Vocabulary to write letters

Letter structure

How to start and end the letter?

A. Formal letter

When you don't know the recipient’s name:

• Dear Sir … Yours faithfully

• Dear Madam … Yours faithfully
• Dear Sir or Madam … Yours faithfully

• When the recipient’s name is known:

• Dear Mr Green … Yours sincerely

• Dear Mrs Green … Yours sincerely
• Dear Miss Green … Yours sincerely
• Dear Ms Green … Yours sincerely

B. Semi-formal letter

When you are writing to a good friend or colleague:

• Dear Jonh … Best wishes/ Best regards

• Dear Jonh ... Many thanks

C. Informal letter

When you are writing to a good friend or colleague:

• Hello Jonh … Best wishes/ Best

• Hi Jonh … See you/ Missing you/ Love

• When you are writing to someone you love:

• Dear Mary … Yours always/ Lots of love

Letter openings

The letter's first paragraph is letter opening. In your first paragraph you should:

1. introduce yourself
2. state the purpose of the letter.
Examples of formal letter openings:

• I am writing to enquire about … .

• I am writing to request ... .
• I am writing to explain why ... .
• I am writing to express interest in ... .
• I am writing to inform you that/about… .
• I am writing to complain about (the fact that I)… .
• After having seen your advertisement in … , I would like to… .
• After having received your address from … , I … .
• Thank you for your letter regarding/about … .
• In reply to your letter of 18 June, … .

Examples of informal letter openings:

• Hi! My name is Noah and I've been assigned your drama coach… .
• Hello, My name is Julia and I'm volunteer conducting student excursions…
.
• Hi there, I hope you're enjoying your holidays/ trip/ college year/
honeymoon… .
• Hello, thanks very much for asking me to visit you ... .

Letter closings

You may need a letter closing to express gratitude, to repeat an apology, to offer
help etc.

Examples of formal letter closings:

• If you require any further information, feel free to contact me.

• I look forward to your reply.
• I look forward to hearing from you.
• Once again, I apologise for any inconvenience.
• I would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter.
• I would deeply appreciate it if you could ... .
• Thank you in advance!
• Thanking you for your assistance in advance, I look forward to hearing
from you.

Examples of informal letter closings:

• Anyway, I‛ve got to go now. Write again if you need any more
information.
• Well, let me finish here. I am eagerly waiting for your reply to this letter.
IELTS essay vocabulary
Expressing personal opinions:

• In my opinion, …
• Personally, I think that …
• It seems to me that ...
• I must admit that …
• I believe/suppose that ...
• I cannot deny that …
• As I see it, …
• As far as I'm concerned, …
• I would argue that ...
• I'd like to point out that …
• In my experience, ...

• Very strong opinions:

• I am sure that …
• I am convinced that ...
• I am certain that ...

• Example: I would argue that computers are rather beneficial for kids.

Proving your arguments

• to attest, ...
• to prove, ...
• this (fact) is attested/proven by ...
• this (fact) is evidenced by ...
• this (fact) is testified by ...
• this (fact) is endorsed/supported by...
• this (evidence) establishes that ...

• Example: Consuming moderate amounts of sweets can be good for health.

This is evidenced by a number of cases when people improved their health
conditions by eating chocolate.

Expressing general point of view:

• It is (generally) claimed that …

• It is (generally) said that …
• It is (generally) thought that ...
• It is (generally) considered that ...
• A common opinion is that ...
• A popular belief is that ...
 • Example: It is considered that rigorous diets are very unhealthy.

Outlining facts

• The fact is that …

• It is obvious that …
• It is clear that …
• There is no doubt that …
• This proves that …

• Example: It is obvious that deforestation has no positive effects.

Generalizing

• Generally speaking, ...

• On the whole, ...
• Typically, ...
• By and large ...

• Example: Generally speaking, smoking is a bad habit.

Giving examples

• For example, ...

• For instance, ...
• A good illustration of this is ...
• Evidence for this is provided by ...
• We can see this when ...

• Example: A lot of wild animals are endangered. Evidence for this is proved
by decreasing number of species.

Concluding

• To summarise, ...
• In conclusion, ...
• Overall, ...
• On balance, ...
• Taking everything into consideration, ...

• Example: Overall, no parents should neglect their children.

Linking structures

Listing Giving examples Generalising

firstly, secondly, thirdly for example in general
first, furthermore, finally for instance generally
to begin, to conclude as follows: on the whole
next that is as a rule
Reinforcement in this case for the most part
also namely in most cases
furthermore in other words usually
moreover Result/consequence Highlighting
what is more so in particular
in addition therefore particularly
besides as a result/consequence especially
above all accordingly mainly
as well (as) consequently Reformulation
in the same way because of this/that in other words
not only ... but also thus rather
Similarity hence to put it more simply
Expressing an
equally for this/that reason
alternative
likewise so that alternatively
similarly in that case rather
under these
correspondingly on the other hand
circumstances
in the same way Deduction the alternative is
Transition to new another possibility would
then
point be
now, in other words Contrast
as far as x is concerned in that case instead
with regard/reference to otherwise conversely
as for ... this implies that ... on the contrary
it follows that if so/not in contrast
turning to Stating the obvious in comparison
Concession (smth
Summary obviously
unexpected)
in conclusion clearly even though
to conclude naturally however
in brief of course however much
to summarise as can be expected nevertheless
overall surely still
therefore after all yet
IELTS Academic word list

List 1

Words 11- Words 21- Words 31- Words 41-

Words 1-10
20 30 40 50
achieve authority consistent distinction factors
administratio available constitutional economic feature
n benefit consumer element final
affect category context environment financial
analysis community create error focus
approach complex culture equation function
appropriate concerning data establish global
area conclusion definition estimate identify
aspects conduct destructive evaluation impact
assistance consequence discovery evidence income
assume
Words 51- Words 61- Words 71- Words 81- Words 91-
60 70 80 90 100
indicate media policy regulations similar
individual method positive relevant solution
injury modern potential require source
investment normal previous research specific
involve obtain primary resident strategy
issue restrict process resources structure
item occur purchase response theory
legal participation range sector threat
maintenance percent recent security traditional
major period region significant transport

List 2

Words 11- Words 21- Words 31- Words 41-

Words 1-10
20 30 40 50
access attitude constant demonstrate ensure
activity aware contact despite equivalent
alter capacity contribution dimension evolution
alternative challenge core domestic exclude
amendment circumstance correspond dominant exposure
annual comment criteria emerge external
apparent communicatio cycle emphasis facilitate
application n debate enable fundamental
approximate concentration decline energy funds
artificial deduction enforcement generation
 conflict
considerable
Words 51- Words 61- Words 71- Words 81- Words 91-
60 70 80 90 100
hence location occupation project sufficient
hypothesis logic option promote summary
illustrate marginal orientation proportion supply
image maximum outcome psychology task
immigration mechanism overall reaction technique
implement medical parallel remove technology
initial mental perspective resolution transition
integration modification philosophy specify trend
layer negative precise stability version
legislation network predict subsequent volume

List 3

Words 11- Words 21- Words 31- Words 41-

Words 1-10
20 30 40 50
abstract author definite exceed identical
accurate brief deny expansion ignorance
acknowledge capable discrimination expert imply
adaptation civil disposal fees incentive
adequate classical diversity flexibility incorporated
adjust comprehensiv domain foundation index
adult e dynamic gender infrastructure
advocate contrary eliminate global inhibition
aid coordination equipment grade innovation
attribute couple estate guarantee instance
decades
Words 51- Words 61- Words 71- Words 81- Words 91-
60 70 80 90 100
instruction minimum pursue simulation sustainable
intelligence monitoring rational solely symbolic
interact motivation recovery somewhat topic
interval neutral reject status trace
investigation obvious release stress transformatio
isolated overseas reveal style n
justification parameter role substitution ultimate
lecture phenomenon satisfy successive underline
liberal prohibit scope survey unique
migration publish sequence survive utility
visible

List 4

Words 11- Words 21- Words 31- Words 41-

Words 1-10
20 30 40 50
accommodati behalf contradict devote exhibit
on bias controversy differentiation explicit
 accompany cease conversely diminish exploitation
advance chart cooperate displacement extract
analogous clarity crucial display federal
anticipate coherence currency distorted fluctuations
appendix coincide denote dramatic format
appreciate commodity detect duration founded
arbitrary confirm deviation ethical guidelines
assure contemporary device eventually highlighted
automatically
Words 51- Words 61- Words 71- Words 81- Words 91-
60 70 80 90 100
implicit medium portion revision theme
incompatible military precede revolution thereby
induce mutual predominantl scenario uniform
inevitably norms y schedule validity
inherent notion priority sphere vehicle
intensity nuclear prospect suspended via
intermediate objective qualitative target violation
internal paragraph radical team virtual
manual passive random temporary vision
mature perceive reinforce tension widespread
relax

List 5

Words 11- Words 21- Words 31- Words 41-

Words 1-10
20 30 40 50
abandon assembly compile creditable encounter
abate assessment complement deceive enhance
abrupt assign comprise depression enormous
accumulation attain conceive derive entirely
acquisition avert concurrent distribution entrepreneur
adjacent coal confined divergent erosion
aggregate collapse conform doubt forbearance
albeit colleagues confuse drastic forthcoming
ambiguous combat consciousness election frustration
ancestor commit convinced empirical goal
Words 51- Words 61- Words 71- Words 81- Words 91-
60 70 80 90 100
homogenous invoke ongoing reluctant substantiate
inclination justify overlap restore supplementar
indulge likewise persistent restraint y
infer link pose rigid sympathy
initiative manage possess route termination
insight manipulation preliminary sacrifice transmission
inspection merge presumption scale undergo
integral nonetheless ratio so-called unify
intervention notwithstandi refine straightforwar vital
intrinsic ng relate d voluntary
odd subordinate whereby