How to Write an

Informal Business Email

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We write informal emails to people we
have a close/good working relationship
with.

In-company - close colleagues/coworkers

Other company - established working relationship

We write informal emails on routine or
everyday workplace matters.
!
Hi Max
Howre things?
BTW Im quitting!
See you (or maybe not).
Sally
!
Model 1: a Request
Subject: marketing meeting
concise
subject line
Subject: marketing meeting
Hi Brian
informal
greeting
open
punctuation
(no comma)
Subject: marketing meeting
Hi Brian
How was your holiday?
small talk
Subject: marketing meeting
Hi Brian
How was your holiday?
Just writing to ask if youre attending the marketing
meeting in the city.
ellipsis:
subject (I) and
auxiliary verb
(am) are omitted
(left out)
purpose statement
beginning with just
(also possible is:
Just a short email to + V)
contractions
youre
(you are)
Subject: marketing meeting
Hi Brian
How was your holiday?
Just writing to ask if youre attending the marketing
meeting in the city. If you are, could you give me a lift
please?
polite request
Subject: marketing meeting
Hi Brian
How was your holiday?
Just writing to ask if youre attending the marketing
meeting in the city. If you are, could you give me a lift
please?
Hope to see you later.
positive close
ellipsis
no subject (I)
Subject: marketing meeting
Hi Brian
How was your holiday?
Just writing to ask if youre attending the marketing
meeting in the city. If you are, could you give me a lift
please?
Hope to see you later.
Regards
Lynne
informal/neutral
sign off
open
punctuation
no comma
(as in teh
greeting
open
punctuation
(no comma)
for greeting and
sign-off
Model 2: the Response
Re: marketing meeting
Hi Lynne
Hawaii was absolutely brilliant!
informal
greeting
open
punctuation
(no comma)
small talk
Subject: marketing meeting
Hi Lynne
No problem - Ill pick you up at 2.30?
promise
action
will + V
spoken style
language
exible
punctuation
use of - dash -
contractions
Ill
(I will)
Subject: marketing meeting
Hi Lynne
No problem - Ill pick you up at 2.30?
BTW Ive attached the report you wanted.
use of acronyms
(one capital letter
represents one word)
BTW = By the way,...
referring to attachments
Ive attached...
(Please nd attached... also
commonly used.)
Subject: marketing meeting
Hi Lynne
No problem - Ill pick you up at 2.30?
BTW Ive attached the report you wanted.
See you later.
Brian
informal sign-off
ellipsis:
(Ill) omitted
Structure
Structure
Structure
Structure
Structure
Email Structure
Greeting
Summary: 10 Features of Informal
Business Emails

Informal greetings and sign-offs

Open punctuation for greetings and sign-offs, and the dash used to link ideas.

Small talk

Purpose statement with - Just writing to + V... Just a short email to...

Ellipsis (I) Hope to hear from you later.

Acronyms e.g. BTW = By the way, ...

Language spoken

Contractions e.g. ...if youre coming... Ill pick you up...

Action promised with Ill + V...

Reference to attachments with Ive attached... or Please nd attached...

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