English vocabulary about accidents

I hope that you’ll never be involved in an accident, but if you have conversation
about one, these words and phrases will be useful.

Types of accidents
a collision = when two vehicles drive into each other.
a mid-air collision = when two planes collide in the air
a head-on collision = when two cars collide front to front
a car crash = when there’s a serious car accident – involving another car or object,
or not involving anything else
a derailment = when a train comes off the rails
a (multiple) pile-up = when more than one car crashes into another car, especially
on a busy road or motorway

Describing an accident
An accident occurred / happened between two cars travelling in the same /
opposite direction. One car was travelling at speed (at X miles per hour)

As the driver was rounding the corner, he drove straight into another car which
was on the wrong side of the road. The driver lost control of the
car and ploughed into the other lane / overturned / drove into an oncoming
vehicle / into a tree.
As the driver was overtaking another / went through a red light / he drove straight
into oncoming traffic
A lorry jackknifed, spilling its load over the road.
A car skidded on a wet / oily surface and the driver lost control.
The brakes failed / the car driver misjudged the distance.

The car was speeding / doing 80mph in a 30mph area.

The driver was under the influence of alcohol / drugs / on his mobile phone at
the time.

The accident was due to pilot / human error.

The results of an accident

There were no fatalities (people killed)
Five people were taken to hospital with major / minor injuries / for shock.
The driver was shaken, but unhurt.
The passengers were escorted safely from the train.
Firecrews had to cut the passengers out of the wreckage.
The car was a write-off. (The damage was so bad there was no point in claiming
insurance)
Fortunately, there was only minimal damage / we escaped with only a couple of
scratches on the bodywork.
English phrases for having fun
The party season has started! Here’s our essential guide to talking about having fun.

Fun or Funny?
Be careful with the word “funny”. It means “amusing” or “strange”. So, for example,
you can say:

“My Uncle John is a very funny man. He’s always telling jokes!”
“A funny thing happened to me yesterday. I saw Rob and said hello, but he
completely ignored me.”

To talk about enjoying yourself, you can say that something is “fun” or that you “had
a lot of fun”:

“His parties are always fun.”

“We had a lot of fun at his party.”

Enjoy
An alternative to saying “fun” is “enjoy”. Remember, you need an object with the verb
“enjoy”:

“I really enjoyed myself at the party last night.”

“I really enjoyed the party last night.”

I had…
“I had a great time … (at the party)”

You can also say “I had…”

… a fantastic time
… a wonderful time
… a brilliant time
… a fabulous time
… an amazing time

“I had a ball …(at Sarah’s party)!”

“I had the best night ever last weekend!” (the best time / party you have ever had)
“We had a good old knees-up at the party.” (“Knees-up” is a British English word
meaning “to dance”.)

Other expressions
to party / party hard = to enjoy yourself
“We partied all last weekend.”
“They party hard every weekend.”

to have a wild weekend = to have a really fun weekend

“The students had a bit of a wild weekend and didn’t recover until Wednesday.”

to let your hair down = to stop being serious and to enjoy yourself

“I like letting my hair down at the weekend because I study hard all week.”

to stay up all night = not go to bed until the morning

“They went out on Saturday and stayed up all night.”

Describing the evening

You can …

… chat with friends
… catch up with their news
… dance all night long
… have a couple of drinks
… flirt with a good-looking guy / girl (= talk to someone in a particular way because
you are attracted to them and you want them to be interested in you, too!)
… go on somewhere else (leave one party / event and go to another)

The music was

… great
… right up my street (just the type of music you like)

The other people there were

… fun
… up for a laugh (keen to have fun and to party)

The atmosphere was

… electric (dynamic and exciting)

… laid-back / chilled

The decor was

… funky / retro (not modern, but unusual and interesting)

… a bit tacky (negative word, meaning a little “cheap-looking”)
… cool
… 80s-themed (made to look like a party from the 1980s, etc)

English vocabulary for parties and

social occasions
Here’s some useful vocabulary if you’re organising an office party or a party at your
house for Christmas, New Year, or another special event.

Does your party have a theme?

Will you ask people to come in fancy-dress? (For example, there are Halloween-
themed events at Halloween.) What sort of costume do you want people to dress
in? Is it a period look (“Swinging 60s”) or another type of look (Hollywood) for
example?
Decorations add to the party atmosphere. If you’re planning a theme, decorations
are easier to think about. Otherwise, get busy with the coloured paper, sellotape,
and scissors!

How big is the party?

Do you need to organise outside caterers, or entertainers? (This is especially
useful for children’s parties, where you might get a special children’s entertainer like
a magician.) Do you need to hire someone to run a disco, or can someone from
Accounts rig up some speakers for music?
Many office parties are limited just to people from the office, but you might also invite
employees’ partners, or even customers or clients.

What are you going to write on the invitation?

Formal invitations:

We’d be delighted if you could attend our party on.. (date) at… (place) at… (time)

Moss Bros would like to invite

…… (plus one guest)
to the firm’s annual dinner dance, to be held at (etc)

Informal invitations:

You’re all cordially invited to attend the annual Moss Bros party.

Please come to our party / lunch / dinner on… (date) at… (time).

Don’t forget to add any essential instructions, such as directions (= how to get to
your house / office) or to ask people to bring something (Please bring a bottle) or
on what to wear / do (i.e. if you’re holding something like a Murder Mystery evening
where guests need to wear a costume and perform a role.)

What’s going to happen at the party

Is it a place for people to meet each other, have a bite to eat, and a couple of
glasses of something to drink? Will you have special games or competitions that
encourage people to stay longer? Will you give out presents (like a secret Santa?)
With all the catering, decorations, invitations etc to think about, you might need a
team of people to help you. Delegate responsibility and make people in charge
of catering, invitations, etc.

Types of social occasions

The two or three-week period over Christmas and New Year is often a time when
people socialise – either going out, or entertaining guests at home. Some social
occasions are formal, while others are informal parties for family or friends. Here are
the names for some common social occasions:

carol concert = a Christmas occasion where people often go to church to hear

carols sung. Carols are religious songs on the theme of Christmas.
school play = a play where school children play the roles. A nativity play tells the
story of the birth of Jesus.
office party = an evening or afternoon party organised by your place of work. It
could include lunch, or drinks, or a “secret santa” where each employee
anonymously buys a present for another employee.
family gathering = when family members meet for lunch, dinner, or the whole day.
cocktail party = a party in the early evening, where people dress quite formally for
drinks.
informal drinks = an informal party at your house where you serve drinks and
snacks.
a drink-up = a party in a pub organised by your colleagues or friends.
pub quiz night = when a group of friends go to the pub to take part in a quiz. They
organise themselves into teams, and try to get the most answers right to win a prize.
fundraising event / charity do = “do” is a more informal way of saying “event”. At
these events, the aim is to raise money for a worthwhile cause. Often they involve a
formal dinner, well-known speakers, or a raffle / auction (where people bid to buy an
object.)
fancy-dress party = a party where everyone wears a costume on a particular
theme.
a ball = a formal evening occasion where people dance. For example, a fancy-dress
ball is a more formal equivalent to a fancy-dress party.
bingo = where people buy a card with numbers on it, then listen to an announcer
reading out numbers. If you hear your numbers, you call “Bingo!” and win a money
prize.
dinner dance = an old-fashioned, quite formal occasion, where couples eat dinner,
then dance waltzes etc.
Travel Vocabulary
Do you often travel for business or for pleasure? Learn this essential travel
vocabulary before your next trip!

Planning your journey

Some people book online, while others go to a travel agent and read the holiday
brochures before buying tickets or making a hotel reservation.
You need to decide how much you want to pay for your flights. First-
class or business class is the most expensive, while most people travel
in economy class.
It’s also a good idea to buy some travel insurance before you go – just in case you
have an accident or miss your flight. Independent travellers like to organise
everything themselves, to avoid going to the same tourist traps (places where lots
of tourists go). But some people prefer to book a package tour , where everything is
paid in advance.

Travel vocabulary for flying

Most people travel by air – especially for a long-haul destination (somewhere far
away) or for a short weekend break or city break. If you are travelling a long
distance, you might have a layover (or stop-over) for a few hours at an airport, or
you might get a connecting flight (where you change aeroplanes).
When you arrive at the airport, you first check in at the check-in desk. If you have
luggage for the hold, you weigh it here. Your luggage is taken onto the plane
by baggage handlers (people who load the luggage on and off the plane.) You can
take hand luggage with you onto the plane. You get a boarding pass (or boarding
card) to get on the aeroplane.
After this, you go through security (where your hand luggage is x-rayed) and also
through passport control, where your passport is checked. (You also go through
passport control when you arrive at your destination.) In most airports you also see
police and their sniffer dogs, who patrol for explosives. You can also go duty-free
shopping, where you can buy things at a lower price. Check that you don’t go
over ( = exceed) your duty-free allowance, or you will have to pay duty (tax) when
you arrive at your destination.
When you are on the plane, the cabin crew look after you. There’s often an in-flight
meal and the pilot usually makes an announcement about the flight
route and flying altitude.
When you arrive, find out which baggage carousel your suitcases arrive on. Then
when you collect your luggage, you need to go through
customs and declare anything that you need to pay extra tax on. From there, you
can take public transport to your hotel, get a taxi, or go to the car-rental desk – if
you are going to hire / rent a car.
You can expect long queues in airports at certain times of the year, or if flights
are delayed, for example. Sometimes, airport staff go on strike (stop work because
of “industrial action”) which can also cause delays.
If the flying time is long, you can have jet lag when you arrive, as your body tries to
adjust to the different time-zone.

Other means of travel

Here’s some more travel vocabulary if you are going somewhere by road, rail or sea.

If you take a road trip, you can go at your own pace. That means you can stop
when you want. If you’re travelling in the UK, you can stop at the motorway
services to fill up on petrol, get something to eat, or just for a comfort break (to
use the toilet).
Travelling by rail can be a comfortable way to travel, especially if you have good
seats and a buffet service (where you can buy food). It’s often cheaper to buy
a return ticket (than two single tickets). Like travelling by air, you also have a
choice of tickets: first class or second class.
If you travel by sea, you need to get to the port (for cruise ships) or the ferry
terminal. Both cruise ships and ferries have different decks, with the upper
decks for passengers and the lower decks for cars or cargo.

More essential travel vocabulary words and phrases

suitcase = a large bag which goes in the hold of the aeroplane
baggage / luggage (uncountable noun) = everything that you take with you on
holiday.
“Do you have any hand luggage?”
“The baggage handlers are on strike.”
oversize luggage = when your bag is very big (for example, if you are carrying skis)
“There’s a special place to check in oversize luggage.”
handbag = a bag that women carry
backpack = a fabric suitcase that you carry on your back.
money belt = a fabric belt that you wear around your waist and where you put
valuable things like your passport or money
travel documents = everything that you need to travel, such as passport and tickets

Planning a Holiday
If you’re planning a holiday, learn this essential vocabulary for types of holiday and
holiday preparation.!

Planning a holiday
Many people take their main holiday in summer, and although some people choose
a last-minute break, others plan their holiday months in advance.
The beginning of the year is a good time for people to start looking at
holiday brochures. Tour operators (companies that organise holidays) as well
as travel agents (the people that sell holidays) give lots of information about
holiday destinations and types of holiday.

Types of holiday
As well as the traditional two-week beach holiday, you can choose from a range of
holidays: a cruise (holiday on a ship), an activity holiday (a holiday that involves
walking, cycling, climbing or other sports), a city break (a weekend or a few days in
a different city) and so on. A lot of people choose a package holiday, where flights
and accommodation are included in the price. But many people prefer an
independent holiday, where they make their own travel arrangements.
If you can’t travel abroad, you can also choose a staycation – a mix of “vacation”
(holiday) and “staying at home”. This is where you still take a week or two for a
break, but do fun activities in your own city, region or country.
If you travel independently, you will need to book your flights or train tickets. Unless
you have an onward destination, you will probably book a return journey. Then
you will need to make a reservation at a hotel, or another place to stay, such as a
campsite (if you are camping in a tent), or a caravan site (if you are staying in a
caravan), or a B&B (a bed and breakfast).

Holiday preparations
For all types of foreign holidays, it is essential that you check you have all
your travel documents. Make sure your passport hasn’t expired, and that you have
a visa if necessary. If you are travelling to some countries, you also need to make
sure that all your vaccinations (protection against illness) are up to date. For some
countries you might need a vaccination against hepatitis, or yellow fever, for
example.
As your departure date gets nearer, you can start to plan the details of your journey.
Perhaps it will be a good idea to buy a guide book, or a phrase book, if you don’t
speak much of the local language. Some people like to read up on (= get lots of
background information) where they are going, and find out about the places of
interest and “must-see” sights. It’s also fun to make a packing list, so you don’t
forget any vital clothes or toiletries.
It’s also a good idea to buy local currency in advance, if your flight gets in (=
arrives) in the middle of the night, when no banks are open. Most airlines also advise
you to take out (=get) travel insurance just in case your flight is delayed or
cancelled, or if you get ill and need to be repatriated (sent back to your country).
Don’t forget to make arrangements for your pets and your house while you’re away.
Put your dog into kennels (a dog hotel), and leave a key with your neighbour just in
case! Hopefully your neighbour will keep an eye on your house while you’re on
holiday! Finally, get to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Nowadays it can take
much longer to get through security and onto the plane. Have a nice trip and send
your neighbour a postcard!
Scenery Vocabulary
How to describe the landscape with interesting scenery vocabulary.

The coast
Often at the edge of the sea there are cliffs (high mountains), which give a great
view over the sea. But they can also be dangerous, especially if they are eroded,
when rocks and earth fall away into the sea. Most people prefer sandy
beaches rather than pebble beaches (beaches with small stones). Sometimes,
behind sandy beaches you can see sand dunes – areas of sand that the wind blows
into small hills. Often, different types of grasses grow in the sand dunes.
The coastline can be straight, or it can have bays which are often semi-circular in
shape. It’s often possible to walk along the coastline, along a coastal path.

Mountains
Mountain ranges are spectacular as you can often see snow-capped
peaks against the skyline. From the top of a mountain (the summit or the peak),
there are breathtaking views. Not much grows on mountains, as generally
the terrain (ground) is rocky, but the air is often pure. However, the valleys (low
areas encircled by the mountains) are more fertile. Where the mountains are steep,
farmers often create terraces – they create a series of level areas linked by steps so
that they can grow crops even on mountains and hills.

Inland
From the foothills of the mountains (the small hills nearest mountains), the scenery
inland tends to be less dramatic with rolling hills and open countryside. You can
find more farmland, but also forests or woods (smaller forests). The land is
generally irrigated by rivers or lakes (areas of water which are enclosed)
and streams (narrow paths of water).
In the UK, between fields you can often see hedges (or hedgerows) – a natural
barrier created by small trees and plants which grow close together. Often hedges
are hundreds of years old, and they provide shelter for birds and other wildlife.
In some countries, there are vast areas of open, flat land called plains (or prairies)
which are used to grow various crops such as wheat (the grain used to make flour
for bread.)
At the airport
If you take a flight from an airport in an English-speaking country, you’re likely to
hear some of these phrases.

Checking in

Did you pack these bags yourself?

Have you left these bags unattended?
Does the luggage belong to you?
Have you been with your bags the whole time?
Has anyone given you anything to take on the flight?
How many bags do you have to check in?
Do you have any hand luggage?
Are you carrying any restricted items?

Can I see your passport?

Would you like an aisle seat or a window seat? (aisle = next to the corridor)

Your gate number is … and your flight boards at …. (gate number = the numbered
area of the airport where your flight leaves from)

Going through security

You need to put your hand luggage through the x-ray machine. Some items
cannot be taken on board as hand luggage (such as knives, aerosol cans etc.) As
you pass through security, you may set off the alarm. When this happens, the
airport personnel search you.
In the departure lounge
When you pass through security, and before you board your flight, you can wait in
the departure lounge. At international airports there is duty free shopping, where
you can buy goods without paying taxes.
Airport announcements

Please proceed to gate number… (proceed = go to)

In a few moments we will be calling all passengers with priority boarding.
Please have your boarding card ready for inspection
English Names for Household Objects
Here are some useful English collective nouns and words to describe containers and
storage.

bunch = describing things that are fastened or which grow together: a bunch of
flowers, keys, bananas, grapes
set = a complete number: plates, forks, glasses, saucepans etc
(Also: a boxed set / the complete set of CDs / DVDs, etc.
collection of CDs / DVDs
basket = open container, often made of wicker (dried, plaited reed): a bread basket,
laundry basket (to put dirty clothes while they are waiting to go into the washing
machine), a wastepaper basket
rack = something horizontal (either a pole or a shelf) supported at either end: a
clothes rack, wine rack, shoe rack
row = a number of things in a line: a row of hooks (for coats, etc)
pile / stack = one on top of another: a pile of papers, books, magazines etc
bowl = round pot made of glass, china or wood: fruit bowl, sugar bowl (or bowl of
fruit)
jar = glass container with a lid: coffee jar, jam jar, jar of pasta, etc
box = square container with a lid, made of cardboard: box of chocolates, cereal, etc
tube = long and narrow, where the contents must be squeezed out: tube of
toothpaste
bar = flat and rectangular: bar of soap, chocolate
roll = for paper: toiletpaper / loo paper, kitchen roll
can = anything in a sealed metal tin: can of coke, can of baked beans, can of tuna
tin = metal container: tin of cat food, tin of tuna
pair = things that come in twos: a pair of socks, shoes, boots, sandals, trousers,
shorts, etc
Marriage and wedding vocabulary
It all starts with a proposal. Traditionally the man goes down on one knee to pop
the question.
If he receives a “yes”, the couple are engaged. It is customary for the man to buy
his fiancee an engagement ring, most commonly a diamond ring. Engagements
can last for years, and if neither of the couple breaks off the engagement, the next
step is marriage.

Planning the wedding

Most weddings in the UK take the form of either a civil ceremony (conducted at
the Registry Office) or a traditional white wedding, held in a church. (There are
other ceremonies for different religions.) If the couple chooses a church service, the
planning can become quite complex. The church must be booked, the service has to
be chosen, flowers arranged and so on. Other arrangements (for both traditional and
civil) are to draw up a guest list, send out invitations, book a reception venue (for
after the ceremony), choose bridesmaids (the girls who traditionally accompany the
bride in the church) and the best man (the bridegroom’s friend who accompanies
him to the ceremony), buy the wedding dress, arrange a honeymoon (the holiday
after the wedding), compile a wedding list (a list of presents that guests can choose
to buy the couple) and of course, to select the wedding ring(s).
The big day
The groom and best man arrive at the church first, and then the guests arrive. Last to
arrive is the bride, normally dressed in a long white wedding dress with
a train (material from the dress that covers the floor behind her), her face covered in
a veil, carrying a bouquet of flowers, and accompanied by a couple of bridesmaids in
matching dresses. Usually the bride’s father walks her down the aisle until they
reach the priest / vicar at the altar. The church organ plays the Wedding March,
and the guests rise to their feet to watch the procession. Once they reach the altar,
the bride stands with the groom, and the service begins. The service lasts for about
half an hour, and contains readings (extracts from the Bible) and a couple
of hymns (religious songs). The priest always asks if there are any objections to
the marriage (someone can speak or forever hold their peace = never have the
opportunity again to object), and at the end of the service, the couple exchange
rings and are proclaimed “man and wife”. At that point, the groom is allowed to
kiss his wife. The guests leave and the couple then sign the marriage register.
When they come out of the church, the guests often throw confetti(small pieces of
coloured paper), and the photographer takes various formal photographs.
Next in the big day is the reception, which is often a formal lunch in a hotel. After
lunch there are various speeches. The bride’s father normally gives a speech, then
the best man gives a speech (which is often a funny speech designed to embarrass
the groom), and the bridegroom and / or the bride give a short speech to thank their
guests.
Some couples also arrange an evening reception, and hire a disco or band to play
music for their friends.
At the end of the day, the happy couple traditionally leave on honeymoon.

Other wedding vocabulary

pre-wedding nerves = when you are nervous before the wedding

wedding bells = the traditional tune that the church bells play as the couple leave the
church

wedding vows = the promises that the bride and groom make to each other during
the ceremony. Some of these vows could be to love each other “until death do us
part” and to love “for richer or poorer, for better or worse, in sickness and in good
health”.

wedding cake = a traditional cake with three “tiers” eaten at the end of the wedding
meal
English words and phrases for
renovating, decorating and cleaning
your house
Many people in the UK like renovating or “doing up” their houses to keep up with
fashions and trends. Here are some useful English words and phrases to describe
this.

Decorating
give something a lick / a coat of paint = paint walls
hang / put up wallpaper = to attach new paper to the walls
fit / put up blinds or curtains = cover the windows either with curtains (fabric
hanging across the window) or blinds (strips of plastic or fabric that cover the
window)
throw out / replace the old light fittings = change the lights
go for a (name of fashion) effect = recreate a particular look
put the finishing touches to = complete the decoration with the final details

Renovation
have an extension = build on to the existing house to provide more rooms
put in a conservatory / a fitted kitchen / a new bathroom = to install a
conservatory (room between the back of the house and the garden), a fitted kitchen
(where the units are connected, rather than being single pieces) or a new bathroom
convert the loft (have a loft conversion) = convert the attic into a liveable room
turn the dining room into a spare bedroom = convert a room into one with a
different purpose
knock down a wall = demolish a wall
knock through from the kitchen = demolish the wall from the kitchen into another
room
build a patio = build a paved area around part or the whole of the house
rewire the house = put in new electrical wiring
install central heating / solar panels = put in a new heating system
re-plaster the ceiling = take off the old plaster (covering the bricks) and replace it
with new
re-tile the bathroom = put new tiles on the floor and walls

Other useful expressions

diy = Do it Yourself (doing maintenance and building works in your house)
be handy around the house = to be practical and able to do jobs in the house
draw up plans = to make technical plans before you do building or renovation work
get planning / building permission = to get authorisation from the town hall to do
work on your house

Cleaning vocabulary
Here are some useful words and phrases to talk about cleaning your house.

Everyday / weekly cleaning

Tidy up your house, by putting away things in their right places. Use a soft, dry cloth
(a duster) to remove the dust from furniture. Then use the vacuum
cleaner (or hoover) to hoover the floors, rugs and carpets. Use different hoover
attachments for different types of hoovering (i.e. one for the floors, another for the
furniture, etc.)
If you have wooden or tiled floors, you can also sweep these with a broom. For
smaller areas, use a dustpan and brush to sweep up dirt, dust, or broken glass, for
example.
Every so often, you can clean the floors with water. For this, you can use a long-
handled mop and bucket (for the water.) If you have wooden floors, you can
also wax them (a sort of protective liquid that will make them shine.)
If a surface is particularly dirty, you might have to scrub it with a scrubbing
brush (a wooden brush with stiff bristles) or scour it (with a tough scouring cloth) to
get rid of the marks or stains.
Disinfect the toilet with toilet duck (a special cleaning product that contains bleach.)
Use window cleaner to clean your windows, and oven cleaner to clean your oven.
Use furniture polish (a type of wax) to clean and protect wooden furniture.
Spring-cleaning

Many people spring clean their houses When winter seems to be finally over. Spring-
cleaning is a thorough clean, from top to bottom! Here are some words to describe
this:

Polish your silver (such as silver cutlery) with silver polish.

Declutter = get rid of extra things you don’t need.
Wash soft furnishings (take down the curtains, or take off furniture covers).
Touch up the paintwork (paint the places where the paint has come off, or where
there are dirty marks.)
Get into all the corners of your house, and clean them thoroughly – i.e. behind heavy
furniture where you wouldn’t normally clean.
Get rid of any mould on the walls, or on bathroom tiles, for example.
Clean high up or difficult areas to reach. Remove cobwebs (spiders’ nests.)
English euphemisms
Some subjects are considered personal, sensitive or taboo in English. For this
reason, people avoid mentioning them by name and instead use a “euphemism” or
humorous expression to refer to them. Here are some common euphemisms in
English.

To refer to death
We don’t always speak directly about death, but instead use one of the following
expressions:

pass away: “Her uncle passed away last year.” (also pass as in “He passed last
year.”)
fight a long battle with: “He fought a long battle with cancer.”

Here are some less serious expressions to refer to death:

meet your maker: “He’s gone to meet his maker.”

six feet under: “I won’t worry about money when I’m six feet under.”
pushing up daisies: “Last I heard about him, he’s pushing up daisies.” (A daisy is a
small, white flower that grows easily in grass.)
in your / his / my box: “When I’m in my box you can argue all you like about the
inheritance.”
snuff it: “I’ve heard that poor old Ernie has snuffed it.”
popped his clogs: “Harold popped his clogs last year.”
kick the bucket: “So Joe has finally kicked the bucket.”

Animal euthanasia
Pets are often an important part of the family, and English-speaking people try to be
sensitive around the issue of animal illness. If a pet is suffering, many people
consider that the kindest thing to do is to “put it out of its misery” – i.e. animal
euthanasia.

put down: “We had to put our cat down as she was very ill.”
put an end to its suffering: “We put an end to her suffering.”

To refer to the bathroom

Bodily functions are “taboo” in polite company.

restroom: “Can I use the restroom?”

Where can I wash my hands?
public conveniences: “Are there any public conveniences nearby?”
ladies / gents: “The ladies and gents are down the corridor on your right.”
Can I use your bathroom?

There are also some humorous expressions to refer to the bathroom:

the bog: “He’s in the bog.”

the smallest room of the house: “I’d like to pay a visit to the smallest room of the
house.”
powder my nose: “Where can I powder my nose?”
see a man about a dog: “He’s gone to see a man about a dog.”

Other themes
Unemployment
between jobs: “Steve is between jobs at the moment.”
a resting actor: “Harry’s a resting actor.” (Only use for unemployed actors.)
Pregnancy
in the family way: “She was in the family way, so they got married.”
have a bun in the oven: “Have you heard that Katy has a bun in the oven?”
Drunk
tired and emotional: “The newspaper said the president was tired and emotional.”
have a bit too much to drink: “He had a bit too much to drink last night.”
to be a bit worse for wear: “He was a bit worse for wear by the time he came
home.”
to have over-indulged: “I think he over-indulged in the free beer at the party.”
Lying
economical with the truth: “The boss is known for being economical with the truth.”
Arguments
full and frank discussion: “The directors had a full and frank discussion in the
meeting.”
have words with someone: “Those two have had words.”
Being poor
be disadvantaged: “The government is introducing new schemes to help the
disadvantaged.”
financially embarrassed: “I’m afraid I can’t come to the restaurant with you. I’m
financially embarrassed at the moment.”

How to respond in special situations

Certain situations need special vocabulary…

Congratulations!
You can say Congratulations in many circumstances, such as for weddings,
promotions, passing exams, or to the parents and family of a new baby.

Well done!
You can say this to someone who has passed an exam or achieved something
difficult like a promotion.
Birthdays
The most usual ways of referring to someone’s birthday are by saying Happy
Birthday! or more formally, Many happy returns!
Cultural note: Some birthdays are more special than others in Britain. Your 18th
birthday is special as you then become an official adult. In the past, 21 was the age
of adulthood, and some people still celebrate it in a special way by giving silver keys,
which represent the key to the door.

Before an exam or something difficult

Wish someone good luck before something difficult, by saying Good luck! But if
people are superstitious and believe that saying “Good luck” will have the opposite
effect, you could also hear Break a leg!
If someone has failed at something, you can say Bad luck!

Toasting
At parties and gatherings, you might be asked to drink a toast to celebrate a happy
event.
Here’s to …

Let’s drink to…

Ladies and Gentlemen, “The Bride and Groom”.

Please raise your glasses to…

Writing to someone who has passed an exam

If you are writing a card or a letter to someone who has passed an exam, you can
use the following expressions:

Well done! It’s a fantastic result.

Congratulations on passing! You deserve it after so much hard work.

Writing wedding cards

Here are a couple of standard phrases to write on wedding cards:

Congratulations! Wishing you many happy years together.

Wishing you the best of luck in your future together.

Writing in sad situations

In difficult situations you can write I was so sorry to hear that ….

If you are writing to the relatives of someone who has died, you can also write
I was deeply saddened to hear…
or
Please accept my deepest condolences on the death of…

(You can replace “I” with “We”, such as “We were very sad to hear that…”)

Describing People
Here’s some useful vocabulary for describing people and talking about physical
appearance. Remember that you need to be quite careful when you’re describing
people. At the bottom of this page are some tips for being tactful.

Age
If you’re old you might have a pension, so you’re an old age pensioner, or a senior
citizen. An old person might be 65 years old and over.
Before you’re old (around 55, for example) you can be middle-aged. If you have
children when you’re this age, they can be young adult (20-25 years of age)
or teenager. (13-19).
There are other words for younger children. For example, a toddler is around 1-3
years old, while a baby is from 0-12 months old.

Build
People are built in all shapes and sizes. There are those who
are fat and overweight. Some people are extremely overweight and are obese.
Other people are naturally slim, but others look have absolutely no fat on them and
are thin, or skinny.
Other words for describing people and build are:
stocky = small, but well-built
tall
short
lean = with very little fat
wiry = quite thin, but muscular
athletic
well-proportioned.
curvaceous (for a woman) / an hour-glass figure (Like an 1940’s film star!)
fit = healthy / active. To be fit you should take plenty of exercise.
flabby = when your muscles go soft

Colouring
You can describe someone as an English rose if they have fair hair and fair skin.
Someone with this complexion doesn’t tan easily and has to be careful in the sun.
You can also be blonde, with a fair complexion.
You are born with a colour – white or Caucasian, black or Asian. You can also
say person of colour (for example, a woman of colour, or a man of colour) to
describe anyone who is not white (but never use the word “coloured”). People whose
parents are of different ethnic origin are mixed-race. Southern Europeans are
sometimes described as Mediterranean.
Other words for describing skin colour:
freckles = small brown dots on your face and arms from the sun
dark-skinned = a dark complexion which allows you to tan easily

Face
Faces, like build, vary a lot. Some people have oval faces – their foreheads are
much wider than their chins. Other people have heart-shaped,
square or round faces.
Here’s some more vocabulary for describing features:
bushy eyebrows = lots of thick hair on your eyebrows
a hooked nose = a prominent nose (but not a wide nose)
high cheekbones = prominent cheekbones
a broad nose = opposite of a narrow nose
a snub nose = a nose which goes up at the end.
even or regular teeth = teeth which are straight
crooked teeth = you need to wear a brace to make them straight
rosy cheeks = red cheeks
dimples = when you get little hollows in your cheeks or next to your mouth when you
smile

Describing hair
long, curly hair
short, straight hair
fine hair = it doesn’t weigh very much, vs thick and heavy hair
wavy = between straight and curly
losing your hair / going bald = when men start to lose their hair
a receding hairline = when you lose your hair from your forehead
a red-head = with red hair
Here are some ways you can describe hair styles:
cut in a bob = a short hair style, where the hair comes down to your chin
a fringe = where it is cut horizontally across her forehead
a shaved head = where your hair is shaved off
a ponytail = where you tie (long) hair behind your head, so it falls down like a
horse’s tail
a Mohican = a punk style where your hair is shaved on the sides, but long and spiky
in the middle
Being tactful when you’re describing people
People can be sensitive about their body shape or age, so be careful when you’re
describing people. In particular, three words that can cause offense are “fat”, “thin”
and “old”.

Using “a bit” or “a little” before adjectives can make what you say sound more tactful.
For example, “He’s a little heavy” or “She’s a bit overweight” are less direct (and
more polite).

Here are some alternatives to fat, thin and old.

Alternatives to “fat”
overweight / heavy / plump / a bit chubby (chubby is especially used for children)
curvy /curvaceous (for women) / statuesque (i.e. tall and well-built)
well-built / a big man (for men)
Alternatives to “thin”
slim = no fat, but not skinny
slender / petite (especially for women)
wiry = without an inch of fat
Alternatives to “old”
a pensioner / elderly (75+) / a senior citizen
middle-aged (50 +)
English Words that Describe Behaviour
An A-Z of English words and phrases that describe behaviour.

A
active = always doing something: “She’s an active person and never wants to stay
in.”
aggressive = being angry or threatening: “He’s aggressive and starts arguments.”
ambitious = wanting to succeed: “He’s ambitious and wants to lead the company.”
argumentative = always arguing with people: “He won’t accept what you say – he’s
argumentative and loves to disagree!”
arrogant = thinking you are better than anyone else: “He always behaves as if
nobody else’s opinion is important – “I find him very arrogant.”
assertive = being confident, so people can’t force you to do things you don’t want to
do: “It’s important to be assertive at work.”

B
bad-tempered = in a bad mood: “What’s got into him lately? He’s so bad-tempered.”
big-headed = thinking you’re very important or clever: “I’ve never met anyone so
big-headed!”
bossy = telling people what to do all the time: “He’s so bossy – he never lets me do
things the way I want to do them.”

C
careless = not taking care: “He’s a careless driver – “I’m sure he’ll have an
accident.”
caring = wanting to help people: “My boss is caring and often asks me how things
are going.”
catty = saying nasty or spiteful things about other people: “I know you don’t like her,
but calling her names is a bit catty.”
cautious = being careful, so that you avoid mistakes: “He’s cautious about investing
money in the stock market.”
charming = pleasant and likeable: “What a charming man!”
cheeky = being rude or disrespectful: “It was a bit cheeky of him to ask for more
money.”
clever = intelligent: “She’s a clever student and picks things up quickly.”
conceited = thinking you’re very clever, or better than others: “He’s so conceited –
he thinks everyone should admire him.”
conscientious = doing something carefully, because you want to do it well: “She’s a
conscientious student and always does her homework.”
considerate = thinking and caring about others: “My neighbour brought me flowers
when I was in hospital – he’s very considerate.” (“That was considerate of him.”)
coy = pretending to be shy so that you don’t have to give information: “He’s very coy
about his qualifications – maybe he doesn’t have any.”
creative = someone who can make or design things, or can think of solutions to a
problem: “She’s creative and artistic.”
curious = wanting to know things: “I’m curious to find out what you think of the
situation.”

D
deceitful = trying to make people think something, so that you get what you want:
“He lied to get this job – he’s so deceitful.”
docile = quiet and submissive: “She’s a docile child and always does what she’s
told.”
dogmatic = wanting others to accept your ideas without discussion: “He’s a
dogmatic politician and always thinks he’s right.”
domineering = trying to control other people: “He’s loud and domineering in the
office – it’s difficult to get him to listen to us.”

E
enthusiastic = having a lot of interest in something: “He’s an enthusiastic supporter
of equal rights.”
excitable = someone who easily gets excited: “He gets very excitable about politics
– it’s one of his passions in life.”
extroverted = outgoing and lively: “She’s extroverted and loves going out with
people.”

F
faithful = being loyal to someone or something: “She’s a faithful friend.”
fickle = changing your mind and being unpredictable: “Politicians can be fickle when
it suits them!”
flaky = slightly unstable and unreliable: “She’s a little flaky at times, but otherwise
she’s a good worker.”
full of himself = acting proud of yourself: “He was full of himself after he got the
promotion – it got annoying after a while.”
funny = making other people laugh: “He can be extremely funny when he’s in the
mood.”
fussy = only liking certain things: “She’s fussy about what she wears.”

G
good-natured = kind and thoughtful: “She’s good-natured and always tries to help.”
grumpy = someone who tends to be in a bad mood: “He’s always grumpy in the
morning and never says ‘hello’.”

H
happy-go-lucky = not worrying about what might happen in the future: “He’s a bit
happy-go-lucky and doesn’t think about the future.”

I
impulsive = doing things without thinking first: “If he sees something he likes, he just
buys it – he can be so impulsive at times!”
inconsiderate = not considering other people or their feelings: “It was a little
inconsiderate of him not to give you a get-well card.”
introverted = opposite of extroverted: “He was introverted as a teenager, but
became more confident as he got older.”
inventive = able to think up new ideas: “As head of Marketing, he can often think of
inventive ways to keep his customers happy.”
irritating = annoying others: “He can be very irritating to work with.”

J
jokey = making jokes: “You’re in a jokey mood today, but we’ve got work to do!”
jolly = happy and cheerful: “It was the weekend and everyone was in a jolly mood.”

K
kind = thoughtful and caring: “My neighbour is kind – she looked after my cat when I
was on holiday.”

L
loud-mouthed = someone who talks a lot and often says offensive things: “Don’t
worry about what he said – he’s loud-mouthed at times.”
loyal = someone who is faithful and stands by you: “His colleagues were loyal to him
when he was having problems with his boss.”

M
manic = behaving in a slightly crazy way: “We’re a bit manic at the moment – we’re
rushing to finish the work before our deadline.”
manipulative = trying to get people to do what you want, by influencing or deceiving
them: “She’s very manipulative when she wants something.”
moody = having unpredictable moods: “Some people think he’s moody – you never
know if he’s happy or grumpy.”

N
nervous = uncomfortable with a situation: “I’m always nervous before an exam.”

O
old-fashioned = behaving or thinking in a way that isn’t modern: “He’s a bit old-
fashioned and thinks women shouldn’t work.”
opinionated = having strong opinions: “He’s opinionated and dogmatic – the last
person you want to negotiate with.”

P
passive = not assertive – doing what other people want you to do without arguing:
“He’s passive at work, but domineering at home.”
perfectionist = someone who wants perfection: “Her boss is a perfectionnist – no
spelling mistakes are allowed.”
persuasive = being able to persuade people to do things or to accept your ideas:
“He’s a persuasive talker.”
picky = only liking certain things or people: “She’s picky about her friends.”
playful = someone who likes to play and have fun: “You’re in a playful mood today!”
pleasant = nice and polite: “The bank manager was pleasant to me today.”
polite = showing good manners: “She’s polite and never forgets to say ‘please’ or
‘thank you’.”
pragmatic = being practical and aware of your limitations: “She’s pragmatic at work
and only does what she can.”

Q
quick-tempered = getting angry quickly: “He was quick-tempered when he was
young, but he’s more relaxed now.”

R
reserved = keeping your ideas and thoughts to yourself: “He’s reserved, but polite.”
rude = impolite: “He’s very rude and never says ‘please’ or ‘thank you’.”

S
scatter-brained / scatty = someone who often forgets things: “Don’t you remember
where you put your wallet? You’re so scatter-brained!”
serious = not light-hearted: “He’s a serious student and always does his homework.”
shy = quiet, because you are not very confident: “He’s so shy and hates saying
anything to people he doesn’t know.”
sincere = saying what you believe (opposite of insincere): “He’s sincere in his
beliefs.”
slapdash = doing your work quickly and carelessly: “He’s got a very slapdash
attitude – I doubt he’ll ever become a lawyer.”
slimy = trying to get what you want by being over-friendly: “That man is so slimy –
he makes me feel sick!”
sly = doing things in a secretive way: “You never know what he’s up to – he’s sly
and manipulative.”
spiteful = trying to hurt other people because you didn’t get what you wanted: “If she
doesn’t get what she wants, she can be quite spiteful.”

T
thoughtful = someone who thinks a lot: “He’s a thoughtful person and won’t do
anything unless he has considered the consequences.”
thoughtless = not thinking about people or the consequences of your actions: “I’m
sure he didn’t mean to be rude – he can be thoughtless at times.”
trustworthy = someone you can trust: “My accountant is really trustworthy.”

V
volatile quickly changing moods: “He’s easily excitable and pretty volatile.”

W
witty = being able to make other people laugh by what you say: “He’s witty and
charming – the perfect person to invite to a party.”
Talking about anger in English
How can you describe someone who is angry? These words and expressions can be
used to describe different strengths of anger, from mild anger to rage.

Mild anger
grumpy = someone who is often in a bad mood and complains a lot (esp old
people): “He’s such a grumpy old man!”
crotchety = someone who is easily irritated: “I hate it when you’re in a crotchety
mood.”
irritated = when something makes you a bit angry: “To be honest, I’m a bit irritated
with my husband. He promised me dinner, then told me he had to work late.”
annoyed = irritated: “He really annoyed me, talking through the film.”
snappy = when you are in a bad mood and speak sharply to people: “She’s in a very
snappy mood today.”
cross = angry: “It makes me very cross when people don’t stop at the pedestrian
crossing.”
get out of bed on the wrong side = wake up in a bad mood: “Don’t expect any
sympathy from Joe. He got out of bed on the wrong side this morning.”
be rubbed up the wrong way = to be put in a bad mood by someone: “Don’t worry
too much about him. He was rubbed up the wrong way when we started talking
about promotion.”
get up your nose = irritates: “It really gets up my nose when they start talking about
football.”
get hot under the collar = become angry: “He got really hot under the collar when
he couldn’t buy a train ticket.”
be in a strop / stroppy: easily angered: “She’s turning into a stroppy teenager.”

Very angry
pissed off (British slang) = angry: “I was really pissed off by her attitude.”
furious = very angry: “She was furious when he told her the news.”
livid = very angry: “I was absolutely livid when I found out.”
in a black mood = be very angry: “He always gets in a black mood when he sees
his team lose.”
spitting mad = be very angry: “He got me spitting mad!”
see red = be uncontrollably angry: “When I realised she was lying, I just saw red.”
like a red rag to a bull = provoke someone to anger: “Talking about politics is like a
red rag to a bull to him.”
be in a foul mood = be in a bad mood: “She was in a foul mood all last week.”

Your reactions
What can you say to someone who is mildly angry?

Keep your hair on! (Don’t lose your temper.)

Calm down!
Take it easy!
Don’t let it get to you. = don’t let something make you angry.
Turn the other cheek. = Ignore it.
Don’t get your knickers in a twist! (British slang) = Don’t let it affect you.
Describing friendship in English
From best friend to deadliest enemy, and all the variations between. This page will
help you learn some common English words and phrases to describe friendship.

BFF (best friends forever)

best mate = your best friend.
a good friend = someone in your “inner circle” of friends.
to be really close to someone = be good friends with
pal = friend (UK slang)
buddy (best buddy) = friend (mainly US English)
to go back years = to know someone for a long time: “Steve and I go back years.”
an old friend = a friend you’ve known for a long time: “He’s an old friend of Dave’s.”
a friend of the family / a family friend = someone close to your family: “John was
an old family friend.”
a trusted friend = someone you can trust
a childhood friend = a friend from when you were very young
a circle of friends = all the friends in your group: “She’s got a great circle of friends.”
be just good friends = when you want to say you’re only friends with someone of
the opposite sex: “We’re not going out. We’re just good friends, that’s all.”

More casual friendships

penpal / epal = someone you know from corresponding / writing: “Find a penpal on
our Penpals forum!”
someone you know from work (or another interest group): “Andy? Oh, he’s
someone I know from work.”
someone you know to pass the time of day with = someone you know to say
“hello” to.
casual acquaintance = someone you don’t know very well: “She’s just a casual
acquaintance of mine.”
a friend of a friend = someone you only know because they’re a friend of one of
your friends. “Dave’s a friend of a friend.”
a mutual friend = someone that two people know: “Karen’s a mutual friend of both
me and Rachel.”

Mates
classmate = someone in your class at school.
workmate = someone you work with
flatmate (UK English) roommate (US English) = someone you share a flat or house
with
soul mate = someone you’re very close to because you share the same opinions
and beliefs
Not good friends
on-off relationship = where you’re sometimes friendly, and sometimes not: “Cath
and Liz have an on-off relationship.”
fair-weather friend = a friend who’s never around when you need help: “She’s only
a fair-weather friend.”
a frenemy = someone who’s a friend and an enemy at the same time.

Other expressions
strike up a friendship with = make friends with someone
be no friend of = not like someone / something: “I’m no friend of his!”
have friends in high places = know important / influential people: “Be careful what
you say. He’s got friends in high places.”

English Verbs of Body Movement

Here are 25 verbs which describe the movements you can make with your body.

Eyes
wink = when you close one eye quickly (often when you want to show you’re saying
something untrue or funny)
“He winked at her and she knew that he was only joking.”
blink = when you close both eyes quickly (often if the light is too bright)
“He took off his glasses and blinked in the strong sunlight.”

Mouth
smile = make your mouth wide to show friendliness or because you find something
funny
“She smiled at his joke.”
bite (bite / bit / bitten) = use your teeth to break something
“She bit into the apple.”
kiss = put your lips together and push them out against someone else’s skin / lips
(as a sign of love or affection)
“She kissed her aunt on her cheek.”
swallow = make something (like food) go down your throat
“Drink some water to help you swallow the aspirin.”
sip = drink very small amounts at a time
“He sipped his coffee as it was very hot.”
lick = use your tongue (to eat something)
“The cat licked its paws.”
blow (blow / blew / blown) = make air come out of your mouth
“She blew on her fingers to try to keep them warm.”
whistle = put your lips together and make a tune as you blow out air
“He always whistles when he’s concentrating on something.”
hum = sing (but without the words) with your mouth closed
“He hummed a little song as he drove to work.”

Hands / Fingers
wave = when you move your hand (or hands) in the air to attract attention or to say
goodbye
“I’m over here!” she cried, as she waved her hands in the air.
stroke = use long movements of your hand down someone’s skin (or an animal’s
fur)
“She stroked the cat as it sat on her lap.”
tickle = lightly touch someone to make them laugh (because their skin is sensitive)
“She tickled the baby’s feet.”
pat = touch someone or something lightly with your open hand
“She patted the child gently on his arm and told him not to worry.”
slap = use your open hand to hit someone or something
“He slapped at the mosquitoes.”
punch = use your closed hand (fist) to hit someone or something
“When he won the match he punched his fist into the air in victory.”
rip = tear something using both hands
“He read the letter then ripped it up.”
scratch = use your nails on something
“He scratched the insect bite on his arm.”
grab = take something quickly with your hand
“There was only one sandwich left on the plate and she grabbed it before her brother
could get it.”
flick = move something small away from you using your thumb and middle finger
“She flicked away the bug which was moving towards her.”

Legs and feet

tap = move your feet to the beat of music
“He tapped his feet as he listened to the dance music.”
kick = use your feet to make something move
“The little boy kicked the stones at his feet.”
limp = walk with difficulty because your leg or foot is injured
“He fell off his bicycle and limped home.”
paddle = walk in the sea with bare feet (but still wearing trousers, etc)
“The water was too cold for swimming, so they just paddled in the sea for a few
minutes.”

English Idioms Of Emotion

Here are some emotional idioms to tell people whether you’re happy, sad or angry.

:-)
All these idioms mean that you are absolutely delighted!

over the moon: “He was over the moon when he heard the news.”
thrilled to bits: “She was thrilled to bits with her new bicycle.”
in seventh heaven: “They were in seventh heaven when they learned they’d won a
cruise.”
on cloud nine: “When I got the job, I was on cloud nine for several weeks.”
jump for joy: “We jumped for joy when we got the mortgage.”

:-(
These idioms mean you are feeling sad.

down in the dumps: “When she left him, he was down in the dumps for a couple of
weeks.”
feel blue: “She felt a little blue when she lost her job.”
beside yourself (with grief, worry): “When her son went missing, she was beside
herself with worry.”

Annoyed because you have missed an opportunity

sick as a parrot: “He was as sick as a parrot when he realised he had thrown away
his lottery ticket.”

:-V
These idioms mean that you are very angry.

see red: “Don’t talk to him about his boss – it just makes him see red!”
hopping mad: “She was hopping mad when she found out her daughter had
disobeyed her.”
in a black mood: “Be careful what you say – she’s in a black mood today.”

Less angry idioms.

cheesed off: “I was really cheesed off when I lost the competition.”
to not be on speaking terms: “They’re not on speaking terms at the moment after
their row.”

To be off someone’s Christmas card list: “Oh dear. I think I’m off her Christmas card
list after insulting her husband!”

have a downer on someone: “What’s John done? You seem to have a real downer
on him.”
rub someone up the wrong way: “Those two are always arguing. They just seem
to rub each other up the wrong way.”
In desperation
These idioms mean you don’t know what to do.

at the end of your tether: “I just can’t cope. I’m at the end of my tether with all these
bills and debts.”
at your wits’ end: “He’s at his wits’ end. He’s tried everything to solve the problem,
but nothing has worked.”

How To Write An Email

Emails are generally shorter than letters. As they are often written quickly, in
response to a request or question, they may contain only a few lines. Informal
English, abbreviations, and absence of standard salutations are common when you
write an email.

This email guide helps you with the structure of emails, plus tips and phrases you
can use.

Email Structure
Emails may contain the following elements:

– Subject line
This shows the reader the exact subject of the email.

– (Salutation)
This is optional. Some people start with “Hi”, others with the first name of the reader,
or others with no name or salutation at all.

– Reason for writing

– Main point

– (Closing)
There are a variety of closing phrases, such as “Cheers” or “Thanks”. These are also
optional.
How To Write An Email – General Tips
1. Use a descriptive subject line.
Say what the email is about in a few words. Instead of writing “Urgent”, write
“Meeting at 10am about pay rise”, for example.
Use a subject line each time you reply to an email, to avoid subject lines starting
“Re:”
Be careful to avoid writing general subject lines, such as “Hello” or “Hi”, as some
email providers automatically delete these as spam.
2. Keep your emails short.
Try to keep to only one point in each email. If necessary, you can send more emails
on different points. If you write a descriptive subject line for each email, it’s easier for
your reader to understand the content of your email.
You don’t need to quote all the previous messages in the one you send. You can
selectively quote (only including the previous question, for example) by using the
angle brackets << quote here >>.
3. Write simple, direct English.
This is especially important if you’re writing to someone whose first language is not
English.

Here are some ways of writing simple English:

– use active forms instead of passive forms
– write short sentences rather than long ones (if in doubt, stick to a simple “who did
what to who, how, where and when” type word order)
– don’t use idioms
– use common words rather than technical or jargon words if your reader is not in the
same field as you

4. Make sure your reader knows what to do next.

Help your reader act on your email. For example, if you want your reader to find
some information for you, write “Please can you find me the sales figures for 2018”
instead of a less direct “I’m going to need the sales figures for 2018”.
5. Reduce the amount of email you send.
Most people receive more (rather than less) email every day. Here are some ways
you can reduce the number of emails you send to people:

– make a phone call rather than write an email. This is particularly effective if you
only want a quick piece of information

– only write an email to the people who need to see it. Don’t automatically click “reply
to all” if only one or two people need to read your message.

– don’t take part in chain emails (when you have to forward something on to five of
your best friends, for example)

– don’t reply to spam

6. Don’t send heavy attachments.

If possible, send a zip file, or give web addresses where your reader can find
information.
7. Be careful what you write in your email.
Try to make your emails informative and polite, and use a neutral tone. Remember
that your reader could forward your email to other people, so only write what you
would be happy for other people to read. (No gossip, no personal comments, no
confidential information and no ambiguous English such as sarcastic humour.)
Avoid using emoticons and smilies in business emails, or too many exclamation
marks.
8. Check your email before you send it.
Use a spell check to eliminate spelling mistakes. Read your email aloud to check for
grammar and punctuation errors. Ask yourself these questions:
“Is this clear?”
“Does my reader know what to do next?”
“Is this polite?”

Samples For Writing Emails – Greetings

There are a number of ways to start the email. In many cases, you can copy the
sender and use the same greeting, but if you are the one to write first, here are some
possible greetings.

– Friends and colleagues

“Hi” is informal, and you can use it for friends and colleagues.
You can also use “Hello” or “Hello + first name” if you know the person well.

– For acquaintances
Use “Dear Mr Jones” / “Dear Ms Jones” if you know the name of the person. Like
with letters, use Ms instead of Miss or Mrs when you write to women.

– Formal emails
If you don’t know the name of the person, you can write “Dear Sir”, “Dear Madam” or
“Dear Sir / Madam”.

– Writing to a group of people

If you are writing to a group of people, you could use a collective noun:
“Dear customers”, “Dear partners”.

If you are writing to a group of people who work in the same company or department,
you could write “Dear All”, “Dear colleagues”, or “Hello everyone”.

– Writing to a group of bosses in your company

Here you could write “Dear Managers”, “Dear Directors” or “Dear Board members”.

– No greeting
Often in companies, you write quick emails to colleagues. Using email in this way is
almost like using the telephone. In these situations, you don’t need to write any
greeting or name, but just start the message.

Starting Your Email

Your first sentence should tell the reader what your email is about. Here are four of
the most common reasons for writing an email, along with some sentences you can
use to start:
1. Replying to a previous email

“Thanks for the information.”

“Thanks for your phone call.”
“Thanks for getting me the figures.”

2. Giving brief updates

“Just a quick note to tell you…”

“Just a quick note to let you know…”
“Just to update you on…”

3. Referring to an attachment

“Take a look at the attached file.”

“Have a quick look at the file I’ve attached about…”
“Thought you might find the attached interesting.”

4. Changing plans

“Sorry, but I can’t make the meeting tomorrow.”

“Sorry, but I won’t be able to meet you next week.”
“Sorry, but something has come up and I can’t meet you for lunch.”

Your first sentence should only have one theme. For example, your reason for
writing may be to ask for help, or to share some information, or to ask a question.
Your first sentence for these different situations could be:

“Have you got a few minutes to help me with…?”

“Just wanted to let you know…”
“Regarding X, can you tell me if…?”

If you have more than one reason for writing, give each reason its own paragraph. It
doesn’t matter if your paragraph is only one line long. In fact, the extra space helps
your reader to understand you have more than one reason for writing, and that each
reason is different from the other.

Sample Email Writing

Hi Jo

Just wanted to let you know we got the project! They’re signing tomorrow, so we
should be starting the planning next week.

Regarding your presentation to them last year, do you still have the Powerpoint files?

Thanks
 How to write a formal email
Follow these five simple steps to make sure your English emails are perfectly
professional.

1. Begin with a greeting

2. Thank the recipient
3. State your purpose
4. Add your closing remarks
5. End with a closing

1. Begin with a greeting

Always open your email with a greeting, such as “Dear Lillian”. If your relationship
with the reader is formal, use their family name (eg. “Dear Mrs. Price”). If the
relationship is more casual, you can simply say, “Hi Kelly”. If you don’t know the
name of the person you are writing to, use: “To whom it may concern” or “Dear
Sir/Madam”.

2. Thank the recipient

If you are replying to a client’s inquiry, you should begin with a line of thanks. For
example, if someone has a question about your company, you can say, “Thank you
for contacting ABC Company”. If someone has replied to one of your emails, be sure
to say, “Thank you for your prompt reply” or “Thanks for getting back to
me”. Thanking the reader puts him or her at ease, and it will make you appear more
polite.

3. State your purpose

If you are starting the email communication, it may be impossible to include a line of
thanks. Instead, begin by stating your purpose. For example, “I am writing to enquire
about …” or “I am writing in reference to …”.
Make your purpose clear early on in the email, and then move into the main text of
your email. Remember, people want to read emails quickly, so keep your sentences
short and clear. You’ll also need to pay careful attention to grammar, spelling and
punctuation so that you present a professional image of yourself and your company.

4. Add your closing remarks

 Before you end your email, it’s polite to thank your reader one more time and add
some polite closing remarks. You might start with “Thank you for your patience and
cooperation” or “Thank you for your consideration” and then follow up with, “If you
have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to let me know” and “I look forward to
hearing from you”.

5. End with a closing

The last step is to include an appropriate closing with your name. “Best
regards”, “Sincerely”, and “Thank you” are all professional. Avoid closings such
as “Best wishes” or “Cheers” unless you are good friends with the reader. Finally,
before you hit the send button, review and spell check your email one more time to
make sure it’s truly perfect!