not already influenced by its contents, "and oblige" will not induce him to be. The telegraphic brevity caused by omitting pronouns and all words not necessary to the sense makes for How to Write Letters 17/132 discourtesy and brusqueness, as: Answering yours of the 21st inst., order has been delayed, but will ship goods at once. How much better to say: We have your letter of 21st October concerning the delay in filling your order. We greatly regret the delay, but we can now ship the goods at once. "Same" is not a pronoun. It is used as such in legal documents, but it is incorrect to employ it in business letters as other than an adjective. Use instead "they," "them," or "it." Incorrect: We have received your order and same will be forwarded. Correct: We have received your order and it will be forwarded. "Kindly"--as in: "We kindly request that you will send your subscription." There is nothing kind in your request and if there were, you would not so allude to it. "Kindly" in this case belongs to "send," as "We request that you will kindly send your subscription." The word "kind" to describe a business letter--as "your kind favor"--is obviously misapplied. There is no element of "kindness" on either side of an ordinary business transaction. The months are no longer alluded to as "inst.," "ult.," or "prox." [abbreviations of the Latin "instant" (present), "ultimo" (past), and "proximo" (next)] as "Yours of the 10th inst." Call the months by name, as "I have your letter of 10th May." "Contents carefully noted" is superfluous and its impression on the reader is a blank. "I enclose herewith." "Herewith" in this sense means in the envelope. This fact is already expressed in the word "enclose." Avoid abbreviations of ordinary words in the body or the closing of a letter, as "Resp. Yrs." instead of "Respectfully yours." The word "Company" should not be abbreviated unless the symbol "&" is used. But the safest plan in writing to a company is to write the name exactly as they write it themselves or as it appears on their letterheads. [Illustration: As to the use of the symbol "&" and the abbreviation of the word "company," the safest plan in writing to a company is to spell its name exactly as it appears on its letterhead] Names of months and names of states may be abbreviated in the heading of the letter but not in the body. But it is better form not to do so. Names of states should never be abbreviated on the envelope. For instance, "California" and "Colorado," if written "Cal." and "Col.," may easily be mistaken for each other.

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The participial closing of a letter, that is, ending a letter with a participial phrase, weakens the entire effect of the letter. This is particularly true of a business letter. Close with a clear-cut idea. The following endings will illustrate the ineffective participle: How to Write Letters 18/132 Hoping to hear from you on this matter by return mail. Assuring you of our wish to be of service to you in the future. Thanking you for your order and hoping we shall be able to please you. Trusting that you will start an investigation as soon as possible. More effective endings would be: Please send a remittance by return mail. If we can be of use to you in the future, will you let us know? We thank you for your order and hope we shall fill it to your satisfaction. Please investigate the delay at once. The participial ending is merely a sort of habit. A letter used to be considered lacking in ease if it ended with an emphatic sentence or ended with something that had really to do with the subject of the letter. It might be well in concluding a letter, as in a personal leavetaking, to "Stand not on the order of your going." Goodbyes should be short. How to Write Letters 19/132 CHAPTER V PERSONAL LETTERS--SOCIAL AND FRIENDLY INVITATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS General Directions The format of an invitation is not so important as its taste. Some of the more formal sorts of invitations--as to weddings--have become rather fixed, and the set wordings are carried through regardless of the means at hand for proper presentation. For instance, one often sees a wedding invitation in impeccable form but badly printed on cheap paper. It would be far better, if it is impossible to get good engraving or if first-class work proves to be too expensive, to buy good white notepaper and write the invitations. A typewriter is, of course, out of the question either for sending or answering any sort of social invitation. Probably some time in the future the typewriter will be used, but at present it is associated with business correspondence and is supposed to lack the implied leisure of hand writing. The forms of many invitations, as I have said, are fairly fixed. But they are not hallowed. One may vary them within the limits of good taste, but on the whole it is considerably easier to accept the forms in use and not try to be different. If the function itself is going to be very different from usual then the invitation itself may be as freakish as one likes-it may be written or printed on anything from a postcard to a paper bag. The sole question is one of appropriateness. But there is a distinct danger in trying to be ever so unconventional and all that. One is more apt than not to make a fool of one's self. And then, too, being always clever is dreadfully hard on the innocent by-standers. Here are things to be avoided: Do not have an invitation printed or badly engraved. Hand writing is better than bad mechanical work. Do not use colored or fancy papers. Do not use single sheets. Do not use a very large or a very small sheet--either is inappropriate. Do not have a formal phraseology for an informal affair. Do not abbreviate anything--initials may be used in informal invitations and acceptances, but, in the formal, "H. E. Jones" invariably has to become "Horatio Etherington Jones." Do not send an answer to a formal invitation in the first person.

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A formal invitation is written in the third person and must be so answered. Do not use visiting cards either for acceptances or regrets even though they are sometimes used for invitations. The practice of sending a card with "Accepts" or "Regrets" written on it is discourteous. Do not seek to be decorative in handwriting--the flourishing Spencerian is impossible. Do not overdo either the formality or the informality. Do not use "R.S.V.P." (the initials of the French words "Répondez, s'il vous plaît," meaning "Answer, if you please") unless the information is really necessary for the making of arrangements. It ought to be presumed that those whom you take the trouble to invite will have the sense and the courtesy to answer. How to Write Letters 20/132 In sending an evening invitation where there are husband and wife, both must be included, unless, of course, the occasion is "stag." If the invitation is to be extended to a daughter, then her name is included in the invitation. In the case of more than one daughter, they will receive a separate invitation addressed to "The Misses Smith." Each male member of the family other than husband should receive a separately mailed invitation. An invitation, even the most informal, should always be acknowledged within a week of its receipt. It is the height of discourtesy to leave the hostess in doubt either through a tardy answer or through the undecided character of your reply. The acknowledgment must state definitely whether or not you accept. The acknowledgment of an invitation sent to husband and wife must include both names but is answered by the wife only. The name of a daughter also must appear if it appears in the invitation. If Mr. and Mrs. Smith receive an invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Jones, their acknowledgment must include the names of both Mr. and Mrs. Jones, but the envelope should be addressed to Mrs. Jones only. FORMAL INVITATIONS Wedding invitations should be sent about three weeks--certainly not later than fifteen days--before the wedding. Two envelopes should be used, the name and address appearing on the outside envelope, but only the name on the inside one. The following are correct for formal invitations: For a church wedding (A) Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Honour of ---- (Name written in) Presence at the Marriage of Their Daughter Dorothy and Mr. Philip Brewster On the Evening of Monday, the Eighth of June at Six o'Clock At The Church of the Heavenly Rest Fifth Avenue, New York City [Illustration: Specimen of formal wedding invitation] (B) Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Honour of Your Presence at The Marriage of Their Daughter Dorothy and Mr. Philip Brewster On Monday, June the Eighth At Six o'Clock At the Church of the Heavenly Rest Fifth Avenue, New York For a home wedding Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Pleasure of ---- (Name written in) Company at the Marriage of Their Daughter Dorothy and Mr. Philip Brewster On Wednesday, June the Tenth At Twelve o'Clock Five Hundred Park Avenue Or either of the forms A and B for a church wedding may be used. "Honour of your presence" is more formal than "pleasure of your company" and hence is more appropriate for a church wedding. It is presumed that an invitation to a home wedding includes the wedding breakfast or reception, but an invitation to a church wedding does not. A card inviting to the wedding breakfast or reception is enclosed with the wedding invitation. Good forms are:

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For a wedding breakfast How to Write Letters 21/132 Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Pleasure of ---- (Name written in) At Breakfast on Tuesday, June the Fourth at Twelve o'Clock 500 Park Avenue For a wedding reception Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Pleasure of Your Company At the Wedding Reception of Their Daughter Dorothy and Mr. Philip Brewster On Monday Afternoon, June the Third At Four o'Clock Five Hundred Park Avenue [Illustration: Specimens of formal invitations to a wedding reception] For a second marriage The forms followed in a second marriage--either of a widow or a divorcée--are quite the same as above. The divorcée uses whatever name she has taken after the divorce--the name of her ex-husband or her maiden name if she has resumed it. The widow sometimes uses simply Mrs. Philip Brewster or a combination, as Mrs. Dorothy Evans Brewster. The invitations are issued in the name of the nearest relative--the parent or parents, of course, if living. The forms are: (A) Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Honour of Your Presence At the Marriage of Their Daughter Dorothy (Mrs. Philip Brewster) to Mr. Leonard Duncan On Thursday, April the Third At Six o'Clock Trinity Chapel (B) Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Honour of Your Presence At the Marriage of Their Daughter Mrs. Dorothy Evans Brewster to Mr. Leonard Duncan On Thursday, April the Third At Six o'Clock Trinity Chapel If there are no near relatives, the form may be: (C) The Honour of Your Presence is Requested At the Marriage of Mrs. Dorothy Evans Brewster and Mr. Leonard Duncan On Thursday, April the Third At Six o'Clock Trinity Chapel In formal invitations "honour" is spelled with a "u." Recalling an Invitation The wedding may have to be postponed or solemnized privately, owing to illness or death, or it may be put off altogether. In such an event the invitations will have to be recalled. The card recalling may or may not give a reason, according to circumstances. The cards should be engraved if time permits, but they may have to be written. Convenient forms are: (A) Owing to the Death of Mr. Philip Brewster's Mother, Mr. and Mrs. Evans beg to Recall the Invitations for Their Daughter's Wedding on Monday, June the Eighth. How to Write Letters 22/132 [Illustration: Specimen of wedding announcement] (B)

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Mr. and Mrs. John Evans beg to Recall The Invitations for the Marriage of Their Daughter, Dorothy, and Mr. Philip Brewster, on Monday, June the Eighth Wedding announcements If a wedding is private, no formal invitations are sent out; they are unnecessary, for only a few relatives or intimate friends will be present and they will be asked by word of mouth or by a friendly note. The wedding may be formally announced by cards mailed on the day of the wedding. The announcement will be made by whoever would have sent out wedding invitations--by parents, a near relative, or by the bride and groom, according to circumstances. The custom with the bride's name in the case of a widow or divorcée follows that of wedding invitations. An engraved announcement is not acknowledged (although a letter of congratulations--see page 101--may often be sent). A card is sent to the bride's parents or whoever has sent the announcements. The announcement may be in the following form: Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Announce the Marriage of Their Daughter Dorothy to Mr. Philip Brewster On Monday, June the Tenth One Thousand Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-Two Replying to the invitation The acceptance or the declination of a formal invitation is necessarily formal but naturally has to be written by hand. It is better to use double notepaper than a correspondence card and it is not necessary to give a reason for being unable to be present--although one may be given. It is impolite to accept or regret only a day or two before the function--the letter should be written as soon as possible after the receipt of the invitation. The letter may be indented as is the engraved invitation, but this is not at all necessary. The forms are: Accepting Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham Smith accept with pleasure Mr. and Mrs. Evans's kind invitation to be present at the marriage of their daughter Dorothy and Mr. Philip Brewster on Monday, June the twelfth at twelve o'clock (and afterward at the wedding breakfast) Or it may be written out: Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham Smith accept with pleasure Mr. and Mrs. Evans's kind invitation to be present at the marriage of their daughter Dorothy and Mr. Philip Brewster on Monday, June the twelfth at twelve o'clock (and afterward at the wedding breakfast). Regretting Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham Smith regret exceedingly that they are unable to accept Mr. and Mrs. Evans's kind invitation to be present at the marriage of their daughter Dorothy and Mr. Philip Brewster on Monday, June the twelfth (and afterward at the wedding breakfast) Or this also may be written out. The portion in parentheses will be omitted if one has not been asked to the wedding breakfast or reception. For the formal dinner How to Write Letters 23/132 Formal dinner invitations are usually engraved, as in the following example. In case they are written, they may follow the same form or the letter form. If addressed paper is used the address is omitted from the end. The acknowledgment should follow the wording of the invitation.

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(A) Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. Trent's Company at Dinner On Thursday, October the First at Seven o'Clock and Afterward for the Play (or Opera, etc.) 500 Park Avenue (B) Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. Trent's Company for Dinner and Opera on Thursday, October the First at Seven o'Clock Accepting Mr. and Mrs. George Trent accept with much pleasure Mr. and Mrs. Evans's kind invitation for dinner on Thursday, October the first, at seven o'clock and afterward for the opera 788 East Forty-Sixth Street Regretting Mr. and Mrs. George Trent regret that they are unable to accept the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Evans for dinner and opera on Thursday, October the first, owing to a previous engagement. 788 East Forty-Sixth Street For a dinner not at home Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Pleasure of Mrs. and Miss Pearson's Company at Dinner At Sherry's on Friday, March the Thirtieth At Quarter Past Seven o'Clock 500 Park Avenue Accepting Mrs. Richard Pearson and Miss Pearson accept with much pleasure Mr. and Mrs. Evans's very kind invitation for dinner at Sherry's on Friday, March the thirtieth at quarter past seven o'clock 640 West Seventy-Second Street Regretting Mrs. Richard Pearson and Miss Pearson regret exceedingly that they are unable to accept Mr. and Mrs. Evans's very kind invitation for dinner at Sherry's on Friday, March the thirtieth owing to a previous engagement to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Spencer 640 West Seventy-Second Street [Illustration: Specimens of formal dinner invitations] Or the reply may follow the letter form: Accepting 640 West Seventy-Second Street, March 16, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pearson accept with pleasure Mrs. John Evans's kind invitation for Friday evening, March the thirtieth. How to Write Letters 24/132 Regretting 640 West Seventy-Second Street March 16, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pearson regret sincerely their inability to accept Mrs. John Evans's kind invitation for Friday evening, March the thirtieth.

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These acknowledgments, being formal, are written in the third person and must be sent within twenty-four hours. Dinner "to meet" If the dinner or luncheon is given to meet a person of importance or a friend from out of town, the purpose should appear in the body of the invitation, thus: Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. Trent's Company at Dinner on Thursday, November the Ninth at Eight o'Clock to Meet Mr. William H. Allen To a formal luncheon Mrs. John Evans Requests the Pleasure of Miss Blake's Company at Luncheon To meet Miss Grace Flint on Tuesday, March the Fourth at One o'Clock and Afterward to the Matinée 500 Park Avenue Accepting Miss Blake accepts with pleasure Mrs. Evans's very kind invitation for luncheon on Tuesday, March the fourth at one o'clock to meet Miss Flint and to go afterward to the matinée 232 West Thirty-First Street Regretting Miss Blake regrets that a previous engagement prevents her from accepting Mrs. Evans's very kind invitation for luncheon on Tuesday, March the fourth at one o'clock to meet Miss Flint and to go afterward to the matinée 832 West Thirty-First Street [Illustration: Specimens of formal invitations "to meet"] For the reception Afternoon receptions and "At Homes" for which engraved invitations are sent out are practically the same as formal "teas." An invitation is engraved as follows: Mr. and Mrs. John Evans At Home Wednesday Afternoon, September Fourth from Four until Half-Past Seven o'Clock Five Hundred Park Avenue These cards are sent out by mail in a single envelope about two weeks or ten days before the event. The recipient of such a card is not required to send either a written acceptance or regret. One accepts by attending the "At Home." If one does not accept, the visiting card should be sent by mail so that it will reach the hostess on the day of the reception. How to Write Letters 25/132 Where an answer is explicitly required, then the reply may be as follows: Accepting Mrs. John Evans accepts with pleasure Mrs. Emerson's kind invitation for Wednesday afternoon November the twenty-eighth Regretting Mrs. John Evans regrets that she is unable to accept Mrs. Emerson's kind invitation for Wednesday afternoon

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November the twenty-eighth Mrs. John Evans regrets that she is unable to be present at Mrs. Emerson's At home on Wednesday afternoon November the twenty-eighth Reception "to meet" (A) Mrs. Bruce Wellington Requests the Pleasure of Mrs. Evans's Presence on Thursday Afternoon, April Fifth to Meet the Board of Governors of the Door-of-Hope Society from Four-Thirty to Seven o'Clock Accepting Mrs. John Evans accepts with pleasure Mrs. Wellington's kind invitation to meet The Board of Governors of the Door-of-Hope Society On Thursday afternoon, April fifth Regretting: Mrs. John Evans regrets that a previous engagement prevents her from accepting Mrs. Wellington's kind invitation to meet The Board of Governors of the Door-of-Hope Society On Thursday afternoon, April fifth Mr. and Mrs. John Evans Request the Pleasure of Your Company to Meet General and Mrs. Robert E. Lee on Thursday Afternoon, February Fourth from Four until Seven o'Clock Five Hundred Park Avenue If one accepts this invitation, one acknowledges simply by attending. If one is unable to attend, then the visiting card is mailed. If unforeseen circumstances should prevent attending, then a messenger is sent with a card in an envelope to the hostess, to reach her during the reception. Invitations for afternoon affairs For afternoon affairs--at homes, teas, garden parties--the invitations are sent out in the name of the hostess alone, or if there be a daughter, or daughters, in society, their names will appear immediately below the name of the hostess. Mrs. John Evans The Misses Evans At Home Thursday Afternoon, January Eleventh from Four until Seven o'Clock Five Hundred Park Avenue If the purpose of the reception is to introduce a daughter, her name would appear immediately below that of the hostess, as "Miss Evans," without Christian name or initial. If a second daughter is to be introduced at the tea, her name in full is added beneath that of the hostess: How to Write Letters 26/132 Mrs. John Evans Miss Ruth Evans Miss Evans At Home Friday Afternoon, January Twentieth from Four until Seven o'Clock Five Hundred Park Avenue For balls and dances The word "ball" is used for an assembly or a charity dance, never otherwise. An invitation to a private house bears "Dancing" or "Cotillion" in one corner of the card. This ball or formal dance invitation is engraved on a white card, sometimes with a blank space so that the guest's name may be written in by the hostess. It would read thus: (A) Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliott Request the Pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. Evans's Company at a Cotillion to Be

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Held at the Hotel Ritz-Carlton on Saturday, December the Third at Ten o'Clock Please Address Reply to 347 Madison Avenue [Illustration: Specimens of formal invitations to a dance] (B) Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliott Request the Pleasure of Company on Saturday Evening January the Sixth, at Ten o'Clock Dancing 347 Madison Avenue An older style of invitation--without the blank for the written name, but instead the word "your" engraved upon the card--is in perfectly good form. The invitation would be like this: (C) Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliott Request the Pleasure of Your Company on Saturday Evening, January the Sixth at Ten o'Clock Dancing 347 Madison Avenue Accepting Mr. and Mrs. John Evans accept with pleasure Mr. and Mrs. Elliott's very kind invitation to a cotillion to be held at the Hotel Ritz-Carlton On Saturday, December the third at ten o'clock Regretting Mr. and Mrs. John Evans regret exceedingly that they are unable to accept Mr. and Mrs. Elliott's kind invitation to attend a dance on Saturday, January the sixth In sending a regret the hour is omitted, as, since the recipient will not be present, the time is unimportant. (D) The Honour of Your Presence Is Requested at the Lincoln's Birthday Eve Ball of the Dark Hollow Country Club on Monday Evening, February Eleventh at Half-Past Ten o'Clock 1922 Accepting How to Write Letters 27/132 Miss Evans accepts with pleasure the kind invitation of the Dark Hollow Country Club for Monday evening, February eleventh at half-past ten o'clock For christenings Christenings are sometimes made formal. In such case engraved cards are sent out two or three weeks ahead. A good form is: Mr. and Mrs. Philip Brewster Request the Pleasure of Your Company at the Christening of Their Son on Sunday Afternoon, April Seventeenth At Three o'clock at the Church of the Redeemer Accepting Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliot accept with pleasure Mr. and Mrs. Brewster's kind invitation to attend the christening of their son on Sunday afternoon, April seventeenth at three o'clock A reason for not accepting may or may not be given--it is better to put in a reason if you have one.

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Regretting Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliott regret that a previous engagement prevents their accepting Mr. and Mrs. Brewster's kind invitation to the christening of their son on Sunday afternoon, April seventeenth INFORMAL INVITATIONS For a wedding An engraved invitation always implies a somewhat large or elaborate formal function. An informal affair requires simply a written invitation in the first person. The informal wedding is one to which are invited only the immediate family and intimate friends. The reason may be simply the desire for a small, quiet affair or it may be a recent bereavement. The bride-to-be generally writes these invitations. The form may be something like this: (A) June 2, 1922. Dear Mrs. Smith, On Wednesday, June the twelfth, at three o'clock Mr. Brewster and I are to be married. The ceremony will be at home and we are asking only a few close friends. I hope that you and Mr. Smith will be able to come. Yours very sincerely, Dorothy Evans. (B) June 16, 1922. Dear Mary, Owing to the recent death of my sister, Mr. Brewster and I are to be married quietly at home. The wedding How to Write Letters 28/132 will be on Wednesday, June the twentieth, at eleven o'clock. We are asking only a few intimate friends and I shall be so glad if you will come. Sincerely yours, Dorothy Evans. Accepting June 7, 1922. Dear Dorothy, We shall be delighted to attend your wedding on Wednesday, June the twelfth, at three o'clock. We wish you and Mr. Brewster every happiness. Sincerely yours, Helen Gray Smith. Regretting June 4, 1922. Dear Dorothy, I am so sorry that I shall be unable to attend your wedding. The "Adriatic" is sailing on the tenth and Father and I have engaged passage. Let me wish you and Mr. Brewster every happiness. Sincerely yours, Mary Lyman. For dinners and luncheons An informal invitation to dinner is sent by the wife, for her husband and herself, to the wife. This invitation must include the latter's husband. It is simply a friendly note. The wife signs her Christian name, her maiden name (or more usually the initial of her maiden name), and her married name. Five Hundred Park Avenue, December 5th, 1922. My dear Mrs. Trent, Will you and Mr. Trent give us the pleasure of your company at a small dinner on Tuesday, December the twelfth, at seven o'clock?

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I hope you will not be otherwise engaged on that evening as we are looking forward to seeing you. Very sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans. To cancel an informal dinner invitation My dear Mrs. Trent, On account of the sudden death of my brother, I regret to be obliged to recall the invitation for our dinner on How to Write Letters 29/132 Tuesday, December the twelfth. Sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans. December 8, 1922. Accepting 788 East Forty-Sixth Street, December 7th, 1922. My dear Mrs. Evans, Mr. Trent and I will be very glad to dine with you on Tuesday, December the twelfth, at seven o'clock. With kind regards, I am Very sincerely yours, Charlotte B. Trent Regretting 788 East Forty-Sixth Street, December 7th, 1922. My dear Mrs. Evans, We regret deeply that we cannot accept your kind invitation to dine with you on Tuesday, December the twelfth. Mr. Trent and I, unfortunately, have a previous engagement for that evening. With cordial regards, I am Yours very sincerely, Charlotte B. Trent. The daughter as hostess When a daughter must act as hostess in her father's home, she includes his name in every dinner invitation she issues, as in the following: 340 Madison Avenue, January 2, 1921. My dear Mrs. Evans, Father wishes me to ask whether you and Mr. Evans will give us the pleasure of dining with us on Wednesday, January the fifteenth, at quarter past seven o'clock. We do hope you can come. Very sincerely yours, Edith Haines. The answer to this invitation of a daughter-hostess must be sent to the daughter, not to the father. Accepting My dear Miss Haines, We shall be delighted to accept your father's kind invitation to dine with you on Wednesday, January the fifteenth, at quarter past seven o'clock. How to Write Letters 30/132 With most cordial wishes, I am

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Very sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans. January 5, 1922 Regretting My dear Miss Haines, We regret exceedingly that we cannot accept your father's kind invitation to dine with you on Wednesday, January the fifteenth. A previous engagement of Mr. Evans prevents it. Will you convey to him our thanks? Very sincerely yours, Katherine Gerard Evans. January 5, 1922. Adding additional details The invitation to an informal dinner may necessarily include some additional details. For example: Five Hundred Park Avenue, September 16, 1920. My dear Mr. Allen, Mr. Evans and I have just returned from Canada and we hear that you are in New York for a short visit. We should like to have you take dinner with us on Friday, the twentieth, at half-past seven o'clock, if your time will permit. We hope you can arrange to come as there are many things back home in old Sharon that we are anxious to hear about. Yours very sincerely, Katherine Gerard Evans. Mr. Roger Allen Hotel Gotham New York Accepting Hotel Gotham, September 17, 1920. My dear Mrs. Evans, I shall be very glad to accept your kind invitation to dinner on Friday, September the twentieth, at half-past seven o'clock. The prospect of seeing you and Mr. Evans again is very delightful and I am sure I have several interesting things to tell you. Yours very sincerely, Roger Allen. Mrs. John Evans 500 Park Avenue New York Regretting Hotel Gotham, September 16, 1920. My dear Mrs. Evans, How to Write Letters 31/132 I am sorry to miss the pleasure of accepting your kind invitation to dinner on Friday, September the twentieth. A business engagement compels me to leave New York to-morrow. There are indeed many interesting bits of news, but I shall have to wait for a chat until my next visit. With kindest regards to you both, I am Very sincerely yours, Roger Allen. Mrs. John Evans 500 Park Avenue New York A last-moment vacancy: A last-moment vacancy may occur in a dinner party. To send an invitation to fill such a vacancy is a matter requiring tact, and the recipient should be made to feel that you are asking him to fill in as a special courtesy. Frankly explain the situation in a short note. It might be something like this:

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500 Park Avenue, February 16, 1922. My dear Mr. Jarrett, Will you help me out? I am giving a little dinner party to-morrow evening and one of my guests, Harry Talbot, has just told me that on account of a sudden death he cannot be present. It is an awkward situation. If you can possibly come, I shall be very grateful. Cordially yours, Katherine G. Evans. Mr. Harold Jarrett 628 Washington Square South New York Accepting 628 Washington Square South, February 16, 1922. My dear Mrs. Evans, It is indeed a fortunate circumstance for me that Harry Talbot will not be able to attend your dinner. Let me thank you for thinking of me and I shall be delighted to accept. Yours very sincerely, Harold Jarrett. If the recipient of such an invitation cannot accept, he should, in his acknowledgment, give a good reason for declining. It is more considerate to do so. For an informal luncheon An informal luncheon invitation is a short note sent about five to seven days before the affair. 500 Park Avenue, April 30,1922. My dear Mrs. Emerson, Will you come to luncheon on Friday, May the fifth, at half-past one o'clock? The Misses Irving will be here How to Write Letters 32/132 and they want so much to meet you. Cordially yours, Katherine G. Evans. Accepting 911 Sutton Place, May 2, 1922. My dear Mrs. Evans, I shall be very glad to take luncheon with you on Friday, May the fifth, at half-past one o'clock. It will be a great pleasure to meet the Misses Irving. With best wishes, I am Yours sincerely, Grace Emerson. Regretting 911 Sutton Place, May 2, 1922. My dear Mrs. Evans, Thank you for your very kind invitation to luncheon on Friday, May the fifth, but I am compelled, with great regret, to decline it. My mother and aunt are sailing for Europe on Friday and their ship is scheduled to sail at one. I have arranged to see them off. It was good of you to ask me. Very sincerely yours, Grace Emerson. For an informal tea My dear Miss Harcourt,

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Will you come to tea with me on Tuesday afternoon, April the fourth, at four o'clock? I have asked a few of our friends. Cordially yours, Katherine Gerard Evans. April first Telephone invitations are not good form and may be used only for the most informal occasions. Invitations to the theatre, concert, and garden party, are mostly informal affairs and are sent as brief letters. A garden party is a sort of out-of-doors at home. To a garden party which is not formal or elaborate Locust Lawn, June 29, 1922. My dear Miss Burton, Will you come to tea with me informally on the lawn on Thursday afternoon, July the fourth, at four o'clock? I know you always enjoy tennis and I have asked a few enthusiasts. Do try to come. How to Write Letters 33/132 Cordially yours, Ruth L. Anson. Such an invitation is acknowledged in kind--by an informal note. It may be of interest to read a letter or two from distinguished persons along these lines. Here, for example, is the delightfully informal way in which Thomas Bailey Aldrich invited his friend William H. Rideing to dinner on one occasion:[1] April 6, 1882. Dear Rideing: Will you come and take an informal bite with me to-morrow (Friday) at 6 P. M. at my hamlet, No. 131 Charles Street? Mrs. Aldrich and the twins are away from home, and the thing is to be sans ceremonie. Costume prescribed: Sack coat, paper collar, and celluloid sleeve buttons. We shall be quite alone, unless Henry James should drop in, as he promises to do if he gets out of an earlier engagement. Suppose you drop in at my office to-morrow afternoon about 5 o'clock and I act as pilot to Charles Street. Yours very truly, T. B. Aldrich. [1] From "Many Celebrities and a Few Others--A Bundle of Reminiscences," by William H. Rideing. Copyright, 1912, by Doubleday, Page & Co. And one from James Russell Lowell to Henry W. Longfellow:[2] Elmwood, May 3, 1876. Dear Longfellow: Will you dine with me on Saturday at six? I have a Baltimore friend coming, and depend on you. I had such a pleasure yesterday that I should like to share it with you to whom I owed it. J. R. Osgood & Co. sent me a copy of your Household Edition to show me what it was, as they propose one of me. I had been reading over with dismay my own poems to weed out the misprints, and was awfully disheartened to find how bad they (the poems) were. Then I took your book to see what the type was, and before I knew it I had been reading two hours and more. I never wondered at your popularity, nor thought it wicked in you; but if I had wondered, I should no longer, for you sang me out of all my worries. To be sure they came back when I opened my own book again--but that was no fault of yours. If not Saturday, will you say Sunday? My friend is a Mrs. ----, and a very nice person indeed. Yours always, J. R. L. [2] From "Letters of James Russell Lowell," edited by C. E. Norton. Copyright, 1893, by Harper & Bros.

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George Meredith ("Robin") accepting an informal dinner invitation from his friend, William Hardman ("Tuck"):[3] Jan'y 28, 1863. Dear "at any price" Tuck: How to Write Letters 34/132 I come. Dinner you give me at half-past five, I presume. A note to Foakesden, if earlier. Let us have 5 ms. for a pipe, before we go. You know we are always better tempered when this is the case. I come in full dress. And do the honour to the Duke's motto. I saw my little man off on Monday, after expedition over Bank and Tower. Thence to Pym's, Poultry: oysters consumed by dozings. Thence to Purcell's: great devastation of pastry. Thence to Shoreditch, where Sons calmly said: "Never mind, Papa; it is no use minding it. I shall soon be back to you," and so administered comfort to his forlorn Dad.--My salute to the Conquered One, and I am your loving, hard-druv, much be-bullied Robin. [3] From "The Letters of George Meredith." Copyright, 1912, by Charles Scribner's Sons. By permission of the publishers. To a theatre 347 Madison Avenue, December 8, 1919. My dear Miss Evans, Mr. Smith and I are planning a small party of friends to see "The Mikado" on Thursday evening, December the eighteenth, and we hope that you will be among our guests. We have arranged to meet in the lobby of the Garrick Theatre at quarter after eight o'clock. I do hope you have no other engagement. Very cordially yours, Gertrude Ellison Smith. Accepting My dear Mrs. Smith, I shall be delighted to come to your theatre party on Thursday evening, December the eighteenth. I shall be in the lobby of the Garrick Theatre at a quarter past eight o'clock. It is so kind of you to ask me. Sincerely yours, Ruth Evans. December 12,1919. Regretting My dear Mrs. Smith, With great regret I must write that I shall be unable to join your theatre party on Thursday evening, December the eighteenth. My two cousins are visiting me and we had planned to go to the Hippodrome. I much appreciate your thinking of me. Very sincerely yours, Ruth Evans. For an informal affair, if at all in doubt as to what kind of invitation to issue, it is safe to write a brief note in the first person.

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How to Write Letters 35/132 Two or more sisters may receive one invitation addressed "The Misses Evans." But two bachelor brothers must receive separate invitations. A whole family should never be included in one invitation. It is decidedly not proper to address one envelope to "Mr. and Mrs. Elliott and family." To an informal dance Invitations to smaller and more informal dances may be short notes. Or a visiting card is sometimes sent with a notation written in ink below the hostess's name and toward the left, as shown below: (A) Mrs. John Evans At Home Dancing at half after nine 500 Park Avenue January the eighteenth R.S.V.P. If the visiting card is used "R.S.V.P." is necessary, because usually invitations on visiting cards do not presuppose answers. The reply to the above may be either formal, in the third person, or may be an informal note. (B) 500 Park Avenue, January 4, 1920. My dear Mrs. Elliott, Will you and Mr. Elliott give us the pleasure of your company on Thursday, January the eighteenth, at ten o'clock? We are planning an informal dance and we should be so glad to have you with us. Cordially yours, Katherine G. Evans. An acknowledgment should be sent within a week. Never acknowledge a visiting-card invitation by a visiting card. An informal note of acceptance or regret is proper. Accepting 347 Madison Avenue, January 10, 1920. My dear Mrs. Evans, Both Mr. Elliott and I shall be delighted to go to your dance on Thursday, January the eighteenth, at ten o'clock. Thank you so much for asking us. Very sincerely yours, Jane S. Elliott. Regretting 347 Madison Avenue, January 10, 1920. My dear Mrs. Evans, Thank you for your kind invitation for Thursday, January the eighteenth; I am so sorry that Mr. Elliott and I shall not be able to accept. Mr. Elliott has been suddenly called out of town and will not be back for two How to Write Letters 36/132 weeks. With most cordial regards, I am Very sincerely yours, Jane S. Elliott. A young girl sends invitations to men in the name of her mother or the person under whose guardianship she is. The invitation would say that her mother, or Mrs. Burton, or whoever it may be, wishes her to extend the invitation.

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To a house-party An invitation to a house-party, which may imply a visit of several days' duration (a week, ten days, or perhaps two weeks) must state exactly the dates of the beginning and end of the visit. The hostess's letter should mention the most convenient trains, indicating them on a timetable. The guest at a week-end party knows he is to arrive on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning and leave on the following Monday morning. It is thoughtful for the hostess to give an idea of the activities or sports planned. The letter might be somewhat in the following manner: (A) Glory View, August 1, 1922. Dear Miss Evans, Will you be one of our guests at a house-party we are planning? We shall be glad if you can arrange to come out to Glory View on August eighth and stay until the seventeenth. I have asked several of your friends, among them Mary Elliott and her brother. The swimming is wonderful and there is a new float at the Yacht Club. Be sure to bring your tennis racquet and also hiking togs. I enclose a timetable with the best trains marked. If you take the 4:29 on Thursday you can be here in time for dinner. Let me know what train you expect to get and I will have Jones meet you. Most cordially yours, Myra T. Maxwell. Accepting 500 Park Avenue, August 3, 1922. Dear Mrs. Maxwell, Let me thank you and Mr. Maxwell for the invitation to your house-party. I shall be very glad to come. The 4:29 train which you suggest is the most convenient. I am looking forward to seeing you again. Very sincerely yours, Ruth Evans. (B) Hawthorne Hill, January 10, 1920. How to Write Letters 37/132 My dear Anne, We are asking some of Dorothy's friends for this week-end and we should be glad to have you join us. Some of them you already know, and I am sure you will enjoy meeting the others as they are all congenial. Mr. Maxwell has just bought a new flexible flyer and we expect some fine coasting. Be sure to bring your skates. Goldfish Pond is like glass. The best afternoon train on Friday is the 3:12, and the best Saturday morning train is the 9:30. I hope you can come. Very sincerely yours, Myra T. Maxwell. A letter of thanks for hospitality received at a week-end party or a house-party would seem to be obviously necessary. A cordial note should be written to your hostess thanking her for the hospitality received and telling her of your safe arrival home. This sort of letter has come into the title of the "Bread-and-Butter-Letter." 500 Park Avenue, August 18, 1922. Dear Mrs. Maxwell, Having arrived home safely I must tell you how much I appreciate the thoroughly good time I had. I very much enjoyed meeting your charming guests.

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Let me thank you and Mr. Maxwell most heartily, and with kindest regards I am Sincerely yours, Ruth Evans. To a christening Most christenings are informal affairs. The invitation may run like this: September 8, 1920. My dear Mary, On next Sunday at three o'clock, at St. Michael's Church, the baby will be christened. Philip and I should be pleased to have you there. Sincerely yours, Dorothy Evans Brewster. To bring a friend Often in the case of a dance or an at home we may wish to bring a friend who we think would be enjoyed by the hostess. We might request her permission thus: 600 Riverside Drive, April 25, 1922. My dear Mrs. Dean, How to Write Letters 38/132 May I ask you the favor of bringing with me on Wednesday evening, May the second, my old classmate, Mr. Arthur Price? He is an old friend of mine and I am sure you will like him. If this would not be entirely agreeable to you, please do not hesitate to let me know. Yours very sincerely, Herbert Page. For a card party 500 Park Avenue My dear Mrs. King, Will you and Mr. King join us on Thursday evening next at bridge?[4] We expect to have several tables, and we do hope you can be with us. Cordially yours, Katherine Gerard Evans. March the eighteenth [4] Or whatever the game may be. Sometimes the visiting card is used with the date and the word "Cards" written in the lower corner as in the visitingcard invitation to a dance. This custom is more often used for the more elaborate affairs. Miscellaneous invitations The following are variations of informal party and other invitations: 83 Woodlawn Avenue, November 4, 1921. My dear Alice, I am having a little party on Thursday evening next and I want very much to have you come. If you wish me to arrange for an escort, let me know if you have any preference. Sincerely yours, Helen Westley. 500 Park Avenue, May 12, 1922. My dear Alice,

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On Saturday next I am giving a small party for my niece, Miss Edith Rice of Albany, and I should like very much to have her meet you. I hope you can come. Very sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans. THE LETTER OF CONDOLENCE A letter of condolence may be written to relatives, close friends, and to those whom we know well. When the recipient of the condolatory message is simply an acquaintance, it is in better taste to send a visiting card with "sincere sympathy." Flowers may or may not accompany the card. But in any case the letter should not be long, nor should it be crammed with sad quotations and mushy How to Write Letters 39/132 sentiment. Of course, at best, writing a condolence is a nice problem. Do not harrow feelings by too-familiar allusions to the deceased. The letter should be sent immediately upon receiving news of death. When a card is received, the bereaved family acknowledge it a few weeks later with an engraved acknowledgment on a black-bordered card. A condolatory letter may be acknowledged by the recipient or by a relative or friend who wishes to relieve the bereaved one of this task. Formal acknowledgment engraved on card Mrs. Gordon Burroughs and Family Gratefully acknowledge Your kind expression of sympathy The cards, however, may be engraved with a space for the name to be filled in: Gratefully acknowledge Kind expression of sympathy When the letter of condolence is sent from a distance, it is acknowledged by a note from a member of the bereaved family. When the writer of the condolence makes the customary call afterward, the family usually makes a verbal acknowledgment and no written reply is required. Letters of condolence (A) My dear Mrs. Burroughs, May every consolation be given you in your great loss. Kindly accept my deepest sympathy. Sincerely yours, Jane Everett. October 4, 1921 (B) My dear Mrs. Burroughs, It is with the deepest regret that we learn of your bereavement. Please accept our united and heartfelt sympathies. Very sincerely yours, Katherine Gerard Evans. October 5, 1921 (C) My dear Eleanor, May I express my sympathy for you in the loss of your dear mother, even though there can be no words to comfort you? She was so wonderful to all of us that we can share in some small part in your grief. With love, I am

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Affectionately yours, Ruth Evans. July 8, 1922 (D) How to Write Letters 40/132 My dear Mrs. Burroughs, I am sorely grieved to learn of the death of your husband, for whom I had the greatest admiration and regard. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. Yours sincerely, Douglas Spencer. October 6, 1921 A letter of condolence that is something of a classic is Abraham Lincoln's famous letter to Mrs. Bixby, the bereaved mother of five sons who died for their country: Washington, November 21, 1864. Dear Madam: I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln. This is the letter[5] that Robert E. Lee, when he was president of Washington College, wrote to the father of a student who was drowned: Washington College, Lexington, Virginia, March 19, 1868. My dear Sir: Before this you have learned of the affecting death of your son. I can say nothing to mitigate your grief or to relieve your sorrow: but if the sincere sympathy of his comrades and friends and of the entire community can bring you any consolation, I can assure you that you possess it in its fullest extent. When one, in the pureness and freshness of youth, before having been contaminated by sin or afflicted by misery, is called to the presence of his Merciful Creator, it must be solely for his good. As difficult as this may be for you now to recognize, I hope you will keep it constantly in your memory and take it to your comfort; pray that He who in His wise Providence has permitted this crushing sorrow may sanctify it to the happiness of all. Your son and his friend, Mr. Birely, often passed their leisure hours in rowing on the river, and, on last Saturday afternoon, the 4th inst., attempted what they had more than once been cautioned against--to approach the foot of the dam, at the public bridge. Unfortunately, their boat was caught by the return-current, struck by the falling water, and was immediately upset. Their perilous position was at once seen from the shore, and aid was hurried to their relief, but before it could reach them both had perished. Efforts to restore your son's life, though long continued, were unavailing. Mr. Birely's body was not found until next morning. Their remains were, yesterday, Sunday, conveyed to the Episcopal church in this city, where the sacred ceremonies for the dead were performed by the Reverend Dr. Pendleton, who nineteen years ago, at the far-off home of their infancy, placed upon them their baptismal vows. After the service a long procession of the professors and students of the college, the officers and cadets of the Virginia Military Academy, and the citizens of Lexington accompanied their bodies to the packetboat for Lynchburg, where they were placed in charge of Messrs. Wheeler & Baker to convey them to Frederick City. With great regard and sincere sympathy, I am, How to Write Letters 41/132 Most respectfully, R. E. Lee. [5] From "Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee," by Capt. Robert E. Lee. Copyright, 1904, by Doubleday, Page & Co. LETTERS OF SYMPATHY IN CASE OF ILLNESS

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When President Alderman, of the University of Virginia, was forced to take a long rest in the mountains in 1912 because of incipient tuberculosis, the late Walter H. Page, at the time editor of the World's Work, wrote the following tenderly beautiful letter of sympathy to Mrs. Alderman: Cathedral Avenue, Garden City, L. I., December 9, 1912. My dear Mrs. Alderman: In Raleigh the other day I heard a rumor of the sad news that your letter brings, which I have just received on my return from a week's absence. I had been hoping that it was merely a rumor. The first impression I have is thankfulness that it had been discovered so soon and that you have acted so promptly. On this I build a great hope. But underlying every thought and emotion is the sadness of it--that it should have happened to him, now when he has done that prodigious task and borne that hard strain and was come within sight of a time when, after a period of more normal activity, he would in a few years have got the period of rest that he has won.--But these will all come yet; for I have never read a braver thing than your letter. That bravery on your part and his, together with the knowledge the doctors now have, will surely make his recovery certain and, I hope, not long delayed. If he keep on as well as he has begun, you will, I hope, presently feel as if you were taking a vacation. Forget that it is enforced. There comes to my mind as I write man after man in my acquaintance who have successfully gone through this experience and without serious permanent hurt. Some of them live here. More of them live in North Carolina or Colorado as a precaution. I saw a few years ago a town most of whose population of several thousand persons are recovered and active, after such an experience. The disease has surely been robbed of much of its former terror. Your own courage and cheerfulness, with his own, are the best physic in the world. Add to these the continuous and sincere interest that his thousands of friends feel--these to keep your courage up, if it should ever flag a moment--and we shall all soon have the delight to see and to hear him again--his old self, endeared, if that be possible, by this experience. And I pray you, help me (for I am singularly helpless without suggestions from you) to be of some little service--of any service that I can. Would he like letters from me? I have plenty of time and an eagerness to write them, if they would really divert or please him. Books? What does he care most to read? I can, of course, find anything in New York. A visit some time? It would be a very real pleasure to me. You will add to my happiness greatly if you will frankly enable me to add even the least to his. And now and always give him my love. That is precisely the word I mean; for, you know, I have known Mr. Alderman since he was graduated, and I have known few men better or cared for them more. And I cannot thank you earnestly enough for your letter; and I shall hope to have word from you often--if (when you feel indisposed to write more) only a few lines. How can I serve? Command me without a moment's hesitation. How to Write Letters 42/132 Most sincerely yours, Walter H. Page. To Mrs. Edwin A. Alderman. Joaquin Miller wrote the following letter to Walt Whitman on receiving news that the latter was ill: Revere House, Boston, May 27, '75. My dear Walt Whitman:[6] Your kind letter is received and the sad news of your ill health makes this pleasant weather even seem tiresome and out of place. I had hoped to find you the same hale and whole man I had met in New York a few years ago and now I shall perhaps find you bearing a staff all full of pain and trouble. However my dear friend as you have sung from within and not from without I am sure you will be able to bear whatever comes with that beautiful faith and philosophy you have ever given us in your great and immortal chants. I am coming to see you very soon as you request; but I cannot say to-day or set to-morrow for I am in the midst of work and am not altogether my own master. But I will come and we will talk it all over together. In the meantime, remember that whatever befall you you

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have the perfect love and sympathy of many if not all of the noblest and loftiest natures of the two hemispheres. My dear friend and fellow toiler good by. Yours faithfully, Joaquin Miller. [6] From "With Walt Whitman in Camden," by Horace Traubel. Copyright, 1905, 1906, by Doubleday, Page & Co. When Theodore Roosevelt was ill in hospital, Lawrence Abbott wrote him this letter:[7] Please accept this word of sympathy and best wishes. Some years ago I had a severe attack of sciatica which kept me in bed a good many days: in fact, it kept me in an armchair night and day some of the time because I could not lie down, so I know what the discomfort and pain are. I want to take this opportunity also of sending you my congratulations. For I think your leadership has had very much to do with the unconditional surrender of Germany. Last Friday night I was asked to speak at the Men's Club of the Church of the Messiah in this city and they requested me to make you the subject of my talk. I told them something about your experience in Egypt and Europe in 1910 and said what I most strongly believe, that your address at the Sorbonne--in strengthening the supporters of law and order against red Bolshevism--and your address in Guildhall--urging the British to govern or go--contributed directly to the success of those two governments in this war. If Great Britain had allowed Egypt to get out of hand instead of, as an actual result of your Guildhall speech, sending Kitchener to strengthen the feebleness of Sir Eldon Gorst, the Turks and Germans might have succeeded in their invasion and have cut off the Suez Canal. So you laid the ground for preparedness not only in this country but in France and England. I know it was a disappointment to you not to have an actual share in the fighting but I think you did a greater piece of work in preparing the battleground and the battle spirit. [7] From "Impressions of Theodore Roosevelt," by Lawrence F. Abbott Copyright, 1919, by Doubleday, Page & Co. In reply Mr. Roosevelt sent Mr. Abbott this note: That's a dear letter of yours, Lawrence. I thank you for it and I appreciate it to the full. Acknowledgments How to Write Letters 43/132 (A) My dear Mr. Spencer, I am grateful to you for your comforting letter. Thank you for your sympathy. Sincerely yours, Mary Cole Burroughs. October 26, 1921. (B) My dear Mrs. Evans, Let me thank you in behalf of myself and my family for your sympathy. Do not measure our appreciation by the length of time it has taken me to reply. We appreciated your letter deeply. Sincerely yours, Mary Cole Burroughs. October 26, 1921. (C) My dear Arthur,

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I want to thank you for your sympathetic letter received in our bereavement. Sincerely yours, Mary Cole Burroughs. October 26, 1921. (D) Dear Mr. Treadwell, Thank you very much for your sympathy. Your offer to be of service to me at this time I greatly appreciate, but I shall not need to trouble you, although it is comforting to know that I may call on you. I shall never forget your kindness. Sincerely yours, Mary Cole Burroughs. October 24, 1921. This is the note[8] that Thomas Bailey Aldrich wrote to his friend William H. Rideing upon receiving from the latter a note of condolence: Dear Rideing: I knew that you would be sorry for us. I did not need your sympathetic note to tell me that. Our dear boy's death has given to three hearts--his mother's, his brother's and mine--a wound that will never heal. I cannot write about it. My wife sends her warm remembrance with mine to you both. Ever faithfully your friend, T. B. Aldrich. [8] From "Many Celebrities and a Few Others--A Bundle of Reminiscences," by William H. Rideing. Copyright, 1912, by Doubleday, Page & Co. LETTERS OF CONGRATULATION How to Write Letters 44/132 The letter of congratulation must be natural, not stilted, and must be sincere. In congratulating a new acquaintance on a marriage it is not necessary to send more than the visiting card with "heartiest congratulations." To a bride and groom together a telegram of congratulation may be sent on the day of the wedding, as soon as possible after the ceremony. To a bride one does not send congratulations, but "the best of good wishes." The congratulations are for the groom. The following letters will serve as examples for congratulatory letters for different occasions: On a birthday 500 Park Avenue, February 6, 1923. My dear Mrs. Elliott, Congratulations on your birthday! I hope that all your years to come will be as happy and as helpful to others as those past. I am sending you a little gift as a token of appreciation for your kindness to me, which I hope you will enjoy. Most sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans. From a gentlemen to a young lady on her birthday 500 Park Avenue, April 13, 1922. My dear Miss Judson, May I send you my congratulations on this your birthday? I am sending a little token of my best wishes for you for many years to come. Yours sincerely, Richard Evans.

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On a wedding day anniversary 500 Park Avenue, June 1, 1923. My dear Charlotte and George, Please accept my heartiest good wishes on this, the fifteenth anniversary of your marriage. May the years to come bring every blessing to you both. Sincerely yours, Katherine Gerard Evans. (B) 500 Park Avenue, December 4, 1922. My dear Mrs. Smith, How to Write Letters 45/132 Congratulations on this the twentieth anniversary of your wedding. Our heartiest wishes to you both from Mr. Evans and me. Yours very sincerely, Katherine Gerard Evans. On the birth of a child 788 East 46th St., August 11, 1923. My dear Dorothy, Congratulations upon the birth of your daughter. May the good fairies shower upon her the gifts of goodness, wisdom, and beauty. Very sincerely yours, Charlotte B. Trent. On a graduation 500 Park Avenue, June 30, 1923. My dear John, It is with great pleasure that I hear of your graduation this year. It is a fine thing to have so successfully finished your college course. May I send my heartiest congratulations? Sincerely yours, Ruth Evans. On an engagement In writing to a girl or a man on the occasion of an engagement to be married there is no general rule if one knows the man or woman. One may write as one wishes. If a stranger is to be received into the family, one writes a kindly letter. 28 Odell Avenue, April 3, 1923. My dear Haines, Let me be among the first to congratulate you on your engagement to Miss Bruce. I have not met her but I know that to reach your high ideals she must indeed be a wonderful girl. I hope I may soon have the pleasure of meeting her. Sincerely yours, Charles Lawson. 500 Park Avenue, May 14, 1923. My dear Miss Bruce, My nephew has told me his great news. I am much pleased to hear that you are soon to come into the family, because I know that the girl of Edward's choice must be sweet and charming. I hope that you will learn to love How to Write Letters 46/132 us for our own sake as well as for Edward's. Sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans.

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500 Park Avenue, September 18, 1923. Dear Helen, The announcement of your engagement to Robert Haines is a delightful surprise. He is, as we all know, a splendid chap. I am so happy that this great happiness has come to you. I hope that I may hear all about it, and with best wishes to you both, I am Affectionately yours, Ruth Evans. On the subject of engagements, perhaps the following letter from Charles Lamb to Fanny Kelly, and her reply, will be of interest--though the unarduous and somewhat prosaic tone of Elia's proposal of marriage--beautifully expressed as it is--is hardly to be recommended as a model calculated to bring about the desired result! Dear Miss Kelly: We had the pleasure, pain I might better call it, of seeing you last night in the new play. It was a most consummate piece of acting, but what a task for you to undergo! At a time when your heart is sore from real sorrow it has given rise to a train of thinking, which I cannot suppress. Would to God you were released from this way of life; that you could bring your mind to consent to take your lot with us, and throw off forever the whole burden of your profession. I neither expect nor wish you to take notice of this which I am writing, in your present over occupied and hurried state--but to think of it at your leisure. I have quite income enough, if that were all, to justify for me making such a proposal, with what I may call even a handsome provision for my survivor. What you possess of your own would naturally be appropriated to those, for whose sakes chiefly you have made so many hard sacrifices. I am not so foolish as not to know that I am a most unworthy match for such a one as you, but you have for years been a principal object in my mind. In many a sweet assumed character I have learned to love you, but simply as F. M. Kelly I love you better than them all. Can you quit these shadows of existence, and come and be a reality to us? Can you leave off harassing yourself to please a thankless multitude, who know nothing of you, and begin at last to live to yourself and your friends? As plainly and frankly as I have seen you give or refuse assent in some feigned scene, so frankly do me the justice to answer me. It is impossible I should feel injured or aggrieved by your telling me at once, that the proposal does not suit you. It is impossible that I should ever think of molesting you with idle importunity and prosecution after your mind [is] once firmly spoken--but happier, far happier, could I have leave to hope a time might come, when our friends might be your friends; our interests yours; our book knowledge, if in that inconsiderable particular we have any like advantage, might impart something to you, which you would every day have it in your power ten thousand fold to repay by the added cheerfulness and joy which you could not fail to bring as a dowry into whatever family should have the honor and happiness of receiving you, the most welcome accession that could be made to it. In haste, but with entire respect and deepest affection, I subscribe myself C. Lamb. How to Write Letters 47/132 To this letter Miss Kelly replied: Henrietta Street, July 20, 1819. An early and deeply rooted attachment has fixed my heart on one from whom no worldly prospect can well induce me to withdraw it, but while I thus frankly and decidedly decline your proposal, believe me, I am not insensible to the high honour which the preference of such a mind as yours confers upon me--let me, however, hope that all thought upon this subject will end with this letter, and that you will henceforth encourage no other sentiment towards me than esteem in my private character and a continuance of that approbation of my humble talents which you have already expressed so much and so often to my advantage and gratification. Believe me I feel proud to acknowledge myself Your obliged friend, F. M. Kelly. To C. Lamb, Esq. LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION

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Letters of introduction should not be given indiscriminately. If the giver of the letter feels that something of benefit may come to both of the persons concerned, then there is no doubt about the advisability of it. But a letter of introduction should not be given to get rid of the person who asks for it. It is not good form to ask for one. If it is really necessary to have one and the friend to be requested knows that you need it, he will probably give you the letter unsolicited. A letter of introduction should not be sealed by the person giving it. It is written in social form and placed in an unsealed envelope addressed to the person to whom the introduction is made. If the letter is a friendly letter, it is enclosed in an additional envelope by the person who requested the letter, sealed, and with his card on which appears his city address, sent to the person addressed. The person addressed, upon the receipt of the letter, calls within three days upon the person who is introduced. It has been customary to deliver a business letter of introduction in person, but on consideration, it would seem that this is not the wisest course. The letters of introduction most in demand are those to very busy men--men of affairs. If one calls personally at the office of such a man, the chance of seeing him on the occasion of presenting the letter is slight. And, as has often been proved in practice, a telephone call to arrange an appointment seldom gets through. The best plan seems to be to mail the letter with a short note explaining the circumstances under which it was written. Sometimes (more often in business) an introduction is made by a visiting card with "Introducing Mr. Halliday" written at the top. This method may be used with a person with whom we are not well acquainted. This introductory card is usually presented in person, but what has been said concerning the letter applies here also. Matters of a personal or private nature should not appear in letters of introduction. (A) New York, N. Y., June 8, 1922. Dear Dick, The bearer of this note, Mr. Donald Ritchie of Boston, expects to be in your town for six months or so. He is an old friend of mine--in fact, I knew him at College--and I think you would like him. How to Write Letters 48/132 He is going to Black Rock in the interest of the Sedgwick Cement Company. He knows nobody in Black Rock, and anything you can do to make his stay pleasant, I shall greatly appreciate. Cordially yours, John Hope. (B) Canajoharie, New York, June 8, 1922. My dear Mrs. Evans, This will introduce to you Miss Caroline Wagner who is the daughter of one of my oldest friends. She will be in New York this winter to continue her music studies. She is a girl of charming personality and has many accomplishments. I am sure you will enjoy her company. She is a stranger in New York and any courtesy you may extend to her I shall be deeply grateful for. Very sincerely yours, Edna Hamilton Miller. Mrs. John Evans 500 Park Avenue New York, N. Y. (C) 8 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass., March 17, 1922. My dear Brent, The bearer, William Jones, is a young acquaintance of mine who is going to live in Cleveland. If there is anything you can do without too much trouble to yourself in recommending a place to board, or assisting him to a situation, I shall be grateful. He has good habits, and if he gets a foothold I am sure he will make good. Yours sincerely, Robert T. Hill. Another letter, already immortal as a literary gem, is Benjamin Franklin's "Model of a Letter of

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Recommendation of a Person You Are Unacquainted With": Sir, The bearer of this, who is going to America, presses me to give him a letter of recommendation, though I know nothing of him, not even his name. This may seem extraordinary, but I assure you it is not uncommon here. Sometimes, indeed, one unknown person brings another equally unknown, to recommend him; and sometimes they recommend one another! As to this gentleman, I must refer you to himself for his character and merits, with which he is certainly better acquainted than I can possibly be. I recommend him, however, to those civilities, which every stranger, of whom one knows no harm, has a right to; and I request you will do him all the good offices, and show him all the favor, that, on further acquaintance, you shall find him to deserve. I have the honor to be, etc. LETTERS OF THANKS For a wedding gift The letter of thanks for a wedding gift must be sent as soon as possible after the receipt of the gift. The bride How to Write Letters 49/132 herself must write it. When the wedding is hurried or when gifts arrive at the last moment, the bride is not required to acknowledge them until after the honeymoon. In all cases the gift is acknowledged both for herself and her husband-elect or husband. (A) 898 East 53rd Street May 5, 1922. My dear Mrs. Elliott, The bouillon spoons are exquisite. It was simply lovely of you to send us such a beautiful gift. Leonard wishes to express with me our deepest appreciation. With all good wishes, I am Sincerely yours, Dorothy Evans Duncan. (B) 898 East 53rd Street May 8, 1922. My dear Mrs. Callender, This is the first opportunity I have had to thank you for your wonderful gift. But, as you know, our arrangements were changed at the last moment and many of our wedding gifts we did not have time to open before going away. So we hope you will forgive us for the delay. We are now back in town established in our new home and I want you to know how appropriate are those exquisite candlesticks. Mr. Duncan and I are both deeply grateful for your thought of us. Yours most sincerely, Dorothy Evans Duncan. For a Christmas gift 134 Bolton Place December 28, 1923. My dear Alice, Your handsome Christmas gift is something I have wanted for a long time, but never could get for myself. The bag and its beautiful fittings are much admired. I send my warmest thanks for your thoughtfulness in selecting it. Very sincerely yours, Mary Scott. For a gift received by a girl from a man 400 Ellsworth Place April 14, 1922. My dear Mr. Everett, Thank you for your good wishes and for your lovely gift in remembrance of my birthday. It is a charming book and one which I am very anxious to read.

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How to Write Letters 50/132 It was most kind of you to think of me. Sincerely yours, Katherine Judson. For a gift to a child 798 East 38th Street, December 31, 1923. My dear Mr. Basset, Your wonderful Christmas gift to Barbara came this morning. She is wholly captivated with her beautiful doll and I am sure would thank you for it if she could talk. Let me thank you for your kindness in remembering her. Cordially yours, Dorothy Evans Brewster. For a gift to another 49 Maxwell Avenue, Bayview, Long Island, July 15, 1923. My dear Mr. Haines, I appreciate very much the exquisite flowers which you so kindly sent to Mrs. Evans. She is rapidly improving and will soon be about again. We send our warmest thanks. Very sincerely yours, John Evans. For favor shown to another 500 Park Avenue, November 25, 1922. My dear Mrs. Howard, You were very kind indeed in entertaining my cousin, Mrs. Douglas, during her stay in your city. I am exceedingly grateful and I hope to find some way of reciprocating. Very sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans. Following are actual letters of thanks written by distinguished persons. Here is one[9] from George Meredith to Lady Granby, acknowledging the receipt of a reproduction of a portrait by her of Lady Marjorie Manners: Box Hill, Dorking, Dec. 26, 1899. Dear Lady Granby: It is a noble gift, and bears the charms to make it a constant pleasure with me. I could have wished for the full face of your daughter, giving eyes and the wild sweep of hair, as of a rivule issuing from under low eaves of the woods--so I remember her. You have doubtless other sketches of a maid predestined to be heroine. I could take her for one. All the women and children are heaven's own, and human still, and individual too. Behold How to Write Letters 51/132 me, your most grateful George Meredith. [9] From "Letters of George Meredith." Copyright, 1912, by Chas. Scribner's Sons. By permission of the publishers. From Lord Alfred Tennyson to Walt Whitman:[10] Farringford, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, Jan'y 15th, 1887. Dear old man: I the elder old man have received your Article in the Critic, and send you in return my thanks and New Year's greeting on the wings of this east-wind, which, I trust, is blowing softlier and warmlier on your good gray head than here, where it is rocking the elms and ilexes of my Isle of Wight garden. Yours always, Tennyson.

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[10] This and the following four letters are from "With Walt Whitman in Camden," by Horace Traubel. Copyright, 1905, 1906, 1912, 1914, by Doubleday, Page & Co. From Ellen Terry to Walt Whitman: Grand Pacific Hotel, Chicago, January 4th, '88. Honored Sir--and Dear Poet: I beg you to accept my appreciative thanks for your great kindness in sending me by Mr. Stoker the little big book of poems--As a Strong Bird, etc., etc. Since I am not personally known to you I conclude Mr. Stoker "asked" for me--it was good of him--I know he loves you very much. God bless you, dear sir--believe me to be with much respect Yours affectionately, Ellen Terry. From Moncure Conway to Walt Whitman: Hardwicke Cottage, Wimbledon Common, London, S. W., Sept. 10, '67. My dear friend: It gave me much pleasure to hear from you; now I am quite full of gratitude for the photograph--a grand one--the present of all others desirable to me. The copy suitable for an edition here should we be able to reach to that I have and shall keep carefully. When it is achieved it will probably be the result and fruit of more reviewing and discussion. I shall keep my eyes wide open; and the volume with O'C.'s introduction shall come out just as it is: I am not sure but that it will in the end have to be done at our own expense--which I believe would be repaid. It is the kind of book that if it can once get out here will sell. The English groan for something better than the perpetual réchauffé of their literature. I have not been in London for some little time and have not yet had time to consult others about the matter. I shall be able to write you more satisfactorily a How to Write Letters 52/132 little later. I hear that you have written something in The Galaxy. Pray tell O'Connor I shall look to him to send me such things. I can't take all American magazines; but if you intend to write for The Galaxy regularly I shall take that. With much friendship for you and O'Connor and his wife, I am yours, Moncure Conway. From John Addington Symonds to Walt Whitman: Clifton Hill House, Bristol, July 12, 1877. Dear Mr. Whitman: I was away from England when your welcome volumes reached me, and since my return (during the last six weeks) I have been very ill with an attack of hemorrhage from the lung--brought on while I was riding a pulling horse at a time when I was weak from cold. This must account for my delay in writing to thank you for them and to express the great pleasure which your inscription in two of the volumes has given me. I intend to put into my envelope a letter to you with some verses from one of your great admirers in England. It is my nephew--the second son of my sister. I gave him a copy of Leaves of Grass in 1874, and he knows a great portion of it now by heart. Though still so young, he has developed a considerable faculty for writing and is an enthusiastic student of literature as well as a frank vigorous lively young fellow. I thought you might like to see how some of the youth of England is being drawn towards you. Believe me always sincerely and affectionately yours. J. A. Symonds. From Edward Everett Hale to Dr. Lyman Abbott:[11] Jan. 29, 1900, Roxbury, Monday morning. Dear Dr. Abbott:

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I shall stay at home this morning--so I shall not see you. All the same I want to thank you again for the four sermons: and to say that I am sure they will work lasting good for the congregation. More than this. I think you ought to think that such an opportunity to go from church to church and city to city--gives you a certain opportunity and honour--which even in Plymouth Pulpit a man does not have--and to congregations such a turning over the new leaf means a great deal. Did you ever deliver the Lectures on Preaching at New Haven? With Love always, Always yours, E. E. Hale. [11] From "Silhouettes of My Contemporaries," by Lyman Abbott. Copyright, 1921, by Doubleday, Page & Co. From Friedrich Nietzsche to Karl Fuchs:[12] Sils-Maria, Oberengadine, Switzerland, June 30, 1888. How to Write Letters 53/132 My dear Friend: How strange! How strange! As soon as I was able to transfer myself to a cooler clime (for in Turin the thermometer stood at 31 day after day) I intended to write you a nice letter of thanks. A pious intention, wasn't it? But who could have guessed that I was not only going back to a cooler clime, but into the most ghastly weather, weather that threatened to shatter my health! Winter and summer in senseless alternation; twenty-six avalanches in the thaw; and now we have just had eight days of rain with the sky almost always grey--this is enough to account for my profound nervous exhaustion, together with the return of my old ailments. I don't think I can ever remember having had worse weather, and this in my Sils-Maria, whither I always fly in order to escape bad weather. Is it to be wondered at that even the parson here is acquiring the habit of swearing? From time to time in conversation his speech halts, and then he always swallows a curse. A few days ago, just as he was coming out of the snow-covered church, he thrashed his dog and exclaimed: "The confounded cur spoiled the whole of my sermon!"... Yours in gratitude and devotion, Nietzsche. [12] From "Selected Letters of Friedrich Nietzsche," edited by Oscar Levy. Copyright, 1921, by Doubleday, Page & Co. In making a donation of £100,000 for branch libraries in the city of Glasgow, this is the letter[13] that Andrew Carnegie sent to the Lord Provost of the city council: My dear Lord Provost: It will give me pleasure to provide the needed £100,000 for Branch Libraries, which are sure to prove of great advantage to the masses of the people. It is just fifty years since my parents with their little boys sailed from Broomielaw for New York in the barque Wiscassett, 900 tons, and it is delightful to be permitted to commemorate the event upon my visit to you. Glasgow has done so much in municipal affairs to educate other cities, and to help herself, that it is a privilege to help her. Let Glasgow flourish! So say all of us Scotsmen throughout the World. Always yours, Andrew Carnegie. [13] From "Andrew Carnegie, the Man and His Work," by Bernard Alderson. Copyright, 1902, by Doubleday, Page & Co. LETTERS BETWEEN FRIENDS Dear Grace, Your 'phone call surely caught me napping; but after an hour or so of effort I did recall just how Sato mixed the shrimps and carrots in the dish which you so much enjoyed. First, catch your shrimp! When they have been cleaned and prepared as for a salad, place on ice and in ice, if possible. Grate the carrots on the coarse side of the grater, placing immediately on the salad plates, which of course

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have already been garnished with lettuce leaves. Then add just a fine sprinkling of chopped apples (I find this the best substitute for alligator pears) and then the shrimps. Pour over this the mayonnaise and serve at once. I do not know what he called it and could not spell it if I did, but you are at liberty to call it anything you like. How to Write Letters 54/132 At all events, I am sure the crowd will agree it is a little different, and I am glad to have been able to give the idea. Cordially yours, Ruth Wilson. July 14, 1921 My dear Mrs. Sampson, I am so glad to know that you have completely recovered from your recent illness. I trust you will soon be able to resume your wonted activities. We all have missed you--at bridge and tennis particularly. Sincerely yours, Mary E. Wells. July 18, 1923 My dear Mr. Baines, I have just heard of your success in getting your book published. I have always had a great admiration for you and your work, and I am sending this little note to assure you of my regard, and to wish you still further successes. Yours very sincerely, Madeleine Strickland. March 10, 1923 My dear Miss Gwynne, I am very sorry that I was out when you called. I hope you will come again soon for I do so much want to see you. Sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans. February 16, 1923 It may be of passing interest to read a letter or two from distinguished persons to their boyhood friends. Here is one[14] from the late John Burroughs: Esopus, N. Y., June 1, 1883. Dear Tom Brown: I have been a-fishing or I should have answered your letter before. I always go a-fishing about this time of year, after speckled trout, and I always catch some, too. But dog-fighting I have nothing to do with, unless it be to help some little dog whip some saucy big cur. Game birds are all right in their season, but I seldom hunt them. Yet this is about the best way to study them. You want to know how I felt as a boy. Very much as I do now, only more so. I loved fishing, and tramping, and swimming more than I do these late years. But I had not so tender a heart. I was not so merciful to the birds and animals as I am now. Much of what I have put in my books was gathered while a boy on the farm. I am interested in what you tell me of your Band of Mercy, and should like much to see you all, and all the autographs in that pink covered book. Well, youth is the time to cultivate habits of mercy, and all other good habits. The bees will soon be storing their clover honey, and I trust you boys and girls are laying away that which will by and by prove choicest possessions. How to Write Letters 55/132 Sincerely your friend, John Burroughs. [14] From "John Burroughs, Boy and Man," by Dr. Clara Barrus. Copyright, 1920, by Doubleday, Page & Co.

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The following letter[15] was written when J. J. Hill--perhaps the greatest railroading genius America has ever produced--was twenty years of age. It is one of the few letters written by him at this time of his life that have been preserved: Saint Paul, February 11, 1858. Dear William: Your epistle bearing date of seventeenth ult. came to hand on good time and your fertile imagination can scarcely conceive what an amount of pleasure I derived from it, as it was the first epistle of William to James at St. Paul for a "long back." My surprise at receiving your letter was only surpassed by my surprise at not receiving one from you after you left St. Paul, or sometime during the ensuing season. Still, a good thing is never too late or "done too often." It gave me much pleasure to hear that you were all well and enjoying yourselves in the good and pious (as I learn) little town of Rockwood. I did intend to go to Canada this winter, but it is such a long winter trip I thought I should defer it until summer, when I hope to be able to get away, as I intend to go on the river this summer if all goes as well as I expect. Capt. W. F. Davidson wrote me from Cincinnati about going with him as first clerk on the side-wheel packet Frank Steele, a new boat about the size of the War Eagle. The Captain is Letter A, No. 1, and I think I shall go with him. If not, I have two or three good offers for coming season on the levee, besides my present berth, which is nevertheless very comfortable. I think it mighty strange that some (of my letters) have not reached home as I wrote several times to my brother Alex. and I never was more surprised in my life than when old Bass handed me a letter of inquiry as to my whereabouts. But after the boats stop running our mails are carried so irregularly that whole bags of mail matter are often mislaid at way stations for weeks and some finally lost or otherwise destroyed. On the tenth of November last I was returning from the Winslow House with Charley Coffin, Clerk of the War Eagle, about eleven o'clock, and when we were coming down Fourth Street passing one of those rum holes, two Irishmen, red mouths, came out and, following us, asked us if we would not go back and take a drink. Charley said "no," and we were passing on when two more met us who, along with the other two, insisted that they meant no harm and that we should go in and drink. I told them that I did not drink and that, generally speaking, I knew what I was about. We attempted to go on, but they tried to have us go back, so I hauled off and planted one, two in Paddie's grub grinder, and knocked him off the sidewalk about eight feet. The remainder pitched in and Charley got his arm cut open and I got a button hole cut through my left side right below the ribs. The city police came to the noise and arrested three of them on the spot and the other next day and they turned out to be Chicago Star Cleaners, a name given to midnight ruffians. I was not compelled to keep my bed, but it was some two months before I was quite recovered from the effects of the cut. One day on the levee I was going aboard one of the boats and slipped on the gang plank and sprained my knee, which laid me up for about two weeks. About a week ago my pugnacious friend who gave me his mark escaped from the penitentiary at Stillwater, along with all the rest of the prisoners confined at the time. I am sincerely very grateful to you for your generous offer in your letter and fully appreciate your kindness. But notwithstanding my bad luck I have still "a shot in the locker," about $200, which will put me out of any trouble until spring. Our winter here has been very mild and open. We have scarcely had any snow, but what was altogether unprecedented, rain storms lasting three or four days in succession. Times have been mighty dull here this winter and money scarce. Write to me as soon as you receive this and give me a bird's eye view of Rockwood How to Write Letters 56/132 and its inhabitants. Believe me Yours sincerely, J. J. Hill. Send me some papers. [15] From "The Life of James J. Hill," by Joseph Gilpin Pyle. Copyright, 1916, 1917, by Doubleday, Page & Co. How to Write Letters 57/132 CHAPTER VI PERSONAL BUSINESS LETTERS

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One does not have to be in business in order to write "business letters." A thousand personal affairs crop up which require letters of a commercial rather than a social nature. There is only one rule--say what you have to say clearly and quickly. Although the letter should be written on the ordinary social stationery and follow the placing and spacing of the social letter, no time should be wasted in trying to make the letter appear friendly and chatty. The clerks in business houses who usually attend to the mail seem to be picked for their obtuseness, and do not often understand a letter which is phrased in other than commonplace terms. Once I overheard a conversation between an Italian shoemaker and a Boston woman over the repairing of a pair of shoes. The woman wanted the soles fastened on with nails. The only word she knew for that operation was "tapped." The only word the shoemaker knew was "nailed." They were absolutely at a deadlock until the shoemaker, knowing that the woman did not want the soles sewed on, proceeded to demonstrate with hammer and nail just what he meant by "nailed." It is well to remember that motion pictures do not accompany letters and hence to take for granted that if a way exists for getting what you mean wrong that way will be found. It is unfortunately safe to take for granted that a personal business letter is going to be read by a moron. Ordering goods from a department store 500 Park Avenue, April 3, 1922. L. Burton & Company, Fifth Ave. & 39th St., New York Gentlemen: Please send me as soon as possible and charge to my account the following goods: 1 doz. hemstitched huck towels, large size, from $12.00 to $15.00 a dozen 2 pairs infants' laced shoes, sizes 4 D and 4-1/2 D. One pair to be returned as I am not certain of the correct size. 3 pairs children's rompers, size 2 years, band knee, 1 all white, 1 white with blue collar, 1 white with pink collar. Very truly yours, Katherine G. Evans (Mrs. John Evans) To correct an error 500 Park Avenue, April 3, 1922. Caldwell Sons Co., 8941 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. Gentlemen: May I call your attention to my account rendered on April 1st? There would seem to be two errors, as follows: Under date of March 18th I am charged with four pairs of silk stockings at $3.50 a pair, although I purchased only three pairs. How to Write Letters 58/132 On March 22nd I am credited with one pair of children's shoes at $5.00. I had two pairs sent on approval, but returned both of them as neither pair fitted. I enclose my check in the sum of $148.96 which is the total less the overcharge. To assist in the adjustment I also enclose the original slip for the stockings and the driver's call receipt for the two pairs of shoes.[16] Very truly yours, Katherine G. Evans. (Mrs. John Evans) [16] Or instead of enclosing these slips it is often better to mention the numbers that appear on them and to retain the slips themselves. Letter to department store requesting charge account

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1018 South Elm Street, Chicago, Ill., May 3, 1922. Marshall Field & Co., Chicago, Ill. Gentlemen: I have recently come to live in Chicago and I should like to open a charge account with you. My present accounts are all in New York and I can give you the following references: Lord & Taylor Tiffany & Co. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. J. & J. Slater Lincoln Trust Co. Very truly yours, Alberta T. White. (Mrs. James White) Asking for estimate for draperies and furnishings 500 Park Avenue, May 16, 1922. Forsythe & White, 438 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. Gentlemen: Will you send me an approximate estimate of the cost of materials and labor necessary for the doing of the following work: Slip covers with valances of English hand-blocked linen for two large wing chairs and one chaise-longue. Two reversible portières of the linen for doorways 11 feet high and 8 feet wide. Three pairs curtains for casement windows 6 feet high and 5 feet wide, with pleated valance. These curtains to be of habutai silk. Of course I shall understand that this is purely an approximate estimate. I should like to have this as soon as you can conveniently send it. Very truly yours, Katherine G. Evans. (Mrs. John Evans) Declining to have work done as estimated How to Write Letters 59/132 500 Park Avenue, May 23, 1922. Forsythe & White, 438 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. Gentlemen: Thank you for your letter of 19th May in answer to mine of the 16th, requesting an estimate for slip covers and curtains. Your estimate calls for more outlay than I should care to make at the present time, so I shall have to postpone the matter until next year. Very truly yours, Katherine G. Evans. (Mrs. John Evans) Recommendation for a servant June 14, 1922. This is to certify that Katrina Hellman has been in my employ as assistant nurse for one year. During that period I have found her honest, capable, and reliable. I can give her an unqualified recommendation. K. G. Evans. (Mrs. John Evans) For information concerning a servant 5300 Deming Place Chicago, Ill., May 9, 1922. Mrs. John Evans, 500 Park Avenue, New York. Dear Madam:

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I hope you will pardon me, but I should be very much indebted to you for any facts concerning Gaston Duval, who has been in your employ as chauffeur. If you will give me this information I shall treat it as confidential. Yours very truly, Cecelia B. Duke. (Mrs. Samuel Duke) Answers to request for information concerning a servant 500 Park Avenue, New York City, May 13, 1922. Mrs. Samuel Duke, 5300 Deming Place, Chicago, Ill. Dear Madam: I have your inquiry of May the ninth concerning my former chauffeur, Gaston Duval. I am very glad to recommend him. He is sober and honest, and I always found him thoroughly dependable during his fifteen months in my employ. He drives well and is an expert mechanician. Yours very truly, K. G. Evans, (Mrs. John Evans) 500 Park Avenue, New York, N. Y., May 13, 1922. How to Write Letters 60/132 Mrs. Samuel Duke, 5300 Deming Place, Chicago, Ill. Dear Madam: I have your inquiry of May the ninth concerning my former chauffeur, Gaston Duval. I hope that you will not think me discourteous but I should much prefer not to discuss him. Yours very truly, K. G. Evans. (Mrs. John Evans) (In letters which in effect decline to give a recommendation it is wiser not to set out facts or even actually to decline to give the recommendation. See Chapter XI on the Law of Letters. The following letter to a servant, which is an indirect way of declining to recommend, is on the danger line.) To a servant Harbor View, Long Island, August 29, 1921. My dear Margaret, Mrs. Hubert Forbes has written me concerning your qualifications as cook, and asks if I would recommend you in every way. Also I have your request to me for a reference. With regard to your skill in cooking there can be no question. I can recommend you as having served me for two years and I can vouch for your honesty. But, as you know, you are not to be depended on--for instance, to return promptly after your days off or to do any work at all during your frequent disputes with the butler. This I have told Mrs. Forbes. I could not conscientiously do otherwise; but I have asked that she try you in the hope that you have decided to remedy these faults. Very truly yours, F. B. Scott. (Mrs. Harrison Scott) Harbor View, L. I., August 29, 1921. Mrs. Hubert Forbes, Bayshore, L. I. My dear Mrs. Forbes: I have your letter of August twenty-fifth concerning my former cook, Margaret Dickson. She is an extremely good cook. She was with me for two years, and I can vouch for her honesty, but she is not to be depended on--for instance, to return promptly after her days off or to do any work during her frequent quarrels with the butler. But she seems anxious to improve, and if you would care to give her a trial, I think she might be satisfactory in new surroundings. I hope this reply will answer your questions. Very truly yours, Flora B. Scott.

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Letter to a former servant Dear Delia, How to Write Letters 61/132 If you will not be too busy next week, will you come out and take care of the children for three or four days? Mr. Stone and I expect to be away. I am sure your husband can spare you. You will be surprised at the way Jack is growing. He often speaks of you. Let me know immediately. Cordially yours, B. L. Stone. (Note the signature--the use of initials instead of writing the full name.) Inquiry concerning house for rental 48 Cottage Road, Somerville, Mass., April 8, 1921. Schuyler Realty Company, 49 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. Gentlemen: Will you be good enough to send me the following information concerning the house at 28 Bedford Park which you have advertised for rental: Location of the house with regard to subway and L station, and the nearest public school. General character of the immediate neighborhood. Distance to the nearest Methodist Episcopal Church. Condition and kind of plumbing in each of the three bathrooms. Make of furnace and the amount of coal necessary to heat the house. Is the house completely screened? Are there awnings? The floors--of what wood and in what condition are they? Is the cellar dry? Where is the laundry? When can the house be ready for occupancy? I should like to have the facts as soon as you can furnish them. Very truly yours, George M. Hall. Inquiry concerning house for purchase 345 Amsterdam Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., May 10, 1921. Wheaton Manor Development Co., Dobbs Ferry, New York. Gentlemen: How to Write Letters 62/132 Will you let me know without delay, if possible, if you have any property in your immediate neighborhood fulfilling the following requirements: House--Twelve rooms, four bathrooms, and sun porch. A modern house of stucco and half-timber construction preferred. Ground--about five acres, part woodland, part cleared; lawn, vegetable, and flower garden. Distance from railroad station--not more than fifteen minutes' ride. I do not want to pay more than $25,000. I shall be here until the twentieth of the month. After that a reply will reach me at the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York.

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Very truly yours, Jerome Hutchinson. Inquiry concerning a child at school: 1842 Riverside Drive, New York, N. Y., February 10, 1922. My dear Professor Ritchie, My son John's report for the term just closed is far from satisfactory. While I do not expect perfection from him, I think--in fact, I know--he is capable of better work than is shown by his present rating. I observe that he did not pass in mathematics, a subject in which he was always first in the elementary school. My first thought was that possibly he was not physically well, but his activity in athletics would seem to refute this. This leads me to another thought--perhaps he is giving too much time and interest to athletics. What is your opinion and what course would you recommend? Would it be possible by coaching to have him make up the required averages? As I am leaving New York in two weeks for an extended trip, I would like to take some steps toward improving his scholarship status. Will you let me hear from you as soon as possible? Very truly yours, John Crandall. Letter ordering Easter gifts from a magazine shopping service Quogue, Long Island, March 27, 1922. Standard Shopping Service, 100 West 38th Street, New York, N. Y. Gentlemen: I enclose my check for $25.00 for which please send by express the following articles to Miss Dorothea Allen Sunrise Lodge Highland, Pa. Two sterling silver candlesticks in Colonial pattern at $12.50 each, on Page 178, March issue. How to Write Letters 63/132 Or if you cannot secure them, will you purchase as second choice Two jars in Kashan ware, with blue as the predominating color? Very truly yours, Laura Waite, (Mrs, Herbert Waite) How to Write Letters 64/132 CHAPTER VII THE BUSINESS LETTER A reporter was sent out on a big story--one of the biggest that had broken in many a day. He came back into the office about eight o'clock all afire with his story. He was going to make a reputation on the writing of it. He wanted to start off with a smashing first paragraph--the kind of lead that could not help being read. He knew just what he was going to say; the first half-dozen lines fairly wrote themselves on the typewriter. Then he read them over. They did not seem quite so clever and compelling as he had thought. He pulled the sheet out and started another. By half-past ten he was in the midst of a sea of copy paper--but he had not yet attained a first paragraph. The City Editor--one of the famous old Sun school--grew anxious. The paper could not wait until inspiration had matured. He walked quietly over to the young man and touching him on the shoulder he said: "Just one little word after another, son."

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And that is a good thought to carry into the composition of a business or any other kind of letter. The letter is written to convey some sort of idea. It will not perfectly convey the idea. Words have their limitations. It will not invariably produce upon the reader the effect that the writer desires. You may have heard of "irresistible" letters--sales letters that would sell electric fans to Esquimaux or ice skates to Hawaiians, collection letters that make the thickest skinned debtor remit by return mail, and other kinds of resultful, masterful letters that pierce to the very soul. There may be such letters. I doubt it. And certainly it is not worth while trying to concoct them. They are the outpourings of genius. The average letter writer, trying to be a genius, deludes only himself--he just becomes queer, he takes to unusual words, constructions, and arrangements. He puts style before thought--he thinks that the way he writes is more important than what he writes. The writer of the business letter does well to avoid "cleverness"--to avoid it as a frightful and devastating disease. The purpose of a business letter is to convey a thought that will lead to some kind of action--immediately or remotely. Therefore there are only two rules of importance in the composition of the business letter. The first is: Know what you want to say. The second is: Say it. And the saying is not a complicated affair--it is a matter of "one little word after another." Business letters may be divided into two general classes: (1) Where it is assumed that the recipient will want to read the letter, (2) Where it is assumed that the recipient will not want to read the letter. The first class comprises the ordinary run of business correspondence. If I write to John Smith asking him for the price of a certain kind of chair, Smith can assume in his reply that I really want that information and hence he will give it to me courteously and concisely with whatever comment on the side may seem necessary, as, for instance, the fact that this particular type of chair is not one that Smith would care to recommend and that Style X, costing $12.00, would be better. The ordinary business letter is either too wordy or too curt; it either loses the subject in a mass of words or loses the reader by offensive abruptness. Some letters gush upon the most ordinary of subjects; they are interspersed with friendly ejaculations such as "Now, my dear Mr. Jones," and give the impression that if one How to Write Letters 65/132 ever got face to face with the writer he would effervesce all over one's necktie. Many a man takes a page to say what ought to be said in four lines. On the other hand, there are letter writers so uncouth in the handling of words that they seem rude when really they only want to be brief. The only cure for a writer of this sort is for him to spend some months with any good English composition book trying to learn the language. The second class of letters--those in which it is presumed that the recipient will not want to read--comprises all the circular letters. These are selling or announcement letters and it is hoped that they will play the part of a personal representative. The great bulk of these letters are sales letters. Their characteristic is that the writer and the reader are unknown to each other. It is not quite accurate to say that the reader will never want to read the letters--no one knows how many of the millions of circular letters sent out are read. A farmer will read practically every letter that comes to him; many business men will throw every circular letter into the waste basket unread. It is well to assume in this kind of letter, however, that the recipient does not want to read it but that he will open and glance at it. It is up to you to make such a good letter that the first glance will cause him to read more. There is no way of catching the man who throws letters away unopened; any attempt to have the envelope tell what the letter should tell is apt to be unfortunate, because it will have no effect upon the inveterate tosser away and may deter even some of those who commonly do open circular mail. The best method is to make the letter look so much like a routine business letter that no one will dare to throw it away without investigation. The cost of a sales letter is not to be reckoned otherwise than by results. The merit of a sales letter is to be judged solely by the results. Therefore it is not a question of what kind of letter one thinks ought to produce results. The single question is what kind of letter does produce results.

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There is only one way to ascertain results, and that is by test. No considerable expenditure in direct mail solicitation and no form letter should be extensively used without an elaborate series of tests. Otherwise the money may be thrown away. The extent of the tests will depend upon the contemplated expenditure. Every concern that sends out many sales letters keeps a careful record of results. These records show the letter itself, the kind of envelope, the typing, the signature, and the kind of list to which it has been sent. Thus a considerable fund of information is obtained for future use. This information, however, has to be very carefully handled because it may easily become misinformation, for we cannot forget the appeal of the product itself. No one as yet has ever been able to gauge in advance the appeal of a product. Some apparently very bad letters have sold very good products. Some apparently very good letters have quite failed to sell what turned out to be bad products. Therefore, the information that is obtained in the circularizing and sale of one product has to be taken warily when applied to another product. It should be taken only for what it is worth, and that is as a general guide. [Illustration: Specimens of business letterheads] Several concerns with a mind for statistical information have in the past so carefully compiled the effectiveness of their letters, but without regard to the product, that they have discovered an inordinately large number of things that cannot be done and extremely few things that can be done. This is the danger of placing too much faith in previous experience. One of these companies entirely discarded its records of what could not be done and started afresh. They found that several of the methods which they had previously used and discarded happened to do well under changed conditions and with different products. If any large expenditure be contemplated then many tests should be made. The kind of envelope, the manner of addressing, the one cent as opposed to the two-cent stamp, the kind of letterhead, the comparative merits of printing, multigraphing, or electric typewriting, the length and composition of the letter, the effect of the return card, the effect of enclosing a stamped return card or a stamped return envelope, the method of signing, and so on, through each detail, must be tried out. No test is ever conclusive, but very little How to Write Letters 66/132 information of value is to be obtained by circularizing less than five hundred names. These names may be taken sectionally or at random. The sectional method is somewhat better, for then comparison of results in several sections may be made, and it may turn out that it would be well to phrase differently letters for different sections. The returns on the letters are not of themselves conclusive. If one section responds and another does not, it is well to look into business conditions in the sections. It may be that in one section the people are working and that in another there is considerable unemployment. The main point about all of these statistics is to be sure that what one terms results are results, bearing in mind that it is the test and not what one thinks about a letter that counts. It is distinctly harmful for any one to say that a letter should be long or short. It all depends on who is going to get the letter. The tendency in recent years has been toward the very long sales letter. This is because in a large number of cases the long letter has been singularly effective. However, the long letter can be overdone. It is the test that counts. The exact purpose for which a letter is written is to be stated clearly before entering upon the composition. Very few letters will sell articles costing as much as fifty dollars unless perhaps the payments are on the installment plan. Many men of experience put the limit as low as five dollars. Others put it as high as one hundred dollars. It is safe to say that the effectiveness of a letter which is designed to achieve a sale decreases as the price of that which is offered for sale increases. Therefore, most of the letters written concerning more expensive articles are not intended to effect sales. They are designed to bring responses that will furnish leads for salesmen. Other letters are more in the nature of announcements, by which it is hoped prospects may be brought into a store. Where the article offered for sale is quite high in price, the letters sometimes may be very expensively prepared. On one occasion the late John H. Patterson, discovering that his salesmen could not get to the heads of several department stores, ordered some very fine leather portfolios. On each portfolio he had stamped the name of the man who was to receive it. They were gifts such as any one would welcome and which no one could possibly ignore. Inside each portfolio were contained a letter and a number of photographs showing exactly what he desired to have the agents demonstrate. Each gift cost about fifty dollars. He sent the portfolios with his compliments. The secretaries of the men that he wanted to interest could not possibly toss them away. They simply had to give them to their principals. My impression is that the

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entire expenditure ran to several thousand dollars, but as a result some two hundred thousand dollars in sales were effected, for in practically every case the photographs awakened an interest that led to an appointment with the salesman. The following letters are intended to be suggestive. They cannot honestly be put forward as being more than that. They are all letters that have gained results under certain circumstances. That they will gain results under new and different circumstances is a matter on which no one can speak with any assurance. Every sales letter is a matter of cut and try. Some of these letters may produce results exactly as they stand. Others may better be used in combination. [Illustration: Arrangement of a business letter (block form)] [Illustration: Arrangement of a business letter (indented form)] Whether the letter should have a return card or envelope depends upon circumstances, as also does the inclusion of an illustrated folder. The return card is more valuable with a letter that goes to a home than with a letter that goes to an office. Very few men with stenographers will bother with return cards--their How to Write Letters 67/132 stenographers or secretaries will send a note. On the other hand, letter-writing facilities are not so easily available in the usual home and the card is likely to be used. The putting in of a folder sometimes takes away from the force of the letter. It is often better to reserve the folder for a second letter or for answering an inquiry. For once the prospect has written in for more information the whole purpose of the letter changes. The interest can be presumed, and the object of the letter is to give the greatest possible amount of clear information to the end of causing action. Saying too much in the first letter may give the reader an opportunity to reach a conclusion, when the purpose of the first letter is primarily to get a name--a prospective purchaser. Many a salesman kills a sale by talking too much; so does many a sales letter. SALES AND ANNOUNCEMENT LETTERS To charge customers selling and announcement letters are sent out before the public advertising. (They can also be used as general announcements by eliminating the portions referring particularly to the charge accounts.) Announcing a sale BRICE & HASKELL SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE CHICAGO July 31, 1922. Dear Madam: As one of our regular patrons, we are telling you in advance of a coming big sale--The August Furniture Sale, which will begin Monday, August 7th. We should like our charge customers to have first choice of the interesting values before they are announced to the public. Therefore we shall have three Courtesy Days, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week, when you may come in and make your selections at the Sale Prices. Our guide in choosing furniture is our clientèle, so we feel sure you will find the type of furniture here that pleases you--and in greater variety than usual because we complete our collection for this event. Prices this year are very attractive. They have been reduced far lower than you will anticipate. We should like you to have the advantage in these values soon, and hope you will come in one of the three Courtesy Days. Very truly yours, Brice & Haskell. Following are letters of slightly different type: S. BLACK COMPANY 28 WASHINGTON STREET BOSTON, MASS. April 26, 1920. Mrs. Arthur Moore, 1317 Hillside Avenue, Boston, Mass. Dear Madam: Our Spring Sale of Misses' Suits, Coats, Dresses, and Hats will begin Monday, April 30th, continuing throughout the week.

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This sale presents an unusual opportunity to secure seasonable apparel at decided price concessions. How to Write Letters 68/132 MISSES' SUITS: Smartly tailored suits of English navy serge, navy gabardine, tan covert cloth, imported mixtures, homespuns, and light-weight knit cloths--adapted for town or country usage. A splendid selection of all sizes from 14 to 18 years. MISSES' COATS: Coats for motor, country club, or town wear, in soft velours, burella cloth, and imported coatings. MISSES' DRESSES: Dresses of imported serges and gabardines, for street wear, and a number of exclusive knit cloth models in attractive colorings for sports wear--sizes 14 to 18 years. MISSES' HATS: The balance of our stock of Trimmed Hats at one half their former prices. On account of the greatly reduced prices, none of these goods will be sent on approval, nor can they be returned for credit. Very truly yours, S. Black Company. Note: To our charge customers is extended the privilege of making their selections on Friday and Saturday, April 27th and 28th. SWANSON SONS & COMPANY 29 SUPERIOR AVENUE CLEVELAND, OHIO January 16, 1922. Dear Madam: We enclose advance announcements of our Private Sales of Boys' Heatherweave Clothes and Ironhide Shoes, and we believe you will find the economies presented a great relief after your large Christmas outlays. Of course, such reductions mean that the assortments will quickly be depleted, and we urge you to act promptly in order to secure the full benefit of the available selections. To enable you to do this we are telling you before the public announcement of these sales. Yours very truly, Swanson Sons & Company. This letter encloses a proof of a newspaper advertisement. CALLENDER & CRUMP 2900 EUCLID AVENUE CLEVELAND, O. September 10, 1922. Dear Madam: In appreciation of your patronage we wish to extend to you a personal invitation to attend a private sale of women's tailor-made fall suits (sizes 34 to 46) in some especially well-chosen models. These suits will be priced at the very low figure of $40. Our regular patrons may have first selection before the sale is open to the public, and may thus avoid the discomforts of a public sale. We have arranged to show these suits privately on Friday, October 3, in the fitting department on the sixth floor. How to Write Letters 69/132 If you care to avail yourself of this special opportunity, please bring this letter with you and present it at the fitting department. Very truly yours, Callender & Crump. (Note:--An excellent idea when a special offering of foreign goods is made is to have the letters mailed from

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Paris or London. The foreign stamp will usually attract attention.) CALLENDER & CRUMP 2900 EUCLID AVENUE CLEVELAND, O. Paris, France, September 1, 1922. Dear Madam: We wish to let you know in advance that our annual sale of Real French Kid gloves, at 89 cents a pair, takes place on Tuesday, October 9, 1922. To insure a choice selection we suggest that you make your purchases early on that day. Very truly yours, Callender & Crump. This is an excellent, matter-of-fact letter that sets out values: LE FEVRE BROTHERS 293 WASHINGTON BLVD DETROIT, MICH. May 11, 1922. Mrs. John Williams, 19 Concourse Ave., Detroit, Mich. Madam: On Monday and Tuesday, May 15th and 16th, we shall hold our ANNUAL SPRING CLEARANCE SALE of seasonable apparel for BOYS, GIRLS, and YOUNG LADIES, offering exceptional values, and an unusual opportunity to secure regular Le Fevre productions at lower prices than we have been able to offer for several years. This sale will include other items which are not enumerated in this announcement. BOYS' WOOL NORFOLK SUITS: Sizes 7 to 15 years. Formerly up to $35.00 Sale Price $14.50, $18.50, and $23.50 BOYS' OVERCOATS: Sizes 3 to 7 years. Formerly up to $32.50 Sale Price $14.50 and $18.50 GIRLS' COATS AND CAPES: Sizes 3 to 16 years. Formerly up to $55.00 Sale Price $19.50 and $29.50 GIRLS' WOOL DRESSES: Sizes 4 to 14 years. Formerly up to $65.00 Sale Price $17.50 and $27.50 YOUNG LADIES' SUITS: Sizes 14 to 18 years. Formerly up to $85.00 Sale Price $24.50 and $39.50 YOUNG LADIES' DRESSES: Sizes 14 to 18 years. Formerly up to $70.00 Sale Price $22.50 and $37.50 YOUNG LADIES' COATS AND CAPES: Sizes 14 to 18 years. Formerly up to $75.00 Sale Price $29.50 and $42.50 How to Write Letters 70/132 GIRLS' AND YOUNG LADIES' TRIMMED AND TAILORED HATS: Formerly up to $30.00 Sale Price $7.50 and $12.50 Sale goods will not be sent on approval, exchanged, nor can they be returned for credit. Yours very truly, Le Fevre Brothers. Our charge customers will have the privilege of making their purchases from this sale on Friday and Saturday, May 12th and 13th. On opening a store This form for the opening of a new store in a town may be used with variations for a reopening after improvements. JAMES BONNER & CO. WICHITA, KAN. April 14, 1922.

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Mrs. Henry Jerome, 29 Water St., Wichita, Kan. Dear Madam: This is a sale to win friends for a new store. We want you to see our values. Our store is but six weeks old. Our stock is just the same age. Everything that we have is fresh and new. We want you to compare our qualities and prices. We are out to prove to the women of Wichita that we can give style and service at prices they will like. Will you give us the chance to get acquainted? Yours very truly, James Bonner & Co., (Handwritten) L. Jones, Manager. Selling home-made articles 19 Waverly Place, Bridgetown, N. J., April 5, 1922. Dear Madam: Have you ever counted the cost of making your pickles, jams, and jellies at home? If you have, and are satisfied that yours is the cheapest way, considering time, labor, and the use of the best materials, then my product will not appeal to you. But before you decide, may I ask you to make a comparison? I make at home in large quantities and according to the best recipes gathered over years of experience, all kinds of pickles and relishes--sweet, sour, dill, chow-chow, piccalilli. My special jams are raspberry, strawberry, plum, peach, and quince. Crabapple is my best liked jelly, and red currant a close second. A very special conserve is a grape and walnut, for which I have a large call, for teas. The peaches I put up in pint and quart jars. How to Write Letters 71/132 I use only the very best vinegar and spices. My products are made only to order and at the lowest possible cost. To do this I must get my orders some time in advance so that I may take advantage of attractive prices on fruits and other ingredients. I append a list of prices which I charged last year. This year they will be no higher and in all probability less. May I get a small trial order from you? Very truly yours, Martha Walker. (Mrs. William Walker) A letter to recently married people in moderate circumstances J. L. BASCOM COMPANY 20 MAIN STREET RICHMOND, VA. May 8, 1922. Dear Madam: This store is for sensible, saving people who want to make every dollar buy its utmost. But sometimes being sensible and saving seems to mean just being commonplace and dowdy. Ours is not that sort of a store. We believe that useful articles ought also to be good looking, and our buying has been so skillful that we believe we are safe in saying that our goods are not only absolutely dependable but also will compare in appearance with any goods anywhere, regardless of price. We think that this statement will mean something to you, for in furnishing a home, although appearance may not be everything, it is certainly a good deal. Between two articles of the same durability the better-looking one is the better. It is our aim not merely to make home furnishing easy but to make a beautiful home at the price of an ugly one. Our experience has been that it does not pay to put into a household any article which in a few years you will get so tired of looking at that you will want to smash it with a hatchet. We have the values and also we have terms that are as good as the values.

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We enclose a little booklet that will give you a hint of what you can find here. We cannot give you more than a hint. The best way is to come to the store. Tell us your problems, and let us aid you with our experience. Very truly yours, J. L. Bascom Company. Introducing the mail order department: L. GIRARD & CO. ST. LOUIS, MO. April 4, 1922. Mrs. Benjamin Brown, 29 Shadyside Vine Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. Dear Madam: This Spring brings to us many new ideas in merchandise that our buyers have picked up in their travels. In many ways we have now the most interesting stock we have ever been able to show. It is indeed so large and varied that we shall hardly be able to give you more than a suggestion of it in our public advertising. How to Write Letters 72/132 We feel sure that we have something which you have been looking for among the splendid values in both personal and household necessities. You will find that through our individual shopping service purchasing by mail is made most convenient and entirely personal. May we look forward to having again the pleasure of serving you? Very truly yours, L. Girard & Co. Announcement of overcoats THE BARBOUR CLOTHING CO. 2249 WABASH AVENUE CHICAGO October 19, 1921. Mr. Charles Reid, Winnetka, Ill. My dear Sir: In a couple of weeks you are going to think a good deal about your overcoat. Why not start thinking now? We are offering this year the most complete line of overcoats that we have ever been able to buy. We have found that we could buy absolutely first-class coats at absolutely fair prices. We are selling them on the basis on which we bought them, and we bought a lot because we think the values will sell them. The prices are surprisingly low. They range from $20 to $70. At the lowest price we are selling a coat which, if you saw it on the back of a friend, you would think cost at least $50. The highest priced coat is as good as money can buy. If you expected to spend $50 for a coat, you may find that you can get what you want for $20 or $25, or you may find that you will want an even better coat than you had expected to buy. We think that it would be worth your while to look at this stock. Very truly yours, The Barbour Clothing Co. Selling a farm product (can be used for vegetables, eggs, hams, and bacon or any farm product) CORN CENTER NEW JERSEY June 1, 1922. Dear Madam: Do you like perfectly fresh vegetables--right off the farm? What kind of vegetables are you getting? Do you know how long ago they were picked? Perhaps you think that you cannot have absolutely fresh vegetables for your table or that it really makes no difference? Did you ever taste Golden Bantam corn the same day or the day after it was picked? Do you know Golden Bantam or is corn just corn? Do you think that string beans are just string beans? And do you know about

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How to Write Letters 73/132 stringless string beans? I grow only the thoroughbred varieties. I pick them when they are tender--just right for the palate. And I send them to you the same day that they are picked. I arrange hampers according to the size of the family. The prices, quantities, and selections are on the enclosed card. I will deliver at your door (or send by parcel post) every day, every second day, or as often as you like. You can have the best that is grown in its best season and as fresh as though you were living on a farm. Try a hamper and know what vegetables are! Very truly yours, Henry Raynor. Storage service HOWARD MOTH PROOF BAG CO. WINSTED, CONN. May 2, 1922. Dear Madam: Have you ever taken your best coat to an "invisible mender" and paid him ten dollars to have him mend two moth holes? Have you ever gone to your trunk to take out your furs and found that the moths had got into them? Sometimes they are so badly eaten that they are utterly hopeless and must be thrown away. All this trouble, disappointment, and expense can be avoided if you will only take the precaution this spring to put away your clothing and furs in the Howard Moth Proof Garment Bags. Strongly constructed of a heavy and durable cedar paper, and made absolutely moth-proof by our patented closing device, the Howard bag provides absolute protection against moths. As the Howard bag comes in several sizes, from the suit size, ranging through the overcoat, ulster, and automobile sizes, and as each bag has room for several garments, you can surely have protection for all your clothing at small cost. The hook by which the bag is hung up is securely stapled in place by brass rivets. This bag is so strong and so well designed for service that it will with care last for several years. Very truly yours, The Howard Moth-Proof Bag Co. A type of Christmas sales letter THE PINK SHOP 40 MAIN STREET GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. November 28, 1922. Dear Madam: This is your opportunity to get a lot of fine Christmas stockings at very low cost--if you order at once. The "Camille" is made of beautiful thread silk richly hand embroidered. It comes in black or white, all silk. How to Write Letters 74/132 The "Diana" is a silk stocking with lisle top and soles. It is a fine wearing stocking and comes in all street shades. The "Juliet" is especially attractive as a gift for a girl friend. These stockings are clocked and have all silk feet and lisle tops. The colors are black, beige, and taupe. They are especially good looking worn with saddle pumps. The "Evening Mist" is a fascinating stocking for evening wear. It is sheer, almost cobwebby, and will enhance any evening gown. The colors are gold, silver, light blue, corn, pale green, black, and white. It is splendid for a gift stocking.

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The "Priscilla" is an excellent stocking for everyday hard wear. It is of heavy lisle, full fashioned and fast color--black or tan. Send your order off now. You will have the advantage of an early selection. Attractive prices are quoted in the circular enclosed. The big holiday rush will soon be on. Make up your order for stockings for Christmas giving, attach remittance for amount and mail to-day. Your order will be filled promptly and if everything does not fully satisfy you, you may return it and get your money back. Yours very truly, The Pink Shop. An automobile announcement MEMPHIS AUTO SUPPLY CO. 29 MAPLE AVENUE MEMPHIS, TENN. March 16, 1924. Dear Sir: Just a few weeks and spring will be here. That means pleasure motoring. When you are getting ready for this new season, you may find that you will need certain things for your car--perhaps a new tire, or a pair of pliers, or an inner tube. But whatever it is, remember that our new stock of accessories is here and we believe that we can supply you with anything you will need. In inviting you to give us part of your trade, we give you this assurance: If any article you buy from us is not entirely right, we will return your money. We hope to see you soon. Yours very truly, Memphis Auto Supply Co. Changing from a credit to a cash plan (Should be in the nature of a personal letter) PELLETIER & CO. 142 CASCO STREET PORTLAND, ME. February 1, 1922. Mrs. John Troy, 14 Ocean Ave., Portland, Me. How to Write Letters 75/132 Dear Madam: When this store was opened ten years ago, we believed that our service would be the most effective if we operated on a credit basis. Therefore we solicited charge accounts, of course taking extreme care that only people of known integrity and substance should be on our books. We have had the privilege of serving you through such an account. There are two fundamental methods of conducting a retail business. The one is on the cash and the other is on the credit plan. In the cash plan all goods are either paid for at the time of purchase or at the time of delivery. In the credit plan, those who have not credit or do not care to use credit pay cash; those who have credit rating charge their purchases and bills are rendered monthly. Credit was not extended by the store as a favor; it formed part of a way of doing business. The favor is on the part of the customer. The charge system has many advantages, principally in the way of permitting the store to know its customers better than it could otherwise. The disadvantage of the credit basis is the expense of bookkeeping which, of course, has to be added into the price of the goods sold. Our losses through unpaid bills have been negligible. Our customers are honest. But it has seemed unfair that the customer who pays cash should have to bear the cost of the credit accounts.

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As our business has worked out more than fifty per cent. of our whole trade is on the cash basis. After careful consideration we have finally decided to go entirely upon a cash footing in order that we may further reduce our costs of doing business and hence our prices to you. We think that in such fashion we can better serve you. Therefore, on July 1st, which marks the end of our fiscal year, we shall go upon an exclusively cash basis and no longer maintain charge accounts. We think that you will agree when you see the savings reflected in lower prices for the highest grade of goods that the change in policy is a wise one and that you will continue to favor us with your patronage. Very truly yours, Pelletier & Co., (Handwritten) C. Brown, Credit Manager. KEEPING THE CUSTOMER Thanking a new customer LARUE BROTHERS SAINT LOUIS, MO. October 4, 1923. Mrs. Lee White, 29 Main Street, St. Louis, Mo. Dear Madam: The purchase which you made yesterday is the first that we have had the pleasure of recording for your account and we want to take this opportunity to thank you for the confidence that you repose in us and to hope that it will be the beginning of a long and happy relation. We shall, from time to time, send you bulletins of our special offerings and we believe that you will be interested in them. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) J. M. Briggs, Credit Manager, Larue Brothers. Where a charge account has been inactive How to Write Letters 76/132 S. BLACK COMPANY 28 WASHINGTON STREET BOSTON, MASS. February 5, 1921. Mr. Tudor Sweet, 24 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Mass. Dear Sir: We have just been looking over our books and are sorry to learn that you have not given us your patronage for some time past. We feel that something may have gone wrong to have caused you to discontinue trading at our store. If you are not fully satisfied with anything you bought from us, remember that we are always eager and ready to adjust the matter to your satisfaction. We shall certainly appreciate it if you will write to us and tell us frankly just what the trouble has been. Will you use the inclosed envelope to let us know? Yours truly, S. Black Company, (Handwritten) George Sims, Credit Manager. A. B. SWEETSER & CO. 4000 MAIN STREET COLUMBUS, O. June 8, 1922. Mrs. Arthur Thomas, 25 Spruce Avenue, Columbus, O. Dear Madam: Does our store please you? Sometime ago it probably did and you had an account with us, but we find with regret that you have not used it lately. If we disappointed you, or if something went wrong and possibly your complaint was not properly attended to, we are extremely anxious to know about it. Perhaps there was some lack of courtesy, some annoying error in your bill which we were exasperatingly obtuse in rectifying? Were we stupid in filling some order or did we delay in delivery? Perhaps we did not have just what you were looking for, or our prices seemed higher than elsewhere.

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Whatever the difficulty, we do want you to know that we try to stand for good service--to supply promptly what you want at the price you want to pay, and always to conduct our business with an unfailing courtesy which will make your shopping a pleasure. Being a woman I may understand your point of view a little better. Will you be quite frank and tell me why you do not buy from Sweetser's now? Either write or call me on the telephone; or, better still, if you are in our neighborhood, can you come in to see me? The information booth is at the door and I can be found in a minute. It might help to talk things over. Sincerely yours, (Handwritten) Mrs. Margaret B. Williams, Courtesy Manager, A. B. Sweetser & Co. MEYER, HASKELL & CO. 230 ELM STREET BLOOMFIELD, ILL. March 8, 1923. Mrs. Bruce Wells, 19 Dwight Ave., Bloomfield, Ill. How to Write Letters 77/132 Dear Madam: We very much regret that you do not use more often your charge account at our store, and we hope it is not due to any lack on our part of prompt and intelligent service. We know that with our large and well-assorted stocks of merchandise and competent organization we ought to be able to supply your needs to your complete satisfaction. One of five stores, we have great opportunities for advantageous buying and we can continually undersell others. In this connection permit us to call your attention to our newly installed telephone order department. This department is in charge of competent house shoppers, whose duty it is to satisfy your every want, thus enabling our charge patrons to shop by telephone with perfect certainty. We feel that these advantages may appeal to you and result in our receiving your orders more often. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) T. Hunter, Credit Manager, Meyer, Haskell & Co. SELLING REAL ESTATE There are two phases in the writing of letters concerning the sale of real estate. The first phase has to do with the presentation of the proposal in order to arouse sufficient interest in the mind of the prospect to cause him to inspect the property. Comparatively little real estate is sold without personal inspection. The exceptions are offerings of lowpriced building sites in distant sections of the country. These are sold sight unseen--else, as a rule, they would never be sold at all. But such real estate selling is more apt to be in the class with fake mining stock than with legitimate buying and selling, and therefore has no place here. The second phase of letters on real estate comprehends the closing of the sale. For instance, let us say that John Hope has gone so far as to look at a property. He apparently wants to buy the property or is at least interested, but the price and conditions of sale do not exactly suit him. He is so situated that he does not want to talk personally with an agent, or perhaps lives too far away. At any rate, the sale has to be closed by mail. The fact which most concerns the buyer of real estate, provided he is otherwise satisfied with a property, is the title. The title is the legal term by which is denoted the exact character of the ownership. Quite frequently an owner may believe that he has a clear title when, as a matter of fact, his title is derived through some testamentary instrument which gives him a holding only for life, or perhaps trusts have been set up in the will which are a charge upon the property, although all of the beneficiaries of the trust have been long since dead. There are many hundreds of possible legal complications affecting the validity of the title and it is usual to-day to have titles insured and, in agreeing to buy, to specify that the "title must be marketable and insurable by a reputable title insurance company." The word "marketable" as here used means a title which is unquestionable. The prospective buyer must also be careful to specify that the title shall be "free and clear" and that

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all taxes shall be apportioned to the day of settlement. Otherwise the buyer would have to take title subject to a lien of any judgments or other liens of record and also subject to unpaid taxes. A real estate transaction may be very complicated indeed, and it is wise for a buyer to take precautions to the end of seeing that he purchases a piece of real property rather than a right to a lawsuit. Most letters offering real estate for sale are written in response to inquiries generated by an advertisement. The letter offering the property is designed to bring forth a visit from the inquirer. Therefore only the information which seems best adapted to bring about that visit should go into the letter. The temptation is to tell too much, and the danger of telling too much is that one may inadvertently force a negative conclusion. It is better to keep down to the bare, although complete, description rather than to attempt any word painting. The description is best supplemented by one or several photographs. The important points to be summarized are the situation of the house, the architectural style, the material of How to Write Letters 78/132 which it is constructed, the number of rooms, and the size of the lot, with of course a description of any stable, garage, or other substantial out-buildings. These are the elementary points of the description. One may then summarize the number and size of the rooms, including the bathrooms, laundry, and kitchen, the closet spaces, fireplaces, the lighting, the roofing, the floors, the porches, and the decorating. The most effective letter is always the one that catalogues the features rather than describes them. An agent asking for a list of property JONES REALTY CO. HARRISBURG, PA. April 3, 1924. Mr. James Renwick, 126 Pelham Road, Westville, Pa. My dear Sir: I am constantly having inquiries from people who want to buy property in your immediate vicinity, and I am writing to learn whether you would give me the opportunity to dispose of your property for you, if I can obtain an entirely satisfactory price. If you will name the price and the terms at which you would sell, I should be glad to put the property on my list and I believe that I can make a sale. It would be helpful if I had a good description of the property and also one or two good photographs. Of course if you list the property with me that will not bar you from listing it with any other broker unless you might care to put it exclusively in my hands for disposal. My commission is 2-1/2%, the same as charged by other brokers in this vicinity, and I know from experience that I can give you satisfactory service. Very truly yours, Henry Jones. From an owner instructing an agent to list property 126 Pelham Road, Westville, Pa., May 6, 1922. Mr. Henry Jones, Jones Realty Co., Harrisburg, Pa. My dear Sir: I have your letter of May 3rd and I am entirely willing that you should list my property for sale, although I do not want a "For Sale" sign displayed nor do I want the property inspected while I am in it unless by a previously arranged appointment. I enclose a description and a photograph. I will take $25,000 for the place, of which $10,000 has to be paid in cash. I am willing to hold a second mortgage of $5,000 and there is $10,000 already ready against the place, which can remain. Very truly yours, James Renwick. Selling a property by mail 1437 Lawrence Street, Greenville, N. Y., April 20, 1921. Mr. George A. Allen, 789 Fourth Avenue, Hillside, N. Y.

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How to Write Letters 79/132 My dear Sir: I have your letter of April 17th asking for further particulars on the property which I advertised for sale in last Sunday's Republic. I think that by inspecting this property you can gain a much clearer idea of its desirability than I can possibly convey to you in a letter. If you will telephone to me, I will arrange any appointment that suits your convenience. The house is ten years old--that is, it was built when materials and workmanship were first-class. It has been kept up by the owner, has never been rented, and is to-day a more valuable house than when it was originally constructed. It is three stories in height, contains fifteen rooms, four bathrooms, breakfast porch, sun porch, children's breakfast porch, a laundry, butler's pantry, a storage pantry, and a refrigerator pantry. It stands on a plot of ground 150 x 200 feet, which has been laid out in lawn and gardens, and in fact there are several thousand dollars' worth of well-chosen and well-placed plants, including many evergreens and rhododendrons. The trim of the house, including the floors, is hard wood throughout, and the decorations are such that nothing whatsoever would have to be done before occupancy. I enclose two photographs. The owner's price is $60,000, and I know that he would be willing to arrange terms. Very truly yours, R. A. Smith. (Note--Essentially the same letter could be written offering the house for rental, furnished or unfurnished, as the case might be.) 49 Main Street, Albany, N. Y., October 8, 1924. Mr. Henry Grimes, Catskill, N. Y. Dear Sir: The business property that I offered for sale in yesterday's Republic and concerning which I have a letter from you this morning is particularly well suited for a specialty shop or any kind of a store that would be benefited by the passing of large numbers of people before its show windows. It is located at the corner of Third and Main Streets with a frontage of thirty feet on Main Street and runs back seventy feet on Third Street. There is one large show window on Main Street and two on Third Street. It is a three-story brick structure, solidly built, and the upper floors, if they could not be used for your own purposes, will as they stand bring a rental of $200 a month each, and with a few changes could probably be leased at a higher amount. They are at present leased at the above figures, but the leases will expire on January 1st. Both tenants are willing to renew. By actual count this property is on the third busiest corner in town. If you are interested, I should like to discuss the price and terms with you. Very truly yours, Henry Eltinge. Offering a farm for sale Goschen, Ohio, R. F. D. 5, May 5, 1922. Mr. Harry More, Bridgeton, Ohio. How to Write Letters 80/132 Dear Sir: I am glad to get your letter inquiring about my farm. I am acting as my own agent because I think it is a farm that will sell itself on inspection and I would rather split the commission with the buyer than with a middle-man. The farmhouse, barns, and dairy are good, substantial frame buildings, and they have been well painted every second season. There is nothing to be done to them. The house has six rooms and a large, dry cellar. The water is soft and there is plenty of it. The barn is 60 by 50; the poultry house is a big one that I built myself. The sheds are all in first-class condition.

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This farm contains 240 acres, two miles from Goschen, Ohio, and there is a state road leading into town and to the railroad. We have rural delivery and telephone. The land is high and in first-class cultivation. The orchard has been kept up and there are well-established strawberry and asparagus beds. You will not find a better farm of its kind than this one. I have made a living off it for twelve years and anybody else can, but the only way for you really to find out what the place amounts to is to come down yourself and look it over. If you will let me know when you expect to come I will meet you at the station in my automobile. The price is ten thousand dollars. There is a mortgage of $2,500 that can remain, and, other things being satisfactory, we can arrange the down payment and the terms for the balance. Very truly yours, John Hope. Accepting an offer 340 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 15, 1922. Mr. Joseph Barlow, Haines Crossing, Delaware. Dear Sir: I have your letter of December 12th offering to sell to me the property that we have been discussing for $15,000 of which $3,000 is to be in cash, $5,000 to remain on three-year mortgage at six per cent., and the remaining $7,000 to be cared for by the present mortgage in that amount and which I understand has four years yet to run. I accept your offer as stated by you, with the provision of course that I shall receive a clear and marketable title, insurable by a real estate title company, and that all taxes shall be adjusted as of the day of settlement, which settlement is to take place three months from to-day. If you will have a contract of sale drawn, I shall execute it and at the same time hand you my check for five hundred dollars as the consideration for the contract of purchase. This letter is written in the assumption that the dimensions of the property are such as have been represented to me. I am Very truly yours, Martin Fields. (Note--The above letter replying to an offer to sell would of itself close the contract and the formal contract of How to Write Letters 81/132 sale is unnecessary. A contract is, however, advisable because it includes all the terms within a single sheet of paper and therefore makes for security.) Letter inquiring as to what may be had 534 Gramercy Park, February 8, 1923. Home Development Co., Hastings, N. Y. Dear Sir: I am writing to learn what property you have listed in your vicinity that would seem to meet my particular requirements. I want a house of not less than ten rooms, with some ground around it and not more than fifteen minutes from the railroad station. The house must contain at least two bathrooms, have a good heating plant, and either be in first-class condition or offered at a price that would permit me to put it in first-class condition without running into a great deal of money. I am willing to pay between ten and fifteen thousand dollars. Will you send me a list of properties that you can suggest as possibly being suitable? Very truly yours, Julian Henderson. Renting apartments YOUNG & REYNOLDS 48 GREEN STREET BROOKLYN, N. Y. May 15, 1923.

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Mr. Robert Pardee, 29 Prentiss Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. Dear Sir: Your name has been handed to me as one who might be interested in leasing one of the extremely attractive apartments in the Iroquois at Number 20 East Third Street, which will be ready for occupancy on September 15th. I enclose a descriptive folder which will give you an idea of the grounds that we have for basing our claim that this is the most convenient apartment house that has ever been erected. The apartments vary in size, as you will see on the plan, and for long leases we can arrange any combination of rooms that may be desired. These features are common to all of the apartments. Every bedroom has a private bathroom. Every living and dining room contains an open fireplace, and every apartment, no matter what its size, is connected with a central kitchen so that service may be had equivalent to that of any hotel and at any hour from seven in the morning until midnight. There is a complete hotel service, all of which is entirely optional with the tenant. We invite your inspection. A number of the apartments have already been leased, but many desirable ones still remain and an early selection will permit of decoration according to your own wishes in ample time for the opening of the building. The renting office is on the premises. Very truly yours, Young & Reynolds. BANK LETTERS The qualities which make a bank popular in a community are, first, safety; second, intelligence; and third, How to Write Letters 82/132 courtesy. One bank has potentially nothing more to offer than has another bank, excepting that of course a very large bank has a greater capacity for making loans than has a small bank. The amount which by law a bank may lend is definitely fixed by the resources of the bank. However, this is not a question of particular concern here, for very large and important accounts are never gained through letter writing. The field that can be reached through letters comprises the substantial householder, the moderate-sized man in business, and the savings depositor. A bank has no bargains to offer. What a man or a woman principally asks about a bank is: "Will my money be safe? Will my affairs be well looked after? Shall I be treated courteously when I go into the bank?" The answers to these questions should be found in the conduct of the bank itself. A bank is not a frivolous institution. Therefore its stationery and the manner of its correspondence should be eminently dignified. It must not draw comparisons between the service it offers and the service any other bank offers. It must not make flamboyant statements. Neither may it use slang, for slang connotes in the minds of many a certain carelessness that does not make for confidence. Above all, a bank cannot afford to be entertaining or funny in its soliciting letters. The best bank letter is usually a short one, and it has been found effective to enclose a well-designed, well-printed card or folder setting out some of the services of the bank, its resources, and its officers. Bank solicitation is very different from any other kind of solicitation. Soliciting savings accounts GUARDIAN TRUST CO. BAYVILLE, N. J. January 15, 1922. Mr. George Dwight, Bayville, N. J. Dear Sir: Some time ago we delivered to you a little home safe for savings, and we are writing to learn how you are making out with it. Have you saved as much as you had expected? Are you waiting to get a certain sum before bringing it in to be credited in your passbook? We are often asked if it is necessary to fill a home safe before bringing it in to have the contents deposited, and we always recommend that the bank be brought in at regular intervals, regardless of the amount saved, for you know the money begins to earn interest only when it is deposited with us.

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We give to small deposits the same careful attention we give to large deposits, so we suggest that you bring in and deposit whatever you have saved. That will make a start, and once started it is truly surprising how quickly a bank account rolls up. I hope that we may have the benefit of your patronage. Very truly yours, The Guardian Trust Company, (Handwritten) J. D. Wallace, Secretary. Where a savings account is inactive GUARDIAN TRUST CO. BAYVILLE, N. J. August 10, 1922. Mr. George Dwight, Bayville, N. J. How to Write Letters 83/132 Dear Sir: A little home bank may be made a power for good. It can accomplish nothing by itself, standing unused in an out-of-the-way place. It can only be an assistant to the saver. It can assist your boy and girl to great things. It can assist you in daily economies upon which big results are often built. It cannot furnish the initiative, but it can be a constant reminder and an ever-ready recipient. Why not use the little bank we delivered to you when you opened your savings account with us to teach the children to save, or to collect together small amounts for yourself. Why not? Very truly yours, (Handwritten) J. D. Wallace, Secretary. Checking accounts A letter soliciting a home account: GUARDIAN TRUST CO. POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. October 14, 1923. Mrs. Hester Wickes, 59 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Dear Madam: Do you ever have arguments over bills that you have paid in cash? Do you always remember to get a receipt? Do you find it a nuisance to carry cash? Do you know that it is dangerous to keep much cash in the house? There can be no dispute about an account if you pay it with a bank check. Your cancelled check is a perfect receipt. More than that, your bank book shows you when, how much, and to whom you have paid money. It is not only the easy way of paying bills but the safe way. You escape all the danger of carrying or having in the house more than mere pocket money. You will find by opening a checking account with us not only the advantages of paying by check but you will also discover many conveniences and services which we are able to offer to you without any charge whatsoever. I hope that you will call and let us explain our services. I enclose a folder telling you more about the bank than I have been able to tell in this letter. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) J. D. Wallace, Secretary. P.S. We have some very attractive styles in pocket check books that might interest you.

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Soliciting a commercial account How to Write Letters 84/132 THE LOGANSBURG NATIONAL BANK LOGANSBURG, WIS. April 15, 1921. Mr. Fred Haynes, 21 Nassau Street, Logansburg, Wis. Dear Sir: Every man in business is entitled to an amount of credit accommodation in accordance with his resources. It is one of the functions of this bank to help the business of the community by extending credit to those who make the business for the community. We are here to be of service and we should like to serve you. I enclose a folder giving the latest statement of the resources of the bank and something about the organization. Will you not drop in some time and at least permit us to become acquainted? Very truly yours, (Handwritten) R. T. Newell, President. General services Trust companies and national banks are very generally extending their services to cover the administration of decedents' estates, to advise upon investments, to care for property, and to offer expert tax services. In most cases, these services are set out in booklets and the letter either encloses the booklet or is phrased to have the recipient ask for the booklet. Letter proffering general services: GRIGGS NATIONAL BANK 28 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK November 16, 1921. Mr. Henry Larkin, 3428 Cathedral Parkway, New York. Dear Sir: We are writing to call your attention to several services which this bank has at your command and which we should be happy to have you avail yourself of: (1) The Bond Department can give you expert and disinterested advice on investments and can in addition offer you a selection of well-chosen season bonds of whatever character a discussion of your affairs may disclose as being best suited to your needs. (2) Our safe deposit vaults will care for your securities and valuable papers at an annual cost which is almost nominal. (3) We have arrangements by which we can issue letters of credit that will be honored anywhere in the world, foreign drafts, and travellers' checks. (4) If you expect to be away through any considerable period or do not care to manage your own investments, our Trust Department will manage them for you and render periodical accounts at a very small cost. This service is especially valuable because so frequently a busy man fails to keep track of conversion privileges and rights to new issues and other matters incident to the owning of securities. How to Write Letters 85/132 (5) We will advise you, if you like, on the disposition of your property by will, and we have experienced and expert facilities for the administration of trusts and estates. I hope that we may have the opportunity of demonstrating the value of some or all of these services to you; it would be a privilege to have you call and become acquainted with the officers in charge of these various departments. I am

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Very truly yours, (Handwritten) Lucius Clark, President. A letter offering to act as executor GRIGGS NATIONAL BANK 28 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK June 25, 1923. Mr. Lawrence Loring, 11 River Avenue, Yonkers, N. Y. Dear Sir: May I call to your attention the question which every man of property must at some time gravely consider, and that is the disposition of his estate after death? I presume that as a prudent man you have duly executed a last will and testament, and I presume that it has been drawn with competent legal advice. But the execution of the will is only the beginning. After your death will come the administration of the estate, and it is being more and more recognized that it is not the part of wisdom to leave the administration of an estate in the hands of an individual. It used to be thought that an executor could be qualified by friendship or relationship, but unfortunately it has been proved through the sad experience of many estates that good intentions and integrity do not alone make a good executor. Skill and experience also are needed. This company maintains a trust department, under the supervision of Mr. Thomas G. Shelling, our trust officer, who has had many years of experience in the administration of estates. Associated with him is a force of specialists who can care for any situation, usual or unusual, that may arise. The services of these men can be placed at your disposal. I can offer to you not only their expert services but also the continuity of a great institution. Individuals die. Institutions do not die. If you will turn over in your mind what may be the situation thirty years hence of any individual whom you might presently think of as an executor, I believe you will be impressed with the necessity for the continuity of service that can be offered only by a corporation. In many cases there are personal matters in the estate which a testator may believe can best be handled only by some of his friends. In such a case it is usual to join the individual executors with a corporate executor. It would be a privilege to be able to discuss these matters with you. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) Lucius Clark, President. P.S. Wills are quite frequently lost or mislaid and sometimes months elapse before they are discovered. It is needless to point out the expense and inconvenience which may be entailed. We are happy to keep wills free of charge. How to Write Letters 86/132 A letter offering tax services INTERVALE NATIONAL BANK INTERVALE, N. Y. June 1, 1923. Mr. Michael Graham, Intervale, N. Y. Dear Sir: This bank is prepared to advise you in the preparation of your income and other tax returns. It is a service that is yours for the asking, and we hope that you will avail yourself of it. The department is open during banking hours, but if these hours are not convenient to you, special appointments can be made. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) Samuel Drake, President. A letter giving the record of the bank INTERVALE NATIONAL BANK INTERVALE, N. Y. July 6, 1923. Mr. Donald West, Intervale, N. Y. Dear Sir:

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As a depositor you will be interested in the enclosed booklet which records what the officers and directors think is a notable showing for the bank during the past year. I hope that you will also find it inspiring and will pass it on to a friend who is not a depositor with us. May I thank you for your patronage during the past year, and believe me Very truly yours, (Handwritten) Samuel Drake, President. LETTERS OF ORDER AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT Order where the price of articles is known North Conway, N. H., August 19, 1921. Messrs. L. T. Banning, 488 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Gentlemen: Please send me, at your earliest convenience, by United States Express, the following: 1 doz. linen handkerchiefs, tape edge, regular size $ 6.00 1 pr. Triumph garters, silk, black .75 4 white oxford tennis shirts, size 15-1/2 @ $3.00 12.00 6 pr. white lisle socks, size 11 @ $.50 3.00 Total $21.75 How to Write Letters 87/132 I am enclosing a money order for $21.75. Yours very truly, Oscar Trent. Enclosure (Money Order) Order where the price is not known Flint, Michigan, July 14, 1922. The Rotunda, 581 State Street, Chicago, Ill. Gentlemen: Please send as soon as possible the following: 2 prs. camel's hair sport stockings, wide-ribbed, size 9 1 blue flannel middy blouse, red decoration, size 16 1 "Dix make" housedress, white piqué, size 38 1 copy of "Main Street" I enclose a money order for thirty dollars ($30.00) and will ask you to refund any balance in my favor after deducting for invoice and express charges. Very truly yours, Florence Kepp. Encl. M. O. Williamsport, Pa., March 10, 1921. Carroll Bros., 814 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. Gentlemen: Please send me the following articles by parcels post as soon as possible: 2 doz. paper napkins, apple blossom or nasturtium design 1 "Century" cook book 1 pair "Luxury" blue felt bedroom slippers, leather sole and heel 1 large bar imported Castile soap 1 pair elbow length white silk gloves, size 6-3/4 Enclosed is a money order for $15.00. Please refund any balance due me. Yours truly, Janet M. Bent (Mrs. Elmer Bent) Formal acknowledgments

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It is still a formal custom to acknowledge some kinds of orders by a printed or an engraved form. Some of the older New York business houses use the engraved forms which arose in the days before typewriters and they are very effective. General acknowledgment forms THE GENERAL STORES CO. CHICAGO, ILL. How to Write Letters 88/132 April 18, 1923. Mr. Walter Crump, 29 Adams Street, Maple Centre, Ill. Dear Sir: We acknowledge with thanks your order No. which will be entered for immediate shipment and handled under our No. to which you will please refer if you have occasion to write about it. If we are unable to ship promptly we will write you fully under separate cover. Very truly yours, The General Stores Co. S. THE GENERAL STORES CO., CHICAGO, ILL. June 13, 1922. Mr. Joseph Ward, Wadsworth Hill, Ill. Dear Sir: We have received your order requesting attention to No. . Unless special attention is demanded, the routine schedule is on a ten-day basis, and we therefore expect to your instrument on or about . In corresponding on this subject please refer to order No. . Very truly yours, The General Stores Co. S. In answer to a letter without sufficient data THE GENERAL STORES CO. CHICAGO, ILL. September 8, 1922. Mrs. Benjamin Brown, Carr City, Ill. Dear Madam: We thank you for your order recently received for one shirt waist and two pairs of stockings. We were unable to proceed with the order, as the size of the waist was not given. If you would be kind enough to state what size you wish, we shall gladly make immediate shipment. Very truly yours, The General Stores Co. S. Where the goods are not in hand L. &. L. YOUNG 600 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK, N. Y. November 3, 1921. How to Write Letters 89/132 Mrs. John Evans, 500 Park Avenue, New York, N. Y. Dear Madam: We are out of size 5 B at present in the white kid shoes you desire, but we should be pleased to order a pair for you, if you wish, which would take two weeks. If this is not satisfactory to you, perhaps you will call and select another pair. Kindly let us know what you wish done in this matter. Very truly yours, L. & L. Young. LETTERS OF COMPLAINT AND ADJUSTMENT

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The letter of complaint is purely a matter of stating exactly what the trouble is. The letter replying to the complaint is purely an affair of settling the trouble on a mutually satisfactory basis. The Marshall Field attitude that "the customer is always right" is the one that it pays to assume. The customer is by no means always right, but in the long run the goodwill engendered by this course is worth far more than the inevitable losses through unfair customers. The big Chicago mail order houses have been built up on the principle of returning money without question. Legalistic quibbles have no place in the answer to a complaint. The customer is rightly or wrongly dissatisfied; business is built only on satisfied customers. Therefore the question is not to prove who is right but to satisfy the customer. This doctrine has its limitations, but it is safer to err in the way of doing too much than in doing too little. Claims for damaged goods This letter is complete in that it states what the damage is. 420 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Mass., February 8, 1922. Messrs. Wells & Sons, 29 Summer Street, Boston, Mass. Gentlemen: The furniture that I bought on February 3rd came to-day in good condition with the exception of one piece, the green enamel tea-wagon. That has a crack in the glass tray and the lower shelf is scratched. Will you kindly call for it and, if you have one like it in stock, send it to me to replace the damaged one? Very truly yours, Edna Joyce Link. (Mrs. George Link) 830 Main Street, Saltview, N. Y., May 2, 1921. Acme Dishwasher Co., Syracuse, N. Y. Gentlemen: I regret to inform you that the Acme dishwasher which I purchased from your local dealer, I. Jacobs, on December 4, 1920, has failed to live up to your one-year guarantee. In fact, the dishwasher is now in such bad condition that I have not used it for three weeks. I must therefore request that in accordance with the terms of your guarantee you refund the purchase price of ninety dollars ($90). How to Write Letters 90/132 Very truly yours, Eleanor Scott. (Mrs. Lawrence Scott) Complaint of poor service Webster Corners, Mo., April 24, 1920. Messrs. Peter Swann Co., Kansas City, Mo. Gentlemen: Attention Mr. Albert Brann. On Tuesday last I bought at your store two boys' wash suits. This is Monday and the goods have not yet been delivered. The delay has caused me great inconvenience. If this were the first time that you had been careless in sending out orders I should feel less impatient, but three times within the last four weeks I have been similarly annoyed. On March 3rd I sent back my bill for correction, goods returned not having been credited to my account. On March 15th the bill was again sent in its original form with a "please remit." I again wrote, making explanation, but to date have received no reply. If I must be constantly annoyed in this manner, I shall have to close my account. Very truly yours, Helena Young Tremp. (Mrs. Kenneth Tremp) Replies to letters of complaint WELLS & SONS 29 SUMMER STREET BOSTON, MASS. August 12, 1922. Mrs. Samuel Sloane, Chelsea, Mass. Dear Madam: We have your letter of August 8th in regard to the damaged perambulator. We are very sorry indeed that it was damaged, evidently through improper crating, so that there does not seem to be any redress against the railway.

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We shall be glad to make a reasonable allowance to cover the cost of repairs, or if you do not think the perambulator can be repaired, you may return it to us at our expense and we will give your account credit for it. We will send you a new one in exchange if you desire. Very truly yours, Wells & Sons. WELLS & SONS 29 SUMMER STREET BOSTON, MASS. May 11, 1923. Mrs. Julia Furniss, 29 Oak Street, Somerville, Mass. Dear Madam: How to Write Letters 91/132 We have received your note of May 8th in regard to the bathroom scales on your bill of May 1st. We do not send these scales already assembled as there is considerable danger of breakage, but we shall send a man out to you on Wednesday the twelfth to set them up for you. The missing height bar will be sent to you. Very truly yours, Wells & Sons. THE STERLING SILVER CO. 2800 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK December 17, 1923. Mrs. Daniel Everett, 290 Washington Square, New York. Dear Madam: We regret that it will be impossible to have your tea spoons marked as we promised. Marking orders were placed in such quantities before yours was received that the work cannot be executed before December 28th. We are, therefore, holding the set for your further instructions and hope that this will not cause any disappointment. Very truly yours, The Sterling Silver Co. REX TYPEWRITER CO. 20 SO. MICHIGAN AVE. CHICAGO, ILL. November 6, 1922. Mr. John Harris, Wayside, Ill. Dear Sir: We are in receipt of the damaged No. 806 typewriter which you returned, and have forwarded a new typewriter which was charged to your account. Please mail us a freight bill properly noted, showing that the typewriter which you returned was received in a damaged condition, so that the cost of repairs can be collected from the transportation company and the proper credit placed to your account. Very truly yours, Rex Typewriter Co. WELLS & SONS 29 SUMMER STREET BOSTON, MASS. September 25, 1922. Mr. Louis Wright, Quincy, Mass. Dear Sir: Our warehouse headquarters have just informed us in reply to our telegram, that your order No. 263 of September 6th was shipped on September 14th by express direct. We regret the delay, and hope the goods have already reached you. How to Write Letters 92/132 Very truly yours, Wells & Sons. WELLS & SONS 29 SUMMER STREET BOSTON, MASS. June 7, 1923.

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Mrs. Ralph Curtis, 5928 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Mass. Dear Madam: We are sorry to learn from your letter of June 5th that you found two buttons missing from your suit. We have no more buttons like the one you enclosed and cannot get any, as the suit is an import. But if you will let us know the number of buttons in the entire set, we will send you a complete set of buttons as nearly like the sample as possible. I hope this will be a satisfactory solution. Very truly yours, Wells & Sons. A routine letter of adjustment HALL BROTHERS 500 FOURTH STREET DAYTON, O. January 28,1923. Mr. Philip Drew, 480 Milk Street, Boston, Mass. Dear Sir: We have received your letter of and regret to learn that . We will carefully investigate the matter at once and within a day or two will write you fully. Very truly yours, Hall Brothers. WELLS & SONS 29 SUMMER STREET BOSTON, MASS January 2, 1923. Mr. George Larabee, Sunnyside, Vt. Dear Sir: In compliance with your request of December 27th we shall mail our check to-morrow for $16.98 for the humidor which you returned. We regret very much the delay in this matter. Our only excuse for it is the holiday rush in our delivery department which prevented the delivery of the humidor in time for Christmas. We hope you will overlook the delay and give as another opportunity to serve you. Very truly yours, Wells & Sons. CREDIT AND COLLECTION LETTERS How to Write Letters 93/132 Business is done largely on credit, but comparatively few men in business seem to understand that in the letters concerning accounts lies a large opportunity for business building. The old-style credit man thinks that it is all important to avoid credit losses; he opens an account suspiciously and he chases delinquent accounts in the fashion that a dog goes after a cat. Business is not an affair of simply not losing money: it is an affair of making money. Many a credit grantor with a perfect record with respect to losses may be a business killer; he may think that his sole function is to prevent losses. His real function is to promote business. The best credit men in the country are rarely those with the smallest percentage of losses, although it does happen that the man who regards every customer as an asset to be conserved in the end has very few losses. Therefore, in credit granting, in credit refusing, and in collection, the form letter is not to be used without considerable discrimination. It is inadvisable to strike a personal note, and many firms have found it advantageous to get quite away from the letter in the first reminders of overdue accounts. They use printed cards so that the recipient will know that the request is formal and routine. Another point to avoid is disingenuousness, such as "accounts are opened for the convenience of customers." That is an untrue statement. They are opened as a part of a method of doing business and that fact ought clearly to be recognized. It does not help for good feeling to take the "favoring" attitude. Every customer is an asset; every prospective customer is a potential asset. They form part of the good-will of the concern. Tactless credit handling is the most effective way known to dissipate good-will. To open a charge account 4601 Fourth Avenue, New York, May 3, 1922.

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Hoyt & Jennings, 32 East Forty Eighth Street, New York. Gentlemen: I desire to open a credit account with your company. Will you let me know what information you desire? Very truly yours, Harold Grant. or, according to the circumstances any of the following may be used: I desire to open a line of credit I desire to open an account I desire to maintain an open account I desire to maintain a charge account Replies to application for credit HOYT & JENNINGS 32 EAST 48TH ST. NEW YORK May 8, 1923. Mr. Harold Grant, 48 Dey Street, New York. Dear Sir: How to Write Letters 94/132 May we thank you for your letter of May 3rd in which you expressed a desire to have an account with us? We enclose a copy of our usual form and trust that we shall have the privilege of serving you. Yours very truly, (Handwritten) F. Burdick, Credit Manager, Hoyt & Jennings. HOYT & JENNINGS 32 EAST 48TH STREET NEW YORK May 18, 1923. Mr. Harold Grant, 48 Dey Street, New York. Dear Sir: We are glad to notify you that, in accordance with your request, a charge account has been opened in your name. At the beginning of our new business relations, we wish to assure you that we shall try to give satisfaction, both with our goods and with our service. Whenever you purchase an article, it is simply necessary that you inform the sales person waiting on you that you have a charge account--and then give your name and address. As is customary in our business, a statement of purchases made during the preceding month will be rendered and will be due on the first of each month. We are awaiting with pleasant anticipation the pleasure of serving you. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) F. Burdick, Credit Manager, Hoyt & Jennings. Refusing credit (This is one of the most difficult of all letters to write and one in which extreme care should be used for it may happen that the references have not replied accurately or that there may be somewhere an error. Many people entitled to credit have never asked for it and therefore have trouble in giving references. A brusque refusal will certainly destroy a potential customer and is always to be avoided. The best plan is to leave the matter open. Then, if the applicant for credit has really a standing, he will eventually prove it.) HOYT & JENNINGS 32 EAST 48TH STREET NEW YORK Mr. Harold Grant, 48 Dey Street, New York. Dear Sir: May we thank you for your letter of May 5th and for the names of those whom you were kind enough to give as references?

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The information that we have received from them is unfortunately not quite complete enough for the purposes of our formal records. Would you care to furnish us with further references in order that the account may be properly opened? Or perhaps you would rather call in person. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) F. Burdick, Credit Manager, Hoyt & Jennings. How to Write Letters 95/132 Where an order has been sent in by one who has not opened an account GREGORY SUPPLY CO. 114 MAIN STREET BALTIMORE, MD. July 13, 1923. J. K. Cramer & Brothers, New Sussex, Md. Gentlemen: We write to thank you for your order of July 10th, amounting to $320 and we are anxious to make shipment quickly. Our records do not show that we have previously been receiving your orders and hence unfortunately we have not the formal information desired by our credit department so that we can open the account that we should like to have in your name. For we trust that this will be only the first of many purchases. Will you favor us by filling out the form enclosed and mailing it back as soon as convenient? The information, of course, will be held strictly confidential. We are preparing the order for shipment and it will be ready to go out. Yours truly, (Handwritten) B. Allen, Credit Manager Gregory Supply Co. LETTERS TO REFERENCES GIVEN BY THE APPLICANT To a bank (A bank will not give specific information) GREGORY SUPPLY CO. 114 MAIN STREET BALTIMORE, MD. July 25, 1923. Haines National Bank, Baltimore, Md. Gentlemen: We have received a request from Mr. Cramer of New Sussex, Md., who informs us that he maintains an account with you for the extension of credit. He has given you as a reference. Will you kindly advise us, in confidence and with whatever particularity you find convenient, what you consider his credit rating? Any other information that you may desire to give will be appreciated. We trust that we may have the opportunity to reciprocate your courtesy. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) B. Allen, Credit Manager, Gregory Supply Co. To a commercial house GREGORY SUPPLY CO. 114 MAIN STREET BALTIMORE, MD. July 25, 1923. How to Write Letters 96/132 Bunce & Co., 29 Vine Ave., Baltimore, Md. Gentlemen: We shall be much obliged to you if you will kindly inform us concerning your credit experience with Mr. J. K. Cramer of New Sussex, Md., who desires to open an account with us and who has referred us to you. We shall be happy at any time to reciprocate the courtesy. Yours truly, (Handwritten) B. Allen, Credit Manager Gregory Supply Co. Another letter of the same description in a printed form

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(Name and address to be typewritten in) GREGORY SUPPLY CO. 114 MAIN STREET BALTIMORE, MD. (Date to be typewritten in) Gentlemen: J. K. Cramer, of New Sussex, Md., desires to open an account with our store and has given your name as a reference. Your courtesy in answering the questions given below will be appreciated. We shall be glad to reciprocate it at any time. Yours truly, Gregory Supply Co. (Please fill out and return as soon as convenient.) 1. Has he an account with you now? 2. How long has he had the account? 3. How does he pay? Prompt Medium Slow 4. Have you ever had difficulty in collecting? 5. What limit have you placed on the account? 6. Special information. In reply to the above (A) BUNCE & COMPANY 89 STATE ST. BALTIMORE, MD. July 29, 1923. Gregory Supply Co., Baltimore, Md. Gentlemen: In reply to your letter of October 14th in which you inquire concerning the responsibility of J. K. Cramer of New Sussex, Md., we are glad to help you with the following information. Mr. Cramer has had a charge account with our store during the last five years. Our records show that he has How to Write Letters 97/132 always met our bills in a satisfactory manner. His account is noted for a monthly limit of $300, but he has never reached it. Our own experience is that Mr. Cramer is a desirable customer. Yours very truly, Bunce & Company. (B) WALSH MACHINE CO. 29 ELM STREET BALTIMORE, MD. July 30, 1923. Gregory Supply Co., Baltimore, Md. Gentlemen: Concerning Mr. J. K. C., about whom you inquired in your letter of October 14th, our records show that our experience with this account has not been satisfactory. We find that during the last five years in which he has had an account with us he has caused us considerable trouble with regard to his payments. At the present moment he owes us $240 for purchases made approximately six months ago, to recover which amount we have instructed our attorneys to institute legal proceedings. We hope that this information will be of assistance to you. Yours very truly, Walsh Machine Co. PLUM BROTHERS 2800 BROAD STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA. July 31, 1923.

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Gregory Supply Co., 614 Main Street, Baltimore, Md. Gentlemen: We are glad to give you the information you wish concerning our experiences with the A. B. C. Company, about whom you inquire in your letter of April 9th. The company first came to us on November 8, 1920. On that date they purchased from us 50 lawn mowers at a total cost of $500. They took advantage of the discount by paying the bill on November 18th. In January, 1921, they gave us an order for 100 at a total cost of $900. This bill they paid in February. Their latest purchase from us was in July, 1921. At this time their order amounted to 25 lawn mowers. They paid the bill in October after we had sent them several requests for remittance. We trust this information will be of some value to you in determining just what amount of credit you may feel justified in extending to them. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) H. Plum, Plum Brothers. How to Write Letters 98/132 Offering credit DWIGHT & DAVIS 89 PARK STREET ALBANY, N. Y. October 9, 1922. Mrs. Herbert Reid, 1400 Fourth Avenue, Albany, N. Y. Dear Madam: Whenever you wish to come in and purchase without cash, it will be a great pleasure to us to open a charge account with you. We have made a record here in the store so that whenever you call it will have been arranged for you to purchase whatever you want. We think you will approve of the character of service and the quality of merchandise. We wish to win not only your patronage, but your friendship for our store. Every up-to-date woman realizes the many benefits, the conveniences, and even prestige she enjoys through having a charge account at a dependable store. A store, in turn, is judged by its charge accounts--it is rated by the women who have accounts there. And so, because of your standing in the community, if you avail yourself of our invitation to do your buying here, you are reflecting credit both on yourself and on us. We hope you will decide to let us serve you--all our facilities are completely at your service. We should like you to feel that our store is especially adapted to your needs. Yours very truly, (Handwritten) C. Dale, Credit Manager, Dwight & Davis. SUMMIT BOX COMPANY KANSAS CITY, MO. November 13, 1923. George Harrow & Co., 29 Fifth Street, Kansas City, Mo. Gentlemen: We want to thank you for your order of November 10th, with your check enclosed in full payment. We appreciate the business you have been giving us. The thought has frequently occurred to us that you may desire the advantages of an open account with us. We believe that such an arrangement will make transactions more convenient. We therefore have the pleasure of notifying you that we have noted your account for our regular credit terms of 2% 10 net 30, up to a limit of $500.

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We hope that both your business and our acquaintance with you will develop to such an extent that it will be a pleasure to extend to you from time to time larger credit accommodations to take care of your increasing needs. The business relations between us have been so agreeable that we feel they will continue so. Please remember How to Write Letters 99/132 that if we can ever be of assistance to you in helping you in your business we only ask that you call upon us. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) G. Harris Credit Manager Summit Box Company. Collection letters may very easily be overdone. The old idea was that any expense or any threat was justified if it got the money, but among the more advanced collection departments common sense has crept in, and it has been ascertained by cost-finding methods that it is not worth while to pursue a small account beyond a certain point and that when that point is reached it is economy to drop the matter. How far it is wise to go in attempting to collect an account is an affair of costs, unless one has a penchant for throwing good money after bad. The point to bear in mind in writing a collection letter is that it is a collection letter--that it is an effort to get money which is owed. It would not seem necessary to emphasize so entirely self-evident a point were it not unfortunately sometimes overlooked and the collection letter made an academic exercise. There is no excuse for a long series of collection letters--say eight or ten of them. After a man has received three or four letters you can take it for granted that he is beyond being moved by words. You must then have recourse to some other mode of reaching him. Drawing on a debtor is also of small use; the kind of a man who will honor a collection draft would pay his bill anyhow. If a debtor has assets and there is no dispute concerning the account, he will usually pay. He may pay because you threaten him, but most people with the ability to owe money are quite impervious to threats, and although a threatening letter may seem to bring results, it can never be the best letter because on the other side of the ledger must be recorded the loss of the customer. The average writer of a collection letter usually gets to threatening something or other and quite often exposes himself to the danger of counter legal action. (See Chapter XI on The Law of Letters.) The most successful collection men do not threaten. The best of them actually promote good-will through their handling of the accounts. The bully-ragging, long-winded collection letter has no place in self-respecting business. The so-called statements of collection by which papers drawn up to resemble writs are sent through the mails, or served, not only have no place in business but many of them are actually illegal. The letters which are appended have been chosen both for their effectiveness and their courtesy. They represent the best practice. It is, by the way, not often wise for the creditor to set out his own need for money as a reason why the debtor should pay the account. It is true that the sympathy of the debtor may be aroused, but the tale of misery may lead him to extend comfort rather than aid. However, several such letters have been included, not because they are good but because sometimes they may be used. Collection letters Most firms have adopted a series of collection letters beginning with the routine card reminder of an overdue account and following with gradually increasingly personal second, third, fourth, and so on, letters. First letter--printed card THE ENCLOSED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT IS SENT TO YOU AS WE BELIEVE YOU HAVE OVERLOOKED ITS PAYMENT. STONE BROTHERS Second letter STONE BROTHERS NEW YORK How to Write Letters 100/132 March 15, 1917.

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Miss Grace Duncan, 146 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, N. Y. Dear Madam: There appears an amount of $29.36 open in your name for the months of October to January which, according to our terms of sale, is now overdue, and if no adjustment is necessary, we trust you will kindly favor us with a check in settlement. Very truly yours, Stone Brothers, New York, (Handwritten) James Miller, Collection Manager. [Illustration: Specimens of business letterheads used by English firms] Third letter STONE BROTHERS NEW YORK April 2, 1917. Miss Grace Duncan, 146 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, N. Y. Dear Madam: Our letters of February 15th and March 15th have brought no reply from you. Since they have not been returned by the Post Office we must presume that you received them. You naturally wish to keep your credit clear. We wish to have it clear. It is really a mutual affair. Will you not send a check and keep the account on a pleasant basis? Very truly yours, Stone Brothers, (Handwritten) James Miller, Collection Manager. The amount is $29.36. Fourth letter STONE BROTHERS NEW YORK April 16, 1917. Miss Grace Duncan, 146 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, New York. Dear Madam: We have no desire to resort to the law to collect the $29.36 due us, but unless your remittance is in our hands by May 1st, we shall take definite steps for the legal collection of your account. May we hear from you at once? Very truly yours, Stone Brothers, (Handwritten) James Miller, Collection Manager. The following are collection letters of varying degrees of personal tone. In these seven letters are given the body of the letter, with the salutation and the complimentary close. Headings and signatures have been omitted. How to Write Letters 101/132 Dear Sir: A statement is enclosed of your account, which is now past due. A remittance will be appreciated. Yours truly, Dear Madam: We desire to call your attention again to your past-due account for the month of January for $90.52, a statement of which was mailed to you several weeks ago. We shall appreciate receiving your check in payment of this account by return mail. Very truly yours, Gentlemen: Two weeks ago we mailed you a statement of account due at that time, and as we have heard nothing from you we thought it possible that our letter may have miscarried. We are sending you a duplicate of the former statement, which we hope may reach you safely and have your attention. Very truly yours, To follow the preceding letter

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Gentlemen: We call your attention to the enclosed statement of account which is now past due. We have sent you two statements previous to this, to which you seem to have given no attention. It may be possible that you have overlooked the matter, but we hope this will be a sufficient reminder and that you will oblige us with a remittance without further delay. Very truly yours, Dear Sir: We are enclosing a statement of your account and we request as a special favor that you send us a remittance previous to the 28th of this month if possible. The amount is small, but not the less important. We have unusually heavy obligations maturing on the first of next month and you will understand that for the proper conduct of business the flow of credit should not be dammed up. In looking over your account for the last few months, it occurs to us that we are not getting a great deal of your business. If this is due to any failure or negligence on our part, perhaps you will undertake to show us where we are lacking because we surely want all of your business that we can get. Very truly yours, Follow-up letters Dear Sir: We wrote you on 18th February and enclosed a statement of your account. We hoped at the time that you How to Write Letters 102/132 would send us a check by return mail. If our account does not agree with your books, kindly let us know at once so that we may promptly adjust the differences. We hope that you can accommodate us as requested in our previous letter and that we will hear from you by the 10th of March. We again assure you that a remittance at this particular time will be greatly appreciated. Also please remember that we want your orders, too. Prices on copper wire are likely to make a sharp advance within a few days. Very truly yours, January 19, 1921. Dear Sir: We are enclosing a statement showing the condition of your account at this writing, and we must ask you to be kind enough to do your utmost to forward us your check by return mail. Our fiscal year closes January 31st and it is naturally our pride and endeavor to have as many accounts closed and in good standing as is possible for the coming year, and this can materialize only with your kind coöperation. Very truly yours, LETTERS OF APPLICATION Application for position as stenographer 648 West 168th Street, New York, N. Y., April 4, 1922. Mr. B. C. Kellerman, 1139 Broad Street, New York, N. Y. Dear Sir: This may interest you: I can take dictation at an average rate of 100 words a minute and I can read my notes. They are always accurate. If you will try me, you will find you do not have to repeat any dictation. I never misspell words. I am nineteen, a high school graduate, quick and accurate at figures. I have a good position now, uptown, but I should prefer to be with some large corporation downtown. I am interested in a position with room at the top.

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I am willing to work for $18 a week until I have demonstrated my ability and then I know you will think me worth more. A letter or a telephone message will bring me in any morning you say to take your morning's dictation, write your letters, and leave the verdict to you. Will you let me try? Very truly yours, Edith Hoyt. Telephone Riverside 8100 How to Write Letters 103/132 Application for position as secretary 149 East 56th Street, Chicago, Ill., December 1, 1923. Mr. Ralph Hodge, Boone & Co., 2000 So. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. Dear Sir: This is in answer to your advertisement for a secretary. I have had the experience and training which would, I think enable me satisfactorily to fill such a position. I recognize, of course, that whatever my experience and training have been they would be worse than useless unless they could be modified to suit your exact requirements. (Here set out the experience.) The lowest salary I have ever received was twelve dollars a week, when I began work. The highest salary I have received was thirty dollars a week, but I think that it would be better to leave the salary matter open until it might be discovered whether I am worth anything or nothing. Very truly yours, (Miss) Mary Rogers. Answer to an advertisement from an applicant who has had no experience 245 East 83rd Street, Chicago, Ill. Mr. Ralph Hodge, Boone & Co., 2000 So. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. Dear Sir: This is in answer to your advertisement for a secretary, in which you ask that the experience of the applicant be set forth. I have had no experience whatsoever as a secretary. Therefore, although I might have a great deal to learn, I should have nothing to unlearn. I understand what is expected of a secretary, and I hope that I have at least the initial qualifications. I have had a fair education, having graduated from Central High School and the Crawford Business Academy, and I have done a great deal of reading. I am told that I can write a good letter. I know that I can take any kind of dictation and that I can transcribe it accurately, and I have no difficulty in writing letters from skeleton suggestions. Your advertisement does not give the particular sort of business that you are engaged in, but in the course of my reading I have gathered a working knowledge of economics, finance, business practice, and geography, some of which might be useful. I am writing this letter in spite of the fact that you specified that experience was necessary, because one of my friends, who is secretary to a very well-known corporation president, told me that she began in her present place quite without experience and found herself helped rather than handicapped by the lack of it. I am twenty-two years old and I can give you any personal or social references that you might care for. I have no ideas whatsoever on salary. In fact, it would be premature even to think of anything of the kind. What I am most anxious about is to have a talk with you. Very truly yours, (Miss) Margaret Booth. Applications for position as sales manager How to Write Letters 104/132

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1249 Huntington Ave., Boston, Mass. Mr. Henry Jessup, White Manufacturing Co., 89 Milk Street, Columbus, O. Dear Sir: Mr. A. C. Brown of the Bronson Company tells me you are in immediate need of a sales manager for the Western Illinois territory. Western Illinois offers a promising opportunity for the sale of farm implements and devices. During my experience with the Johnson & Jones Company, I got to know the people of this section very well, and I know how to approach them. The farmers are well-to-do and ready for improvements that will better their homes, lands, and stock. There could not be a better place to start. As Mr. Brown will tell you, I have been with the Bronson Company for five years. I started as clerk in the credit office, gradually working out into the field--first as investigator, then salesman, and for the last two years as sales manager of the Western Virginia territory. The returns from this field have increased 100 per cent. since I began. With the hearty coöperation of the men on the road, I have built up a system about which I should like to tell you. It would work out splendidly selling Defiance Harrows in Western Illinois. My home is in Joliet and I want to make my headquarters there. I have no other reason for quitting the Bronson Company, who are very fair as far as salary and advancement are considered. My telephone number is Cherry 100. A wire or letter will bring me to Columbus to talk with you. Very truly yours, Gerald Barbour. 70 Blain Ave., Boston, Mass., May 4, 1921. Mr. John Force, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. Dear Sir: This letter may be of some concern to you. I am not a man out of a job, but have what most men would consider one that is first-class. But I want to change, and if you can give me a little of your time, I will tell you why and how that fact may interest you. In a word, I have outgrown my present position. I want to get in touch with a business that is wide-awake and progressive; one that will permit me to work out, unhampered, my ideas on office organization and management-ideas that are well-founded, conservative, and efficient. My present position does not give play to initiative. If you at this time happen to be looking for a man really to manage your office, audit accounts, or take charge of credits, my qualifications and business record will show you that I am able to act in any or all of these capacities. I have written with confidence because I am sure of myself, and if I undertake to direct your work, you may be assured that it has a big chance of being successful. If you so desire, I shall be glad to submit references in a personal interview. Very truly yours, Clive Drew. Telephone Winthrop 559-w How to Write Letters 105/132 Answers to letters of application HARRISON NATIONAL BANK TRENTON, N. J. February 2, 1923. Mr. James Russell, 63 State Street, Trenton, N. J. Dear Sir: I wish to acknowledge your letter of application of December 8th. At present we have no vacancies of the type you desire. I am, however, placing your application on file. Very truly yours, Samuel Caldwell.

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HARRISON NATIONAL BANK TRENTON, N. J. February 2, 1923. Mr. James Russell, 63 State Street, Trenton, N. J. Dear Sir: I wish to acknowledge your letter of application of December 8th. At present we have no vacancies of the type that you desire. However, I should be very glad to have a talk with you on December 12th at my office at four o'clock. Very truly yours, Samuel Caldwell. LETTERS OF REFERENCE Letter asking for reference 468 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., May 5, 1923. Mr. William Moyer, Triumph Hosiery Co., 4000 Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa. My dear Mr. Moyer: I am looking for a position as cashier with the Bright Weaving Company. My duties there would be similar in every way to my work in your office, and a recommendation from you would help greatly. Mr. Sawyer, the first vice-president of the Bright Weaving Company, knows you personally, hence an opinion from you would have particular effect. Your kindness would be deeply appreciated, as have been all your kindnesses in the past. Yours very sincerely, Philip Rockwell. A useful practice adopted by some firms is the requirement of a photograph from every applicant for a position. How to Write Letters 106/132 HADDON IRON WORKS PHILADELPHIA, PA. Paste photograph of applicant here April 30, 1917. B. F. Harlow & Co., Paterson, N. J. Dear Sirs: Philip Smith (photo attached) has applied to us for a position as steamfitter. His application states that he has been in your employ for three years and that he is leaving to take a position in this city. As all applicants are required by us to furnish references as to character and ability, we shall appreciate your giving us the following information. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) Samuel Sloane, Employment Manager. Is his statement correct? Are his character and habits good? Had he the confidence of his employers? Can he fill the position for which he has applied? Remarks: Signed Dated Some general letters of recommendation March 4, 1923. To Whom It May Concern: I have known the bearer, John Hope, for four years. He is of fine family and has been one of our most highly regarded young men. I would heartily recommend him. Richard Brown. April 18, 1922. Gentlemen:

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The bearer, George Frothingham, is a young man of my acquaintance whom I know and whose family I have known for some time. They are splendid people. This boy is ambitious and thoroughly reliable. I hope you can find a place for him. Very truly yours, Gerald Law. June 16, 1922. To Whom It May Concern: This is to certify that the bearer, Ernest Hill, is an acquaintance of mine, a man whom I know to be thoroughly trustworthy. Harold Smith. How to Write Letters 107/132 July 12, 1923. Dear Sir: This is to certify that Joseph Rance has been in my employ for eighteen months. He is a most willing and able worker, honest, steady, and faithful. I regret that I was obliged to let him go from my employ. I feel very safe in highly recommending him to you. Very truly yours, George Bunce. Recommendation for a special position HARCOURT MANUFACTURING CO. 29 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MASS. October 10, 1921. Mr. Gordon Edwards, 48 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass. Dear Mr. Edwards: At luncheon last Wednesday you mentioned that you were in need of another advertising writer. If the position is still open, I should like to recommend Mr. Bruce Walker. When I first met Mr. Walker he was with Bellamy, Sears & Co., Boston, and was doing most of their newspaper advertising. His work was so good that I offered him a position as advertising writer with us. He accepted, with the approval of Bellamy Sears & Co., and has been with me for the last three years. He has written for us some of the best drawing copy that we ever used, and his work has been satisfactory in every way. He is original and modern in his advertising ideas, and knows how to express them forcefully but without exaggeration. His English is perfect. I shall greatly regret losing Mr. Walker, but I cannot advance him above his present position, and I agree with him that he is equal to a bigger position than he has here. I hope you can give him the opportunity that he seeks. If you will see him personally, you will oblige both him and me. Very sincerely yours, B. A. Yeomans. Thanks for recommendation 29 Kelley Ave., Cleveland, O., October 4, 1923. Mr. John Saunders, Jones Publishing Co., Cleveland, O. My dear Mr. Saunders: Your influence and kindly interest have secured for me the position with Tully & Clark. I want to thank you for the excellent recommendation which you gave me and to assure you that I shall give my best attention to my new work. Very truly yours, John Dillon. LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION How to Write Letters 108/132 The method of delivering letters of introduction is fully described under social letters of introduction.

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Answer to a request for a letter of introduction 89 Grand Ave., Detroit, Mich., August 8, 1923. Mr. Albert Hall, 29 Main Street, Detroit, Mich. My dear Mr. Hall: Accompanying this note you find letters of introduction which I hope will be what you want. I am glad to give you these letters and should you need any further assistance of this kind, please consider me at your disposal. Yours truly, Clement Wilks. General letters of introduction 89 Grand Ave., Detroit, Mich., August 8, 1923. This will introduce the bearer, Mr. Albert Hall, whom I personally know as being a gentleman in conduct and reputation. Any courtesy shown to Mr. Hall I shall consider a favor to myself, and I ask for him all possible attention and service. Clement Wilks. June 9, 1923. To Whom It May Concern: The bearer, David Clark, has been an acquaintance of mine for five years. He is a young man of good habits. I would recommend him for any position within his ability. Ellery Saunders. Special introduction (The inside address, heading, and signature are to be supplied) Dear Sir: Mr. Walter Green, whom this will introduce to you, is a member of our Credit Department. He is visiting New York on a personal matter, but he has offered to make a personal investigation of the Crump case and I have advised him to see you, as the man who knows most about that affair. If you can find the time to give him a brief interview, you will do him a favor, and I also shall appreciate it. Yours very truly, Vice-President. Introducing a stenographer in order to secure a position for her How to Write Letters 109/132 100 Wall Street, New York, N. Y., February 6, 1921. Mr. William Everett, 347 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y. My dear Mr. Everett: The bearer of this letter, Miss Mildred Bryan, my stenographer, is available for a position, owing to the fact that I am moving my office to Cincinnati. She is an unusually competent young woman--quick, accurate, intelligent, and familiar with the routine of a law office. If you need a stenographer, you cannot do better than engage Miss Bryan, and I am taking the liberty of giving her this letter for you. Very truly yours, Howard S. Briggs. LETTERS OF INQUIRY Requests for information

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Bradford Mills, Pa., August 9, 1923. Dr. Louis Elliott, 29 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. My dear Dr. Elliott: I am writing a paper on Vitamines to be read before the Mothers' Club, an organization of Bradford Mills mothers. I have drawn most of my material from your article in the Medical Magazine, acknowledging, of course, the source of my information. There are several points, however, on which I am not clear. As it is of great importance that this subject be presented to the mothers correctly, I am addressing you personally to get the facts. 1. Am I to understand that no other foods than those you mention contain these vitamines? 2. Are all the classes of vitamines necessary to life and will a child fed on foods containing all the known vitamines be better conditioned than one fed on only one kind? I shall greatly appreciate your answering my questions. The members of the club have shown surprising interest in this matter of food. Yours sincerely, Mabel Manners. 128 East Forty-Sixth Street, New York, N. Y., June 15, 1922. The Prentiss Candy Co., Long Island City, N. Y. Gentlemen: The Better Food Magazine, to which I am a contributor, has asked me to make an investigation of the How to Write Letters 110/132 manufacture of the most widely advertised foods, with a view to writing an article on foods for the magazine. I should like if possible to talk with someone and to make a short visit to the factory. If you can arrange an appointment for me during the next week, will you let me know? I shall greatly appreciate it. Very truly yours, (Miss) Vera Henderson. Answers to letters of inquiry THE PRENTISS CANDY CO. LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y. June 17, 1922. Miss Vera Henderson, 128 East Forty-Sixth Street, New York, N. Y. Dear Madam: We have your letter of 15th June and we shall be glad to give you any assistance in our power. If you will call at the factory office next week on Tuesday the 22nd or Wednesday the 23rd and present the enclosed card to Mr. Jones, you will get all the information you desire. Very truly yours, (Handwritten) B. J. Clark, The Prentiss Candy Co. PINE GROVE LODGE, STANTON, N. Y. ABSOLUTELY FIREPROOF OPEN ALL THE YEAR THE FINEST RESORT HOTEL IN THE COUNTRY May 6, 1921. Mr. Charles Keith, 4000 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Dear Sir: We have your letter of May 4th and in answer we are enclosing some of our descriptive literature.

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We can offer you absolute comfort together with an almost matchless environment in the points of beauty and of suitability for all sports. Our rates are on the American plan. We have the finest American plan kitchen and table anywhere. We enclose a menu. Our single rooms with private bath are $50, $62, and $70 per week up for one person. Rooms without bath, but with hot and cold running water and adjacent to bath are $45 per week. Double rooms with private bath and furnished with two single beds are $95, $105, and $115 per week up for two persons. Rooms for two without bath are $80 per week. These rates hold until September 1st. The difference in rates is caused by the size and location of rooms, but every room is furnished with taste and care. The decorations have been carefully thought out. There are no undesirable rooms at the Lodge and every room is an outside room. Those on the east overlook the 120-acre golf course with a magnificent view of the mountains, and those on the west front the wooded slopes of Sunset Mountain. Stanton affords the greatest combination of scenery, health-giving climate, and facilities for enjoyment. Add to this the comforts and luxuries of a modern hotel such as Pine Grove Lodge and the result is perfect. We feel quite sure you will find a visit here restful or lively--as you will. One of the attractions of the place is its facilities for occupying oneself in one's own way. We shall be glad to make reservation for you at any time How to Write Letters 111/132 or to answer any fUrther inquiries. Yours very truly, Pine Grove Lodge. If you should receive an inquiry for advice, opinion, or information, which you do not care, for some reason, to give, you should at least reply stating that you cannot comply with the request, in as courteous a manner as possible. How to Write Letters 112/132 THE USE OF FORM PARAGRAPHS A considerable part of the day's run of correspondence in a business office has to do with not more than half-a-dozen subjects. Quotations will be asked for. Tenders will be made. Complaints will be made and received. Adjustments of various kinds will be done, and so on, through a list that varies with the particular business of the office. It is advisable to keep the tone of correspondence on a fairly uniform level. Therefore if each letter has to be individually dictated, only a man mentally equipped to write letters can do the dictating. The time of such a man is expensive and often might better be devoted to other matters. Hence the invention of what is known as a form paragraph, which is a standardized paragraph that can be used with slight variations as a section of a great many letters. The result is that most routine mail does not have to be dictated. A letter is merely read, the essential facts dictated or noted on the letter itself, and certain symbols added which tell the stenographer the form paragraphs that are to be used. The letter is then almost mechanically produced. Some companies have gone so extensively into the writing of form paragraphs that they have sections covering practically every subject that can arise. This possibly carrying the idea too far. Convenience may become inconvenience, and there is of course always the danger of getting in a slightly unsuitable paragraph which will reveal to the reader that the letter has not been personally dictated. However, a certain number of form paragraphs considerably reduces the cost of letter writing and also conduces to the raising of the standards, for the mere reading of well-phrased form letters will often induce in an otherwise poor correspondent a certain regard for clear expression. The proper form paragraphs that any concern may profitably use are a matter of specific investigation. The way to get at the list of useful forms is to take all of the letters received and all of the letters written during, say, one or two months and then classify them. A number of letters will have to do with purely individual cases. These letters should be discarded. They are letters which would have to be personally dictated in any event and there is no use wasting

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time composing forms for them. The remaining letters will fall into divisions, and through these divisions it will become apparent what points in the correspondence arise so frequently and in so nearly the same form as to be capable of being expressed in form paragraphs. There will probably be a number of subjects which can be covered fully by two or three form letters, but a nicer adjustment will usually be had by thinking of form paragraphs rather than of form letters, for skillfully drawn and skillfully used form paragraphs will so closely simulate the personal letter as to leave no doubt in the mind of the reader that considerable trouble has been taken to put the matter before him courteously and exactly. How to Write Letters 113/132 CHAPTER IX CHILDREN'S LETTERS Children's letters may be written on ordinary stationery, but it adds a good deal of interest to their letter writing if they may use some of the several pretty, special styles to be had at any good stationer's. The following examples of children's letters include: Letter of invitation from a child to a child. Letter of invitation from a parent to a child. Letter from a parent to a parent inviting a child. Letter of thanks to an aunt for a gift. Letter to a sick playmate. Letter to a teacher. Letter to a grandmother on her birthday. Invitation to a birthday party April 14, 1921. Dear Frank: I am going to have a birthday party next Friday afternoon, from three-thirty until six o'clock. I hope you will come and help us to have a good time. Sincerely yours, Harriet Evans. 500 Park Avenue Accepting 439 Manhattan Avenue, April 16, 1921. Dear Harriet: It is so kind of you to ask me to your birthday party next Friday afternoon. I shall be very glad to come. Sincerely yours, Frank Dawson. Regretting 439 Manhattan Avenue, April 16, 1921. Dear Harriet: I am very sorry that I cannot go to your birthday party on next Friday. My mother is taking me to visit my cousin, so I shall be away. Thank you for asking me. I hope you will all have a great deal of fun. Sincerely yours, Frank Dawson. Invitation from a parent to a child Dear Ethel: How to Write Letters 114/132 The twins are going to have a little party on Friday afternoon and they would like you to come. Can you come at three-thirty? Tell your mother we will arrange that you get home at six. Cordially yours, Katherine G. Evans.

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From a parent to another parent Dear Mrs. Heywood: Dorothy will have a birthday on Tuesday, the thirteenth of June. We are planning, if the weather is fine, to have a lawn party. Otherwise we shall have it in the house. She hopes that you will let Madeline come and I am sure they will all have a good time. If you send Madeline at four I will see that she returns home at six. Cordially yours, Bernice Lawson Grant. To a friend Bellville, Lancaster County, Pa., June 14, 1922. Dear Bob: Will you visit us on the farm during your summer vacation? Father has bought me a boat and we can go fishing and swimming. Mabel has a pony and I know she will let us ride him. Please let me know if you may come and if you may stay two weeks. Sincerely yours, Roger Palmer. Thanks for a gift: 159 West Tenth Street. December 12, 1921. Dear Aunt Louise: You were wonderful to think of sending me those fine skates for my birthday. They are just the kind I wanted and I wish to thank you. I shall take good care of them. Your affectionate nephew, John Orr. To a sick playmate 46 Elmwood Avenue, June 16, 1922. Dear Dorothy: I am so sorry you are ill, but your mother says you are getting better. If you like, I shall let you have my book with the poem called "The Land of Counterpane." It is about a sick little boy who is playing with his toy soldiers and people and villages. In the picture they seem to be making him forget he is sick. How to Write Letters 115/132 All the boys and girls hope you will soon be out to play again. Sincerely yours, Betty Foster. To a teacher 500 Park Avenue, New York, N. Y., February 8, 1920. Dear Miss Sewell: I want to thank you for your kindness in helping me with my studies, especially arithmetic. Without your help I should not have been able to pass my examinations. Mother asks that you will come some day next week to take tea with us. Sincerely yours, Susan Evans. To a grandparent Dear Grandmother: I wish you a very happy birthday and I hope you will like the present I sent you. Mother helped me to make it. I send you my best love. Your loving grandchild, Evelyn.

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Here is a charming letter[17] that Helen Keller when she was ten years of age wrote to John Greenleaf Whittier on the occasion of his birthday: South Boston, Dec. 17, 1890. Dear Kind Poet, This is your birthday; that was the first thought which came into my mind when I awoke this morning; and it made me glad to think I could write you a letter and tell you how much your little friends love their sweet poet and his birthday. This evening they are going to entertain their friends with readings from your poems and music. I hope the swift winged messengers of love will be here to carry some of the sweet melody to you, in your little study by the Merrimac. At first I was very sorry when I found that the sun had hidden his shining face behind dull clouds, but afterwards I thought why he did it, and then I was happy. The sun knows that you like to see the world covered with beautiful white snow and so he kept back all his brightness, and let the little crystals form in the sky. When they are ready, they will softly fall and tenderly cover every object. Then the sun will appear in all his radiance and fill the world with light. If I were with you to-day I would give you eighty-three kisses, one for each year you have lived. Eighty-three years seems very long to me. Does it seem long to you? I wonder how many years there will be in eternity. I am afraid I cannot think about so much time. I received the letter which you wrote to me last summer, and I thank you for it. I am staying in Boston now at the Institution for the Blind, but I have not commenced my studies yet, because my dearest friend, Mr. Anagnos, wants me to rest and play a great deal. Teacher is well and sends her kind remembrance to you. The happy Christmas time is almost here! I can hardly wait for the fun to begin! I hope your Christmas Day will be a very happy one and that the New Year will be full of brightness and joy for you and every one. How to Write Letters 116/132 From your little friend Helen A. Keller. [17] This and the letter following are from "The Story of My Life," by Helen Keller. Copyright, 1902, 1903, by Helen Keller. Published in book form by Doubleday, Page & Co. And the distinguished poet's reply: My dear Young Friend: I was very glad to have such a pleasant letter on my birthday. I had two or three hundred others and thine was one of the most welcome of all. I must tell thee about how the day passed at Oak Knoll. Of course the sun did not shine, but we had great open wood fires in the rooms, which were all very sweet with roses and other flowers, which were sent to me from distant friends; and fruits of all kinds from California and other places. Some relatives and dear old friends were with me through the day. I do not wonder thee thinks eighty-three years a long time, but to me it seems but a very little while since I was a boy no older than thee, playing on the old farm at Haverhill. I thank thee for all thy good wishes, and wish thee as many. I am glad thee is at the Institution; it is an excellent place. Give my best regards to Miss Sullivan, and with a great deal of love I am Thy old friend, John G. Whittier. How to Write Letters 117/132 CHAPTER X TELEGRAMS Perhaps the most important thing to guard against in the writing of telegrams is a choice of words which, when run together, may be read two ways. As there should be no punctuation (and telegraph companies do not hold themselves responsible for punctuation) the sentences must be perfectly clear. There are instances where the use of punctuation has caused trouble.

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In cases where punctuation is absolutely necessary, as for instance when more than one subject must be covered in the same message, the word "stop" is employed to divide the sentences, as: Will arrive eight-thirty Wednesday stop telephone Gaines am coming stop will be at Hotel Pennsylvania Therefore write sentences so that when they are run together there is only one interpretation. Use no salutation or complimentary closing. Leave out all words that are not necessary to the meaning. Omit firstperson pronouns where they are sure to be understood. Do not divide words in a telegram. Compound words are accepted as one word. Numbers should be spelled out, principally because it is more likely to insure correct transmission, and secondly because it costs less. For example, in the ordinal 24th the suffix this counted as another word. The minimum charge for telegrams is the cost of ten words, not counting the name, address, and signature. Nothing is saved by cutting the message to less than ten words. There is a certain fixed rate of charge for every word over ten. In counting the words, count as one word the following: I--Every word in the name of an individual or a concern as: Clive and Meyer Co. (four words) DeForest and Washburn Co. (four words also, as DeForest is counted as one word). II--Every dictionary word. In the case of cablegrams, words of over fifteen letters are counted as two words. III-Every separate letter as the "M" in "George M. Sykes" (three words). IV--Every figure in a number as 598 (three words). V--Names of states, territories, counties, cities, and villages. VI--Weights and measures, decimal points, punctuation marks within the sentence. To save expense in long messages codes can be used in which one word stands for several words. The Western Union has an established code--or private codes can be arranged. Five letters are allowed as one code word. A word of six or seven letters will thus count as two words. In cablegrams the use of codes is common on account of the higher rate for cablegrams. Since the name, address, date, and signature are all counted, code words are frequently used for the name and address. Code language is allowed only in the first class of cable messages. OCCASIONAL TELEGRAMS How to Write Letters 118/132 A graceful, concise, pertinent, and well-worded "occasional" telegram is frequently not easy to write. The following forms are suggested for the composition of some of these telegrams. The longer forms can be sent most cheaply as Night Letters or Day Letters. A Night Letter of fifty words can be sent for the cost of a ten-word full-rate telegram, i.e., from 30 cents to $1.20, depending on the distance. A Day Letter of fifty words can be sent for one and one half the cost of a ten-word full-rate message, i.e., from 45 cents to $1.80, depending on the distance. New Year greetings Best wishes for the New Year. May it bring to you and your family health, happiness, peace, and prosperity. May it see your hopes fulfilled and may it be rich in the successful accomplishment of your highest aims. Best wishes for a Happy New Year. May peace and happiness be yours in the New Year. May fortune smile upon you and favor you with many blessings.

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I (We) wish you a Happy New Year, a year big with success and achievement, a year rich with the affection of those who are dear to you, a year mellow with happiness and contentment. What the coming year may hold we can none of us foresee. It is my (our) earnest wish that for you it may bring forth a generous harvest of happiness and good fortune. May the coming year and all that succeed it deal lightly and kindly with you. May the coming year bring you happiness in fullest measure. We think of you with the affection born of our long friendship which the recurring year only strengthens. May the New Year bring you health, happiness, and all other good things. Health, happiness, and contentment, may these be yours in the New Year. May health, happiness, and prosperity be yours in bountiful measure in the year to come. May the New Year be a good year to you and yours--full of health and happiness. May each of the three hundred and sixty-five days of the New Year be a happy one for you. The happiest of New Years to you and yours. May the New Year find you in the enjoyment of health and happiness. Easter greetings Our thoughts turn to you with affection and best wishes at this Easter season with the hope that peace, prosperity, and plenty may attend your life to-day and through all your days to come. Easter Greeting from a friend who thinks of you with constant affection. This Easter Greeting carries to you the affection of an old friend. How to Write Letters 119/132 May this Easter Day find you in the enjoyment of health and happiness. Best wishes for a happy Easter. Best wishes for a happy Easter Day. May your future ever be as bright as the Springtime. Just a message to a friend, to convey to you my wish that this Easter may bring you happiness and good fortune. May Easter gladness fill your heart to-day and may all good attend you. I (We) Wish you joy and happiness at this Eastertide. May happiness and health be yours on this Easter Day and in the days to come. We all join in best wishes for a happy Easter Day to you and your family. Easter Greetings to you and yours. May your Easter be a bright and happy one. We all wish you and yours a happy Easter. Love and best wishes for a happy Easter. My (Our) Easter Greetings go to you. May the day be a joyful one for you. Thanksgiving Day greetings Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving Day. Good cheer and plenty, the love of your dear ones, the affection of your friends, may all these contribute to a happy Thanksgiving Day.

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May your Thanksgiving Day be a day of happiness and contentment. May your Thanksgiving Day be full of happiness and all good cheer. That I am (we are) not at home to-day to join in the festivities is a great sorrow to me (us). Love to all the dear family. I never forget the joy of this day at home. Love from one far away. Although I (we) cannot be with you to-day I (we) have the memory of past Thanksgiving Days at home. God bless you all. Think of me (us) as being with you in spirit. My (Our) love to you all. Let us never fail to be thankful that the years only increase the strength of our long friendship. It is with great thanksgiving that I (we) think of my (our) dear ones at home. How to Write Letters 120/132 My (Our) one wish this Thanksgiving Day is that I (we) might be with you. Affectionate wishes for your happiness. Though I (we) cannot be with you at the Thanksgiving Day board, my (our) thoughts are with you to-day. Around the family table think of me (us) as I (we) absent, shall think of you. My (Our) love to all. I (We) can picture you all at home. How I (we) long to be with you. My (Our) love to all the family. Christmas greetings Every good wish for a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. I need not tell you with what affection we are thinking of you and yours at this Christmas season. God bless you all. Every good wish for a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. My (Our) very best wishes for a Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and yours. May your Christmas be a very happy one. Merry Christmas to you and all the family. We all join in wishing you a Merry Christmas. All affection and good wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and yours. That your Christmas be a very happy one is the wish of your sincere friend. May Christmas bring you joy and happiness. You are constantly in my (our) thoughts which carry to you to-day all affectionate wishes for a Happy Christmas. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love and a Merry Christmas to you all. May your Christmas be a merry one and the New Year full of happiness. Affectionate greetings for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May this Christmas find you well and happy. Love and best wishes to you and yours. May Christmas bring you naught but joy and banish all care and sorrow. ---- joins me in very best wishes for a Merry Christmas. A Merry Christmas to all the dear ones at home.

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How to Write Letters 121/132 It is my (our) dearest wish that I (we) might be with you at this season of happiness and good-will--Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Birthday greetings Many happy returns of the day. My (Our) affectionate thoughts and every good wish go to you on this your birthday. May each succeeding year bring to you the best satisfaction which life holds. Many happy returns of the day. Best wishes for a happy birthday. Best wishes for your birthday. May all your ways be pleasant ways and all your days be happy days. Birthday greetings. I (We) wish you a long life and everything that makes a long life worth living. Best wishes for your birthday. May you live long and prosper. My (Our) thoughts are with you on your birthday. May all your days be happy days. I (We) wish you many happy years blessed with health, success, and friendship and filled with all the best that life can hold. We all join in best wishes for a very happy birthday and many years of health and prosperity. We all join in best wishes for a very happy birthday. May your birthday mark the dawn of a year of health, happiness, and good fortune. Wedding messages Sincerest congratulations to the bride and groom from an old friend who wishes you both years of health, happiness, and prosperity. May the future hold only the best for you that this world can give. Heartiest congratulations. I (We) wish you many years of happiness. Mrs. ---- and I join in heartiest congratulations. Hearty congratulations. May your years be many and happy ones. My (Our) sincerest and best wishes for your happiness. We all join in hearty congratulations and best wishes. May happiness, health, and prosperity be with you through the years to come. May all good fortune attend you, may your sky ever be bright, may no clouds of sorrow or trouble shadow it, and may your path be long and filled with joy. Every happiness be yours dear ---- on this your Wedding Day. How to Write Letters 122/132 Let an old family friend send his (her) love and congratulations to the bride and groom. May all good fairies watch over you. May they keep far from you all care and sorrow and brighten your path with sunshine and happiness. To the bride and groom, love and congratulations from an old friend. May this day be the beginning of a long, happy, and prosperous life for you both.

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On the birth of a child Love to the dear mother and her little son (daughter). Heartiest congratulations and love to mother and son (daughter). We rejoice with you in the happiness that has come into your lives. Love to mother and son (daughter). My best wishes to the newly arrived son (daughter) and to his (her) mother. We are all (I am) delighted to hear the news. Hearty congratulations. A warm welcome to the new arrival and best wishes for his (her) health and happiness. To the dear mother and her little son (daughter) love and every good wish. Hearty congratulations on the arrival of the new son (daughter). Messages of condolence You have my heartfelt sympathy in this hour of your bereavement. I wish I might find words in which to express my sorrow at your loss which is also mine. May you have the strength to bear this great affliction. You have my (our) heartfelt sympathy. My (Our) heartfelt sympathy in your great sorrow. I (We) want you to know with what tender sympathy I am (We are) thinking of you in these days of your bereavement. My (Our) sincere and heartfelt sympathy. I (We) have just heard of your great affliction. Let me (us) send to you my (our) heartfelt sympathy. My (Our) sincere sympathy. In the death of your dear father (mother--wife--sister--brother) I (we) have lost one whom it was my (our) privilege to call my (our) friend. My (our) heartfelt sympathy goes out to you in your sorrow. ---- joins me in the expression of our deepest sympathy. My (Our) love and sympathy go out to you in your great sorrow. How to Write Letters 123/132 I (We) share your sorrow for I (we) have lost a dear friend. All love and sympathy to you and yours. I (We) send you my (our) heartfelt sympathy. To have enjoyed the friendship of your father (husband--brother) I (we) hold one of the greatest privileges of my life (our lives). My (Our) sincere sympathy goes out to you in your heavy affliction. My (Our) love and sympathy in your sudden affliction. I am (We are) greatly shocked at the sad news. You have my (our) deepest sympathy. My (Our) deepest sympathy in your great loss. If there is anything I (we) can do, do not hesitate to let me (us) know. Congratulation to a school or college graduate

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May your future be as successful as have been your school (college) days. Heartiest congratulations upon your graduation. I am (We are) proud of your success. May the future grant you opportunity and the fulfillment of your hopes. I (We) hear that you have taken class honors. Sincerest congratulations and best wishes. May your Class Day be favored with sunny skies and your life be full of happiness and success. Sincerest congratulations upon your graduation. Congratulations upon your school (college) success, so happily terminated to-day. I (We) regret that I (we) cannot be with you to-day to see you take your new honors. Sincerest congratulations. Congratulation to a public man_ Heartiest congratulations on your splendid success. We have just heard of your success. Sincere congratulations and best wishes for the future. Heartiest congratulations on your nomination (election). Your nomination (election) testifies to the esteem in which you are held by your fellow citizens. Heartiest congratulations. Congratulations on your victory, a hard fight, well won by the best man. Your splendid majority must be a great satisfaction to you. Sincerest congratulations on your election. Congratulations upon your nomination. You will have the support of the best element in the community and your election should be a foregone conclusion. I wish you every success. You fought a good fight in a good cause. Heartiest congratulations on your splendid success. How to Write Letters 124/132 Nothing in your career should fill you with greater satisfaction than your successful election. I congratulate you with all my heart. No man deserves success more than you. You have worked hard for your constituents and they appreciate it. Heartiest congratulations. Your nomination (election) is received with the greatest enthusiasm by your friends here and by none more than myself. Heartiest congratulations. I congratulate you upon your new honors won by distinguished services to your fellow citizens. Your campaign was vigorous and fine. Your victory testifies to the people's confidence in you and your cause. Warmest congratulations. Congratulations upon your well-won victory and best wishes for your future success. You deserve your splendid success. Sincerest congratulations. I cannot refrain from expressing my personal appreciation of your eloquent address. Warmest congratulations. Your address last night was splendid. What a gift you have. Sincerest congratulations. Heartiest congratulations on your splendid speech of last night. Everybody is praising it. How to Write Letters 125/132 CHAPTER XI THE LAW OF LETTERS--CONTRACT LETTERS

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There are forty-eight states in this Union, and each of them has its own laws and courts. In addition we have the Federal Government with its own laws and courts. In one class of cases, the Federal courts follow the state laws which govern the particular occasion; in another class of cases, notably in those involving the interpretation or application of the United States statutes, the Federal courts follow Federal law. There is not even a degree of uniformity governing the state laws, and especially is this true in criminal actions, for crimes are purely statutory creations. Therefore it is extremely misleading to give any but the vaguest and most elementary suggestions on the law which governs letters. To be clear and specific means inevitably to be misleading. I was talking with a lawyer friend not long since about general text-books on law which might be useful to the layman. He was rather a commercially minded person and he spoke fervently: "If I wanted to build up a practice and I did not care how I did it, I should select one hundred well-to-do people and see that each of them got a copy of a compendium of business law. Then I should sit back and wait for them to come in--and come in they would, for every mother's son of them would decide that he had a knowledge of the law and cheerfully go ahead getting himself into trouble." Sharpen up a man's knowledge of the law and he is sure to cut himself. For the law is rarely absolute. Most questions are of mixed fact and law. Were it otherwise, there would be no occasion for juries, for, roughly, juries decide facts. The court decides the application of the law. The layman tends to think that laws are rules, when more often they are only guides. The cheapest and best way to decide points of law is to refer them to counsel for decision. Unless a layman will take the time and the trouble most exhaustively to read works of law and gain something in the nature of a working legal knowledge, he had best take for granted that he knows nothing whatsoever of law and refer all legal matters to counsel. There are, however, a few principles of general application that may serve, not in the stead of legal knowledge, but to acquaint one with the fact that a legal question may be involved, for legal questions by no means always formally present themselves in barristers' gowns. They spring up casually and unexpectedly. Take the whole question of contract. A contract is not of necessity a formal instrument. A contract is a meeting of minds. If I say to a man: "Will you cut my lawn for ten dollars?" and he answers, "Yes," as valid a contract is established as though we had gone to a scrivener and had covered a folio of parchment with "Whereases" and "Know all men by these presents" and "Be it therefore" and had wound up with red seals and ribbons. But of course many legal questions could spring out of this oral agreement. We might dispute as to what was meant by cutting the lawn. And then, again, the time element would enter. Was the agreement that the lawn should be cut the next day, or the next month, or the next year? Contracts do not have to be in writing. All that the writing does is to make the proof of the exact contract easier. If we have the entirety of a contract within the four corners of a sheet of paper, then we need no further evidence as to the existence of the contract, although we may be in just as hopeless a mess trying to define what the words of the contract mean. If we have not a written contract, we have the bother of introducing oral evidence to show that there was a contract. Most contracts nowadays are formed by the interchange of letters, and the general point to remember is that the acceptance must be in terms of the offer. If X writes saying: "I will sell you twenty tons of coal at fifteen dollars a ton," and Y replies: "I will take thirty tons of coal at thirteen dollars a ton," there is no contract, but merely a series of offers. If, however, X ships the thirty tons of coal, he can hold Y only at thirteen dollars a ton for he has abandoned his original offer and accepted Y's offer. It can be taken as a general principle that if an offer be not accepted in its terms and a new condition be introduced, then the acceptance really becomes an offer, and if the one who made the original offer goes How to Write Letters 126/132 ahead, it can be assumed that he has agreed to the modifications of the unresponsive acceptance. If X writes to Y making an offer, one of the conditions of which is that it must be accepted within ten days, and Y accepts in fifteen days, then X can, if he likes, disregard the acceptance, but he can waive his ten-day time limit and take Y's acceptance as a really binding agreement. Another point, sometimes of considerable importance, concerns the time when a letter takes effect, and this is governed by the question of fact as to whom the Post Office Department is acting for. If, in making an offer, I ask for a reply by mail or simply for a reply, I constitute the mail as my agent, and the acceptor of that offer will be presumed to have communicated with me at the moment when he consigns his letter to the mails. He must give the letter into proper custody--that is, it must go into the regular and authorized channels for the reception of mail. That

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done, it makes no difference whether or not the letter ever reaches the offerer. It has been delivered to his agent, and delivery to an agent is delivery to the principal. Therefore, it is wise to specify in an offer that the acceptance has to be actually received. The law with respect to the agency of the mails varies and turns principally upon questions of fact. Letters may, of course, be libelous. The law of libel varies widely among the several states, and there are also Federal laws as well as Postal Regulations covering matters which are akin to libel. The answer to libel is truth, but not always, for sometimes the truth may be spread with so malicious an intent as to support an action. It is not well to put into a letter any derogatory or subversive statement that cannot be fully proved. This becomes of particular importance in answering inquiries concerning character or credit, but in practically every case libel is a question of fact. Another point that arises concerns the property in a letter. Does he who receives a letter acquire full property in it? May he publish it without permission? In general he does not acquire full property. Mr. Justice Story, in a leading case, says: "The author of any letter or letters, and his representatives, whether they are literary letters or letters of business, possess the sole and exclusive copyright therein; and no person, neither those to whom they are addressed, nor other persons, have any right or authority to publish the same upon their own account or for their benefit." But then, again, there are exceptions. How to Write Letters 127/132 CHAPTER XII THE COST OF A LETTER Discovering the exact cost of a letter is by no means an easy affair. However, approximate figures may always be had and they are extremely useful. The cost of writing an ordinary letter is quite surprising. Very few letters can be dictated, transcribed, and mailed at a cost of much less than twelve cents each. The factors which govern costs are variable and it is to be borne in mind that the methods for ascertaining costs as here given represent the least cost and not the real cost--they simply tell you "Your letter costs at least this sum." They do not say "Your letter costs exactly this sum." The cost of a form letter, mailed in quantities, can be gotten at with considerable accuracy. The cost of letters dictated by correspondents or by credit departments or other routine departments is also capable of approximation with fair accuracy, but the cost of a letter written by an executive can really hardly be more than guessed at. But in any case a "not-less-than" cost can be had. In recent years industrial engineers have done a great deal of work in ascertaining office costs and have devised many useful plans for lowering them. These plans mostly go to the saving of stenographers' time through suitable equipment, better arrangement of supplies, and specialization of duties. For instance, light, the kind or height of chair or desk, the tension of the typewriter, the location of the paper and carbon paper, all tend to make or break the efficiency of the typist and are cost factors. In offices where a great deal of routine mail is handled, the writing of the envelopes and the mailing is in the hands of a separate department of specialists with sealing and stamp affixing machines. The proper planning of a correspondence department is a science in itself, and several good books exist on the subject. But all of this has to do with the routine letter. When an executive drawing a high salary must write a letter, it is his time and not the time of the stenographer that counts. He cannot be kept waiting for a stenographer, and hence it is economy for him to have a personal secretary even if he does not write enough letters to keep a single machine busy through more than a fraction of a day. Many busy men do not dictate letters at all; they have secretaries skilled in letter writing. In fact, a man whose salary exceeds thirty thousand dollars a year cannot afford to write a letter excepting on a very important subject. He will commonly have a secretary who can write the letter after only a word or two indicating the subject matter. Part of the qualification of a good secretary is an ability to compose letters which are characteristic of the principal.

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Take first the cost of a circular letter--one that is sent out in quantities without any effort to secure a personal effect. The items of cost are: (1) The postage. (2) The paper and printing. (3) The cost of addressing, sealing, stamping, and mailing. The third item is the only one that offers any difficulty. Included in it are first the direct labor--the wages of the human beings employed; and, second, the overhead expense. The second item includes the value of the space occupied by the letter force, the depreciation on the equipment, and finally the supervision and the executive expense properly chargeable to the department. Unless an accurate cost system is in force the third item cannot be accurately calculated. The best that can be done is to take the salaries of the people actually employed on the work and guess at the proper charge for the space. The sum of the three items divided by the number of letters is the cost per letter. It is not an accurate cost. It will be low rather than high, for probably the full share of overhead expense will not be charged. How to Write Letters 128/132 It will be obvious, however, that the place to send out circular letters is not a room in a high-priced office building, unless the sending is an occasional rather than a steady practice. Costs in this work are cut by better planning of the work and facilities, setting work standards, paying a bonus in excess of the standards, and by the introduction of automatic machinery. The Post Office now permits, under certain conditions, the use of a machine which prints a stamp that is really a frank. This is now being used very generally by concerns which have a heavy outgoing mail. Then there are sealing machines, work conveyors, and numerous other mechanical and physical arrangements which operate to reduce the costs. They are useful, however, only if the output be very large indeed. The personally dictated letter has these costs: (1) The postage. (2) The stationery. (3) The dictator's time--both in dictating and signing. (4) The stenographer's time. (5) The direct overhead expense, which includes the space occupied, the supervision, the executive overhead, and like items. The troublesome items here are numbers three and five. If the dictator is a correspondent then the calculation of how much it costs him to dictate a letter is his salary plus the overhead on the space that he occupies, divided by the number of letters that he writes in an average month. It takes him longer to write a long than a short letter, but routine letters will average fairly over a period of a month. But an executive who writes only letters that cannot be written by correspondents or lower salaried men commonly does so many other things in the course of a day that although his average time of dictation per letter may be ascertained and a cost gotten at, the figure will not be a true cost, for the dictation of an important letter comes only after a consideration of the subject matter which commonly takes much longer than the actual dictation. And then, again, the higher executive is usually an erratic letter writer-he may take two minutes or twenty minutes over an ordinary ten-line letter. Some men read their letters very carefully after transcription. The cost of this must also be reckoned in. The cost of any letter is therefore a matter of the particular office. It will vary from six or seven cents for a letter made up of form paragraphs to three or four dollars for a letter written by a high-salaried president of a large corporation. A fair average cost for a personally dictated letter written on good paper is computed by one of the leading paper manufacturers, after a considerable survey to be: Postage .0200 Printing letterheads and envelopes .0062 Stenographic wages (50 letters per day, $20.00 per week) .0727 Office overhead .0727 Paper and envelopes .0054 ------ $.1770 The above does not include the expense of dictation.

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It will pay any man who writes a considerable number of letters to discover what his costs are--and then make his letters so effective that there will be fewer of them. How to Write Letters 129/132 CHAPTER XIII STATIONERY, CRESTS AND MONOGRAMS SOCIAL CORRESPONDENCE For all social correspondence use plain sheets of paper, without lines, of white or cream, or perhaps light gray or a very dull blue. But white or cream is the safest. Select a good quality. Either a smooth vellum finish or a rough linen finish is correct. For long letters there is the large sheet, about five by six and one half inches, or it may be even larger. There is a somewhat smaller size, about four and one half by five and one half or six inches for formal notes, and a still smaller size for a few words of congratulation or condolence. The social note must be arranged so as to be contained on the first page only. A man should not, for his social correspondence, use office or hotel stationery. His social stationery should be of a large size. Envelopes may be either square or oblong. In the matter of perfumed stationery, if perfume is used at all, it must be very delicate. Strong perfumes or perfumes of a pronounced type have a distinctly unpleasant effect on many people. It is better form to use none. [Illustration: Specimens of addressed social stationery] [Illustration: Specimens of addressed social stationery. (The first specimen is business stationery in social form)] An inviolable rule is to use black ink. The most approved forms of letter and notepaper (although the use of addressed paper is not at all obligatory and it is perfectly proper to use plain paper) have the address stamped in Roman or Gothic lettering at the top of the sheet in the centre or at the right-hand side about three quarters of an inch from the top. The color used may be black, white, dark blue, dark green, silver, or gold. Country houses, where there are frequent visitors, have adopted the custom of placing the address at the upper right and the telephone, railroad station, and post office at the left. The address may also appear on the reverse flap of the envelope. Crests and monograms are not used when the address is engraved at the top of a letter sheet. Obviously the crowding of address and crest or monogram would not be conducive to good appearance in the letter. A monogram, originally a cipher consisting of a single letter, is a design of two or more letters intertwined. It is defined as a character of several letters in one, or made to appear as one. The letters may be all the letters of a name, or the initial letters of the Christian and surnames. [Illustration: The monograms in the best taste are the small round ones, but many pleasing designs may be had in the diamond, square, and oblong shape] [Illustration: Specimens of crested letter and notepaper] Many of the early Greek and Roman coins bear the monograms of rulers or of the town in which they were struck. The Middle Ages saw the invention of all sorts of ciphers or monograms, artistic, commercial, and ecclesiastical. Every great personage had his monogram. The merchants used them, the "merchant's mark" being the merchant's initials mingled with a private device and almost invariably a cross, as a protection How to Write Letters 130/132 against disaster or to distinguish their wares from those of Mohammedan eastern traders. Early printers used monograms, and they serve to identify early printed books.

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A famous monogram is the interlaced "H.D." of Henry II and Diane de Poitiers. It appeared lavishly upon every building which Henry II erected. It was also stamped on the bindings in the royal library, with the bow, the quiver, and the crescent of Diana. Monograms and crests on stationery, after a period of disuse, seem to be coming into favor again. The monograms in the best taste are the small round ones, though very pleasing designs may be had in the diamond, square, and oblong shapes. They should not be elaborate, and no brilliant colors should be used. The stamping is best done in black, white, dark green, dark blue, gold, or silver. The crest or monogram may be placed in the centre of the sheet or on the left-hand side about three quarters of an inch from the top. The address may be in the centre or at the right-hand side. But, as noted above, to use both addressed and monogrammed or crested paper is not good taste. The best stationery seems to run simply to addressed paper. Crests and monograms should not be used on the envelope. In the matter of crests and heraldic emblems on stationery and announcements, many families with authentic crests discontinued their use during the war in an effort to reduce everything to the last word in simplicity. However, there are many who still use them. The best engravers will not design crests for families without the right to use them. But the extreme in "crests" is the crest which does not mean family at all, but is a device supposed to give an idea of the art or taste of the individual. For example, a quill or a scroll may be the basis for such a "crest." Really no good reason exists why, in default of a family with a crest, one should not decide to be a crest founder. The only point is that the crest should not pretend to be something it is not--a hereditary affair. [Illustration: Specimens of monogrammed stationery] [Illustration: Specimens of business letterheads] On the use of crests in stationery one authority says: As to the important question of crests and heraldic emblems in our present-day stationery, these are being widely used, but no crests are made to order where the family itself has none. Only such crests as definitely belong to the family are ever engraved on notepaper, cards, or any new style of place cards. Several stationers maintain special departments where crests are looked up and authenticated and such families as are found in Fairbairn's Crests, Burke's Peerage, Almanche de Gotha, the Armoire Général, are utilized to help in the establishment of the armorial bearing of American families. Of course, the College of Heraldry is always available where the American family can trace its ancestors to Great Britain. Many individuals use the coat-of-arms of their mothers, but according to heraldry they really have no right to do so. The woman to-day could use her father's and husband's crests together if the crests are properly in pale, that is, if a horizontal line be drawn to cut the shield in two--the husband's on the left, the father's on the right. If the son wants to use the father's and mother's crest, this must be quartered to conform to rule, the arms of the father to be in the first and fourth quarter; that of the mother in the second and third quarter. The daughter is not supposed to use a coat-of-arms except in lozenge form. The dinner card that reflects the most refined and modern type of usage is a card of visiting card size, with a coat-ofarms in gold and gilt border, on real parchment. These cards are hand-lettered and used as place cards for dinner parties. The use of sealing wax is optional, though a good rule to follow is not to use it unless it is necessary. The wax may be any dark color on white, cream, or light gray paper. Black wax is used with mourning stationery. The How to Write Letters 131/132 best place to stamp a seal is the centre of the flap. It should not be done at all if it cannot be accomplished neatly. The crest or monogram should be quickly and firmly impressed into the hot wax. In selecting stationery it is a good plan to adhere to a single style, provided of course that a good choice of paper and stamping has been made. The style will become as characteristic of you as your handwriting. Distinction can be had in quiet refinement of line and color. The use of the typewriter for social correspondence has some authority--though most of us will want to keep to the old custom of pen and ink. In case this should be employed for some good reason, the letter must be placed in the centre of the page with all four margins left wide. Of course the signature to any typewritten letter must be in ink.

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BUSINESS STATIONERY For the usual type of business letter, a single large sheet of white paper, unruled, of the standard business size, 8-1/2 x 11 inches, is generally used. The standard envelopes are 6-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches and 10 x 4-1/2, the former requiring three folds of the letter (one across and two lengthwise) and the latter requiring two folds (across). The former size, 6-1/2 x 3-1/2, is much preferred. The latter is useful in the case of bulky enclosures. Bond of a good quality is probably the best choice. Colored papers, while attracting attention in a pile of miscellaneous correspondence, are not in the best taste. Rather have the letter striking for its excellent typing and arrangement. Department stores and firms that write a great many letters to women often employ a notepaper size sheet for these letters. On this much smaller sheet the elite type makes a better appearance with letters of this kind. [Illustration: Department stores and firms that write many letters to women often employ a notepaper size] [Illustration: Specimens of stationery used by men for personal business letters] The letterhead may be printed, engraved, or lithographed, and it is safest done in black. It should cover considerably less than a quarter of the page. It contains the name of the firm, the address, and the business. The addresses of branch houses, telephone numbers, cable addresses, names of officials, and other data may be included. But all flamboyant, colored advertisements, trade slogans, or advertising matter extending down the sides of the letter detract from the actual content of the letter, which it is presumed is the essential part of the letter. For personal business letters, that is, for letters not social but concerning personal affairs not directly connected with his business, a man often uses a letter sheet partaking more of the nature of social stationery than of business. This sheet is usually rather smaller than the standard business size and of heavier quality. The size and shape of these letter sheets are matters of personal preference--7 x 10 inches or 8 x 10 inches--sometimes even as large as the standard 8-1/2 x 11 or as small as 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 or 6 x 8. The smaller size, however, requires the double sheet, and the engraving may be done on the fourth page instead of the first. The inside address in these letters is generally placed at the end of the letters instead of above the salutation. Instead of a business letterhead the sheet may have an engraved name and home or business address without any further business connotations, or it may be simply an address line. THE END How to Write Letters 132/132

You will move to a new city for work. You know some people who live there. · Ask them for help finding accommodation · Tell them where you would like to live · Tell them the type of place you are looking for Dear Sir, I wanted to let you know that I am coming to live in (city) and I would like to ask if you can help me with a few things before I arrive and start my new job. Do you think you could give me a hand finding somewhere to live? Ideally I would like to live close to where I am going to be working, or in the downtown district. If

www.makkarielts.com possible I would like to be near some shops, like a supermarket and a DVD rental place. As I really love sports it would be great to be near a park too. I’m not too worried about the place itself. Obviously I will be looking for a flat, rather than a house, as it is just going to be me and I won’t be able to afford too much. So, a place with one bedroom is fine, but I would like to have a private bathroom (not shared), a kitchen and some kind of living room. It doesn’t matter if the kitchen is small, but it would nice to have one. I would prefer to live somewhere new, so anything in a modern apartment block would be great. Thanks Your car is hired from a company and while you are driving on holiday, you have a small accident. You will have to write a report to the company to explain it. You need to explain the following: 1. When and where you hired it? 2. Describe how the accident happened? 3. What kind of action did you take after the accident? Dear Sir, I am a recent customer of your rental company having I rented a car from your downtown outlet in Detroit. The car hired was an economy model vehicle which I rented from March 21st to the present. I would like to commend your company on their professionalism and the service offered, and as such I am sure you will handle my incident with these qualities. Unfortunately, I had an unavoidable accident involving the aforementioned vehicle and another party. The accident was caused by the other car failing to stop at the red light of the intersection I was passing through, and as such the second party collided into the driver's side of my automobile. The police were informed in situ, whereupon they recorded information regarding the accident and the other driver’s insurance details. The police established the other driver's responsibility for the accident, and the second

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www.makkarielts.com party's insurance company has been informed. I would like to request that a replacement vehicle be offered while my current vehicle is incapacitated. Once again, I would like to commend your company's professional attitude. Yours sincerely You cannot go to a company where you got an offer. Write a letter to the HR supervisor to 1. Explain the reason why you decline the offer 2. Express you gratitude 3. Explain you like your current job very much. You should write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir, I was a potential employee to whom you made a job offer. I would like to extend my thanks for such an offer, especially at such a company as yours. It is, however, with deepest regret that I must decline your generous invitation and apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused. I appreciate immensely the interview organized by your company and the extensive effort made by all the staff involved. Their attitude was impressive and highly commendable. As such I must pass my sincerest apologies for any difficulties related to the extra work that must have been involved, and the time wasted on your behalf. Although the offer was substantial, it wasn’t enough to encourage me to sever the bonds with my current employer. During my time at my present company my superiors supported me and fostered my career. In short, they made me the employee I am today. I would like to keep the lines of communication open between our two parties, and look forward to further correspondence. Yours sincerely You had a good meal in a local restaurant with your family. Write a letter to the newspaper to tell them about it, describe the meal you had, and why you think

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www.makkarielts.com the restaurant is worth visiting. You should write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir, To the Editor, I am a long standing member of our local community and I am writing a recommendation to other citizens for one of our fine neighbourhood dining establishments; The Lone Star Café. There were many impressive attributes which struck me upon my entrance, such as the décor and ambience. I particularly enjoyed the laidback attitude of the place. But for my mind it was the service along with the size and quality of the portions that was most memorable. The service was professional yet intimate, and along with the sheer quantity of the dishes served, motivated me to pass on my recommendation. I enjoyed a steak of mammoth proportions and a giant fresh, crisp salad accompanied by a selection of appropriately selected seasonal vegetables. The piece de resistance, however, was the rich Black Forest gateau served as dessert –and all for a reasonable price. I hope after reading this, potential customers will frequent this diner – Bon appetite. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write a letter to complain about a situation in which some adolescents let their dogs run wildly causing dangerous. Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to draw your attention to a situation that has been developing in my neighbourhood. Recently, I have witnessed many dogs on the loose in the neighbourhood. The dogs, which are fierce looking and not muzzled, are given license to run around the neighbourhood. They are intimidating, especially to children and the elderly. I am afraid that it’s just a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured. The owners of these dogs, a bunch of adolescents, seem to be unaware of the dangers

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www.makkarielts.com of letting their pets off the leash and have adopted a nonchalant attitude. The teenagers have been asked by numerous locals to keep the dogs under control but all requests have been ignored and the situation has not improved. I therefore believe that immediate action must be taken and I ask that you investigate the matter and take appropriate action as soon as possible to prevent the occurrence of injury and serious bodily harm. You ordered a new cheque book from your bank two weeks ago but you have received nothing. Write a letter to the manager complaining about the bad service. Say when and how you ordered the cheque book. Ask how much longer you will have to wait and ask the manager what action he will take over this matter. Dear Sir, I am writing to complain about the service that I have received at your bank. Two weeks ago I ordered a cheque book by filling out the appropriate form when I visited the bank but since then I have not received the cheque book and I have received no other correspondence from the bank. It is quite urgent for me as I have quite a few bills that I need to pay that can only be paid by cheque. Please write to me as soon as possible and let me know how much longer I will have to wait for my cheque book and please explain why I have had to wait so long. I would also like to know what action you are going to take regarding this bad service. I have been a customer of your bank now for fifteen years and this is the first time I have had to complain. It is very disappointing. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, You would like to buy some electrical goods at a shop in a nearby town. Write a letter to the shop and ask if they have the things you want or whether they will be able to order them. Ask what the prices are and how long they will be able to hold the goods for you. Dear Sir,

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www.makkarielts.com I am writing to enquire if you have various electrical goods that I want to buy. I have tried shops in my own town but they don’t have exactly what I want. I want the new Sony DVD player, a Techniques turntable and a radio with long wave capability. Do you have these items in stock or, if not, will you be able to order them soon? I also need to know what price you charge for these items. If you do have these things, would you be able to hold them for me and for how long? I am free this weekend and, if you have them, I can come over on Saturday morning to pay you and pick them up. Please write back to me as soon as possible at the above address or call me on my mobile number (07364 957 143). I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, You have been invited to attend an interview for a place studying a course in a college. Unfortunately because of a previous appointment you cannot come at the time they wish. Write a letter to the admissions tutor and explain your position. Apologise and offer to come on another day or later the same day. Ask also how long the interview will be and whether there will be any tests during it. Dear Sir, Thank you very much for your letter dated 15th May inviting me for an interview at your college on Wednesday 2nd June at 10am. I am extremely sorry but I am unable to come to an interview at that time because I have a maths exam that morning. It really cannot I miss this exam but of course I really wish to attend the interview with you. Is it possible that I could come to the interview the same day but in the afternoon? Failing that, I would be able to come the next day or any day after. I would also like to ask some things about the interview. I would like to know how long it will last and also whether I will be required to do any tests during it. Once again I apologise for not being able to attend the interview at the time that you wanted and I hope I will be able to meet with you at another time. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely,

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www.makkarielts.com James Walker A friend of yours is going on holiday soon and has asked you to recommend a destination. Write a letter to your friend and recommend a good place for a holiday that you have visited before. Say where you went, where you stayed, what you can do there and what the food was like. Dear Sarah, Thanks for your letter. I’m glad you and the family are well. So, you’re thinking of going on holiday in the UK. Well I can certainly recommend one destination for you. I went one year to a place called Lochinvar in the north west of Scotland. It’s quite a long trip to get there as it’s only about thirty miles from the north coast but it’s worth it. There are only a few places to stay. There are two hotels, the Kirkaig and the Assent in the centre of town, and a campsite just outside town. We stayed at the Kirkaig Hotel but I know you and your family are keen campers so you might prefer the camping option. There is a lot to do but it’s a bit dependent on the weather. There’s a beautiful beach, a golf course, the fishing is excellent and there are fantastic hills nearby for walking in amazing scenery. If it’s wet there’s a small cinema in town but that’s about all. Take some board games! The food is typical British in the hotels but some of the Scottish specialities are fantastic. If you’re camping though, food will be up to you! Anyway, I’ve got to go out now and pick up the kids. Write again if you need any more information. Regards, You have just spent a weekend at a friend’s house. When you returned home, you discovered you have left a coat containing some belongings in his house. Write a letter to your friend telling him that you left the coat. Tell him what the coat looks like, where you think you left it and what was inside it. Make some suggestions about how to get it back.

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www.makkarielts.com Dear John, I’m back at home now after that great weekend at your house. Thanks very much for putting me up. I hope you’ll be able to come and stay with me some time soon as well. Unfortunately I left my new coat at your house. Do you remember the dark brown one that I wore when we went walking on Saturday afternoon? It is a New Look coat that goes down to mid-thigh level. It has a black collar, dark brown buttons and large pockets on both sides. I think I left it on the hooks behind your front door. Do you remember we hung up our coats there when we got back from our walk? It’s quite important for me as I have my wallet in the inside breast pocket and my diary in the right outside pocket. I have a friend who is driving through your town on Thursday and he will be quite near your office. Could he please collect it from there? I have given him your office phone number and he will call you on Thursday morning. Give me a call if this is not possible. Anyway, thanks again for a great weekend and I hope to see you soon. Regards, Phillip You live in a room in college which you share with another student. You find it very difficult to work there because he or she always has friends visiting. They have parties in the room and sometimes borrow your things without asking you. Write a letter to the Accommodation Officer at the college and ask for a new room next term. You would prefer a single room. Explain your reasons. Accommodation Officer 13, Kings Road Edinburgh Dear Sir, and Dear Lacking I am writing you to express my dissatisfaction with my room-mate and request for another accommodation next term. My main problem is that I cannot study in my room because my room-mate always

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www.makkarielts.com has friends visiting. He also has parties, which usually ends early in the morning, several times a week. Furthermore he often borrows my things without asking me. I cannot accept this situation any layer. Especially because I have very important exams next term and I really must study hard. This is why I would be very grateful if I could have another room next term. It would be most convenient for me not having to share my room with somebody else. I am looking forward to hear from you soon. Yours faithfully, Johns You have just spent a weekend staying at the Lilo Hotel in Adelaide. When you get home you find that you have left a bag at the hotel. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear Mr. Simpson, I stayed in your hotel on the 23rd and 24th of October. I was in Room 603. When I arrived home, I discovered that I had left one of my bags at the hotel. Could you please check your Lost and Found Department and see if my bag is there? The bag is small black leather, document case with a narrow strap. Inside the bag, you will find several business cards, a fountain pen, a small address book, three copies of a business proposal and a silver pocket calculator. These things are not very valuable in money terms, but they have a lot of personal value. I would appreciate it if you could contact me as soon as possible, particularly since I need the proposals for a presentation this week. If you could send the bag to me by courier service, I would be most grateful. I have arranged to pay for the service. Thank you for your help. Yours sincerely, Michael Johnson You are writing your first letter to a pen pal. Describe your previous

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www.makkarielts.com studies and work experience, your current activities, hobbies and interests. Tell your pen pal that you will be visiting him/her. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear Monica, Hi! My name is Jane Zhang, and I obtained your name and address from Pen Pals International. I am very glad to have this chance to write to you and become pen pals. Let me first introduce myself. I’m currently working as a computer programmer in a large multi-national company. I graduated from Tsinghai University with a Bachelor’s degree in computer science in July 1996. While I enjoy my current job, I’m interested in pursuing a Master’s degree, and hope to begin graduate studies next September. My hobbies include listening to pop music (especially U2), playing the piano and erhu ( a Chinese instrument), and playing tennis. I’m also very interested in travelling, and have visited every province in Chinese at least once. This summer, I will be travelling with my mother to California. She will be attending a history conference at the University of California-Berkeley, and I have just received permission to go with her. We will stay in California for a total of 2 weeks – from August 2nd to 16th, 1999. If you are free, I would be very happy to meet you in person. Perhaps we could spend a day or two together. Well, let me finish here. I am already eagerly awaiting your reply to this first letter. Please tell me all about yourself and your interests. I hope that we can become good friends. Yours truly, Michael One of your friends wants to apply for a job involving working with foreign teenagers. Write a letter of recommendation for him/her.

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www.makkarielts.com · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear Sir or Madam, I have learned from your newspaper advertisement that your centre is organizing an international summer camp for overseas teenagers, and you are looking for a bilingual assistant tutor to work with the children. I am writing to you to recommend one of my best friends, Helen Wang, for this post. Helen used to be my classmate at Beijing Normal University, where she was already a very active organizer and participant in extracurricular activities. With her outstanding leadership skills and cheerful personality, she was elected chairperson of the Student Union several times. Busy as she was, she passed the College English Test Band Six and completed her major – teenage psychology – with an excellent school record. Upon graduation she was assigned to be a teacher in an international high school in Beijing, where she has been teaching bilingual lessons for five years. What’s more, she loves her job and enjoys working with children. This has won her great popularity among her students. Therefore, I do not hesitate to recommend her as an ideal candidate for the post you advertised. I am sure you will make a wise decision in hiring her. Sincerely yours, Victor Li You want to apply for the following job. Write a letter to Mr. Moore describing your previous experience and explaining why you would be suitable for the job. Waiter/waitress required for evening work. Some experience necessary. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear Mr. Moore, Re: Waitress position

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www.makkarielts.com I am writing to express my interest in your recently advertised position for a waitress. Enclosed with this letter is my resume, which further details of my previous experience and qualifications. Not only do my qualifications and work experience make me a perfect candidate for the job, my personality is well suited to working as a waitress. I am a very friendly person who can quickly establish rapport with people of all ages. In my last waitress job, I had over a dozen repeat customers each day. And, the fastpaced environment of waiting on tables suits me well, because I thrive on working under pressure. In fact, my former boss was surprised at both my incredible stamina and efficiency in dealing with customers’ orders. I would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience, to discuss the possibility of working at your restaurant. I can be reached at 463-9234 during the days and 924-6868 after 6 pm. Thank you for your consideration of my application. I look forward to meeting you in the near future. Yours sincerely, Martha Scott You have a friend who is about to enter university, and he wants you to advise him on which subject to specialize in – history, in which he is very interested, or computer science, which offers better job prospects. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear John, You have asked me for my advice concerning whether you should study history or computer science at university, and I will try to make some useful suggestions. You must keep in mind that, above all, your university training is a preparation for your future career. Therefore, your first consideration should be to study a subject which will best equip you to earn a living. There is no doubt that the field of computers offers far wider job opportunities than history.

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www.makkarielts.com Besides, we are now in the age of the high-technology revolution. For the foreseeable future, not only will it be necessary for everyone to be computerliterate, it will also be necessary for them to be equipped with computer skills merely to earn a living! History, I’m afraid, however fascinating it may be, offers few career prospects. Of course, you don’t have to devote all your time at university to studying computers and nothing else. On the contrary, I would recommend that you keep your reading of history in your spare time. That way, you will find that your leisure hours are enriched while you prepare yourself for a worthwhile career in computers. Yours sincerely, James After being involved in an accident, you were looked after by another person. Write a special letter to express your thanks. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear John, I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude. I am referring to that unfortunate accident the other day, when I was knocked off my bike by a taxi. If it had not been for your timely assistance in giving me first aid and taking me to a nearby hospital, I fear that the consequences might have been much more serious. The doctor says that my broken leg is healing well, and the bruises and cuts I suffered will soon be completely better. In addition, the taxi company has agreed to pay my hospital bills. Everyone agrees that it was your quick-witted response in that emergency that has lead to this satisfactory outcome. Although nowadays many people talk about the need to be unselfish and to help others, we see very few people practicing what they preach. But you showed by your selfless action that you are an exception. If there were more people like you, this world would be a much nicer place. Yours sincerely,

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www.makkarielts.com One of your pen pals will shortly be visiting your city. For some reasons, you can not manage to meet him at the airport on time.Write a letter asking him to wait for you at the airport and tell him how to identify you. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear Mary, I am very much looking forward to your visit to my city. Just think: after all these years to writing to each other, we will finally have the chance to meet! However, I regret to inform you that I will not be able to meet you at the airport as soon as you arrive. The reason is that your flight will arrive early in the morning, and the quickest time I can get to the airport will be about an hour after you land. Please wait for me in the arrival lounge. You should be able to have breakfast there while you wait. By the way, as we have never met I must tell you how to recognize me: I am of medium height and have a small moustache. In addition, I will be carrying a copy of the morning newspaper tucked under my left arm. Looking forward to our first meeting. Yours sincerely, Harry Your find that your study load is too heavy. Write a letter to your college teacher explaining why you need to withdraw from two courses. Ask if it is possible to obtain a refund. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear Prof. James, I am writing to formally request to withdraw from two courses: Introduction to Elementary Education (EDU602) and Teaching Methods (EDU 619) the main reason for reducing my course load is that I am finding it extremely

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www.makkarielts.com difficult to manage six courses. In the beginning of the term, I was perhaps overly optimistic about juggling both my full time studies and my part time job (20 hours/week). Because I really must work part time, I have no other choice but to decrease my course load. I am planning on taking the two courses during the summer semester, if they are available, so that I will be able to complete all the courses for the degree program by the following year. I would also like to request a tuition refund, and hope I am not too late to receive the full reimbursement. I am sorry for any inconveniences I have caused by this change in plans. This decision was not taken lightly, and I do appreciate the kind consideration you have shown to me. Thank you for your attention to these requests. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 277-9144. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely yours, Jane Carter As part of a student social survey project, you are organizing a group to visit a historical exhibition in a small town. Write a letter asking for information regarding such things as the contents of the exhibition, and the dates of its opening and closing, and if there are any discounts available. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear Sir, I am organizing a group of students to pay a visit to the historical exhibition in your town. This visit will be part of our school’s activities to encourage the students to take part in social surveys. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could supply me with the following information. First of all, what are the dates between which the exhibition will be held, and what the daily opening hours? Secondly, what is the size of the exhibition, what is its theme and what objects are on display? Thirdly, are there any other activities

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www.makkarielts.com being held in connection with the exhibition? I must point out that I hope to bring over students to the exhibition. So I would like to inquire if there is any discount available on entrance tickets for students. If so, how much is the discount and what is the minimum number of students necessary to quality for it? I look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely, You live in a room in a college where you share with another student. You find it very difficult to work there because your roommate always has friends visiting. He/She has parties in the room and sometimes borrows your things without asking you. Write a letter to the Accommodation Officer at the college and ask for a new room next term. You would prefer a single room. Explain your reasons. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inform you that I wish to move into a new room next term. I would prefer a single room, as I find the present sharing arrangement inconvenient. I must explain that the reason for my dissatisfaction is my roommate’s inconsiderate behaviour. For one thing, his friends are constantly visiting him, for another, he regularly holds noisy parties. In addition, he sometimes borrows my things without asking me. In these circumstances, I find it difficult to concentrate on my studies, and I am falling behind in my assignments. I am sure you will agree that the only solution is for me to move into a room of my own, where I will be free from such distractions. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could find a single room for me, preferably not in the same building but as near to the college campus as possible.

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www.makkarielts.com Yours sincerely, Janice Kennedy You went to the local hospital’s Emergency Department with your young child who had severe stomach pains. You had to wait for almost four hours before your daughter was treated by a doctor and, while you were waiting, you were constantly ignored by the other staff. Write a letter to the Registrar, complaining about the service you received. · You should write at least 150 words. · Allow yourself 20 minutes for this task. · You do not need to write your own address. · Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam . . . , Dear Sir or Madam I am writing to complain about the treatment my daughter and I received when we visited the casualty department in your hospital last weekend. During the afternoon, my daughter developed severe pains in the stomach. Because it was Sunday, my normal doctor was not in his surgery, so we went to the hospital casualty department. When we reached the Enquiry counter, it was obvious that my daughter was unwell as she was screaming with pain. However, the Receptionist just told us to sit down and wait. Over the next four hours, I constantly asked how long it would take for a doctor to see my daughter, but the Receptionist was quite rude and didn’t seem to care very much. Eventually, we did see a doctor and my little girl had to undergo tests to see if she had appendicitis. However, I was really angry because the doctor said he had not seen anyone for over an hour, so the Receptionist wasn’t doing her job properly. I would be grateful if you could investigate this terrible service to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Yours faithfully

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www.makkarielts.com You have been offered a job, asking you to start next week. You want the job very much but, because of a previous commitment, you want to delay the start for another two weeks. Write to the Manager, accepting the job, but explaining your situation and asking for the change to your start date. · You should write at least 150 words. · Allow yourself 20 minutes for this task. · You do not need to write your own address. · Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam . . . , Dear Sir or Madam I am writing to request putting off the job which you have offered. I really want the job but I have a important previous commitment. So, I cannot start to work next week. I was offered the job yesterday, which wanted me to start next week. Thank you so much for offering the job. I really want to work at your company. However, I cannot start next week because I have a previous commitment which is my sister's wedding. It is next weekend, besides. She lives in Korea and she want me to prepare her wedding with my parents. So I have to go to Korea next Monday. After the wedding I will travel a few days with my parents who wanted me to travel because I have lived for 4 years far from home. That is why I cannot start the work next week. I will come back to Sydney two weeks later. I would like to delay the start for another two weeks. Could you delay the start date for me? Once again, thank you very much for offering it. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible. Yours faithfully Comment: This letter shows fluency, and includes some variety in vocabulary and expressions. However, there is also some repetition and some errors in grammar, such as the following:

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www.makkarielts.com 1) Choice of the type of article when the following word begins with a vowel sound (line 1) 2) Verb tense (line 2) 3) Incorrect linkage (replace relative clause) (line 3) 4) Incorrect use of vocabulary (line 5) 5) Missing preposition (line 7) 6) Word order (line 7) 7) Incorrect vocabulary (line 8) 8) Incorrect time expressions (line 8) 9) Agreement: linking of ‘it’ to related singular noun (line 1) A friend you met last year has invited you to visit them in their country. You have never been there before and need some information before you leave.Write a letter to your friend. In your letter · request advice about a gift for his/her family · ask about activities and clothing · find out about the food · You should write at least 150 words. · Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Robert, Hi there, I hope you're enjoying your college year. Thanks very much for asking me to come and visit you in Singapore. As you know, I haven't travelled to Asia before, so I though I'd write and ask you a few questions. I want to bring a present with me and I wondered what would be appropriate. Perhaps you could let me know what your mum's hobbies are and then I could come up with an idea based on one of them. Also, what sort of clothes should I bring? I know it's pretty warm where you live but do I need jumpers or a coat? what sort of activities are we likely to do while I'm there and should I bring things like swimming gear or trainers.

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www.makkarielts.com Lastly, I hate to be nuisance but I hope you remember that I'm vegetarian. I do eat fish and eggs but I don't eat red meat and chicken at all. Is that going to be a problem? Look forward to hearing from you. You have received a letter from your bank, asking you to acknowledge receipt of a new bank card. However, the card was missing from the envelope. Write a letter to the bank's head office. In your letter · explain why you are writing · express concern about the missing card · ask them what they intend to do · You should write at least 150 words. · Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sir, I am writing to inform you that I received a letter from my bank today, which was supposed to contain my new bank card. Unfortunately there was no bank card enclosed in the envelope when I opened it. I telephoned the bank to explain the problem, but I could not get through to the right department, even though I waited on the line for over half an hour, which was extremely annoying. In the letter, you asked me to acknowledge the receipt of the card, but obviously I cannot do this as I have not received it. I am now very worried because it is a possibility that my card has gone to another customer or got lost. What will happen if somebody has already used the card and and spent my money? Will the bank repay me? Is it possible for the bank to cancel this card so nobody else can use it? Could you also send me a new card by secure means? I hope to hear from you soon. You borrowed an important textbook from a classmate last term.

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www.makkarielts.com You now realise your classmate has returned home overseas and you still have the book. Write a letter to him/her. In your letter · apologise fro the mistake · find out how important the book is to him/her · say what you will do · You should write at least 150 words. · Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Yuki, I hope you had a safe journey back to Japan, and that your family are all well. I am writing to say that I'm sorry for not giving you back the book 'English Grammar in Use' which I borrowed from you last term. You lent it to me just before the exams to help me prepare for them, and yesterday I found it under my bed. Please let me know straight away if you need this book for your studies right now, or whether you can manage without it. If you really need it, I can post it for you by airmail immediately. If not, do you mind if I send it by ordinary mail as it quite heavy? Or, if you prefer, I can send seme money instead. Please let me know what you want me to do. I hope you enjoy the holiday. You have seen an advertisement for part-time work in a hotel for three months over the summer. Write a letter to the Manager. In your letter · say what experience you have · ask what the work involves · enquire about conditions · You should write at least 150 words. · Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address.

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www.makkarielts.com Dear Sir, I am writing to enquire about the part-time position as a waiter advertised in 'The Evening Echo' on 24th June. I am looking for work in the months of July and August because my university vacation is then. I have quite a lot of experience in the hotel business, as I was working in a guesthouse last year. The job involved dealing with guests, and I very much enjoyed it. I can supply references of my previous employer if you require them. Could you please let me know what this position involves? At the guesthouse, I worked as a porter and also I did some work as a waiter in the restaurant, so I would be interested in either of these jobs. Could you give me an idea of the working hours? I am available at the weekends as well as during the week, and I can work any hours. However, I would prefer daytime to shifts, if possible. Could you also tell me about accommodation for employees and how much you pay? I would appreciate hearing from you have recently been to stay with an old friend for a few days. You hadn't seen each other for a long time. · say how you felt about the visit · refer to something enjoyable that you did while staying with him/her · invite your friend to visit you · You should write at least 150 words. · Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear XX, I'm writing to thank you for a really enjoyable visit. It was good to see you after so long, and to be able to spend some time with you, talking about old school friends and teachers.

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www.makkarielts.com Now that I'm back home, I keep thinking about how good it was to be somewhere quiet and peaceful. I particularly enjoyed our trip to the wildlife sanctuary and appreciated the opportunity to see so many rare birds and animals. It's made me think that I should try and do more to protect them, so I'm having a look on the internet to see what sort of organisation there are. Perhaps next time we get together you could come and visit me. There are plenty of places we can go and my brother would really like to see you. Let me know when you might be free to come here and we can fix something up. Look forward to hearing from you soon. For the past year you have been a member of a local club. Now you want to discontinue your membership. Write a letter to the club secretary. In your letter · state what type of membership you have and how you have paid for this · give details of how you have benefited from the club · explain why you want to leave · You should write at least 150 words. · Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sir, In September 2003, I joined your Sports and Social club as a full-time student member. Since then I have paid the monthly membership fees by direct debit from my bank: Nationwide in Sanderson Avenue, Kinghill. I have thoroughly enjoyed my club membership as it has provided me with useful opportunities to meet up with other young people and to participate in a number of social activities. I have also been fortunate enough to play in some of the inter-club tennis tournaments and have taken advantage of the various classes available such as Yoga and Thai chi.

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www.makkarielts.com However, my studies are now coming to an end and as I will shortly be returning to my home country, possibly for good, I regret that I no longer wish to continue my membership. I would be grateful, therefore, if you could confirm in writing that the monthly fee will no longer be deducted from my bank account. You recently stayed in a hotel in a large city. The weather was very unusual for the time of year and the heating/cooling system in the hotel was quite inadequate.Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter · give details of what was wrong · explain what you had to do to overcome the problem at the time · say what action you would like the manager to take · You should write at least 150 words. · Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sir, I have just returned home after spending three nights at your hotel in Paddington. The staff were very friendly and the location was extremely convenient. However, I feel I must express my disappointment about the room. As we all know, London is experiencing a very warm summer this year, with temperatures around 30 °C last week, which is quite unusual. As a result, it was very hot in my room on the sixth floor. Because of the extreme heat in the room, I had to leave the windows open all night and so it was very noisy, as the hotel is on a main road and the traffic never stops in London. Consequently, I got very little sleep over the three nights. I think it would be a good idea to install an airconditioning system in the hotel. This could also be used as a heating system in the winter and would certainly make the rooms more comfortable. Perhaps you would consider giving me a discount if I come to your hotel again.

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www.makkarielts.com I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully You have recently heard that a friend of yours has had some problems as a result of some unusual weather. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter · express concern (i.e. say you are sorry to hear what has happened) · tell them about a similar experience that you once had · give some advice or offer help · You should write at least 80 words. · Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task. Dear Anna and Leo, We were shocked to hear from Lara about the storm that hit your city recently and the damage done to your house. How awful to come home from your holiday to find the roof blown off the house! I understand how you must feel, as we had a similar experience a few years ago when there was a sudden electrical storm here in Sydney. I came home from work to find that a tree had fallen on top of the house and all the windows were broken. Fortunately the insurance covered the cost of the repairs, but it was still very upsetting. I suppose you have to think positively in situations like this and look at the opportunity you have to improve your house - give it a new look. If we can do anything for you in the holidays, we'd be happy to help. Drop us a line and let us know. Best wishes You recently visited a place that had a strong impact on you. Write a letter to a friend about the place. In your letter · explain where the place was and how you got there · describe what you saw

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www.makkarielts.com · offer to take your friend there Dear Sam, I have just returned from my holidays in France and while we were there we climbed a mountain called 'Perelman' in the French Alps. We were able to drive half way up the mountain but then the road stopped. So we parked, put on our walking boots and began the long uphill struggle. Despite of the road at the beginning, it still took us a while to complete the climb but it was well worth the effort. When we got to the top of the mountain, the view was incredible. I could see right across the town and the lake to one side, and on the other side were the snow-covered peaks of Mont Blanc. It was simply breathtaking. As you know, we often go to France on our holidays and next time we plan a trip, I'd really like to take you there. I'm sure you would love the scenery and as you enjoy exercise, you would be able to take advantage of all the mountain walks. I hope to hear from you soon. You recently took a part-time job working for a local company. After a few weeks, you realised there were some problems with the job. Write a letter to the manager of the company. In your letter · explain why you took the job · describe the problems that you experienced · suggest what could be done about them Dear Sir, I have been a part-time fitness instructor in your gym for four months. I was pleased to be offered the job, not only because I need to earn some extra money to cover my living expenses but also because I need some experience in fitness training. It has been obvious to me that people often need help in using the gym equipment. However, it seems that the other trainers have not been encourage to offer assistance to club members. I offer as much as I can, but this means that I

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www.makkarielts.com am constantly in demand and therefore, working harder than anyone else in the gym. This situation seems rather unfair. While I realise that members receive initial gym instruction, I feel that they also need ongoing help with the equipment. Could I suggest that a letter is sent to trainers promoting this? After all, personal attention of this kind makes people feel valued and may result in increased membership. Yours faithfully A friend has asked you to babysit on Saturday and wants to know how much you charge per hour for this. Unfortunately, you already have a commitment this weekend and cannot help. However, you free the following weekend. Write a letter to your friend explaining that you are not able to help this time, but could help later. Explain also what your fee for the service is. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do not need to write your own address. Dear XX (name of colleague) Thank you for asking me to babysit for you. As you know I enjoy looking after Anthony and would be happy to help you out. However, this weekend I have a commitment which I cannot break. My parents are coming to visit and I am going to take them down to the coast as I have always promised to do. They are getting older so I like to spend as much time with them as possible. Also, it is my father's birthday and I want to celebrate with them. I am really sorry that I am not able to help this time, but I am free next weekend and I would be glad to babysit for you then, if you should choose to go out for the evening. My charge is fifteen dollars per hour until midnight and twenty dollars per hour after that. You would need to give me any special instructions you might have and, of course, leave a phone number in case of emergency.

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www.makkarielts.com Yours sincerely You have just rented an unfurnished flat and a friend has told you that the Opportunity Shop in the shopping centre has cheap second-hand furniture.Write to the shop owner describing what you need and asking whether they have these items and what they cost. You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do not need to write your own address. Dear Sir/Madam I have just arrived from overseas and need to have some furniture for my unfurnished flat. A friend has told me that you have some cheap second-hand furniture for sale. Perhaps you can help me. I would like a kitchen table, some chairs, a double bed, as well as a single bed for a visitor, a cupboard for our clothes, and a bookcase. If you sell home appliances, I would like a microwave oven, a fridge, TV set and a CD player too. These must all be clean and the electrical items must be in good working condition with a guarantee of at least three months. I would be grateful if you could give me some prices for these items. If you do not supply electrical goods, can you recommend another shop which does? Also, could you let me know what you would charge to deliver goods to High Street? Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully You are an international student and have borrowed a book from the local public library. You left the book on a bus and when you contacted the bus company, they could not find it. Write a letter to the librarian explaining the situation and asking what you should do. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Last week I borrowed an English grammar book, "English Grammar Exercises"

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www.makkarielts.com from your library to help me improve my knowledge of English. It was extremely useful, so when I went to visit a friend I took the book with me to show her how good it was. Unfortunately, when I was on the bus going home, I fell asleep and missed my bus stop. I woke up at the next stop and rushed forward to the driver to ask him to stop but forgot to bring the book. As a result, the book was left on the bus. When I rang the bus company the next day, they could not find it and suggested that somebody must have picked it up. Could you please let me know what I have to do now? As I am an international student I do not have very much money, but of course I will pay for a new copy of the book if this is necessary. Yours faithfully You celebrated your birthday with some friends last week in a restaurant. It was a great success and you and your friends enjoyed the evening very much. Write a letter to the restaurant to thank them. Mention the food, service and the atmosphere. Also suggest any improvements to make things better. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sir, Last week on Saturday night some friends and I had dinner in your restaurant to celebrate my birthday. I am writing to thank you for the great evening that we had. All my friends remarked afterwards on the standard of the food and service that we received. All the food was very tasty and well presented. Our waiter, whose name was James, was fast and friendly and put with well with our bad jokes! The restaurant itself was warm and friendly and the atmosphere showed that all the diners there were enjoying their evening.

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www.makkarielts.com I would like though to suggest one improvement. One of my friends is a vegetarian and he felt that the choice for vegetarians was little small. If you could develop that, it would be a great advantage to your restaurant. Once again I would like to thank you for my highly enjoyable birthday dinner. Yours faithfully, You celebrated your birthday with some friends last week in a restaurant. It was a great success and you and your friends enjoyed the evening very much. Write a letter to the restaurant to thank them. Mention the food, service and the atmosphere. Also suggest any improvements to make things better. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sir, Last week on Saturday night some friends and I had dinner in your restaurant to celebrate my birthday. I am writing to thank you for the great evening that we had. All my friends remarked afterwards on the standard of the food and service that we received. All the food was very tasty and well presented. Our waiter, whose name was James, was fast and friendly and put with well with our bad jokes! The restaurant itself was warm and friendly and the atmosphere showed that all the diners there were enjoying their evening. I would like though to suggest one improvement. One of my friends is a vegetarian and he felt that the choice for vegetarians was little small. If you could develop that, it would be a great advantage to your restaurant. Once again I would like to thank you for my highly enjoyable birthday dinner. Yours faithfully, Last week you were on a flight to London. Unfortunately, when you left the plane, you left a bag. You did not remember about the bag until you

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www.makkarielts.com got to your hotel. Write a letter to the airline. Explain what has happened, describe the bag and its contents and say what you would like them to do about it. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sir, I am writing in connection with a bag that I left on one of your planes. Last week on Tuesday 4th May I came to London on flight ABC from New York. My seat number was R5. The plane arrived late at night and I was tired. As a result when I got home, I remembered that I had left my bag on the plane under the seat in front of me. My bag is small and made of black leather with a zip opening the top. Inside the bag there is a pen, a paperback I was reading, some car keys and my diary. Therefore would your lost property department please check and see if they have my bag and contact me as soon as possible to let me know whether they have found it or not? You can contact me on my mobile telephone number which is: 01753 853 736. Thanking you in advance for your help, I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, You have just returned home after living with a family in an Englishspeaking country for six months. You now realise that you left a small bag of personal possessions in your room. Write to the family describing the things you left behind. Ask them to send some are all of them to you. Offer to cover the costs. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hooper,

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www.makkarielts.com I hope you are all well. The flight home seemed very long but my family all came to meet me at the air point, which was fantastic. Thank you so much for having me - I enjoy my time with you very much. I have a favour to ask. When I got home, I realised that I had left a small black handbag in my bedroom. You may recall that I bought myself a new bag while I was in Sydney and I'm pretty sure I put the old one under the bed. I don't really need the bag but some of the things inside are of sentimental value and I would be very grateful if you could send them to me. There is a red address book, a small leather wallet with some photos and a silver necklace. None of the other things are important so please don't worry about them. Could you please let me know how much the postage is and I will send you the money to cover the cost. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you once again for your help. Love to all the family. You are unhappy about a plan to make your local airport bigger and increase the number of flights. You live near the airport. Write a letter to your local newspaper. In your letter: • explain where you live • describe the problem • give reasons why you do not want this development. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing with regard to the article in your newspaper dated 7th September. My house is situated within 20 minutes walk of the airport. Please allow me to point out the problems which have caused serious damage on the residential area. I am fully sure that the problems must be aggravated if the plan is carried out to expand the airport and Increase the number of flights.

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www.makkarielts.com First of all, the low-flying aeroplanes are utterly distractive. They make such a big noise that I cannot concentrate on housework at all. What is worse, I am woken up by the late hour flights at midnight; I was diagnosed as Insomnia the other day. I should call this situation noise pollution. Secondly, I am afraid that the expansion of the airport may reduce the plot of land for the playground which is under construction near the airport at the moment. To sum up, I strongly disagree with the plan. I would appreciate if you could possibly write the article about the problems and disagreement as I said above. Yours faithfully You are due to start a new job next week but you will not be able to because you have some problems. Write a letter to your new employer. In your letter: • explain your situation • describe your problems • tell him/her when you think you can start. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Ms Barnes, I am writing concerning the position of Assistant Office Manager that I am due to begin next Monday. However, a problem has arisen. As you know, I currently work for my uncle’s food-packing business, and you will remember from my interview that I have gained valuable experience there. Unfortunately, he has had to go into hospital for an operation, leaving my aunt in charge of both the home and the business. She has asked me, as this is a particularly busy time of year, to stay on and help her with the running of the office. I realise this will be inconvenient to you, but very much hope that, given the

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www.makkarielts.com circumstances, you would be prepared to allow me to take up my position with you two weeks later than planned. I would like to emphasise that I remain very keen to work with you, and that I will be gaining further useful experience during this time. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, You travelled by plane last week and your suitcase was lost. You have still heard nothing from the airline company. Write to the airline and explain what happened. Describe your suitcase and tell them what was in it. Find out what they are going to do about it. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sirs, I was one of the passengers who took the flight from Narita (Tokyo) to Heathrow (London) on 5 August. Unfortunately, my suitcase did not come out after the flight. Although I have explained this Mr. McDonald who was in charge at the Luggage Claim Office I have not heard from him as of now. My suit case is grey Samsonite whose size is 10 x 95 cm. There are 3 stickers on one side and 1 heart shaped sticker on the other side. My initials "AR" are also written on both sides. There are a few books and a copy of my thesis in that suitcase which I need for the conference on 19 August. So I would deeply appreciate it if you could give me a prompt reply at your most convenient. My flight number, luggage claim number and address are written below. Flight No: NH 101 Luggage Claim No: 00026

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www.makkarielts.com Address: 6H Silver Street London.NWI6 5AL Yours Faithfully. You borrowed some books from your school or college library. Unfortunately you have to go away to visit a sick relative and cannot return the books in time.Write a letter to the library. Explain what has happened and tell them what you want to do about it. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing this letter to explain why I have been unable to return the three books have out on three-day loan, which are now overdue. After taking the books out on 16th March, I had an urgent phone call from my elderly aunt's neighbour to say that my aunt had had a fall and had been taken into hospital. I am her only surviving relative in this country, so I felt I had to go and see her immediately. I travelled down to Surrey the following morning, thinking I would stay for only two or three days. Unfortunately, my aunt's condition has only improved very slowly, so I have had to stay here longer than expected. However, the hospital says that if all goes well, she should be able to go home in two or three days' time, in which case I will be back at the beginning of next week. Dealing in mind the circumstances I trust you will kindly waive any fines that may have accumulated. Yours sincerely You have had a bank account for a few years. Recently you received a letter from the hank stating that your account is $240 overdrawn and that you will he charged $70 which wills he taken directly from your account. You know that this information is incorrect.Write a letter to the

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www.makkarielts.com bank. Explain what has happened and say what you would like them to do about it. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Sir, I am writing in reply to a letter I received from you a few days ago. In your letter you state that I am $240 overdrawn and that you will be charging me $70. I would like to point out that the reason I am overdrawn is because of a mistake made by your bank. If you look through your records you will see that I wrote several weeks ago explaining the situation. For the last twelve months, I have been paying $300 a month for a car I bought last summer. The monthly payments were taken directly from my bank account. However, two months ago I sold the car and I wrote to you instructing you to stop paying the monthly instalments. I received a letter from you acknowledging my request, but, for some reason, nothing was done about it. Another $300 instalment has been paid this month and this is the reason why I am overdrawn. I would like you to contact the garage where I bought the car explaining your error. I would also like you to ask them to return the money. Yours faithfully, You have a friend who lives in a city abroad. You have decided that you would like to apply to do a course at one of the colleges in this city. Write to your friend explaining what you would like to do. Tell him/her what type of work or studies you have been doing for the past few years and ask for assistance in contacting an appropriate institution. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. Dear Anita

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www.makkarielts.com Sorry I haven't written for ages. I've been so busy over the last year and I never seem to have a minute to myself. I'd like to study electrical engineering at university in Australia next year and I hope you can give me some advice. I think I would prefer Melbourne because I know a few people from my visit last year. This year I'm doing maths and physics at school and I hope to do well in my exams. However, I really don't know which university to apply to, so could you send me some information about different colleges? Also can you find out what qualifications I need? For instance, as an overseas student, do I have to take an English test? I hope you don't mind doing this for me. It is much better to get this information from someone who lives in the country, so I hope to hear from you soon. Many thanks, You recently bought an item of clothing from a shop. You discovered that it had a fault and returned it to the shop for replacement or refund. However, the assistant told you that this was against the store's policy. Write a letter to the store manager, explaining the problems you have had. Ask for a refund or exchange on the item. · You should write at least 150 words. · You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. · You do NOT need to write your own address. 10th January, 2004 Dear Sir or Madam Re: faulty jumper and refund refusal On Wednesday 2nd January, I bought a green long-sleeved jumper from your store. The jumper was medium-sized and made from cotton. It cost $59.95 and it was not on special. When I got home, I discovered that there was a small hole in the left sleeve. It looks like a rip of some kind and the stitching has unravelled. I returned to your

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www.makkarielts.com shop the next day to ask for an identical replacement jumper. Unfortunately there were none in stock. Therefore I asked for a refund. However, the shop assistant refused to give me a refund because it was not the policy of the store. I am writing to demand a refund or, at the very least, a replacement jumper. The jumper is unwearable as it is and I do not want to buy anything else. I hope that you can assist me in this matter. If I do not get satisfaction, I will be forced to seek legal advice. Yours sincerely You are organising a trip to the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales for a group of students from Perth in Western Australia. Write to the manager of Student Hostel Services and explain when you want to visit the Snowy Mountains, how long you will stay, how many students are in your party, and what accommodation you will require. Dear Manager of Student Hostel Services, I am writing to seek accommodation in the Snowy Mountains for a group of students from Perth. We expect to be in the Snowy Mountains between June 1 and June 12. There are fourteen people in our group, five men, seven women and a married couple. The five men will accept dormitory accommodation, and the women are happy to share rooms, but the married couple would like a double room. We hope to keep our expenses as low as possible. Please tell me about recreational services in the area. The group will bring their own boots for bushwalking, but we are hoping to hire equipment for other sports, like skiing. Some of our group will want to hire geological picks and other equipment, if possible. We also need to know about access to caves and other interesting geological features in the area. I am looking forward to receiving information about the Student Hostel Services and other facilities. Yours sincerely

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www.makkarielts.com You have a friend who lives in a city abroad. You have decided that you would like to apply to do a course at one of the colleges in this city.Write to your friend explaining what you would like to do. Tell him/her what type of work or studies you have been doing for the past few years and ask for assistance in contacting an appropriate institution. Dear Anita, Sorry I haven't written for ages. I've been so busy over the last year and I never seem to have a minute to myself. I'd like to study electrical engineering at university in Australia next year and I hope you can give me some advice. I think I would prefer Melbourne because I know a few people from my visit last year. This year I'm doing maths and physics at school and I hope to do well in my exams. However, I really don't know which university to apply to, so could you send me some information about different colleges? Also can you find out what qualifications I need? For instance, as an overseas student, do I have to take an English test? I hope you don't mind doing this for me. It is much better to get this information from someone who lives in the country, so I hope to hear from you soon. Many thanks, Rosanna Write a letter to the Information Officer at the TAPE Information Office asking for information about the Tertiary Preparation Certificate. Describe your educational background and your reasons for wanting to do the course. · You should write at least 80 words. · Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task. Dear Sir/Madam, I would like some information about Ihc Tertiary Preparation Certificate. If possible I would like to enrol in this course as a part-time student in 1992.

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www.makkarielts.com I left school eight years ago after completing the 1ISC. Since then I have worked as a sales assistant in both Grace Bros and David Jones. From the beginning of this year I have been in charge of the Children's Wear Department in Grace Bros, Lilyfield. However, in order to advance any further in my career into a managerial position, I will need to do some further study, such as a Marketing or Business Course. Because I have not studied for many years, I believe that I should complete the TPC before enrolling in a Business course. Could you please send me the information as soon as possible, and tell me the dates for enrolling in Ihe Tertiary Preparation Certificate. Yours faithfully.

1 LETTER WRITING GUIDE SUNY Potsdam, Career Planning Office 206 Sisson Hall, Potsdam, NY 13676 Phone: 315-267-2344 Fax: 315-267-2342 www.potsdam.edu/offices/career Communication skills are among the most important skills you will bring to your career. Your job search letters, usually, will be the first samples employers will have of your communication skills. Your letters should be functional, understandable, easy to read, and pleasant in tone. REMEMBER: Every communication act is a

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www.makkarielts.com message about you. The Career Planning Office has compiled this handout to guide you into putting power, punch, and energy into your letters. Effective letters involve more than demonstrating good writing style on pretty paper. As you use the guide, you will find information on the following topics: ✦Top Ten Tips For Writing Effective Cover Letters ✦Types of Cover Letters ✦Three Basic Sections of a Cover Letter ✦Thank You Letters ✦Confirmation Letters ✦Special Situation Letters Thoughts for Effective Letter Writing Remember, you and your situation are unique. Strive to allow your individuality to be expressed through your writing. With a little practice, you will develop lifelong business writing skills that will support and enhance your career. Good Luck! There are samples of letters which students/alumni have granted us permission to use as guides in our office. They are located in a binder on the research table. Come in and look them over if you still need more guidance. Books you might like to read to further your knowledge of putting letters together: ✦200 Letters for Job Hunters ✦Job Search Letters that Get Results: 201 Great Examples ✦Dynamite Cover Letters ✦High Impact Resume and Letters ✦College Grad Job Hunter All of these books are located in our Career Library in our office at 106 Sisson Hall. You don’t need an appointment to read through these books. If you still need additional assistance with writing your cover letter, please set up an appointment with one of our career counselors. . 2 Top Ten Tips For Writing an Effective Cover Letter 1. Make Your Letter Employer-Centered. Design your letters to be work-centered and employer-centered not self-centered. Your letters are marketing tools that should address the needs of employers and evoke a desire for them to learn more about you. Stress the benefits of your employment for the reader. 2. Write a Draft First. You can edit a draft several times and still finish quicker than writing a final copy first. 3. Simplicity is the Key to Clarity, Quickness and Credibility. Respect the reader’s time. Your letter should inform, interest, and establish rapport with the reader. Ask for the reader to take an action, and make the action convenient to take. 4. Keep Your Letters to One Page with Three Targeted Paragraphs or Sections. Eliminate extraneous words and avoid rehashing material from your resume. Say what you mean directly without a lot of verbiage. Demonstrate you understand the value of the reader’s time by being as brief as possible. 5. Be Positive in Content, Tone, Word Choice and Expectations. Some of the most common problems with letters are they are poorly organized, confusing, unclear, and choppy. Keep your letter flowing smoothly and watch your transitions. 6. Tailor Your Letters for Each Position. Your cover letter is a bridge between your resume and the position. Review whatever information you know about the open position. Address the key points from your research or the advertisement when highlighting your qualifications. You may want to include additional information not mentioned in your resume. Be honest – back up your claims with evidence and specific examples from your experience. 7. Keep Your Letters Personal, Warm and Professional. Avoid being either overly familiar or overly intrusive in tone. Remember business letters are formal. Be timely. Demonstrate that you know how to do business for yourself and, by implication, for others. 8. Salutation: Always address your letters to a specific individual with his or her correct title and business address. When addressing a woman, the safest choice is “Ms.” unless you know for sure that a woman is married and prefers “Mrs.” 9. Format/Layout: Polish your writing style. Good writing requires good editing. Produce an error-free, clean copy. Stand back and take a visual look at the entire letter. ✦Is there enough white space to relax the reader’s eye? ✦Are your margins at least 3/4 to 1 inch in width? ✦Is the letter roughly in the center of the page, not concentrated at the top? The following is the format for a business letter: ✦address listed first ✦immediately followed by the date ✦double space, type the inside address (where are you are sending the letter) ✦double space, type the salutation followed by a colon ✦double space, type the body of the letter

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www.makkarielts.com ✦double space, type the closing ✦return four lines to allow room for your signature ✦type your full name ✦A postscript (P.S.) is sometimes helpful 10. Use High-Quality Printing, Stationary and Envelopes. The best choice for printing is a laser printer. Your stationary should be the same for your resume and cover letter. You may want to get 9 x12 matching envelopes as well. An alternative is to use large manila envelops so your application, resume and supporting materials arrive crisp, clean and free of creases. Never fold or staple your resume and/or cover letter. THREE BASIC SECTIONS OF A COVER LETTER 3 In all types of cover letters, you will want to review the basic writing criteria stated earlier in the guide. The contents of a Letter of Inquiry or Broadcast Letter should be confined to the three sections, as outlined below. Your Street Address City, State, Zip Code Date Employer’s Name Employer’s Title Company Name Street Address City, State Zip Code Dear Employer’s Name: Introduction: At the very minimum, the first section should address the job name, department name or the advertised description and indicate what you have enclosed. In other words, tell why you are writing. Body: The second section should establish rapport with the addressee. You should state why you are interested in this employer and what you have to offer to the employer. In other words, why they should hire you instead of someone else; possibly focus on a few of your top skills. If you don’t have a career objective stated on your resume, this is the area in which to state it. The cover letter should be brief, so you might want to consider limiting yourself to two small paragraphs as the maximum for this section. Closing: The third section is the conclusion of the letter. Here you need to state what you want the employer to do for you (i.e. schedule an appointment) and how you wish them to do it. For example, if you preserve the initiative, you might write about when you will telephone them to ensure that you have given them enough information, and to see whether an appointment can be arranged for an interview in person or by telephone. If you surrender initiative, you might write where and when you can be reached by telephone, especially if you will be at a different address or telephone number than printed on your resume or stationery. Lastly, thank them for considering your interest in the position and avoid the cliché, I look forward to hearing from you soon. Follow up the letter with a courteous phone call within 3 weeks. Sincerely, Your Name Enclosure (If you are including other material with the letter like your resume, references, etc.) NOTE: Be sure to sign your name after you have printed the letter out! TYPES OF COVER LETTERS 4 NOTE: You should never send out your resume without a cover letter. Samples of cover letters shown in this guide use the professional, business style showing the style’s use with or without letterhead stationary. When the employer’s vacancy announcement requests a Letter of Inquiry or Interest: This is a brief screening method, and your cover letter should give enough resume-type information to solicit their request for more information about you with an interview. Sample of this type of cover letter: 2589 Pierrepont Avenue Potsdam, NY 13676 January 13, 2003 Sharon A. Waters, Personnel Director New York State Police Department 892 South Park Albany, NY 11108 Dear Ms. Waters: I enclose my resume in response to your January 2, 2003 listing in the SUNY Potsdam Career Planning Job Vacancies for a research and data analyst with your department. The position interests me for several reasons. My education and work experience have prepared me for this position, as I will receive my B.A. degree on May 18, 2003 in Criminal Justice, with specialties in research and data analysis. I am, also, familiar with the New York State Police operations based upon my work in your Albany office this past summer and upon my research and apprehension rates. The position you outline is one, which I can enhance with my technical background as well as my active leadership roles, which involve extensive planning, organizing, and communicating. I am a responsible person who is concerned with

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www.makkarielts.com performance and accountability. I would appreciate an opportunity to discuss with you how I might best meet your needs. I will call your office next week to inquire about an interview. If you have questions in the meantime, please feel free to call me at 315-825-6549. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Austin L. Rush Enclosure Having trouble writing your cover letter, CALL 267-2344 to set up an appointment with a career counselor! When you are not sure a vacancy exists and you are interested in working for a specific employer, you might send a Broadcast Letter. 5 Richard Mathews 100 Job Hunting Avenue New York, NY 10000 September 19, 2002 John White, Vice President of Sales & Marketing White’s Nuts & Bolts, Inc. 299 Main Street Someplace, CA 93333 Dear Mr. White: Your sales and marketing operations interests me and I believe, with my experience, I would be of value to your company. As a Sales and Marketing Director for a major manufacturing firm, I doubled regional sales in two years to more than $55 million. Several other accomplishments which will make me the best candidate for the position are: • I have increased orders from our single largest customer by $850, 000 annually. • I introduced a cost-cutting measure, which saved $150,000 through inventory control. • I raised plant productivity by 8%. • I created a highly profitable new product line with $3.5 million in sales in the first year. I would like to further discuss details of my experience with you and will call on Thursday morning to set up a meeting at your convenience. Sincerely, Rebecca Martin Enclosure Note: When using a Broadcast Letter, you must quickly make your points, address the employer’s interests and quantify accomplishments. You must research the employer prior to writing a Broadcast Letter. DON’T LET THE CLOCK RUN OUT ON YOU! GET TO CAREER PLANNING AND START PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE TODAY! If you want to improve your odds of receiving a reply to your letters, try enclosing a Reply Postcard with your cover letter and resume, but be selective in its use. 6 Use 4” x6” or a 3 ½” x 5 ½” standard postcard stock. On one side include your name, return address, and a 20 cent return stamp. On the other side you can provide a series of follow up questions for the employer to complete. An example would be to give the employer several “outcome options” and a place for the name and title and phone number of the contact. 20 cent Stamp Ms. Mackenzie Smith 200 Employment Lane Hopeful, NY 13666 ____ Please call me to arrange an interview. ____ Please call me to further discuss your background. ____ We will contact you within ____ months to follow up. ____ We currently have no interest for the following reason: Name:___________________________ Title:__________________________ Company:__________________________ Phone:_______________________ Using the Reply Postcard Technique will greatly increase your chances of further contact with a perspective employer. Not only will they be more likely to respond to you, they will be more likely to review your materials, since they feel at least some guilt and obligation for the extra effort you have out forth. THANK YOU LETTERS 7 These are some of the most effective job search letters, as they communicate an important quality employers readily seek – thoughtfulness. As a result, they set you apart from other job seekers who fail to write such

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letters. Thank you letters should always be sent to individuals who have provided assistance, be it in the form of information, advice, referrals or an actual job interview. Thank you letters demonstrate an important social grace that says something about you as an individual – your personality and how you probably relate to others. Beyond courtesy, the thank you letter affords you an opportunity to restate your qualifications and interest or possibly add remarks. Thank you letters should always be written in a timely manner. Make it a practice to sit down and write these letters within 12 hours of the situation that prompts the letter. It should be mailed immediately to reach the recipient within three to four days. If you wait longer, the letter will have less impact on the situation. After the Interview – Since few individuals write thank you letters, the letter recipient remembers those who do write them. Consider this scenario: After interviewing for a position, Sally receives a rejection letter from an employer indicating the job was offered to another individual. Rather than getting upset, Sally sends a nice thank you letter noting her disappointment in not being selected and thanks the employer for the opportunity to interview for the position. Sally reiterates continuing interest in working for the organization. The employer remembers Sally from the interview process and several things can happen. A. Rather than let the job seeker get away, the employer decides to create a new position for him/her. B. Another position becomes available and the employer offers it to the job seeker before going through any other hiring process. C. The employer gives the job seeker’s name to a colleague who has an opening. Sally H. Gunner 123 My Street Someplace, NY 12345 December 8, 2002 Peter Harris, Director of Personnel Ocean Mist Products, Inc. San Diego, CA 15478 Dear Mr. Harris: Thank you again for the opportunity to interview for the marketing position. I appreciate your hospitality and enjoyed meeting you and members of your staff. The interview convinced me of how compatible my background, interests, and skills are with the goals of Ocean Mist Products Incorporated. My prior marketing experience as a student intern with the Rural Institute Services has prepared me to take a major role in developing both domestic and international marketing strategies. I am confident my work would result in increased market shares for your company. I look forward to meeting you and your staff again. Sincerely, Sally H. Gunner Withdrawing from Consideration – At some point, you may decide to withdraw from further consideration. Perhaps you have accepted another job or the position no longer interests you. Write a short thank you letter 8 withdrawing from consideration. Explain in positive terms why you are no longer interested. Thank them for their time and consideration. 4621 Chester Lane Hometown, NY 12345 January 2, 2003 Ms. Melissa Bliss, Executive Director Some Company, Inc. 4567 A Street Someplace, VA 23568 Dear Ms. Bliss Please withdraw my application for the Program Coordinator position at the Virginia School of Performing Arts. During my interview with you, I indicated that I have been exploring several other employment possibilities. A local city government offered me an administrative position and after careful consideration, I accepted the offer. The position provides an excellent match for my interests at this point in my career. Thank you very much for interviewing me and considering me for the position, I enjoyed meeting you and learning about innovative community programs you are planning to implement. The Performing Arts School is an excellent school and I wish you and your staff well. Sincerely, Marsha A. Wells In Response to Advice or Special Treatment – Remember you might have had an interview with the president of the company, but others might be involved in organizing the interview. Excerpts from the thank you letter might be: Secretary – I learned that Mr. Westwood and Ms. Smith were out of town the week before I arrived. Scheduling them on short notice must have been difficult. I appreciate you making the arrangements. Our meetings were informative, enjoyable, and not at all rushed. Co-Worker – I was apprehensive about renting a car then traversing unfamiliar territory in the city. Your

www.makkarielts.com thoughtfulness of meeting my plane helped me concentrate on my meeting with Ms. Smith so that my short visit could be more effective. I appreciated your tour of Chicago on the way from the airport and am looking forward to the opportunity to explore it further. Career Advice – The new insurance licensing procedure was a surprise to me, and I’ve sent for the test review book you mentioned. I will keep you posted on my progress in refining my career goal. Also, I especially appreciate your referring me to John Buckner. I’ll telephone his office next week and let you know what develops from our meeting. How to Send Your Letter 9 E-mail – Using this medium for thank you letters depends on the employer. It demonstrates your computer ease and equally, if not more important, it is fast and should arrive before they make their hiring decision if they check their e-mail daily. Use your best judgment. If the employer used computers extensively, fine. If they don’t, your message may never be seen and a letter is best. Handwritten vs. Typed – Job search thank you letters should always be typed as this will express your professional style and respond to the expectations appropriate for the situation. It tells the reader you know proper business etiquette, you know this is a business situation, and you demonstrate your best professional effort. Confirmation Letters Confirmation letters should always be typewritten using the business style of writing that was described earlier in the handout. Interview – If the interview is scheduled with enough time for a letter to arrive, you might want to write a confirmation letter to insure you have written down the correct information or that the individual scheduling the appointment wrote the appointment in the proper section of the appointment book. You might want to try something like this: 2356 Main Street Potsdam, NY 13676 November 23, 2002 Mrs. Suzanne Birdwell 66 Nesting Place Virginia Beach, VA 45678 Dear Mrs. Birdwell: I just wanted to send a quick note to reconfirm our appointment next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. I look forward to discussing with you how my interests, skills and experience can promote the Virginia Beach Convention Center. As you requested, I have enclosed my portfolio for your reference and would be delighted to speak about these exhibits in more detail during the interview. Please let me know if you need any additional information prior to our meeting on Tuesday. Sincerely, Sandy Smith Enclosure 10 Job Offer – However well they think they hire, employers are still uncertain about the outcome of their hiring decision until new employees perform in their organization. Why not put their anxieties at ease and get off on the right foot? Write a letter expressing your appreciation for having received the confidence and trust of the employers. Reiterate what you told the employer during the job interview(s) about your goals and expected performance. Conclude with a reaffirmation of your starting date as well as a statement about how much you look forward to becoming a productive member of the team. 570 Shoreline Drive Oswego, NY 13126 August 2, 2002 Mr. Jack Sprat, Division Manager Data International, Inc. 123 Company Lane Tickle, CT 23568 Dear Mr. Sprat: I am writing to confirm my acceptance of your employment offer of July 30, 2002, and to tell you how delighted I am to be joining the Data International, Inc. in Tickle. I am confident that I can make significant contributions to your corporation, and I am grateful for the opportunity you have given me. As we discussed in my telephone acceptance earlier today, I will report to work at 8:00 a.m. on September 1, 2002 and will have completed my medical examination and drug testing by the start date. Additionally, I shall complete all employment and insurance forms for the new employee orientation on September 5, 2002. I look forward to working with you and your fine team and I appreciate your confidence in me and am happy to be joining your staff. Sincerely, Kenneth Smith Special Situation Letters No

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www.makkarielts.com 11 No two-job searches are identical. There are always questions about what you should do next. Letter guides and books can only steer you in a direction. YOU were there, and you are the one who must assess the tone of the situation and proceed to the next step. A few special situation letters are detailed below, but if you still have trouble deciding about a situation, call the Career Planning Office at 267-2344 or stop by 106 Sisson Hall and ask the advice of a career counselor. 1. Networking Letters – When you are networking with professionals in your field, you might write something like, “I am interested in a career that will utilize my background skill in negotiating and understand that you are an expert in this area. If possible, I would like to meet with you briefly to speak about possible positions and avenues that I might pursue.” 2. The employer told me that I would hear of their decision in three weeks. Four weeks have passed. What should I do? Rejection letters are form letters and are the easiest to send. No news can be good news. A week’s delay is not unusual, but you may reach a point where you’re beginning to worry. You don’t want to push the employer to a hasty decision. Write or call. You might write something like this: I know that it may be difficult to reach me, as no two days seem to be the same in my college schedule. Since our meeting four weeks ago, my interest in Smithville Central School has remained strong and I hope that you have decided in my favor. If you are still in the process of reaching a decision, is there any additional information or reference you would like to have to assist you in your decision making process? If so, please contact me at 315-555-8989. I appreciate your consideration of my interest in the Smithville Central School District. A telephone conversation might have the same content. 3. I am not too sure about an association or an employer and would like to attain some background information about them to use in writing my cover letter or preparing for an interview. How can I phrase this inquiry? There are several approaches that you can take to attain such information. First, check to see if the Career Planning Office employer files have any information on the employer. Second, contact the association or employer directly by letter, e-mail or by telephone about getting the information. You might try something like this: I am (a student at or alumnus of SUNY Potsdam, and I am working with the Career Planning staff to develop my long-range career plans. I am interested in (the association name or company name) and the (name of the career) field. I would appreciate any career information or marketing pieces you could send me. NOTE: Conclude the special situation letter with a simple thank you. Be sure to type your name and address on the letter itself as envelopes tend to be separated when opened.

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